Month guide · Sharm El Sheikh · Egypt
Sharm El Sheikh in January
What January is really like in Sharm El Sheikh: weather, crowds, prices, events and what to pack.
Updated By the AMZBooking editorial team
Photo: Eslam maalky.22, CC BY-SA 4.0
Quick answer
January is a shoulder-season month. Expect average highs of 22°C (72°F), lows of 14°C (57°F), about 1 rainy days and roughly 10.6 hours of daylight. Warm, sunny days, cool evenings and occasionally windy; the sea is pleasant for snorkelling with a wetsuit.
Key facts
- Average high / low
- 22°C (72°F) / 14°C (57°F)
- Rainy days
- About 1
- Daylight
- About 10.6 hours
- Sea temperature
- 23°C (73°F)
- Crowds
- Moderate
- Hotel prices
- Average
Weather in January
January is the coolest month in Sharm El Sheikh: days average 22°C (72°F) against a yearly average high of 30°C (86°F), and nights fall to about 14°C (57°F). Rain falls on roughly 1 of its 31 days. Compared with December (23°C (73°F)), January is about as warm; by February highs stay near 23°C (73°F).
- Sunrise (15 January)
- About 06:35
- Sunset (15 January)
- About 17:09
- Daylight
- About 10.6 hours
- Sea
- 23°C (73°F)
Winter (December–February). Sunny days in the low 20s °C, cool evenings and the coolest sea; festive weeks are the most expensive.
Crowds and prices
On a 1–5 scale, January rates 3 for crowds (the peak is March at 4) and 3 for hotel prices (highest in December). Prices sit in the middle of the year's range.
Events in January
- Coptic Christmas (7 January)
Dates move from year to year. Check the organiser’s site before booking travel around an event.
What to do in January
Mild, settled days suit walking, viewpoints and time outdoors.
Nature · Ras Mohammed
Ras Mohammed National Park
Book a boat trip that leaves early from the marina to reach the reefs before the main fleet of day boats.
- Time needed
- Full day
- Cost
- Mid-priced
- Iconic
- Nature
- Active
- Outdoors
- Photo spot
Nature · Ras Nasrani
Strait of Tiran reefs
Four reefs in the middle of the strait — Jackson, Woodhouse, Thomas and Gordon — rise from deep water between Sinai and Tiran Island, with coral gardens, strong currents and two wrecks resting on the reef tops.
- Time needed
- Full day
- Cost
- Mid-priced
- Nature
- Active
- Outdoors
Nature · Hadaba and Ras Um Sid
Ras Um Sid reef
Go in the morning, before the afternoon wind picks up and the dive boats crowd the site.
- Time needed
- 2–3 hours
- Cost
- Low cost
- Nature
- Active
- Outdoors
Nature · Nabq Bay
Nabq Protected Area
North of the resorts, this protected area has one of the most northerly mangrove forests in the world, sand dunes, Bedouin settlements and a shoreline wreck visible from the beach.
- Time needed
- Half a day
- Cost
- Mid-priced
- Nature
- Outdoors
- Off the beaten path
The sea averages 23°C (73°F) — warm enough to swim. Best beaches near Sharm El Sheikh.
What to pack
For highs near 22°C, lows near 14°C and 1 wet days: light layers for the day and a light jacket for the evening; comfortable walking shoes.
Is January a good time to visit Sharm El Sheikh?
A shoulder-season month, with a notable event on the calendar. If your dates are flexible, March–May and October–November are better overall. Compare every month.
Sharm El Sheikh in other months
Questions travellers ask
+Is January a good time to visit Sharm El Sheikh?
It is a shoulder-season month. Warm, sunny days, cool evenings and occasionally windy; the sea is pleasant for snorkelling with a wetsuit.
+How warm is Sharm El Sheikh in January?
Average highs are around 22°C (72°F) and lows around 14°C (57°F).
+Does it rain a lot in Sharm El Sheikh in January?
Expect rain on about 1 days of the month, so it is usually dry.