Season guide · Sharm El Sheikh · Egypt
Sharm El Sheikh in winter
December–February: weather, crowds, prices and the best things to do this time of year.
Updated By the AMZBooking editorial team
Quick answer
Sunny days in the low 20s °C, cool evenings and the coolest sea; festive weeks are the most expensive. Expect highs up to 23°C (73°F) and lows around 14°C (57°F), with about 2 rainy days across December–February.
Key facts
- Months
- December–February
- Temperatures
- 14°C (57°F) to 23°C (73°F)
- Rainy days in the season
- About 2
- Sea
- 22°C (72°F) to 24°C (75°F)
- Crowds
- Moderate
- Hotel prices
- High
Weather in winter
| Month | High | Low | Rainy days | Daylight | Crowds |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| January | 22°C (72°F) | 14°C (57°F) | 1 | 10.6 h | 3/5 |
| February | 23°C (73°F) | 14°C (57°F) | 0 | 11.2 h | 3/5 |
| December | 23°C (73°F) | 15°C (59°F) | 1 | 10.4 h | 4/5 |
Compared with the rest of the year: average highs of 23°C (73°F) against a yearly 30°C (86°F), and 2 of the year's roughly 4 rainy days fall in these 3 months. Crowds rate 3/5 and hotel prices 4/5 on average.
What's on in winter
Recurring events; dates move from year to year, so confirm with the organiser.
- January: Coptic Christmas (7 January)
- December: Christmas and New Year holiday peak (late December)
Make the most of the weather
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
Experience · Sinai desert
Desert safari and Bedouin evening
Choose a trip with proper helmets and goggles for quads, and bring a scarf against the dust.
- Time needed
- 3–5 hours
- Cost
- Mid-priced
- Active
- Kids
- After dark
- Outdoors
Day trips in winter
- Ras Abu Galum (About 2 hours by car and boat or camel) — A protected area north of Dahab reachable only on foot, by camel or by boat, with remote Bedouin camps, sandy coves and excellent snorkelling on reefs few people visit.
- Dahab (About 1 hour 15 minutes by car) — A laid-back former Bedouin village on the Gulf of Aqaba with a seafront promenade of cafés and dive schools.
What to pack
- Light layers for the day and a light jacket for the evening
- Comfortable walking shoes
Other times of year
Questions travellers ask
+Is winter a good time to visit Sharm El Sheikh?
It is a trade-off: Sunny days in the low 20s °C, cool evenings and the coolest sea; festive weeks are the most expensive. The best months overall are March–May and October–November.
+What is the weather like in Sharm El Sheikh in winter?
Highs of up to 23°C (73°F) and lows around 14°C (57°F), with about 2 rainy days over the season.