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When to go to Sharm El Sheikh: air and sea temperature, wind and the best months
In short
October and November are the best months for most people: the sea is 26–28 °C, days reach 27–32 °C and the wind is lighter than in summer. Below are the month-by-month numbers for air, sea and wind with their sources, what a winter trip is like and what to pack, followed by five hotels whose pages give a seasonal reason to book them.
The year at a glance
Best months: October, NovemberPick a month to see its numbers.
| Day°C (°C) | 22 | 23 | 26 | 30 | 34 | 37 | 38 | 39 | 36 | 32 | 27 | 23 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Night°C (°C) | 14 | 14 | 17 | 20 | 24 | 27 | 28 | 28 | 27 | 24 | 19 | 15 |
| Sea°C (°C) | 24 | 23 | 23 | 23 | 25 | 27 | 29 | 29 | 28 | 28 | 26 | 25 |
| Windkm/h (km/h) | 15 | 16 | 19 | 19 | 21 | 23 | 20 | 21 | 22 | 19 | 16 | 15 |
OctoberBest time to go
- Day
- 32°
- Night
- 24°
- Sea
- 28°
- Wind
- 19 km/h
Details below:October and November: the best balance
Air: WMO, Egyptian Meteorological Authority normals 1981–2010. Sea: NOAA satellite averages (seatemperature.org). Wind: Windfinder, Sharm El Sheikh airport, 2000–2026. Long-term averages.
Sharm El Sheikh has almost no rain, so the real question is how hot you like the air and how warm you like the sea. The two do not move together. The sea is coolest in February (22.7 °C) and still cool in April (23.4 °C), even when April afternoons reach 30 °C. It is warmest in August (29.3 °C), when the air is close to 39 °C.
That is why October and November stand out: the sea keeps its summer warmth (27.9 °C and 26.0 °C) while the air drops to 31.9 °C and 27.3 °C. Winter is the opposite trade: calm, dry, 22–23 °C afternoons, but a sea you may want to leave after a short swim.
The hotels below follow the calendar: a shore reef in a sheltered bay for autumn, heated pools for winter, and windbreaks and shallow water for the summer months.
Sharm El Sheikh month by month: air, sea and wind
December to February: mild days, cool evenings, a sea of about 23–25 °C
Daytime highs average 21.9–23.4 °C and nights 13.5–15.1 °C (WMO, Egyptian Meteorological Authority normals 1981–2010). The sea averages 24.7 °C in December, 23.6 °C in January and 22.7 °C in February, the coldest month of the year (NOAA satellite averages via seatemperature.org). These are the calmest months, with a mean wind of 8–9 knots at the airport station (Windfinder). Good for walking and short swims; for long pool days, book a heated pool.
March and April: the air warms, the sea lags
Highs reach 25.8 °C in March and 30.1 °C in April, but the sea is only 22.9 °C and 23.4 °C, cooler than in December. The mean wind rises to about 10 knots. Good for days out of the hotel; if you feel the cold in the water, wait for autumn.
May and June: hot, and June is the windiest month
Highs are 34.2 °C in May and 37.2 °C in June, and the sea warms from 24.9 °C to 26.7 °C. June is the windiest month, with a mean of 12.2 knots (about 23 km/h). Choose a beach with windbreaks or a sheltered bay.
July to September: the hottest air and the warmest sea
August is the hottest month: highs of 38.8 °C, nights of 28.3 °C and a 29.3 °C sea. July and September are a little cooler, with highs of 37.9 °C and 35.7 °C and a sea of 28.7 °C and 28.3 °C. The mean wind stays at 10.6–11.9 knots. Swim early and late, and spend midday in the shade.
October and November: the best balance
October keeps a 27.9 °C sea with highs of 31.9 °C. November has highs of 27.3 °C, nights of 19.0 °C, a 26.0 °C sea and a mean wind of 8.9 knots. For swimming and snorkelling, these are the months we would book.
Rain and wind across the year
Rain is close to zero: no month averages more than 3 mm or more than half a rainy day (WMO). The wind blows mostly from the north-north-east, at about 10 knots (about 19 km/h) on average over the year, with gusts averaging about 25 knots (Windfinder, observations from November 2000 to September 2026). The windiest months are May to September, the calmest December to February.
The verdict, and what to pack
For swimming and snorkelling, go in October or November, or in September if you can take the heat. Winter (December to February) is a mild, calm break, but book a heated pool. Pack a jumper or light jacket for winter evenings, a hat and sun protection for June to September, and reef shoes all year, because many Sharm hotels have coral at the waterline and you swim from a jetty.
The 5 hotels in this guide
Pick your dates on any hotel to see the live price. Hotel payment goes to our hotel booking partner.
- shore reefsheltered baysnorkellingCurator's verdict
The best sea on this list for the warm autumn months, at four-star prices.
- Who it suits:
- Snorkellers who want to walk into the reef from the sand.
- Good to know:
- About 60 steps down to the beach and no lifts; Standard rooms are 15 m², so book Superior or above.
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A four-star on the Ras Um Sid cliff at the southern end of Sharm. Around 60 steps lead down to a sandy beach in a sheltered bay, with a coral shelf straight off the sand and fish from the first few metres.
This is the autumn pick. In October and November the sea is still 26–28 °C, the best time for long snorkels, and here you need no pier or pontoon to reach the reef. The hotel page's advice is reef shoes and a calm morning; the dive centre on the beach will show you the easiest entry.
- heated pool600 m beachkids' clubsCurator's verdict
The winter family pick: a heated lagoon pool next to a long sandy beach.
- Who it suits:
- Families travelling between December and February.
- Good to know:
- Rooms are dated, in-room Wi-Fi is paid, and nothing is walkable; Naama Bay is about 20 minutes by taxi.
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A big family resort at Ras Nasrani with a 600-metre sandy beach, a pontoon onto the house reef and Tiran Island across the strait.
It is here for winter. The large lagoon-style pool is heated in winter, and the two kids' clubs have an indoor play area, which helps when evenings drop to 13–15 °C. While the sea is at its coolest, about 23 °C, children can swim in the pool and you can still snorkel off the pontoon.
- heated poolsspacouplesCurator's verdict
Heated pools, an indoor spa and Naama Bay on foot: the best winter set-up for two on this list.
- Who it suits:
- Couples travelling between December and February.
- Good to know:
- There is no wide sandy beach; you swim from the jetty, so pack reef shoes and a mask.
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A 298-room hotel on a low cliff at the north edge of Naama Bay, with many of its rooms looking over the bay. There is no wide sandy beach; swimming is mostly from a jetty over the reef.
It is the winter pick for couples. Both pools are heated, and the 600 m² spa has a hammam, saunas and indoor as well as outdoor jacuzzis, which is where a cool winter evening goes. Naama Bay's promenade is a 20–25 minute walk, and a free hotel shuttle runs in the evenings.
- heated poolslong jettyfamiliesCurator's verdict
Three heated pools and a jetty past the shallows: a winter resort that does not rely on the beach.
- Who it suits:
- Families and couples who plan to spend most of the stay on site.
- Good to know:
- Central blocks are 10–15 minutes' walk from the beach, and Naama Bay is about 25 minutes by taxi.
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A 584-room resort at the north end of Nabq Bay, built around arches, high ceilings and swim-up terraces. The beach is a lagoon that almost empties at low tide, with sharp coral underfoot.
It earns its place for two reasons. All three pools are heated (one is adults-only), so a winter stay does not depend on the sea. And when the lagoon is shallow, the long jetty still takes you out to the reef edge and clear water; check the tide before you plan a beach day.
- windbreaksaqua parkfamiliesCurator's verdict
The summer family pick: umbrellas and windbreaks on the sand, and slides for when the beach is too hot.
- Who it suits:
- Families with children aged 4–17 who want a week without leaving the resort.
- Good to know:
- It is loud until late, with afterparties reported until 2am: ask for a room away from the entertainment pool and show stage, and book the main side, not (Aqua).
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The biggest resort in Nabq Bay: a 23-slide aqua park, seven pools and thirteen restaurants by the hotel's own count, including the Turkish Lalezar, and a long pier out to the reef.
It is on this page for summer and the windy months. The wide sandy beach has umbrellas and windbreaks, and the water stays shallow a long way out, which suits children when May to September brings the strongest wind of the year. Use the pier for the reef and keep the hottest hours for the pools.
Prices and availability are checked live before booking.
Trip plans with these hotels
Questions before you book
When is the best time to go to Sharm El Sheikh?
October and November. The sea averages 26–28 °C, daytime highs are 27–32 °C and the wind is lighter than from May to September. For the warmest water go from July to September, but expect highs of about 36–39 °C.
Is Sharm El Sheikh good in December?
Yes, for a mild, dry break. December averages a high of 23.4 °C, a low of 15.1 °C and a 24.7 °C sea, with 1.3 mm of rain over the month. Pack a warm layer for the evenings and book a hotel with a heated pool.
Can you swim in the sea in Sharm El Sheikh in winter?
Yes, but the water is cool. The sea averages 23.6 °C in January and 22.7 °C in February, the coldest month. Short swims and snorkels work; a thin wetsuit top helps if you feel the cold.
What is the sea temperature in Sharm El Sheikh?
Between 22.7 °C in February and 29.3 °C in August, as monthly averages from NOAA satellite data. From June to October the average stays between 26.7 °C and 29.3 °C, and November is 26.0 °C.
What is the weather like in Sharm El Sheikh in August?
Very hot. August is the hottest month, with highs averaging 38.8 °C, nights of 28.3 °C and a 29.3 °C sea. Use the beach early and late, and spend midday in the shade or the pool.
Is Sharm El Sheikh windy?
From May to September, yes: the mean wind at the airport station is 10.6–12.2 knots, and June is the windiest month. December to February is calmest at about 8–9 knots. The wind mostly blows from the north-north-east (Windfinder).
Are hotel pools heated in winter in Sharm El Sheikh?
It depends on the hotel. On this list, Baron Resort heats its lagoon pool in winter, Steigenberger Alcazar has three heated pools and Stella Di Mare two. Ask the hotel before you book whether the heating will be on for your dates.
What should I pack for Sharm El Sheikh?
For December to February, a jumper or light jacket for evenings of 13–15 °C. For June to September, a hat and sun protection for highs of about 36–39 °C. All year, reef shoes: many Sharm hotels have coral at the waterline and you swim from a jetty.
Picked your month? Now the hotel
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