#1Hot
Sharm El Sheikh
- Day
- 34.6°C
- Sea
- 24.8°C
- Sun
- 11.3h
- Rain days
- 0
Your May weather guide
Weather in Egypt in May
May is a good month for Egypt if you want swimming weather and can plan around hot afternoons. Average daytime temperatures reach 33°C, while the sea averages 25°C and nights stay warm at 22°C. The catch is that this is heat to manage, not mild weather for spending all day outdoors. Hurghada is the gentlest option in the destination comparison; Sharm El Sheikh suits travellers who actively prefer hotter conditions.
Long-term climate averages, not a forecast · 1991-2020
- Average daytime high
- 32.6°Cacross 4 destinations
- Average night-time low
- 21.8°Cafter dark
- Sea temperature
- 24.9°Cwarm enough to swim
- Rainy days
- 0days1 mm or more
Egypt, month by month
Turn up the warmth
Warmest places in Egypt in May
Ranked by average daytime high. The full comparison is in the table below.
#2Hot
Cairo
- Day
- 32.9°C
- Sea
- -
- Sun
- 11.0h
- Rain days
- 0
#3Hot
Marsa Alam
- Day
- 32.5°C
- Sea
- 25.3°C
- Sun
- 11.1h
- Rain days
- 0
#4Hot
Hurghada
- Day
- 30.6°C
- Sea
- 24.5°C
- Sun
- 11.2h
- Rain days
- 0
Egypt destinations ranked for May
All 4 places we track in Egypt, ordered by daytime high.
Scroll sideways for more weather, down for more places. Click a heading to sort.
| # | Destination | ||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Sharm El Sheikh | 34.6°C | 22.6°C | 24.8°C | 11.3 h | 0 | 5 h 36 min |
| 2 | Cairo | 32.9°C | 17.4°C | - | 11.0 h | 0 | 5 h 6 min |
| 3 | Marsa Alam | 32.5°C | 24.0°C | 25.3°C | 11.1 h | 0 | 5 h 54 min |
| 4 | Hurghada | 30.6°C | 23.0°C | 24.5°C | 11.2 h | 0 | 5 h 36 min |
4 destinations shownClimate averages, not a forecast.
May climate overview
Daytime highs across Egypt in May run from 30.6°C (Hurghada) to 34.6°C (Sharm El Sheikh). In Sharm El Sheikh about 100% of May days reach 25°C. Nights average 21.8°C; the coldest 10% of nights in Hurghada fall to 20°C or below.
Rainfall in May
Expect around 0 rainy days (1 mm or more) in May, with Marsa Alam the driest (0 days) and Sharm El Sheikh the wettest (0 days). The wettest May at Sharm El Sheikh between 1991 and 2020 was 2001 with 3 mm; the driest was 1991 with 0 mm.
Sea temperature
The sea averages 24.9°C around Egypt in May - warmest at Marsa Alam (25.3°C). That is comfortable for swimming.
Sunshine and daylight
Around 11.1 hours of sunshine a day on average, out of 13.4 hours of daylight (sunshine estimated from cloud cover).
May against the rest of the year in Egypt
May is the 5th warmest month of the twelve in Egypt. It is 3.7°C warmer than April and 2.6°C warmer in June. The hottest month here is August (36°C) and the coolest January (21°C).
Which part of Egypt in May?
- Most sunshine: Sharm El Sheikh, 11.3 h a day.
- Driest: Marsa Alam, about 0 rainy days.
- Warmest sea: Marsa Alam, 25°C.
- Hottest: Sharm El Sheikh, 35°C by day - intense for sightseeing.
- Coolest (better for walking and cities): Hurghada, 31°C.
What to pack for Egypt in May
Based on the averages: light, loose clothing and serious sun protection - midday highs sit around 33°C; swimwear - the sea is 25°C.
Similar weather elsewhere in May
Within 1.5°C of Egypt's May daytime average: Bangkok (33°C, sea 31°C), Chiang Mai (33°C), Ho Chi Minh City (33°C), Goa (33°C, sea 30°C), Puerto Vallarta (32°C, sea 26°C). See the full ranking for May.
Which coast suits you best?
Hurghada offers the lowest daytime average at 31°C, so it is the better fit if you want coastal warmth without choosing the hottest option. Its sea averages 24°C, slightly cooler than the 25°C around Marsa Alam and Sharm El Sheikh. Marsa Alam sits between them for daytime heat at 32°C, but its 24°C nights offer less cooling after sunset. Sharm El Sheikh reaches 35°C by day, making shade and breaks from the sun more important. None of these choices is cool in May: choose Hurghada for relatively gentler heat, Marsa Alam for warm water with a lower daytime temperature than Sharm, or Sharm if stronger heat is part of the appeal.
Plan outdoor time around the heat
May suits a routine with outdoor time earlier in the day, a shaded or indoor break around midday, and more time outside towards evening. With average sunshine of 11.2 hours and little reason to plan around rain, sun protection matters more than waterproof clothing. Pack loose, light clothes, a hat and sunscreen, but adjust your evening layers to your destination. Cairo averages 33°C by day and 17°C at night, so a light layer is more useful there than on the coast. Hurghada and Sharm El Sheikh both average 23°C at night. If your priority is long stretches of walking rather than swimming and resting, the daytime heat is the main drawback.
A little more detail
Egypt in May FAQs
Plain answers, grounded in the averages.
Where is the hottest place in Egypt in May?
Sharm El Sheikh is the warmest of the 4 places we track in Egypt in May with an average high of 34.6°C; Hurghada is the coolest at 30.6°C.
Is the sea warm in Egypt in May?
The sea averages 22°C or more at Sharm El Sheikh (25°C), Marsa Alam (25°C), Hurghada (25°C) in May.
Is the sea warm enough for swimming in May?
For many travellers, yes. Sea temperatures average 25°C in Sharm El Sheikh and Marsa Alam, and 24°C in Hurghada. That makes May a good fit for a swimming holiday, though your comfort will depend on how warm you like the water.
How much warmer is Egypt than London in May?
Egypt averages 33°C by day, compared with London's 17°C. Expect a clear shift from mild spring weather to hot conditions. Pack for strong daytime warmth and plan breaks from the sun rather than assuming you can comfortably stay active outside all afternoon.
About these averages
ERA5-Land climate reanalysis via Open-Meteo (11 km grid), 1991-2020
Averages computed from daily values at 4 destination points.Records are the highest and lowest daily values in that 30-year period, not all-time records. These are climate averages, not a forecast for your trip. How we measure holiday weather
- Hot · 25°C+
- Warm · 20°C to below 25°C
- Mild · 15°C to below 20°C
- Cool · below 15°C