Photo: Péter Kun via Google
When to go to Sharm El Sheikh
Season, sea, wind and crowds, month by month, so you catch warm water and fair prices.
The verdict
- Best forSun seekers and snorkellers who want warm sea and comfortable days in Sharm without the deepest summer heat or the holiday peak prices
- Top pickThe shoulder weeks of October, November, March and April, with a warm sea, gentle heat and lighter crowds than the Christmas and Easter rushes, and better value too
- One thing to knowThis is a winter sun star, so the warm low season runs when Europe is cold, which means the priciest dates are the holidays and the cheapest are the very hot summer months
Published 14 February 2026. Last reviewed 21 May 2026
Sharm El Sheikh keeps a desert and sea rhythm all of its own. The sun shines almost every day of the year, the Red Sea stays warm long after the Mediterranean has cooled, and the real swing is in the heat and the crowds rather than the rain, which barely falls. The result is a destination that flips the usual calendar. The comfortable, busy, dearer season is the European winter, while the cheap, quiet season is the fierce heat of high summer.
We have laid out the year month by month below, with a quick season grid and honest notes on the months that matter most. The headline is simple. The shoulder weeks of autumn and spring give you a warm sea, kind heat and far more value than the Christmas, half term and Easter peaks, which is why they are the months we point most people toward. If you only want winter sun and do not mind the holiday prices, the deep winter still delivers a warm swim when little else within reach does.
If you take one line from this page, take this. Aim for October, November, March or May for the best balance of warm sea, bearable heat, lighter crowds and fairer prices, treat the deep winter holidays as the premium winter sun option, and accept high summer only if you want the cheapest week and can handle the heat with early swims and plenty of shade.
Month by month at a glance
| Month | Air | Sea | Wind | Crowd | Verdict |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| January | Mild, around 22C | Around 22C | Variable | High | Warm winter sun, cool evenings, holiday prices |
| February | Mild, around 23C | Around 21C | Variable | High | Comfortable sun, busy at half term |
| March | Warm, around 25C | Around 22C | Breezy | Moderate | Lovely and warming, good value before Easter |
| April | Warm, around 28C | Around 24C | Breezy | High | Ideal warmth, busy and dearer over Easter |
| May | Hot, around 33C | Around 26C | Breezy | Moderate | Hot and sunny, warm sea, good value |
| June | Very hot, around 36C | Around 27C | Lighter | Low | Very hot, warm sea, quiet and cheaper |
| July | Very hot, around 38C | Around 28C | Lighter | Low | Intense heat, warmest sea, cheapest weeks |
| August | Very hot, around 39C | Around 29C | Lighter | Low | Hottest month, early swims only, low prices |
| September | Very hot, around 36C | Around 28C | Lighter | Moderate | Still hot, warm sea, easing crowds |
| October | Hot, around 32C | Around 27C | Lighter | Moderate | Superb balance, warm sea, fair prices |
| November | Warm, around 27C | Around 25C | Variable | Moderate | Ideal warmth, gentle crowds, good value |
| December | Mild, around 23C | Around 23C | Variable | High | Warm winter sun, packed and priciest at New Year |
When each month earns its place
January. The heart of the winter sun season, when Sharm earns its reputation. Days are mild and sunny in the low twenties, the sea is cooler but still swimmable at its winter level, and the evenings turn cool enough for a layer. It is one of the few places within a short flight of Europe where you can swim in comfort in midwinter, so it is busy and dear over the New Year, then steadier through the rest of the month.
March. One of the best value months of the year, after the New Year crowds and before the Easter rush. The weather is warm and settled, the sea is climbing back toward a comfortable swim and the resorts are calmer and cheaper. A spring breeze can stir the afternoons, so snorkel the calm mornings. For warm sun without the holiday markup, March is a quietly smart choice.
April. Arguably the loveliest warmth of the year, with hot but not fierce days and a sea that is properly comfortable again. The catch is Easter, which fills the resorts and lifts prices, so the value depends on dodging the holiday dates. Outside them, April pairs ideal beach weather with the long clear days that make the reef sing. The breeze is at its most noticeable in spring.
May. The shoulder tips toward summer, hot and reliably sunny with a warm sea and crowds that thin as the heat builds. Prices ease from the Easter peak and the days are long, so it is a strong value month if you like real heat. Snorkelling is at its best early before the afternoon sun and any breeze get up. A fine pick for warm water without the winter holiday prices.
July and August. The hottest, cheapest and quietest months, when highs sit in the high thirties Celsius and the desert sun is intense. The sea is at its warmest and the prices at their lowest, but the heat is the headline, so plan swims for the morning and the evening, take a shaded lounger and drink plenty of water. For a budget week of warm sea, summer works if you respect the heat and avoid the midday sun.
October and November. The other sweet spot and many travellers favourite stretch. The summer heat softens to something glorious, the sea is still warm from the long summer, and the crowds and prices sit between the quiet summer and the busy winter holidays. The breeze is lighter and the reef is at its clearest on calm mornings. For the best all round blend of warm water, kind weather and fair value, this is the window to aim for.
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Before you go
What is the best time to visit Sharm El Sheikh?
The shoulder months of October, November, March and April are the sweet spot, with a warm sea, comfortable heat and lighter crowds than the Christmas and Easter peaks. Sharm shines as a winter sun base from November to April when the Red Sea stays warm, while high summer is very hot but cheaper and quieter.
Is the sea warm enough to swim in Sharm in winter?
Yes. The Red Sea is one of the warmest winter seas within easy reach of Europe, sitting around the low twenties Celsius from December to February, cooler than summer but comfortable for most swimmers, especially in the middle of the day. A rash vest or short wetsuit helps if you feel the cold while snorkelling for long spells.
How hot does Sharm El Sheikh get in summer?
Very hot. From June to August daytime highs often push into the high thirties Celsius and beyond, with intense desert sun and warm nights. The sea is at its warmest then, so an early swim, a shaded lounger and plenty of water are the smart play, and the heat is the reason summer is the cheapest and quietest season.
When is Sharm El Sheikh most crowded and expensive?
The winter sun peaks at Christmas and New Year, February half term and Easter are the busiest and priciest, when Europeans escape the cold. For warm weather with more space and fairer prices, travel in the shoulder weeks of October, November, March or May, or accept the heat for the cheapest summer deals.
Does the wind affect the beaches in Sharm El Sheikh?
A steady northerly breeze is common and tends to be strongest in spring, which can stir the open shores and chop up the surface for snorkelling in the afternoon. The sheltered bays like Naama Bay stay calmer, and mornings are usually the stillest and clearest for the reef. Conditions are typical and never guaranteed.