Egypt in December: weather, the pyramids and what to pack

The short answer

Weather in Egypt in December

December in Egypt is cool and dry. The table gives the December averages from 1981 to 2010. The Egyptian Meteorological Authority gives the data. We read it on 29 October 2026.

A rain day is a day with 0.01 mm of rain or more. Rain in Cairo is rare. In Luxor and Aswan, it almost never rains in December.

In Cairo, the average high falls from 24.7 °C (76 °F) in November to 20.4 °C (69 °F) in December. In January, it is 19.0 °C (66 °F).

Luxor and Aswan are warmer than Cairo in the day. Luxor is colder at night. In Luxor, the temperature difference between the day and the night is more than 16 °C (29 °F) on average.

These values are averages for 30 years. They are not a forecast for December 2026. Look at a forecast in the week before you travel. For the weather in each month of the year, read Best time to visit Egypt.

Is December a good time to visit the pyramids?

By our assessment, yes. The Giza plateau is open desert, and most of the visit is outside. In December, the average high in Cairo is 20.4 °C (69 °F). A long walk between the pyramids and the Sphinx is comfortable.

The Ministry of Tourism and Antiquities gives the same entry hours for summer and winter. Outside Ramadan, you can enter the plateau from 07:00, last entry 16:00.

The mornings are cool. The average low in Cairo is 11.0 °C (52 °F). If you arrive when the plateau opens, bring a warm layer.

The Ministry page does not show a different plateau ticket price for December. The plateau ticket for a foreign adult costs EGP 700. For all ticket prices, see Pyramids of Giza tickets.

Is Egypt crowded in December?

We found no official source that gives the number of visitors at the plateau for each month. We cannot tell you how crowded the pyramids are in December.

Posts on travel forums do not agree. A post on Reddit calls December the peak season. A 2012 post on Tripadvisor calls the first half of December a quiet period. These are secondary sources, not official data.

Hotels and tour companies set their own prices for December. Ask for the price for your dates before you book.

The Grand Egyptian Museum in December

The Grand Egyptian Museum (GEM) is indoors. On Sunday, Monday, Tuesday, Thursday and Friday, you can enter the galleries from 09:00, last entry 17:00. On Wednesday and Saturday, you can enter from 09:00, last entry 20:00.

Should I book the GEM time slot ahead?

Yes. When you book, you select a date and an entry time slot. The slot is the time period when you can enter. It does not limit how long you stay inside.

• Book only on tickets.gem.eg. The museum says that this is the only official website for tickets.
• A ticket is valid only for its date and time. The museum does not give refunds, except for force majeure.
• We read the slots for 3 to 5 November 2026. We did not read the slots for December. Look at the slots for your date when you book.

The ticket for a foreign adult costs EGP 1,830. To plan the museum and the plateau on one day, read Pyramids and the Grand Egyptian Museum in one day.

Can you see the Sound and Light show in December?

We cannot confirm that there are shows in December. On 2 November 2026, the show website said that the shows at the pyramids are temporarily suspended for development works. Its winter schedule was not enabled. Online booking was disabled. The website gave no date to start the shows again.

Check the show website before you plan an evening for the show. For more about the show, read Giza pyramids Sound and Light show.

On Wednesday and Saturday, the GEM galleries stay open later. On these days, the museum is an option for the evening.

What to wear and pack in December

Dress in layers. The afternoon is mild, but the morning and the evening are cool.

• Long pants or a long skirt, and a shirt with long sleeves
• A sweater or a light jacket for the early morning and the evening
• A warmer layer for Luxor at night
• Closed shoes with a good grip for sand and stone
• A hat, sunglasses and sunscreen for the open plateau
• Water

You do not need a raincoat for most trips. For the clothes to wear in a mosque or inside a pyramid, read What to wear in Egypt.