Egypt in March: Weather, Ramadan 2027 and What Changes

Yes, March is a good time to visit Egypt, with warm days and fewer crowds than the winter holidays. Luxor averages a high of 30°C (86°F), Aswan 29°C (84°F) and Cairo 23°C (73°F). In 2027 the early days of March fall in Ramadan, and Eid al-Fitr is expected on March 9 or 10, so some opening hours in Cairo are shorter.

Egypt in March: warming days by city

March is the month Egypt warms up quickly. In Luxor the average high climbs from 25°C (77°F) in February to 30°C (86°F) in March and 35°C (95°F) in April, so March sits between the cool season and the heat. The averages below are from the WMO World Weather Information Service.

Cairo is pleasant for walking, with afternoons of 23°C (73°F), which suits the Citadel, Islamic Cairo and the museums. In Luxor and Aswan, a late-morning temple visit is still comfortable, but the early start begins to pay off again, as it does in October.

Ramadan and Eid al-Fitr in 2027

Ramadan follows the moon, so its dates stay expected dates until they are announced. Ramadan 2027 is expected to begin in February; sources differ on the first day. It ends with Eid al-Fitr, expected to start on March 9 or 10, 2027, subject to official confirmation of the moon sighting, and sources also differ on which days the Eid public holiday covers. Unlike most mid-week holidays, the two Eids are not moved to a Thursday.

In practice, a trip in early March 2027 overlaps the last part of Ramadan and the Eid holiday, and a trip from mid-March onward does not.

What changes for visitors during Ramadan

Non-Muslims do not have to fast, but eating, drinking or smoking in public during daylight hours is considered culturally insensitive. Many restaurants and cafes stay closed until iftar, the meal at sunset, while hotels and tourist-focused restaurants stay open. Shops and foreign-exchange offices usually close an hour or two before iftar and reopen an hour or two after it.

During Ramadan only holders of foreign passports may buy alcohol, and it is served mainly in hotel restaurants and bars that cater to foreigners; some of those stop serving for the month. The wider rules are in alcohol in Egypt. On a private trip, lunch can be planned at the hotel or on board, and touring can finish before the shops close for iftar.

Site opening hours in Ramadan

Sites and museums run reduced Ramadan hours, published for each site on the Ministry's ticketing portal. The change is real in Cairo and small or nil in Upper Egypt:

So in Ramadan a Giza morning starts an hour later and ends earlier, while a day in Luxor or Aswan hardly changes. Hours are set by the Ministry and can change, so they are worth checking against the portal close to your dates.

Is March busy?

March is one of the quieter shoulder months, along with April, May and September, after the Christmas and New Year rush in the hotels and on the Nile cruises of Luxor and Aswan. Easter is also named among the busiest dates of the year, so if your March dates overlap Easter week, book as you would for a holiday trip.

What to book first in March is the Nile vessel and the rhythm of the Luxor stay. Spring is the season for windy spells: there is no published figure for balloon cancellations, but they come in runs of windy weather, especially in spring, as on four consecutive days in March 2020 and on several days in March 2026. The Civil Aviation Authority in Luxor cancels the morning's flights when strong wind or unstable weather is forecast, so a balloon flight is best planned for the first morning of a Luxor stay, with a second morning in hand.

The Red Sea in March

On the Red Sea, March is mild rather than hot: Hurghada averages a high of 25°C (77°F) and Sharm El Sheikh 26°C (79°F), and the sea averages 22°C (72°F) at both, as cool as in February. It suits walks, the spa and short swims more than long days in the water.

What to pack for March

March packing is about sun more than cold. Light, loose clothing, a hat and sunscreen cover days of 29°C (84°F) to 30°C (86°F) in the south; a sweater is still useful at night, when Cairo and Luxor average 12°C (54°F). UK official advice is to dress modestly, especially in rural areas, mosques and souqs. In mosques, shoulders and knees are covered, women cover their hair, and cover-ups and headscarves are often available to borrow.

Journeys that fit March

The Private Egypt with a Nile Cruise, 8 Days journey spends 4 nights on The Oberoi Philae between Luxor and Aswan and sees Luxor Temple at dusk; Luxor Temple keeps its 7:00 p.m. last entry in Ramadan, as in winter. For a slower river, the Dahabiya from Esna to Aswan, 6 Days sails for 5 nights with a swim from a Nile island, which March's warmer afternoons suit.

Every journey on the luxury Egypt tours page can be adjusted in length, hotels and pace before you confirm, subject to availability. For all twelve months, see the best time to visit Egypt, and for the cooler weeks before Ramadan, Egypt in January.