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Hurghada in December: weather, sea, Christmas, things to do

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In short. December in Hurghada is winter in a T-shirt: 25°C in the afternoon at the start of the month, 22°C by the end, nights between 16 and 13°C, a sea at 25 then 24°C and about 8 hours of sunshine a day, according to Weather Spark and Climates to Travel. You can still swim, best around the middle of the day, and it's the best time of year for Luxor, quad biking and horse riding. Practical side: pack a proper warm layer for the evenings, and remember Hurghada is 2 hours ahead of the UK all month.

Picture 20 December. At home, it's dark by four and the high street is all coats and fairy lights. In Hurghada, you come out of the water around 3pm, dry off on a beach at 23°C, then watch the sky turn pink over the Red Sea. Same month. Different planet.

What's the weather like in Hurghada in December?

Mild and dry. Going by Weather Spark's historical averages, highs slide from 25°C on 1 December to 22°C on the 31st, and lows from 16°C to 13°C. The sky stays clear about three quarters of the time, and rain is measured in fractions of a millimetre, roughly 0.5 mm over the whole month.

The sun shines for about 8 hours a day, some 245 hours across the month (Climates to Travel). The wind blows mostly from the north, at around 18 km/h on average.

And the sea holds on to the warmth of autumn: 25°C in early December, 24°C by the end.

Early or late December: what changes

Not much on the light front, which is good news. The sun rises around 6.15am on 1 December and around 6.30am on the 21st, then sets between 4.50pm and 4.55pm all month, according to Weather Spark (local time). Even the shortest day, 21 December, still lasts 10 hours 25 minutes.

What changes is the evening. At around 16°C in early December, you eat outside in a jumper. At around 13°C late in the month, the jacket comes out, especially near the water.

Then the second half of the month brings the festive season.

Christmas, New Year and the December 2026 calendar

Worth knowing: 25 December isn't a public holiday in Egypt. Coptic Christians celebrate Christmas on 7 January, a national holiday, and no public holiday falls in November or December 2026, according to Office Holidays.

Hurghada still does Christmas, though. Local agency Trendy Tours Red Sea describes gala dinners for Christmas and New Year's Eve in the big hotels, fireworks at midnight in most of the large resorts, and a lively Marina for nights out. These dinners are booked in advance, at a supplement.

On the UK side, school Christmas holidays depend on your council. In Rochdale, for example, they run from Monday 21 December 2026 to Friday 1 January 2027 (Rochdale Borough Council). In Edinburgh, from 21 December 2026 to Tuesday 5 January 2027 (City of Edinburgh Council). Check your own school's dates before you book. Christmas Day 2026 and New Year's Day 2027 both fall on a Friday.

One number on visitor traffic: in the first eight months of 2026, Hurghada airport welcomed some 3,000,000 tourists, led by Germans, ahead of Russians, Poles and Brits, according to the Hurghada travel agents' association quoted by Egypt Independent. The town is used to hosting, holidays included. Travelling over Christmas and New Year? Book your flight, accommodation and New Year's Eve dinner as early as you can.

At sea: swimming in December

Yes, you can swim in Hurghada in December. With the water at 24 to 25°C, the nicest window is the middle of the day, between 11am and 3pm, when the air is warmest.

Paradise Island is the easiest winter trip: the shallow water warms up close to the shore. Orange Bay, on Giftun Island, keeps its fine sand and its reef. The dolphin trip runs all year, looking for wild dolphins: sightings are frequent, never guaranteed.

For snorkelling and scuba diving, a shorty wetsuit or a neoprene top makes long sessions far more comfortable. And if part of the group would rather stay dry, the Seascope, a semi-submersible boat with glass sides, shows you the reef fish without getting wet (from €15 per person, Hurghada Habibi partner price as of 23 September 2026, confirmed on WhatsApp).

In the desert: quad biking at its best

In December the desert is perfect from 1pm to sunset. The quad or buggy safari leaves early in the afternoon to catch the golden light before 5pm, then reaches the Bedouin village for dinner. Bring a light puffer or a fleece for the ride back after dark, on top of closed shoes, a scarf and sunglasses.

The horse ride also moves earlier, so the beach stretch lines up with sunset.

Luxor, Cairo, the spa: days on land

December is the ideal month for the big culture trips. In Luxor, about 290 km from Hurghada airport, highs sit around 24°C in December and it doesn't rain (Climates to Travel). You can walk from Karnak to the Valley of the Kings without hunting for shade. Nights there drop to around 8 to 9°C, so bring a jumper for the early start.

The Cairo and pyramids day trip is a long day, but December makes it comfortable. Good news for 2026: the Grand Egyptian Museum, about 2 km from the Giza pyramids, has been open to the public since 4 November 2025 (Wikipedia).

And for a slow end to the day, the spa and hammam fits nicely into a winter week.

El Gouna, half an hour north, is worth a visit too. Over Christmas and New Year, entry needs even more notice: it's all in our guide to the El Gouna entry permit.

What to pack for Hurghada in December

  • Two swimsuits, a shorty or neoprene top, water shoes
  • Mineral sun cream, a cap and sunglasses: winter sun is still strong on the water
  • Closed shoes and a scarf or shemagh for the quads
  • Clothes that cover shoulders and knees for town, the souk and Luxor
  • A light puffer or a fleece, a jumper and long trousers for evenings and pre-dawn starts
  • Something a little smarter if you book a New Year's Eve dinner
  • About US$30 in cash for the visa on arrival, or the e-visa from visa2egypt.gov.eg, printed
  • Your passport, with at least six months left after the date you arrive and one blank page (GOV.UK)
  • A plug adapter: Egyptian sockets are types C and F, at 220V (Wise). Most phones and laptops are dual voltage, so the adapter is all they need

The time difference in December

Hurghada is 2 hours ahead of the UK, all month. Both countries have been on winter time since late October: the UK since the 25th, Egypt since the end of 29 October 2026 (Cairo Scene). So on 31 December, midnight strikes in Hurghada at 10pm UK time. Two New Years in one night, if you're on the phone to home.

Planning your December with us

Tell us your dates and what tempts you on WhatsApp, and we'll build the week with our local partner, Hurghada Habibi: Luxor, the desert, the islands, the dolphins. We confirm each price before you book, and the partner collects you from your hotel on the day. Landing late? A driver can meet you at the terminal: see Hurghada airport transfers.

Every trip is listed on our Hurghada excursions page.

Book on WhatsApp

FAQ

Can you swim in Hurghada in December?

Yes. The sea stays between 25 and 24°C in December, going by Weather Spark averages. The nicest time to swim is between 11am and 3pm. For long snorkelling sessions, a shorty wetsuit or neoprene top makes all the difference.

How warm is Hurghada in December?

Between 25 and 22°C in the afternoon and between 16 and 13°C at night, on average. It barely rains (around 0.5 mm over the month) and the sun shines for about 8 hours a day.

Is Christmas celebrated in Hurghada?

Yes, in the hotels and at the Marina, with gala dinners for Christmas and New Year's Eve and fireworks at midnight in most large resorts. 25 December isn't a public holiday in Egypt, though: Coptic Christmas falls on 7 January.

What is there to do in Hurghada in December?

Quad biking and horse riding in the afternoon, a day in Luxor or Cairo, Paradise Island and Orange Bay in the warm hours, the dolphin trip, the Seascope, the spa, and New Year's Eve at the Marina or in a hotel.

Sources

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