Sharm El Sheikh in December: weather, sea temperature and trips
In December Sharm El Sheikh averages 22°C by day and 12°C at night, and the sea is about 25°C. Mild, sunny days and a sea that is still about 25°C make December good for both the beach and sightseeing. Evenings are cool, and the Christmas weeks are busy.
Sharm El Sheikh in December at a glance
| Average | |
|---|---|
| Day temperature | 22°C |
| Night temperature | 12°C |
| Sea temperature | 25°C (22.8°C to 27.5°C over the past 10 years) |
| Sunshine | 8 hours a day |
| Rain | 1 day with some rain |
| Daylight | 10.4 hours; sunrise about 06:26, sunset about 16:49 |
| Wind | Mostly light; strong wind is rare |
| UV index | 4 (moderate) |
Air, sea, sunshine and rain: long-term averages from Weather2Travel. Sea range: lowest and highest readings for the month over the past 10 years (SeaTemperature.info). Wind: share of days when the wind reached 30 km/h or more, ERA5 data for 2016 to 2025 via Open-Meteo. Sunrise and sunset on the 15th, Egypt time.
Sea temperature and swimming in December
The sea is cooling down. Average sea temperature: 26°C in November, 25°C in December and 23°C in January. Most people swim and snorkel comfortably without a wetsuit, though children may feel cool after a long snorkel.
Most people do not need a wetsuit. A rash vest helps with the sun, and a thin shorty is worth it for children or anyone who feels the cold.
What's running in December
The sea cools slowly, so December is still fine for snorkelling, though many people like a shorty on longer stops. Boat trips to White Island and Ras Mohammed run daily; on a windy day the deck is chilly, so take a sweatshirt.
It is a great month for Luxor by plane (about 24°C) and Cairo (about 21°C). The Mount Sinai climb is cold: St Catherine averages about 4°C at night, and snow is possible on the summit.
Day-trip weather in December
| Trip | Day | Night |
|---|---|---|
| Cairo and the pyramids | 21°C | 10°C |
| Luxor | 24°C | 7°C |
| St Catherine (Mount Sinai, 1,600 m) | 16°C | 4°C |
| Petra, Jordan | 15°C | 4°C |
Cairo, Luxor and Petra: Weather2Travel averages. St Catherine: NOAA 1961 to 1990 averages for the town; the summit of Mount Sinai, at 2,285 m, is colder still at dawn.
Holidays and crowds in December
Quiet until about 20 December. Then the Christmas and New Year holidays make it the busiest and most expensive fortnight of winter, so book hotels and flights well ahead, and book popular trips for the New Year week a few days in advance.
What to book in December
White Island and Ras Mohammed by boat
The sea is still about 25°C: a good month for this trip before the January cool.
Mount Sinai and St Catherine's Monastery
A winter climb for the sunrise; you need a warm jacket, hat and gloves.
Luxor 1 day by plane
Fly to Luxor for the Valley of the Kings at a comfortable 24°C.
Royal Seascope semi-submarine
See the reef from below the waterline, warm and dry.
What to pack for Sharm El Sheikh in December
- Swimwear, sunglasses and a hat
- Sun cream (SPF 30 or higher)
- A warm sweater or fleece and long trousers for the evenings, which drop to about 12°C
- Reef shoes or water shoes for coral beaches and rocky entries
- Winter clothes if you climb Mount Sinai for the sunrise: warm jacket, hat, gloves and a torch
December in Sharm El Sheikh, Hurghada and Marsa Alam
| Resort | Day | Night | Sea | Windy days |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Sharm El Sheikh | 22°C | 12°C | 25°C | rare |
| Hurghada | 23°C | 12°C | 24°C | 2/10 |
| Marsa Alam | 25°C | 15°C | 24°C | 2/10 |
Sharm El Sheikh weather by month
| Month | Day | Night | Sea | Sun | Windy days |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| January | 20°C | 10°C | 23°C | 8 h | rare |
| February | 21°C | 11°C | 22°C | 9 h | rare |
| March | 24°C | 14°C | 22°C | 10 h | 1/10 |
| April | 28°C | 18°C | 23°C | 10 h | 1/10 |
| May | 32°C | 21°C | 25°C | 11 h | 1/10 |
| June | 34°C | 24°C | 26°C | 13 h | rare |
| July | 35°C | 25°C | 28°C | 13 h | rare |
| August | 35°C | 26°C | 28°C | 12 h | rare |
| September | 34°C | 24°C | 27°C | 11 h | rare |
| October | 29°C | 20°C | 27°C | 10 h | rare |
| November | 25°C | 16°C | 26°C | 9 h | rare |
| December | 22°C | 12°C | 25°C | 8 h | rare |
Long-term averages from Weather2Travel. Windy days: share of days with wind of 30 km/h or more (ERA5, 2016 to 2025).
Frequently asked questions
What is the sea temperature in Sharm El Sheikh in December?
About 25°C on average. Over the past 10 years, readings for December ranged from 22.8°C to 27.5°C.
Is it warm enough to swim in Sharm El Sheikh in December?
Yes. At about 25°C most people swim and snorkel comfortably without a wetsuit.
What is the weather like in Sharm El Sheikh in December?
Average highs are 22°C and lows 12°C, with about 8 hours of sunshine a day and 1 day with some rain.
Is December a good time to visit Sharm El Sheikh?
Mild, sunny days and a sea that is still about 25°C make December good for both the beach and sightseeing. Evenings are cool, and the Christmas weeks are busy.
Book or ask a question
Every tour on this page can be booked online from its page, with no prepayment: you pay on the day. To ask about dates, hotel pickup or private trips, write to us on WhatsApp at +20 101 337 0369 or Telegram at @sinbad_tour_bot, or call +20 100 687 2059.
Sources
- Weather2Travel: Sharm el Sheikh climate by month
- SeaTemperature.info: Sharm El Sheikh water temperature
- Open-Meteo: historical weather API (ERA5), wind 2016 to 2025
- timeanddate.com: daylight saving time in Egypt
- Weather2Travel: Cairo climate
- Weather2Travel: Luxor climate
- Weather2Travel: Petra climate
- Wikipedia: Saint Catherine, Egypt (climate, NOAA 1961 to 1990)
- Amwal Al Ghad: climbing Mount Sinai stopped for freezing weather (2017)
