Sharm El Sheikh in May: weather, sea temperature and trips
In May Sharm El Sheikh averages 32°C by day and 21°C at night, and the sea is about 25°C. A warm, settled month with a sea of about 25°C and long sunny days. It gets hot in the afternoon, so plan sea trips for the day and desert trips for the evening.
Sharm El Sheikh in May at a glance
| Average | |
|---|---|
| Day temperature | 32°C |
| Night temperature | 21°C |
| Sea temperature | 25°C (22.8°C to 27.5°C over the past 10 years) |
| Sunshine | 11 hours a day |
| Rain | Usually no rain |
| Daylight | 13.5 hours; sunrise about 05:53, sunset about 19:25 |
| Wind | Mostly light; strong wind is rare |
| UV index | 11+ (extreme) |
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 May
The sea is warming up. Average sea temperature: 23°C in April, 25°C in May and 26°C in June. 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 May
The sea warms to about 25°C, which makes May a good month to learn to dive: the PADI Open Water course runs over a few days and you are in the water every day. White Island and Ras Mohammed trips are at their best from now until October.
Afternoons reach about 32°C, so desert trips that end after dark, such as the VIP super safari, are the most comfortable. Egyptian holidays this month (see below) make hotels and boats busier for a few days.
Day-trip weather in May
| Trip | Day | Night |
|---|---|---|
| Cairo and the pyramids | 32°C | 17°C |
| Luxor | 38°C | 20°C |
| St Catherine (Mount Sinai, 1,600 m) | 28°C | 14°C |
| Petra, Jordan | 28°C | 13°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 May
Two Egyptian holidays fall this month: Sham el-Nessim, the spring festival, on 3 May 2027, and Eid al-Adha, expected around 16 May 2027, when Egyptian families fill many coastal hotels for several days. The late May half-term is busy with UK families. Book boat trips a few days ahead around those dates.
What to book in May
White Island and Ras Mohammed by boat
The sea is about 25°C: the start of the best season for this trip.
PADI Open Water course
Learn to dive in warm water; the course runs over a few days.
Private speedboat (3 hours)
Your own boat and captain for three hours. Go early in the day, when the sea is often calmest.
VIP super safari
Starts in the late afternoon and ends with dinner and a show after dark, when it is cooler.
What to pack for Sharm El Sheikh in May
- Swimwear, sunglasses and a hat
- High-factor sun cream (SPF 50): the UV index is very high, even when a breeze makes it feel cooler
- Reef shoes or water shoes for coral beaches and rocky entries
- A fleece and a torch if you climb Mount Sinai at night, as the summit is much cooler than the coast
May in Sharm El Sheikh, Hurghada and Marsa Alam
| Resort | Day | Night | Sea | Windy days |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Sharm El Sheikh | 32°C | 21°C | 25°C | 1/10 |
| Hurghada | 31°C | 21°C | 24°C | 5/10 |
| Marsa Alam | 32°C | 23°C | 25°C | 5/10 |
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 May?
About 25°C on average. Over the past 10 years, readings for May ranged from 22.8°C to 27.5°C.
Is it warm enough to swim in Sharm El Sheikh in May?
Yes. At about 25°C most people swim and snorkel comfortably without a wetsuit.
What is the weather like in Sharm El Sheikh in May?
Average highs are 32°C and lows 21°C, with about 11 hours of sunshine a day and usually no rain.
Is May a good time to visit Sharm El Sheikh?
A warm, settled month with a sea of about 25°C and long sunny days. It gets hot in the afternoon, so plan sea trips for the day and desert trips for the evening.
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)
- Gulf News: Ramadan, Eid Al Fitr and Eid Al Adha 2027 expected dates
