Vitamin D in Egypt: best months for sun and a travel guide

The best months for vitamin D in Egypt are October to May. In April, a full dose of about 1,000 IU takes around 7 minutes at midday for skin type III at age 30, with 8.1 usable sun hours a day. For a beach stay it is too hot from June to September.

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Egypt month by month

Egypt is rated at its median coastal place, for skin type III at age 30. Click a month for the details.

Month	Rating	Sun window	Peak UV	Full dose, age 30	Full dose, age 65	Afternoon high	Rainy days
January	Good	5.3 h	4.4	12 min	23 min	23°C	0/30
February	Good	6.1 h	5.2	10 min	19 min	23°C	4/30
March	Good	7.4 h	6.5	8 min	15 min	26°C	0/30
April	Excellent	8.1 h	7.2	7 min	14 min	31°C	0/30
May	Excellent	8.6 h	7.5	7 min	13 min	33°C	0/30
June	Too hot	8.8 h	7.6	7 min	13 min	38°C	0/30
July	Too hot	8.7 h	7.6	7 min	13 min	37°C	0/30
August	Too hot	8.4 h	7.5	7 min	13 min	38°C	0/30
September	Too hot	7.7 h	7.0	8 min	14 min	36°C	0/30
October	Good	6.6 h	5.6	10 min	18 min	27°C	0/30
November	Good	5.5 h	4.7	11 min	21 min	29°C	0/30
December	Good	4.9 h	4.1	13 min	24 min	25°C	0/30

Sun window is the number of hours a day with UV Index 2.5 or higher. Full dose is the minutes at midday for about 1,000 IU of vitamin D with a quarter of the body bare, for skin type III. Rainy days are days with at least 1 mm out of 30.

Travel guide: why go to Egypt

Why go

Egypt combines year-round Red Sea sun with some of the best coral reefs for snorkelling and diving, plus the pyramids and the Nile for a culture add-on.

Best for

Divers, snorkellers, budget travellers, sun seekers and history fans.

What to expect

Extremely hot summers, very dry air and warm, calm water. Winter is the ideal season for sightseeing. Resorts are often all-inclusive and walled, and tipping is expected.

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Egypt in more detail

Where to base yourself

The Red Sea coast is the beach and diving region: Hurghada and El Gouna are big and easy, Sharm El Sheikh and Dahab are on the Sinai side, and Marsa Alam is quieter and good for reefs and sea life. The Mediterranean coast around Alexandria is a city break. Cairo, Luxor and Aswan are usually added as day trips or short stays.

Choosing the month

Summers on the Red Sea are extremely hot. From October to April the sun is strong and the temperature pleasant, which makes winter the best season for sightseeing and the sea. The air is very dry and the water warm and calm.

Getting around and good to know

Most visitors use resort transfers and organised trips. Tipping is expected. Dress modestly away from the resorts, and check your government's travel advice for the Sinai peninsula and the borders.

Places in Egypt

Each place has its own climate, so its best months can differ from the country as a whole.

Hurghada best: Excellent

Big Red Sea resort strip with reefs, boat trips and cheap packages.

Best for families, divers, budget travellers

Best months March to May, October to January · Avoid too hot from June to September; too cool in February

A town on the Red Sea, filled with all-inclusive resorts and numerous diving options

Sharm El Sheikh best: Excellent

Resort town with famous reefs at Ras Mohammed.

Best for divers, snorkellers, couples

Best months October to April · Avoid too hot from May to September

A hugely popular resort town on the Sinai peninsula, with some of the best scuba diving in the world

Dahab best: Excellent

Relaxed backpacker town known for diving and kitesurfing.

Best for divers, freedivers, budget travellers

Best months October to April · Avoid too hot from May to September

At Sinai, east of Sharm el Sheikh, a backpacker central, with excellent scuba diving

Marsa Alam best: Excellent

Quiet south coast with dolphins, turtles and dugongs.

Best for divers, snorkellers, nature lovers

Best months October to May · Avoid too hot from June to September

El Gouna best: Excellent

Planned lagoon resort town with kitesurfing and a lively marina.

Best for couples, kitesurfers, families

Best months October to May · Avoid too hot from June to September

Alexandria best: Excellent

Mediterranean port city with old cafés, a library and a fort.

Best for culture travellers, short breaks

Best months April to November · Avoid too cool from December to March

Egypt's window on the Mediterranean, with still-palpable glimpses of the past

Nuweiba best: Excellent

Simple beach camps and calm water on the Gulf of Aqaba.

Best for budget travellers, divers

Best months October to April · Avoid too hot from May to September

Safaga best: Excellent

Windy, quiet port town with reefs and spa visitors.

Best for kitesurfers, divers, retirees

Best months October to May · Avoid too hot from June to September

Some short descriptions come from Wikivoyage (CC BY-SA 4.0).

Questions about vitamin D in Egypt

When is the best time to visit Egypt for vitamin D?

The best months for vitamin D in Egypt are October to May. In April, a full dose of about 1,000 IU takes around 7 minutes at midday for skin type III at age 30, with 8.1 usable sun hours a day.

Can you get vitamin D from the sun in Egypt in December?

Yes, but slowly. In December a full dose takes about 13 minutes at midday for skin type III at age 30, with 4.9 usable hours a day.

How long do I need in the sun in Egypt?

In April, the best month, about 7 minutes at midday with a quarter of the body bare, for skin type III at age 30; about 14 minutes at age 65. Darker skin needs longer and fair skin burns sooner, so keep sessions short. This is an estimate for planning, not medical advice.

Which months should I avoid in Egypt?

For a beach stay, avoid the months when it is too hot from June to September.

What is the best place in Egypt for vitamin D?

In April the strongest sun of the places we rate is around Marsa Alam. Each place has its own rating, so open the place list to compare them.

Plan by month

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