When to visit Aswan
October to April is comfortable; December and January are cool enough to need a jacket after dark. May to September is very hot — regularly above 40°C — and it changes what a day here can contain rather than ruling the trip out. Aswan is dry all year, so the heat is the only real variable.
The practical difference between winter and summer here is not comfort, it is the shape of the day. In winter you can be out from nine to five. In summer you get the early morning and the late afternoon, and the middle of the day belongs to the Nubian Museum or your hotel.
Almost every site in this guide is unshaded. That is why the heat matters more in Aswan than the temperature alone suggests, and why our itineraries put the museum in the middle of the day rather than at the start.
Ramadan moves each year and changes opening hours, restaurant timings and the mood of the evening — usually for the better, if you like a city that comes alive after dark. Check the dates for your year.
| October – April | Comfortable. Full days outside. |
| December – January | Cool after dark. Bring a layer. |
| May – September | Very hot. Mornings and evenings only. |
| Rainfall | Effectively none, all year. |
| Abu Simbel Sun Festival dates | not verified |
Between May and September, plan the middle of the day indoors. This is not caution — the sites here have no shade and no café to retreat into.
The Sun Festival dates at Abu Simbel are commonly given as 22 February and 22 October, but the festival arrangements, crowds and access change year to year and we have not verified this year’s. Check with the site authority before planning a trip around it.
It is very hot, and people do still come. What changes is the shape of the day, not whether the trip is possible. If you are heat-sensitive or travelling with small children or older relatives, go between October and April.
Practical details [DATE] · Found something that changed? Tell us and we will re-check it.