Sunrise and Sunset Times in Egypt by Month

In Egypt the sun rises between roughly 5:20 and 7:00 a.m. local time and sets between about 4:55 p.m. in December and 8:00 p.m. in June and July. Winter gives you comfortable sightseeing but short afternoons; summer gives long, light evenings but punishing midday heat, so the clock and the thermometer together should shape your daily plan.

Daylight changes the way an Egypt itinerary feels far more than most travelers expect. A December day in Luxor offers a little over 10 hours of usable light, while a June day stretches past 13.5. That difference decides whether you can fit both banks of Luxor into one day, how early your Abu Simbel start needs to be, and whether a felucca sail in Aswan happens in golden light or in the dark.

The table below uses the 15th of each month as a representative planning point and applies Egypt's local clock time, including daylight-saving time where it applies. Treat it as a planning tool, not a timetable: it tells you how the day is shaped, while site hours and your confirmed itinerary tell you what you can actually do with it.

Sunrise and sunset by month at a glance

Each cell shows sunrise / sunset in local time on the 15th of the month.

How to read the table

These are mid-month astronomical times calculated for each city, not daily guarantees. Sunrise and sunset shift by a few minutes over the course of a month, and around the equinoxes the change is fastest. The moment you actually see the sun can also differ from the calculated time: the cliffs of the Theban hills on Luxor's West Bank, the desert ridges behind Aswan, city buildings in Cairo, and seasonal haze over the Nile Valley can all delay the first direct light or bring an early end to the afternoon glow.

You will notice what looks like a jump between April and May, and again between October and November. That is the clock, not the sun. Under Egypt's current law, clocks move forward one hour from late April until late October, so mid-April still shows standard time and mid-May shows summer time. Egypt has switched daylight saving off and on more than once in recent decades, so if you are planning a trip far ahead, check the current rule closer to departure. The practical effect is simple: in summer the light lasts until close to 8 p.m., and sunrise sits near 6 a.m. rather than 5 a.m.

The differences between cities are small but useful. Aswan and Luxor, farther south and east than Cairo, see sunrise earlier in winter and sunset slightly later, which gives them a few extra minutes of winter afternoon. Hurghada, on the Red Sea coast, tends to see the earliest sunrise and the earliest sunset of the four.

How daylight shapes each season

Winter: December to February

This is peak touring season and the coolest time of year, but it also has the shortest days. With sunset around 5 p.m. in Cairo and Upper Egypt, an afternoon visit that starts at 3:30 p.m. can feel rushed. Most well-built winter itineraries start sightseeing between 7 and 8 a.m., put the outdoor highlights in the morning and early afternoon, and keep museums, markets, or dinner for after dark. Desert mornings can be genuinely cold, so a sunrise start means a warm layer.

Spring: March to April

Days lengthen quickly, temperatures climb, and the light is often clear. March is one of the most balanced months for touring: sunrise around 6 a.m., sunset close to 6 p.m., and heat that is usually manageable through the middle of the day. By late April, Upper Egypt can already be hot by late morning, so early starts start to matter again for comfort.

Summer: May to September

Long days help, but the heat sets the schedule more than the light does. In Luxor and Aswan, the useful sightseeing window is often from sunrise until late morning, then again in the last two or three hours before sunset. The middle of the day is better spent on the boat, by the pool, or in an air-conditioned museum. In Cairo, Giza mornings and evening walks in Islamic Cairo or along the Nile work well.

Fall: October and November

October still runs on summer time for most of the month, so evenings stay light. When clocks go back in late October, sunset suddenly falls before 5 p.m. That shift catches some travelers off guard: a November afternoon plan built on October expectations can run into darkness.

Why Luxor and Aswan days start so early

In Upper Egypt, early light protects both comfort and photography. In the hot months, a site start soon after opening gives you several hours before temperatures peak, and the long shadows make reliefs and columns easier to read. In winter, the reason changes: daylight is shorter, so an early start protects enough time for both East Bank and West Bank sightseeing in one day.

Two Upper Egypt experiences depend directly on sunrise:

• Hot-air balloon flights over Luxor's West Bank launch around dawn, when winds are calm. Pickup is usually well before sunrise, and flights depend on weather and official clearance on the day.
• Abu Simbel by road from Aswan traditionally leaves in the very early hours so you arrive in the cool of the morning. Whether you go by road or by air, ask how the timing works on your date.

A Nile cruise also follows the light. Sailing sections are often scheduled so that you pass the riverbanks in daylight, and the sundeck in the last hour before sunset is a good place to be on the whole trip. If you want to plan your days around the river, compare Nile cruise itineraries with this table in hand.

Best light is not the same as opening time

A beautiful sunrise does not mean a monument is open at sunrise. Archaeological sites run on official opening hours, and those hours can change by season. Nourbelle schedules photography around legal opening times and the actual tour route, not around the sun alone.

This matters most at Giza. Visitors sometimes confuse sunrise viewpoints outside the plateau, such as hotel terraces or rooftops in the town, with official visitor access to the pyramids themselves. If a sunrise photo of the pyramids is important to you, the realistic plan is usually a view from outside the site at dawn and then entry when the plateau opens. In Luxor, the East Bank temples are lovely in late-afternoon light, and Luxor Temple has traditionally been open into the evening, which makes it a good choice after sunset. Always check current hours rather than assuming.

Practical photography tips

• The first hour after sunrise and the last hour before sunset give warm, low light on sandstone and limestone.
• Midday light in Egypt is harsh and flat; use it for interiors, museums, and shaded courtyards.
• Many tombs and some interiors restrict photography, or require a separate permit. Ask before you raise the camera.
• In winter, the golden hour arrives early: start planning sunset shots around 4 p.m.

Red Sea evenings

Hurghada and the Red Sea work well at the end of a touring itinerary because the day can finally slow down. Winter sunsets come early, so snorkeling and boat trips usually run in the morning and early afternoon. In summer, evenings stay light much later, which makes a late swim or a sunset dinner easy. Boat trips, desert safaris, and resort days should be chosen around sea conditions, wind, and heat as well as the clock. If you are deciding where to end your trip, the Hurghada guide is a good next read.

Frequently asked questions

What time does the sun rise in Luxor?

In Luxor the sun rises roughly between 5:25 and 6:40 a.m. across the year, depending on the season and on whether daylight-saving time is in effect. Winter sunrises are the latest, and late April, just before clocks move forward, has the earliest. The Theban hills can delay direct sunlight on the West Bank by a few minutes.

Does Egypt use daylight-saving time?

Under current law, yes: clocks move forward one hour from late April to late October. Egypt has suspended and reinstated summer time more than once, so it is worth checking the current rule close to your trip, especially when you calculate flight connections and early pickups.

When is sunset earliest in Egypt?

Sunset is earliest from late November through December, when Cairo, Hurghada, and Upper Egypt see the sun go down close to 5 p.m. or slightly before. Plan winter afternoons accordingly, and keep indoor activities such as museums, markets, and dinners for the evening.

Can I plan a temple visit exactly around these times?

Use the table as a daylight guide only. Site opening hours, ticketing, transport, and your guide's route still control the actual visit, and opening hours can change by season. Your confirmed itinerary will show the real timing for each day.

Which month has the longest days in Egypt?

June has the longest days, with roughly 13.5 to 14 hours of daylight in Cairo. July is close behind. Long days do not mean long sightseeing, though, because heat in Upper Egypt usually limits outdoor touring to the morning and the late afternoon.

Plan it with Nourbelle

If daylight, heat, and photography matter to how you travel, tell us when you plan to go and we will shape each day around the light. Start planning your trip and a Nourbelle specialist will suggest a pace that fits your season.