| At a glance | December in Hurghada |
|---|---|
| Air, daytime | about 22-23 °C |
| Air, night | about 12-18 °C depending on the source |
| Sea | about 23-25 °C |
| Rain | almost none (0 to 1 day) |
| Sun | 8 to 9 hours a day |
| Crowds and prices | quiet until mid-December, high season from Christmas to New Year |
These values are rounded averages drawn from several weather sites; a given day can differ by several degrees. To compare with other months, see the best time to visit Hurghada.
Can you swim in December?
Yes. At 23-25 °C, the water is fine for swimming, but it feels cool when you stay still, especially with the wind on a boat deck. For snorkelling, a shorty wetsuit or a long-sleeved rash guard helps; dive clubs lend or rent them. Several hotels heat a pool in winter: ask before booking if you are travelling with young children. Wind is the real factor of the month: on strong-wind days some boat trips are cancelled or shortened, and the open beach becomes unpleasant. Plan an indoor alternative, see what to do in Hurghada when it is windy.
What to do in Hurghada in December
- Boat trip and snorkelling: choose the morning, when the sea is calmest. Compare in Giftun and Orange Bay, or book a speedboat trip to the Giftun Islands directly; see also the Giftun Island page.
- Diving: December suits it well. The intro dive remains possible, for example this Red Sea intro dive.
- Upper Egypt tours: December is one of the seasons when Luxor is most bearable; see Luxor from Hurghada.
- Desert: quad biking and Bedouin dinner, but with a jacket for the night.
- Kitesurfing: schools run in winter; see kitesurfing in Hurghada.
- Evenings: terraces and the marina at night, with a sweater; see evening: cruise or Bedouin dinner.
Christmas and late December
From 20 December to early January, rooms and flights are among the most expensive of the year: book early. Hotels offer Christmas Eve dinners, often at extra cost; read the conditions when booking. Details in Christmas in Hurghada and, for 31 December, New Year in Hurghada. Coptic Christmas falls on 7 January, a public holiday in Egypt.
How much does it cost?
There is no official price grid: hotel prices depend on the date more than anything. Early December is one of the cheapest times of the winter; after the 20th, rates go up. For daily benchmarks, see Hurghada travel budget; to choose an area, where to stay in Hurghada and all-inclusive: which area.
What to pack
A sweater or jacket for the evening, a windbreaker for the boat, a swimsuit and a rash guard, sunscreen (the sun is still strong), closed shoes for the desert.
Going further
The overview of the season is in Hurghada in winter: what to do from November to February.
FAQ
Is it hot in Hurghada in December? No, it is mild: about 22-23 °C in the afternoon, cool in the evening.
Is the sea warm enough? It is about 23-25 °C: pleasant for swimming, a little cool for long snorkelling without a wetsuit.
When do prices go up? Around 20 December, until early January.
Does it rain? Very rarely; the wind is more of a nuisance than rain.
The Hurghada Authority editorial team, 20 October 2026.
