Holidays by the Red Sea
The Red Sea sets coral reefs against a backdrop of desert mountains. On Egypt's coast, the main attraction often begins at the water's edge: snorkelling, diving and long days beside the sea. The hotel shoreline deserves as much attention as the room, because sandy access and a jetty over a reef offer different swimming experiences.
Reefs, beach access and the time of year
Sharm el Sheikh provides a Sinai base, while Port Ghalib near Marsa Alam lies on the southern Egyptian mainland coast. Check whether the beach suits shallow paddling or is primarily an entry point for exploring the reef. Coral should be viewed without standing on or touching it.
Spring and autumn are useful starting points for combining the beach with excursions. Summer can be intensely hot; winter brings cooler evenings and windier days. Comparing Red Sea water temperatures by month is particularly useful for longer swims and snorkelling: comfortable air during the day does not necessarily mean the same comfort after a long time in the water.
Geography at a glance
Red Sea
- Location
- Africa, Asia
- Part of
- Indian Ocean
- Area
- ≈ 438,000 km²
- Max. depth
- ≈ 2,730 m
Locator map. Measurements are approximate and depend on the area’s definition. Fact source · Map: Natural Earth
Sea temperature by month (°C)
In October, the warmest sea is at Corniche (30.8 °C) and the coolest at Coral Beach (24.2 °C).
| Beach | Jan | Feb | Mar | Apr | May | Jun | Jul | Aug | Sep | Oct | Nov | Dec |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Coral Beach | 20.8 | 20.0 | 19.8 | 20.5 | 22.0 | 23.9 | 26.1 | 27.0 | 25.9 | 24.2 | 23.2 | 21.8 |
| Corniche | 26.9 | 25.8 | 26.0 | 27.5 | 28.9 | 30.0 | 31.1 | 31.9 | 31.4 | 30.8 | 30.1 | 28.6 |
| Port Ghalib | 23.8 | 23.0 | 22.9 | 23.8 | 25.6 | 27.7 | 29.8 | 30.4 | 29.6 | 28.0 | 27.0 | 25.3 |
| Sharm El Sheikh | 23.6 | 22.5 | 22.4 | 23.3 | 25.0 | 26.7 | 28.8 | 29.7 | 28.5 | 27.5 | 26.7 | 25.0 |
| Tawila Island | 22.8 | 21.8 | 21.9 | 22.8 | 24.6 | 26.1 | 28.2 | 29.1 | 28.0 | 26.8 | 25.9 | 24.1 |
Average sea temperature in each month, 2021–2025 (Copernicus ERA5), at each beach. Not a forecast.
Red Sea – Sea temperature today
Current estimates for the selected beaches, not an average for the whole sea. Sea: NASA MUR with an hourly adjustment; air: Apple Weather. The update time refers to this page, not a measurement taken in the water.
Last updated:
| All beaches | Sea (°C) | Air (°C) |
|---|---|---|
| Coral Beach, Israel · Eilat | 26.4 °C | 20 °C |
| Corniche, Saudi Arabia · Jeddah | 32.1 °C | 29 °C |
| Port Ghalib, Egypt · Marsa Alam | 28.2 °C | 23 °C |
| Sharm El Sheikh, Egypt · Red Sea | 27.7 °C | 22 °C |
| Tawila Island, Egypt · Hurghada | 27.1 °C | 23 °C |