Things to Do in Cairo in May
May weather, activities, events & insider tips
May Weather in Cairo
Is May Right for You?
Advantages
- Peak sightseeing weather with daytime temperatures around 32°C (89°F) - hot enough to feel properly Egyptian but not the brutal 40°C+ (104°F+) you'll face in July and August. The Pyramids and temples are actually enjoyable before 10am.
- Virtually zero rainfall despite the data showing 10 rainy days - Cairo in May averages essentially no precipitation, and those occasional 'rainy days' are usually just cloudy skies or brief dusty winds. You won't be carrying an umbrella around the Egyptian Museum.
- Lower tourist crowds compared to the winter peak season (December through March). You'll still share the Pyramids with tour groups, but queue times at major sites drop by 30-40% and you can actually get decent photos at Saqqara without fifty people in the frame.
- Shoulder season pricing kicks in - accommodation costs typically drop 20-35% compared to February and March rates. A solid four-star hotel in Zamalek that runs 2,500 EGP in winter might be 1,600-1,800 EGP in May, and you've got better negotiating power for multi-day guides.
Considerations
- The heat builds significantly through the month - early May starts pleasant around 28°C (82°F), but by late May you're hitting 35°C (95°F) regularly. If you're not accustomed to desert heat, afternoons become genuinely draining and you'll understand why Cairenes disappear indoors between 1pm and 5pm.
- Dust and occasional khamsin winds can hit in May - these hot, sandy windstorms reduce visibility, coat everything in fine grit, and make outdoor exploration miserable for 1-3 days at a stretch. They're unpredictable, and when one hits during your 4-day trip, it genuinely affects your plans.
- Ramadan timing varies yearly and occasionally falls in May - in 2026, Ramadan runs approximately late February through late March, so you'll miss it, but in other years May can catch the tail end. During Ramadan, restaurant hours shift dramatically, many cafes close during daylight, and the rhythm of the city changes completely.
Best Activities in May
Early Morning Giza Plateau Tours
May weather makes the 6am-9am window at the Pyramids actually spectacular rather than just tolerable. You'll catch sunrise temperatures around 20-22°C (68-72°F) with that perfect golden light photographers obsess over, and the tour buses don't arrive in force until 9:30am. The heat builds fast though - by 11am you're looking at 30°C+ (86°F+) with zero shade, and the limestone radiates heat like a convection oven. This is genuinely the best time of day for the Sphinx, the Solar Boat Museum, and climbing inside Khafre's pyramid without feeling like you're suffocating.
Islamic Cairo Walking Tours
The medieval quarter is actually more manageable in May than winter because the narrow alleyways of Khan el-Khalili and around Al-Azhar Mosque provide natural shade and catch cross-breezes. The 70% humidity sounds rough but it's dry heat compared to coastal cities, and the stone buildings keep interiors surprisingly cool. Start these walks by 8am and you'll have Al-Moez Street and the Citadel to yourself before the midday heat. The sunset timing around 6:45pm means you can restart exploring around 5pm when temperatures drop back to comfortable levels and the evening call to prayer echoes through the quarter.
Egyptian Museum Extended Visits
May heat makes air-conditioned museums genuinely appealing rather than just educational obligations. The Egyptian Museum in Tahrir Square becomes your midday refuge from 11am-4pm when outdoor sightseeing is brutal. You'll want 3-4 hours minimum to see the Tutankhamun galleries properly, and May's moderate crowds mean you can actually spend time with the mummy rooms without being shoved along. The museum's chaotic layout and poor signage make a guide worthwhile - they'll navigate you to the highlights and explain what you're actually looking at beyond the minimal English labels.
Nile Felucca Sunset Sails
Late afternoon felucca rides from 5pm-7pm catch the temperature drop and that spectacular Nile light as the sun sets around 6:45pm in May. The traditional wooden sailboats move slowly enough to catch any breeze, and the river temperature moderates the air by 2-3°C (4-5°F) compared to inland streets. You'll sail past Zamalek and Gezira Island with the Cairo Tower silhouetted against orange skies while avoiding the midday heat entirely. This is genuinely relaxing rather than just touristy, especially after a morning battling the Pyramids crowds.
Saqqara and Dahshur Archaeological Site Tours
These sites 30-40 km (19-25 miles) south of Cairo see a fraction of Giza's crowds even in May, and the Step Pyramid of Djoser plus the Bent Pyramid at Dahshur are genuinely impressive without the circus atmosphere. May heat is the main consideration - these are exposed desert sites with minimal shade, so morning departures by 7am are essential. You'll need 4-5 hours total including drive time, and the sites close by 4pm. The advantage in May is that winter tour groups have thinned out significantly, so you might have entire pyramid complexes nearly to yourself by 8:30am.
Coptic Cairo Heritage Tours
The ancient Christian quarter around the Hanging Church and Ben Ezra Synagogue is another excellent midday heat refuge with thick stone walls and underground crypts that stay naturally cool. May sees fewer religious tour groups than Easter season, and the compact area means you can cover the Coptic Museum, multiple historic churches, and the Roman fortress remains in 2-3 hours without excessive walking. The neighborhood has a completely different atmosphere from Islamic Cairo - quieter, more contemplative, with better-maintained sites and less aggressive vendors.
May Events & Festivals
Sham el-Nessim Spring Festival
This ancient Egyptian spring celebration falls on Coptic Easter Monday, which in 2026 is April 20th, so you'll miss it if you're visiting May specifically. Worth noting because it's one of Cairo's few secular national holidays where locals flood parks and the Nile corniche for picnics. If your dates are flexible and you can catch late April, you'll see a side of Cairo tourists rarely experience.