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Luxor Nile shore, one of the best places to go during Christmas

Where should you go if you want Christmas without the freeze? The best places to go during Christmas give you sun, sights and room to breathe. This guide matches five Egyptian places to your Christmas mood, with real prices from our own tours.

Which Are the Best Places to Go During Christmas for Warm Weather?

Egypt’s Nile valley and Red Sea coast. December days are dry and mild, and the big sights stay open. Luxor averages a 24°C high with almost no rain, according to Weather & Climate.

Your Christmas moodBest place to go
Temples and historyLuxor
Slow river daysAswan
Sea and snorkelingHurghada
Museums and big-city lightsCairo
Sea breeze and an old harborAlexandria

Good places to go for Christmas share one trait: they stay open and pleasant in winter. Great places to go for Christmas and nice places to go for Christmas also keep prices fair.

The best places to go for xmas, the best places to go for the Christmas holiday and great places to visit for Christmas all pass the same test. Cool places to go at Christmas, and the best place for Christmas holiday plans, usually mix culture with sun.

Not sure which mood is yours? Read on, then tell us your dates and we will match you to a place.

Which Place Fits Your Christmas Mood?

Pick the mood first. The map follows.

Luxor for Temples in Mild Sun

Luxor holds Karnak, the Valley of the Kings and the West Bank in one compact area. A private Karnak and Luxor Temple tour starts from $65, and the Valley of the Kings tour from $70. Add a sunrise balloon flight from $75 if you like early starts. Our Luxor tours show more.

Luxor Nile shore, one of the best places to go during Christmas
Photo: Marc Ryckaert (MJJR), CC BY 3.0, via Wikimedia Commons

Aswan for Slow River Days

Aswan moves at the speed of the Nile. Think felucca rides, Nubian villages and the island temple of Philae. The Abu Simbel overnight tour from Aswan starts from $290. Our Aswan tours cover the rest.

Hurghada for Sea and Sun

Hurghada gives you beach days and reefs without a long journey. The sea stays swimmable in winter, and temples are one day trip away. A private Luxor day trip starts from $121, and a Cairo day trip from $152. See Hurghada Christmas holidays for the full beach plan, and where to stay in Hurghada for hotels.

Red Sea coast at Hurghada, among the best places to go during Christmas
Photo: Marc Ryckaert (MJJR), CC BY 3.0, via Wikimedia Commons

Cairo for City Lights and Museums

Cairo suits a short, busy break. You get the Pyramids, the Grand Egyptian Museum and the old city in a few days. Read Cairo at Christmas for the festive side, and our Pyramids Cairo tour guide for the sights.

Cairo Citadel mosque courtyard, one of the best places to go during Christmas for culture
Photo: Diego Delso, CC BY-SA 3.0, via Wikimedia Commons

Alexandria for a Sea Breeze

Alexandria is cooler and breezier than the south, so pack layers. It offers a Mediterranean harbor, the Qaitbay Citadel and a quieter pace. A day trip from Cairo makes it easy to add.

Qaitbay Citadel in Alexandria, one of the best places to go during Christmas by the sea
Photo: Argenberg, CC BY 2.0, via Wikimedia Commons

Which Christmas Vacation Spots Make Your Shortlist?

Start with the weather, then the sights. Christmas vacation destinations, christmas vacation spots and christmas vacation places come in many styles, but the shortlist is simple.

Places to go during Christmas, places to go for xmas and places to go in Christmas holidays all begin with one question: warm or cold? Places to vacation during Christmas, vacation places during Christmas and vacation spots during Christmas are easier to judge once you answer it.

Xmas vacation destinations and xmas vacation spots work the same way, and so do places to go in xmas and christmas vacation sites. If you ask for the christmas best place to go, the answer is the one that matches your mood.

The best place for Christmas vacation, the best Christmas vacation spots and the best Christmas vacation destinations should be warm, calm and well connected.

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Good places to vacation for Christmas and great places to vacation for Christmas follow the same pattern. Cool Christmas vacation spots, great Christmas vacation spots and top places for Christmas vacation all include Luxor.

Timing matters too. The best places to go during Christmas time, good places to go during Christmas and great places to go during Christmas sell out early.

Places to go around Christmas time and the best places to visit in December for Christmas are no different. So book early, and ask us for the best places to go over Christmas that still have room.

Fun places to go for Christmas, nice places to go for Christmas vacation and the best holiday destinations for Christmas share that need for early planning.

Best places to go for Christmas vacation and places to visit for Christmas vacation, once chosen, deserve early booking too.

How Does Egypt Compare With Snow and Market Christmases?

They offer different gifts, so the best places to vacation during Christmas depend on what you miss most. Snow villages and Christmas markets give you lights, cold air and mulled wine.

Egypt gives you sun, ancient sights and a Christmas that feels like a holiday, not an obligation. If you want both, Egypt also has gala dinners on the Nile. See our guide to Christmas river cruises for that.

Where Else Do Travelers Look During the Holidays?

Many travelers search for the best places to go on holiday at Christmas, good places to go on holiday at Christmas and the best holiday destinations for xmas. They often want warmth, culture and fair prices in one place.

Christmas places to go in December, places to go for Christmas time and places to go to celebrate Christmas all lead to the same idea: a base with plenty of sights and gentle weather.

Some want the best places to go to escape Christmas. Egypt suits them too. A Nile sunset, a quiet temple and a long lunch are an easy way to enjoy the holiday on your own terms.

Best places to go near Christmas, best places to go around Christmas and the best places to visit around Christmas can all be found within one compact region here. Good places to go over Christmas and great places to go for Christmas vacation need only a good plan.

What Makes a Place Good for Christmas?

Use four simple tests.

  • Weather: mild, dry days make every plan easier.
  • Crowds: pick sites with room to breathe, and start early.
  • Distance: short transfers keep the holiday relaxed.
  • Price: compare the full plan, not the headline.

Field tip: choose one base and one theme. A trip that tries to cover every mood becomes a checklist. Our Christmas in Egypt guide maps the season city by city, and warm Christmas vacations shows how the sun hours add up.

Four Answers on Picking Your Place

Which are the best places to go during christmas for a short break?

Cairo or Luxor. Both pack major sights into a small area, so four days feel full without feeling rushed.

Which place feels most festive on Christmas Eve?

Nile cruise boats and larger Cairo hotels host the main gala dinners. Our guides to Christmas Eve on a Nile cruise and Cairo at Christmas explain the options.

Can you combine a city and the sea?

Yes. Stay in Hurghada and add a Cairo or Luxor day trip, or split the break between the Nile and the coast.

Is Alexandria warm enough in December?

It is cooler than the south. Expect mild days, breezy evenings and the chance of a shower, so bring a light jacket.

Choose the Mood, Then the Map

Temples, river, sea, city or harbor: pick the mood that sounds like you. The place follows. Send us your dates and we will shape your Christmas from our tours and packages.

Nubian houses beside the Nile, a colorful stop on Christmas trips for families Previous Christmas Trips for Families: A Calm Egypt Plan for Every Age