What's on in Alexandria, Egypt through the year

Busy — Mid-year holiday in Egypt, school holidays in 5 of the markets that fill it

• Holiday

  Ramadan

  19 Feb – 19 MarClosures

  Cafes and shops keep the fast until sunset, then the corniche fills until two in the morning. The middle of the day is the quiet part, and fish restaurants only take late bookings. Source ↗

Still on: Winter storms off the sea (15 Nov – 15 Mar (usually))

Peak crowds — Ramadan, Mid-year holiday in Egypt

Nothing new starts in February.

Still on: Ramadan (19 Feb – 19 Mar), Winter storms off the sea (15 Nov – 15 Mar (usually))

Peak crowds — Ramadan, Eid al-Fitr

• Holiday

  Eid al-Fitr

  20–22 MarRamadan & EidCrowded

  Cairo empties onto the Alexandrian seafront for three days: every beach umbrella taken, the tram crawling, rates up. It is the most domestic the city gets all year. Source ↗

• Hazard

  Khamaseen dust winds

  1 Mar – 15 May · usuallyDust season

  Hot southerlies off the desert push dust over the city for a day or two at a time in spring, and the sea haze holds it in. Ferries and the corniche keep running; sensitive lungs do not enjoy it. Source ↗

Still on: Ramadan (19 Feb – 19 Mar), Winter storms off the sea (15 Nov – 15 Mar (usually))

Busy — Sham el-Nessim, school holidays in 4 of the markets that fill it

• Festival

  Sham el-Nessim

  13 AprMajor festivalCrowdedClosures

  The Monday after Coptic Easter, when the whole city picnics outdoors on salted fish and spring onions. Montazah and the beaches are full from dawn and the shops shut. Source ↗

Still on: Ramadan (19 Feb – 19 Mar), Eid al-Fitr (20–22 Mar), Khamaseen dust winds (1 Mar – 15 May (usually))

Shoulder season — school holidays in 3 of the markets that fill it, an ordinary month

Nothing new starts in May.

Still on: Khamaseen dust winds (1 Mar – 15 May (usually)), Sham el-Nessim (13 Apr)

Peak crowds — The Egyptian summer season, Summer holidays in Egypt

• Season

  The Egyptian summer season

  15 Jun – 10 Sep · usuallySchool holidaysCrowded

  Families take flats along the coast for weeks at a time, corniche traffic doubles and rooms cost roughly twice the spring rate. Either side of it the same city is half empty.

Peak crowds — The Egyptian summer season, Summer holidays in Egypt

Nothing new starts in July.

Still on: The Egyptian summer season (15 Jun – 10 Sep (usually))

Peak crowds — The Egyptian summer season, Summer holidays in Egypt

Nothing new starts in August.

Still on: The Egyptian summer season (15 Jun – 10 Sep (usually))

Peak crowds — The Egyptian summer season, Summer holidays in Egypt

Nothing new starts in September.

Still on: The Egyptian summer season (15 Jun – 10 Sep (usually))

Shoulder season — school holidays in 4 of the markets that fill it, an ordinary month

Nothing new starts in October.

Busy — school holidays in 2 of the markets that fill it, one of its best months for weather

• Hazard

  Winter storms off the sea

  15 Nov – 15 Mar · usuallyFlood seasonClosures

  Named storms come in off the Mediterranean every few weeks and the drains give up before the rain does: flooded underpasses, closed corniche lanes, a day written off. They pass quickly. Source ↗

Shoulder season — school holidays in 5 of the markets that fill it, an ordinary month

Nothing new starts in December.

Still on: Winter storms off the sea (15 Nov – 15 Mar (usually))