Christmas Day in Egypt: What to expect and where to go

Cairo and Giza

The city of Cairo has a more subdued Christmas atmosphere than other global capitals, with many of its residents being Muslim and therefore not observing the Christian holiday. There are still Christmas Eve and Day dinners at hotels and restaurants around the Pyramids of Giza, but the plateau makes for a convenient morning visit to the site as the winter sunshine bathes the monuments in long shadows.

A trip to Coptic Cairo, on the edge of the modern city, should be included by anyone with an interest in the country's history. Within a walled compound stand three of Egypt's oldest churches, the Hanging Church and the churches of St. Sergius and St. John, alongside a synagogue. Visitors with more time on their hands and considering a longer stay might want to time their arrival with the Coptic Christmas celebrations.

Luxor and a Nile Cruise

Spending Christmas Day in Egypt by a cruise on the Nile is a way of combining it with a sightseeing tour of the Valley of the Kings and the temples at Karnak. These excursions, plus a stop at the tombs of the Valley of the Kings plus any other sightseeing options, would be combined with evenings moored overnight near Luxor, Edfu and Kom Ombo on the way to Aswan.

Many cruise operators in Egypt include a special Christmas Day menu and an evening meal on board, so that passengers can enjoy a festive meal with a view of the riverbank instead of their hotel. Anyone with a longer stay looking to spend Christmas Day in Egypt by the Nile would be advised to book in advance for the last week of December, when cruises tend to have higher occupancy.

Aswan and the Nubian South

Aswan has a relaxed pace of life compared to other major cities in Egypt, and it has attractions that extend beyond the Pyramids of Giza or the narrow streets of Islamic Cairo. A boat trip along the Nile to the Nubian village or the Unfinished Obelisk can be enjoyed by anyone spending their Christmas Day in Egypt on the southern edge of the country.

The banks of the river here are formed by a narrower channel and jagged granite rock formations, making for a more dramatic setting than further north. A felucca (sailing boat) is a popular way of spending the afternoon and returning to your hotel for an evening meal ashore, or staying on board if your cruise has a flexible dining policy.

Red Sea Resorts

Hurghada and Sharm El Sheikh on the Red Sea coast cater to a different type of traveler, for whom the main attraction of a December visit to Egypt would be the opportunity for a beach holiday. Beach-side resorts in these two cities make their own Christmas and New Year programming around outdoor dining, music and fireworks, an alternative to the history-focused sightseeing itineraries of a Nile cruise or a trip to Cairo.

Coptic Christmas Customs

A 43-day period of fasting before Christmas Day is observed by Coptic Christians as part of their preparations for the holiday, which falls on January 7 in Egypt. Animal products are avoided during this time, with a festive meal shared by the whole family following midnight mass. Christmas Day in Egypt is not a public holiday, but services are held in all the major churches of Cairo and the surrounding areas on the eve of the holiday.

Festive Food and Dining

Hotels and cruise ships with international clientele prepare a menu of traditional foods around Christmas Day, and it is common to see both Egyptian dishes and international classics on the same plate. Many restaurants in the tourist areas of Luxor and Aswan offer a festive special menu for the week of Christmas, but this is not available everywhere and should be double-checked in advance.

A Cairo-Based Holiday

A trip to Egypt spending Christmas Day in Cairo has the advantage of being close to the Pyramids of Giza, the Egyptian Museum, and also Coptic Cairo—a place to explore both ancient history and local culture at the same time. It also has the flexibility of a hotel base, making it easy to make a day trip to Alexandria or Saqqara, which are both within reasonable travelling distance from the capital city.

A Cruise-Based Holiday

A cruise along the Nile from Luxor to Aswan involves a series of temples and monuments making up the itinerary, with days spent moored overnight at a berth. For a traveler spending Christmas Day in Egypt on a cruise, this usually means a morning excursion followed by an evening of festive dining back on board.

New Year celebrations in Egypt tend to focus around three different locations, namely the hotels along the banks of the Nile in Cairo, cruise ships plying up and down the Nile between Luxor and Aswan, and the resorts dotting the Red Sea coast. It is best to decide on an itinerary for New Year's Eve in Egypt well in advance, since the last month of the year is a peak season for both Nile cruises and Red Sea resorts.

In Cairo, there are several hotels along the river with a New Year's Eve dinner, music, and a countdown to midnight – and the fireworks display is visible from a riverside view without having to travel far. On a cruise along the Nile, the location is likely to be somewhere along the route between Luxor, Edfu, and Aswan on December 31, so that travelers can enjoy a festive meal on board with a view of the riverbank. Resorts along the Red Sea coast offer similar programming to a beachside dinner on the last night of the year, with the music and countdown happening on the lawn of the hotel if the weather is fine enough.

A New Year's Eve dinner on board a Nile cruise ship is usually one of the more extravagant meals of the sailing, timed to allow passengers to go on deck and see the fireworks display over the river after the countdown. In Cairo, it is possible to book a table at a riverside or rooftop restaurant instead of a hotel, with similar views over the city. Resorts along the Red Sea also tend to have an eventful New Year's Eve, often with live music accompanying a beachside dining experience and the celebration lasting well into the early hours of the new year.

Unlike Christmas, New Year's Day is not a public holiday in Egypt, so all the major tourist attractions are open for business as per normal. Travelers on a Nile cruise should be aware that they will already have a morning excursion planned for January 1, while those staying in Cairo can use the day to pay a visit to the Pyramids of Giza or revisit any sites of interest that they missed out on earlier in the week.

• December and January are the cooler, drier months of the year in Egypt – a perfect time for visiting open-air historical sites.

• Hotels and cruise ships with a festive program for Christmas and New Year's Eve tend to book up early, especially along the Luxor-Aswan route.

• Coptic Christmas is a public holiday for Egypt's Christian minority, but most tourist attractions and services function as normal.

• A modest dress code is recommended when visiting churches or mosques, especially in and around Cairo.

• Domestic travel between Cairo, Luxor and Aswan is recommended by air or train, and this should be confirmed when booking a cruise that does not originate in the capital city.

Is Christmas Day a public holiday in Egypt?

December 25 is not an official public holiday in Egypt, so most services and attractions function as normal on this day. Christmas Day in Egypt is primarily a celebration of the Christian holiday among the country's Coptic minority, with the majority of Egyptians following the Muslim faith and observing the holiday in a different way.

When is Coptic Christmas celebrated?

Coptic Christmas in Egypt is celebrated on January 7, following the Julian calendar. Travelers are likely to see the effects of the holiday in Cairo through religious services and the gathering of friends and family.

What is the best way to spend a New Year celebration in Egypt?

There are several options for a New Year celebration in Egypt, and they include a dinner party at a hotel overlooking the Nile in Cairo, a festive meal and performance on board a cruise ship sailing between Luxor and Aswan, or a beach-side New Year's Eve dinner at a resort on the Red Sea coast.

Is December a good time to visit Egypt's temples and pyramids?

December is a good month to visit Egypt's historical sites, as it is one of the cooler and drier months of the year. It falls within the high season for travel in Egypt, but this makes it all the more important to plan and book accommodation at a Nile-side hotel or book a cruise along the river.

How far ahead should I book a Christmas or New Year trip to Egypt?

Booking a trip to Egypt for the Christmas and New Year period should be done several months in advance, since there are limited accommodation options for a December visit to Cairo or a cruise along the Nile. Anyone interested in seeing Egypt's sights on a winter break would be wise to make their bookings early to avoid disappointment.