Summary
Egypt has two kinds of public holiday: fixed national days on the same date every year, and religious holidays that move with the Islamic lunar calendar or the Coptic Easter. Most of them make little difference to a holiday in Egypt: the pyramids, temples and museums stay open, and only offices, banks and some shops close. A few, especially the two Eids, bring Egyptian families onto the roads, beaches and Nile cruises, so it pays to know the dates.
Public Holidays in Egypt in 2027
| Date | Holiday |
|---|---|
| 7 January | Coptic Christmas |
| 25 January | Revolution Day (25 January 2011) and Police Day |
| About 9–11 March* | Eid al-Fitr, the end of Ramadan |
| 25 April | Sinai Liberation Day |
| 1 May | Labour Day |
| 3 May | Sham El-Nessim, the spring festival, the Monday after Coptic Easter (2 May) |
| About 15–19 May* | Arafat Day and Eid al-Adha |
| About 6 June* | Islamic New Year |
| 30 June | 30 June Revolution Day |
| 23 July | Revolution Day (1952) |
| About 15 August* | The Prophet’s Birthday (Mawlid an-Nabi) |
| 6 October | Armed Forces Day |
*Islamic holidays follow the sighting of the new moon, so the exact dates are confirmed only a few days before. The government also sometimes moves a fixed holiday to a Thursday or Sunday to make a long weekend.
Ramadan
Ramadan, the month of fasting, is expected to run from about 8 February to 9 March 2027. It is not a public holiday, but it changes the rhythm of the country: Muslims fast from dawn to sunset, offices work shorter hours, and the evenings come alive with family meals (iftar), lanterns and late-night streets. Sites and hotels stay open, and visiting during Ramadan can be a wonderful experience; read our Ramadan travel guide.
The Two Eids
Eid al-Fitr marks the end of Ramadan with three days of celebration, new clothes and family visits. Eid al-Adha, the feast of the sacrifice, is the biggest holiday of the year and lasts four days or more. During both, many Egyptians travel to the Red Sea, the Mediterranean coast and Luxor and Aswan, so hotels and trains fill up and prices rise: book early if your trip falls on an Eid.
8-Day Cairo, Siwa and White & Black Desert Adventure
Planning the trip itself? Start here.
View This TripChristmas, Easter and Sham El-Nessim
Egypt’s Christians, mostly Copts, celebrate Christmas on 7 January, a national holiday; see Christmas in Egypt. The day after Coptic Easter is Sham El-Nessim, a spring festival going back to the pharaohs, when everyone, Muslim and Christian alike, picnics in parks and along the Nile and eats salted fish and coloured eggs. See the festivals and events of the year in events in Egypt.
What Holidays Mean for Your Trip
- Sites stay open on almost every holiday, though some museums close or shorten hours on the first day of an Eid.
- Banks and offices close, so carry some cash; ATMs keep working.
- Domestic travel peaks during the Eids and long weekends: book trains, flights and Nile cruises well ahead.
- Dress and behave respectfully during Ramadan, especially in daytime.
Plan your dates with our month-by-month guides, from Egypt in January to Egypt in December, and the best time to visit Egypt.































