Comparison · Petra vs Sharm El Sheikh · Jordan / Egypt
Petra vs Sharm El Sheikh
Two great trips, different strengths. Here is how they compare on the things that decide it.
Updated By the AMZBooking editorial team
Photo: Azurfrog, CC BY-SA 3.0
Quick answer
Choose Petra for The Treasury (Al-Khazneh), The Siq and a short break; choose Sharm El Sheikh for Coral reefs, Scuba diving, lower day-to-day costs and beaches. Sharm El Sheikh is generally less expensive, and the two are about 289 km apart.
Key facts
- Distance apart
- 289 km
- Less expensive
- Sharm El Sheikh
- Best time for Petra
- March–May and October–November
- Best time for Sharm El Sheikh
- March–May and October–November
Side by side
| Petra | Sharm El Sheikh | |
|---|---|---|
| Country | Jordan | Egypt |
| Known for | The Treasury (Al-Khazneh), The Siq and The Monastery (Ad Deir) | Coral reefs, Scuba diving and Ras Mohammed National Park |
| Best time to visit | March–May and October–November | March–May and October–November |
| Ideal stay | 2 days | 7 days |
| Mid-range budget per day | $130–$250 | $100–$200 |
| Cost level | Moderately priced | Affordable |
| Warmest month | July, 32°C (90°F) | July, 37°C (99°F) |
| Coldest month | January, 12°C (54°F) | January, 22°C (72°F) |
| Free sights in our guide | 1 | 4 |
| Day trips in our guide | 5 | 4 |
| Beaches | — | Naama Bay |
| Airports | AMM, AQJ | SSH |
Which one is right for you?
Choose Petra for…
The Treasury (Al-Khazneh), The Siq and a short break. Petra was the capital of the Nabataean kingdom, a trading people who carved temples and tombs into the sandstone cliffs of southern Jordan from around the 1st century BC. Visitors enter through the Siq, a 1.2 km gorge that ends at the facade of the Treasury…
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Choose Sharm El Sheikh for…
Coral reefs, Scuba diving, lower day-to-day costs and beaches. Sharm El Sheikh is a resort city spread along about 30 km of coast at the southern tip of the Sinai Peninsula, where the Gulf of Aqaba meets the Red Sea. Its draw is underwater: fringing coral reefs start a few metres from the shore, and boats reach the…
Top sights compared
| # | Petra | Sharm El Sheikh |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | The Siq | Ras Mohammed National Park |
| 2 | The Treasury (Al-Khazneh) | Strait of Tiran reefs |
| 3 | Street of Facades and the Theatre | SS Thistlegorm wreck |
| 4 | Royal Tombs | Naama Bay promenade |
| 5 | Colonnaded Street, Great Temple and Qasr al-Bint | Old Market |
Food compared
| Petra | Sharm El Sheikh |
|---|---|
| Mansaf | Grilled Red Sea fish |
| Maqluba | Sayadeya |
| Zarb | Bedouin tea |
| Galayet bandora | Bedouin flatbread |
Which is cheaper?
Sharm El Sheikh is usually the less expensive of the two: a mid-range day costs about $100–$200 per person there, against $130–$250 in Petra (AMZBooking estimates, excluding flights). Sharm El Sheikh on a budget.
Can you visit both?
Yes. Petra and Sharm El Sheikh are about 289 km apart, so they combine well in one trip: allow 2 days in Petra and 7 in Sharm El Sheikh.
Questions travellers ask
+Is Petra or Sharm El Sheikh cheaper?
Sharm El Sheikh is usually less expensive: about $100–$200 a day mid-range against $130–$250 (estimates).
+Is Petra or Sharm El Sheikh better for a first trip?
Pick Petra for The Treasury (Al-Khazneh), The Siq and a short break, or Sharm El Sheikh for Coral reefs, Scuba diving, lower day-to-day costs and beaches.
+How far is Petra from Sharm El Sheikh?
About 289 km in a straight line.