Comparison · Sharm El Sheikh vs Tenerife · Egypt / Spain
Sharm El Sheikh vs Tenerife
Two great trips, different strengths. Here is how they compare on the things that decide it.
Updated By the AMZBooking editorial team
Photo: Tanya Dedyukhina, CC BY 3.0
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Quick answer
Choose Sharm El Sheikh for Coral reefs, Scuba diving and lower day-to-day costs; choose Tenerife for Mount Teide, Year-round sunshine and free sights. Sharm El Sheikh is generally less expensive, and the two are about 4,960 km apart.
Key facts
- Distance apart
- 4,960 km
- Less expensive
- Sharm El Sheikh
- Best time for Sharm El Sheikh
- March–May and October–November
- Best time for Tenerife
- May–June and September–October
Side by side
| Sharm El Sheikh | Tenerife | |
|---|---|---|
| Country | Egypt | Spain |
| Known for | Coral reefs, Scuba diving and Ras Mohammed National Park | Mount Teide, Year-round sunshine and Black-sand beaches |
| Best time to visit | March–May and October–November | May–June and September–October |
| Ideal stay | 7 days | 7 days |
| Mid-range budget per day | $100–$200 | $130–$230 |
| Cost level | Affordable | Moderately priced |
| Warmest month | July, 37°C (99°F) | August, 29°C (84°F) |
| Coldest month | January, 22°C (72°F) | January, 21°C (70°F) |
| Free sights in our guide | 4 | 9 |
| Day trips in our guide | 4 | 4 |
| Beaches | Naama Bay | Playa de Las Teresitas |
| Airports | SSH | TFS, TFN |
Which one is right for you?
Choose Sharm El Sheikh for…
Coral reefs, Scuba diving and lower day-to-day costs. 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…
Choose Tenerife for…
Mount Teide, Year-round sunshine and free sights. Tenerife, the largest of Spain's Canary Islands, sits in the Atlantic off the coast of West Africa and is dominated by Mount Teide, a 3,715-metre volcano at the centre of a UNESCO-listed national park. The dry, sunny south holds the main resorts — Costa…
Top sights compared
| # | Sharm El Sheikh | Tenerife |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Ras Mohammed National Park | Teide National Park |
| 2 | Strait of Tiran reefs | Teide cable car and summit |
| 3 | SS Thistlegorm wreck | San Cristóbal de La Laguna old town |
| 4 | Naama Bay promenade | Los Gigantes cliffs |
| 5 | Old Market | Whale and dolphin watching |
Food compared
| Sharm El Sheikh | Tenerife |
|---|---|
| Grilled Red Sea fish | Papas arrugadas con mojo |
| Sayadeya | Rabbit in salmorejo |
| Bedouin tea | Gofio |
| Bedouin flatbread | Grilled goat's cheese |
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–$230 in Tenerife (AMZBooking estimates, excluding flights). Sharm El Sheikh on a budget.
Can you visit both?
They are about 4,960 km apart, so combining them means a flight. With 15 days or more it works; otherwise pick one.
Questions travellers ask
+Is Sharm El Sheikh or Tenerife cheaper?
Sharm El Sheikh is usually less expensive: about $100–$200 a day mid-range against $130–$230 (estimates).
+Is Sharm El Sheikh or Tenerife better for a first trip?
Pick Sharm El Sheikh for Coral reefs, Scuba diving and lower day-to-day costs, or Tenerife for Mount Teide, Year-round sunshine and free sights.
+How far is Sharm El Sheikh from Tenerife?
About 4,960 km in a straight line.