Travel guide · Egypt

Sharm El Sheikh travel guide

Red Sea coral reefs, Ras Mohammed and year-round sun at the tip of Sinai

Updated 24 October 2026By the AMZBooking editorial team

Quick answer

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 walls of Ras Mohammed National Park and the reefs of the Strait of Tiran in under an hour. Resorts cluster in bays such as Naama Bay, Sharks Bay and Nabq, with the Old Market and marina in the south. Dahab, St Catherine's Monastery and Mount Sinai make the classic excursions inland and up the coast. Plan 7 days for a first visit; the best months are March–May and October–November.

Country: Egypt
Best time to visit: March–May and October–November
Ideal stay: 7 days
Main airports: SSH
Mid-range daily budget: $100–$200 per person (estimate)
Known for: Coral reefs, Scuba diving, Ras Mohammed National Park and Naama Bay

Why visit Sharm El Sheikh

Ras Mohammed National Park, about 30 minutes' drive south, has some of the Red Sea's best-known reef walls at Shark Reef and Yolanda Reef.
Many resorts have house reefs reached by a pontoon, so snorkellers can see coral and reef fish without taking a boat.
The SS Thistlegorm, a Second World War cargo ship with trucks and motorbikes still in its holds, is one of the world's most famous wreck dives.
Winter days are usually sunny and in the low 20s °C, when much of Europe is cold and grey.
Overnight trips to climb Mount Sinai for sunrise and visit St Catherine's Monastery start from the resorts.

Top things to do

The six sights most first-time visitors build a trip around. See all 13 things to do.

Nature · Ras Mohammed

Ras Mohammed National Park

Egypt's first national park covers the southern tip of Sinai and the surrounding sea.

Time needed: Full day
Cost: Mid-priced

Iconic
Nature
Active
Outdoors
Photo spot

Experience · Sharm El Maya and Old Market

SS Thistlegorm wreck

A British cargo ship sunk by German bombers in 1941, the Thistlegorm lies at around 30 metres in the Strait of Gubal with her holds still full of trucks, motorbikes, rifles and railway wagons.

Time needed: Full day
Cost: Expensive

History
Active
Iconic

Nature · Ras Nasrani

Strait of Tiran reefs

Four reefs in the middle of the strait — Jackson, Woodhouse, Thomas and Gordon — rise from deep water between Sinai and Tiran Island, with coral gardens, strong currents and two wrecks resting on the reef tops.

Time needed: Full day
Cost: Mid-priced

Nature
Active
Outdoors

Waterfront · Naama Bay

Naama Bay promenade

The pedestrian walkway along Naama Bay connects hotels, restaurants, cafés, shops and dive centres around a sheltered sandy beach.

Time needed: 1–2 hours
Cost: Free

Free
After dark
Food
Shopping

Market · Sharm El Maya and Old Market

Old Market

Sharm's Old Market area has been rebuilt as a pedestrian zone of stone lanes, spice and perfume shops, souvenir stalls and fish restaurants, with Egyptian families strolling in the evening.

Time needed: 1–2 hours
Cost: Free

Free
Shopping
Food
After dark

Religious site · Sharm El Maya and Old Market

Al Sahaba Mosque

The large mosque beside the Old Market, completed in 2017, combines Ottoman and Mamluk styles with tall minarets, domes and intricate carved stonework.

Time needed: 30 minutes
Cost: Free

Free
Architecture
Photo spot
After dark

Where to stay

Naama Bay is the easiest base for a first visit. Compare all 6 areas.

$$ · Best for first-timers, nightlife, budget and beach

Naama Bay

The original resort bay, with a pedestrian promenade, bars and a sandy beach

$$$ · Best for couples, families and beach

Sharks Bay

Clifftop resorts above a reef-lined bay north of Naama

$$$ · Best for quiet stays, couples and beach

Ras Nasrani

Large resorts on the headland facing the Strait of Tiran

$$ · Best for families, budget and beach

Nabq Bay

Newer large resorts and a long promenade north of the airport

What to eat

Full Sharm El Sheikh food guide.

Grilled Red Sea fish — Fresh fish such as grouper, sea bream or red snapper, chosen from a display, weighed and grilled or fried, served with rice, salads, tahini and bread.
Sayadeya — A fisherman's dish of fish baked with rice cooked in a dark, caramelised-onion and spice broth, popular along Egypt's coasts.
Bedouin tea — Sweet black tea brewed over a fire with wild desert herbs such as sage, served in small glasses as a gesture of welcome.
Bedouin flatbread — Thin unleavened bread kneaded and baked over a fire or on a domed metal griddle, often served at Bedouin camps with honey or dips.
Koshari — Egypt's national comfort food: rice, lentils, macaroni and chickpeas with spicy tomato sauce, garlic vinegar and crispy fried onions.
Ful and ta'ameya — Stewed fava beans and fava-bean falafel served with bread, salad and pickles; the standard Egyptian breakfast.

When to go

The best times to visit Sharm El Sheikh are March to May and October to November, when days are warm, the sea is comfortable and excursions are pleasant. Summer is very hot but brings the warmest water, while December to February offers sunny winter days with cooler sea and evenings.

Sharm El Sheikh seasons at a glance
Season	Months	What to expect
Spring	March–May	Warm, sunny days, calm seas and comfortable desert excursions; Easter weeks are busy.
Summer	June–August	Very hot, often above 35°C, with the warmest sea; excursions shift to early mornings.
Autumn	September–November	Warm sea, excellent diving visibility and easing heat, making October and November the best all-rounders.
Winter	December–February	Sunny days in the low 20s °C, cool evenings and the coolest sea; festive weeks are the most expensive.

Month-by-month weather, crowds and prices.

Getting there and around

Sharm El Sheikh International Airport is about 10 km north of Naama Bay, close to Sharks Bay, Ras Nasrani and Nabq. Taxis and pre-booked transfers take about 10–15 minutes to Naama Bay and 20–25 minutes to the Old Market; many package holidays include transfers.

Sharm is spread out along the coast, so walking only works within each bay. Taxis, hotel shuttles and microbuses along the main Peace Road connect the bays, the Old Market and the airport, and boat trips leave from the marinas.

Sharm El Sheikh transport guide.

Plan your days

Four days allows a Ras Mohammed boat trip, a Tiran snorkelling day and time on your resort's reef. A week adds a Mount Sinai sunrise trip, a day in Dahab and, for divers, the Thistlegorm.

Practical information

Currency: EGP
Language: Arabic (Egyptian) and English
Plugs: Type C and F sockets, 220 V, 50 Hz
Tap water: Do not drink tap water; bottled water is sold everywhere and provided by most hotels.
Emergency number: 122 police, 123 ambulance, 126 tourist police
Tipping: Tipping is expected: small notes for boat crews, dive guides, drivers, porters and housekeeping, and about 10% in restaurants if service is not included.

Check your own government's travel advice before travel. Common issues are persistent touts and unagreed taxi fares, coral cuts, sea urchins and strong currents on exposed reefs, and intense sun and heat; follow boat crews' briefings and stay hydrated.

More Sharm El Sheikh travel tips.

Flights to Sharm El Sheikh

Questions travellers ask

+How many days do you need in Sharm El Sheikh?

Four days allows a Ras Mohammed boat trip, a Tiran snorkelling day and time on your resort's reef. A week adds a Mount Sinai sunrise trip, a day in Dahab and, for divers, the Thistlegorm. How to split your days.

+When is the best time to visit Sharm El Sheikh?

+What is Sharm El Sheikh known for?

Coral reefs, Scuba diving, Ras Mohammed National Park, Naama Bay, All-inclusive resorts, SS Thistlegorm wreck and Mount Sinai trips. Ras Mohammed National Park, about 30 minutes' drive south, has some of the Red Sea's best-known reef walls at Shark Reef and Yolanda Reef.

+Is Sharm El Sheikh expensive?

Sharm El Sheikh is affordable for international visitors: a mid-range trip costs roughly $100–$200 per person per day before flights (AMZBooking estimate). Costs and money-saving tips.

+Do you need a car in Sharm El Sheikh?

No. Taxis, hotel shuttles and organised excursions cover everything; driving in South Sinai involves checkpoints and is rarely worthwhile for short stays.