Solo travel · Sharm El Sheikh · Egypt
Solo travel in Sharm El Sheikh
How to enjoy Sharm El Sheikh at your own pace.
Updated By the AMZBooking editorial team
Photo: Eslam maalky.22, CC BY-SA 4.0
Quick answer
Sharm works for solo travellers who come to dive: dive centres are social hubs and boat days mix people from everywhere. Non-divers may find the resort scene couple- and family-oriented, and Dahab is the more natural solo base. Many solo travellers base themselves in Sharm El Maya and Old Market.
Key facts
- Base
- Sharm El Maya and Old Market
- Getting around
- Taxi
- Emergency number
- 122 police, 123 ambulance, 126 tourist police
- Language
- Arabic (Egyptian) and English
Solo travel tips
- Stay in Naama Bay or the Old Market to walk to restaurants and cafés.
- Join a dive course or group boat trip to meet other travellers.
- Consider splitting your stay with Dahab, which has a more independent, backpacker-friendly scene.
- Use your hotel's recommended taxis late at night.
- Women travelling alone may get unwanted attention; firm, polite refusals usually work.
Where to stay
$ · Best for budget, food lovers, culture and solo travellers
Sharm El Maya and Old Market
Sharm El Maya is the oldest part of the city, around the marina where many dive and snorkelling boats depart and the Old Market, a pedestrianised area of spice shops, cafés and fish restaurants overlooked by the Al Sahaba Mosque. It has a more local feel than the resort bays, with cheaper hotels and food.
- Good
- Local atmosphere and food; Boat departures from the marina; Lowest prices
- Watch out
- Beach is small and less attractive; Further from the airport
- Nearby
- Old Market, Al Sahaba Mosque, Sharm marina, Heavenly Cathedral
Great on your own
Experience · Sharm El Maya and Old Market
SS Thistlegorm wreck
Choose a trip that leaves very early to dive the wreck before other boats arrive.
- Time needed
- Full day
- Cost
- Expensive
- History
- Active
- Iconic
Religious site · Sharm El Maya and Old Market
Al Sahaba Mosque
Visitors can view the exterior at any time; dress modestly and ask before entering outside prayer times.
- Time needed
- 30 minutes
- Cost
- Free
- Free
- Architecture
- Photo spot
- After dark
Religious site · Sharm El Maya and Old Market
Heavenly Cathedral
Combine it with the Al Sahaba Mosque and the Old Market in one evening outing.
- Time needed
- 30–45 minutes
- Cost
- Free
- Free
- Art
- Architecture
- Rainy day
Museum · Central Sharm
Sharm El Sheikh Museum
Good for a hot afternoon or a windy day when boats are not running.
- Time needed
- 1–1.5 hours
- Cost
- Mid-priced
- History
- Rainy day
- Kids
Meeting people
- Pick-your-fish dinner in the Old Market — Choose fish and seafood from the ice display, agree the price by weight, and eat it grilled with salads and rice at an outdoor table.
- Bedouin dinner under the stars — Desert trips end at Bedouin camps with tea, flatbread and grilled dishes eaten on carpets by a fire, far from resort lights.
- Naama Bay — Bars, lounges, shisha cafés and clubs along and just behind the promenade, busiest after 10pm.
- Soho Square — Restaurants, bars and the fountain show in a pedestrian complex near Sharks Bay.
Sensible precautions
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.
- Emergency number
- 122 police, 123 ambulance, 126 tourist police
- Staying connected
- Local SIM cards and eSIMs give good coverage in the resorts; Wi-Fi is standard in hotels but often weaker in rooms far from the lobby.
Questions travellers ask
+Is Sharm El Sheikh good for solo travellers?
Sharm works for solo travellers who come to dive: dive centres are social hubs and boat days mix people from everywhere. Non-divers may find the resort scene couple- and family-oriented, and Dahab is the more natural solo base.
+Where should solo travellers stay in Sharm El Sheikh?
Sharm El Maya and Old Market: The original town with the marina, the Old Market and the Al Sahaba Mosque.