Sharm El Sheikh, at the southern tip of the Sinai Peninsula where the Gulf of Aqaba meets the Red Sea, is Egypt’s best-known resort for diving and winter sun. Behind it rise the jagged red mountains of South Sinai; in front, a narrow fringe of coral drops into deep blue water so clear that you can see fish from the clifftop. Within a short boat ride lie some of the world’s most celebrated reefs: the walls and schools of fish of Ras Mohammed National Park, the four reefs of the Strait of Tiran, and, farther out, the wreck of the SS Thistlegorm. The town itself is a string of bays and resorts spread over about 35 km (22 miles), from the airport and Nabq Bay in the north through Sharks Bay to the lively promenade of Naama Bay and the cliffs and Old Market of the south. Most visitors stay in all-inclusive hotels with private beaches and jetties over the reef, but excursions lead inland to St Catherine’s Monastery and the sunrise climb of Mount Sinai, and up the coast to laid-back Dahab. If you fly straight into Sharm and stay in the South Sinai resorts for up to 15 days, you don’t need a visa: a free entry stamp is issued at the airport. The sea is good all year, and the most comfortable months are March to May and October to November.
Right now in Sharm El Sheikh
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Top tours in Sharm El Sheikh
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Sharm El Sheikh at a glance
- Best for: diving and snorkeling, Ras Mohammed, all-inclusive beach holidays, and trips to Mount Sinai and Dahab.
- How long: 5–7 days, with time for Ras Mohammed, Tiran and a Mount Sinai or Dahab excursion.
- Best time: March to May and October to November; winter is sunny but cool in the evenings, and July and August are very hot.
- Getting there: fly into Sharm El Sheikh International (SSH), or take a bus from Cairo.
- Getting around: hotel shuttles, taxis, local minibuses and boats from the marinas.
- Good to know: the free Sinai stamp covers stays of up to 15 days in the South Sinai resorts; carry your passport for checkpoints.
- Before you go: visas, money and general safety are in our Egypt travel guide.
Sharm El Sheikh’s areas and where to stay
Sharm is spread out, and each bay has its own character; a taxi or shuttle is needed to move between them.
Naama Bay
The original resort center, around a sheltered sandy bay, has a pedestrian promenade lined with hotels, restaurants, bars, dive centers and shops. It is the liveliest place to stay, with nightlife and plenty of choice, but the beach is busy and the reef is a boat ride away.
Sharks Bay and the north
North of Naama, Sharks Bay and the coast toward Ras Nasrani have hotels on cliffs with jetties over good reefs, close to the airport and the entertainment complex of SOHO Square.
Nabq Bay
Beyond the airport, Nabq Bay has newer, large all-inclusive resorts on a long shallow coast, and the Nabq protected area with mangroves and Bedouin villages. It suits families and those who want a quiet resort, but it is far from town.
Ras Um Sid, Hadaba and the Old Market
South of Naama, the cliff-top district of Hadaba and Ras Um Sid has hotels with steps down to excellent reefs, close to the Old Market (Sharm El Maya) with its souk, the Al Mustafa Mosque, and local restaurants. The marina here is the base for many dive boats.
Where to stay in Sharm El Sheikh
- Naama Bay: central, lively and walkable.
- Sharks Bay and Ras Nasrani: reef jetties and quick access to Tiran.
- Nabq Bay: big family resorts and quiet beaches.
- Hadaba and Ras Um Sid: good house reefs, near the Old Market and Ras Mohammed.
- Dahab: for a smaller, laid-back town, see our Dahab guide.
Top things to see and do in Sharm El Sheikh
Ras Mohammed National Park
Egypt’s first national park, created in 1983, covers the southern tip of the Sinai and the surrounding sea. Its most famous dive sites, Shark Reef and Yolanda Reef, are sheer walls dropping into the deep, with swirling schools of barracuda, jacks and snappers in summer, and the remains of the Yolanda’s cargo of toilets and bathtubs scattered on the reef. On land, the park has a mangrove channel, the salty Magic Lake, fossil coral cliffs and beaches. Most visitors come on a day boat from Sharm with two or three snorkeling or diving stops; you can also drive in and snorkel from the shore at designated beaches. An entry fee is charged per person; on boat trips it is usually collected by the operator.
The Strait of Tiran
North of Sharm, the narrow channel between the Sinai and Tiran Island has four reefs named after British cartographers, Jackson, Woodhouse, Thomas and Gordon, with steep walls, strong currents and the wreck of the Lara on Jackson Reef. They are reached by day boat in about an hour and are popular with both divers and snorkelers.
The SS Thistlegorm
The Thistlegorm, a British supply ship sunk by German bombers in 1941 and rediscovered by Jacques Cousteau, lies at about 30 m (100 ft) in the Gulf of Suez, still loaded with motorbikes, trucks, rifles and railway wagons. Day trips leave Sharm very early and take about three hours each way; liveaboards make it easier. It is a dive for experienced divers, often with currents.
Snorkeling from the shore
Many hotels in Sharks Bay, Ras Um Sid and Hadaba have jetties that lead over the reef flat to the reef edge, where the coral drops away; it is one of the easiest places in the world to see a coral reef. Other good spots are Ras Um Sid, Temple and the reefs off Naama Bay by boat. See our snorkeling guide.
Diving
Sharm has dozens of dive centers for all levels, from try-dives and open-water courses in calm bays to deep walls, drift dives and wrecks. See our diving guide.
The Old Market and the Sharm El Sheikh Museum
The Old Market in Sharm El Maya is a pleasant evening walk, with spice shops, cafés and the white Al Mustafa Mosque. The Sharm El Sheikh Museum, opened in 2020, displays pharaonic and Islamic antiquities and Sinai heritage; according to the Ministry of Tourism and Antiquities, the ticket costs EGP 200 (about US$3.80) for foreign adults, and it opens in the morning and again in the evening.
Desert trips
Afternoon trips by jeep, quad bike or camel lead into the desert canyons behind the resorts to Bedouin camps for tea, dinner, music and stargazing.
Other things to do in Sharm El Sheikh
Food and drink
Beyond the hotel buffets, Naama Bay and SOHO Square have international restaurants and bars, the Old Market has inexpensive Egyptian grills and fish restaurants, and Bedouin dinners in the desert serve slow-cooked lamb and bread baked in the sand. Alcohol is widely served in hotels and tourist restaurants.
Boat trips and glass-bottom boats
Day boats to Ras Mohammed, Tiran and White Island, sunset cruises and glass-bottom boats leave from the marinas in Naama Bay, Sharm El Maya and Travco. See our boat trips guide.
Day trips from Sharm El Sheikh
- Mount Sinai and St Catherine’s Monastery: about 220 km (137 miles) and 3 hours north. Most trips leave late at night for the 2.5–3 hour climb of Mount Sinai (2,285 m, 7,497 ft) by the camel path to see the sunrise from the summit, then visit the 6th-century Monastery of St Catherine, a UNESCO site with its library, icons and the “burning bush”. Nights at the top are cold, even in summer; bring warm clothes and a flashlight. Check with your operator that the trip is possible on your type of entry permission, and note that the monastery has limited opening hours and is closed on some days.
- Dahab: about 90 km (56 miles) and 1–1.5 hours north, for the Blue Hole, the Canyon and the lagoon; see our Dahab guide.
- The Colored Canyon: a narrow canyon of red, yellow and purple sandstone near Nuweiba, reached by jeep with a Bedouin guide.
- Cairo and Giza: about an hour by air; see our Giza guide. You need a full visa to leave South Sinai.
Nearby destinations
Getting there and getting around
By air
Sharm El Sheikh International Airport (SSH) is about 15 km (9 miles) north of Naama Bay, with charter and scheduled flights from Europe and the Middle East and domestic flights to Cairo. If you plan to stay only in Sharm El Sheikh, Dahab, Nuweiba or Taba for up to 15 days, you can receive the free Sinai entry stamp on arrival; otherwise buy a visa on arrival in the arrivals hall or an e-visa online. See our Egypt travel guide.
By road
Buses run to Cairo in about 7–9 hours through the tunnel under the Suez Canal, and to Dahab in about 1.5 hours. Police checkpoints on the roads check passports and visas.
By sea
A fast ferry to Hurghada has run on some days of the week in recent seasons, taking about 2–3 hours; check schedules locally, and expect cancellations in strong winds.
Getting around
Hotel shuttles, taxis and local minibuses connect the bays; taxis don’t use meters, so agree the fare first. Ride-hailing apps work in Sharm but with fewer cars than in Cairo. Most excursions include hotel pickup.
When to go and how long to stay
Sharm is dry and sunny all year, and slightly warmer than Hurghada in winter. Winter (December to February) has warm days around 22–24 °C (72–75 °F) and cool evenings, with sea temperatures of about 21–23 °C (70–73 °F). Spring (March to May) and autumn (October and November) are the most pleasant, with highs of 26–35 °C (80–94 °F). Summer (June to September) is very hot, with highs around 38 °C (100–101 °F), but the sea is at its warmest, about 27–28 °C (81–82 °F), and visibility is excellent. The table uses the 1991–2020 climate normals for the Sharm El Sheikh airport station of the Egyptian Meteorological Authority (EMA), as published by the World Meteorological Organization (WMO): average daily highs and lows, total precipitation, and days with at least 1 mm of rain.
| Month | Average high / low | Rain (days with 1 mm or more) | What to expect |
|---|---|---|---|
| January | 22 °C (72 °F) / 14 °C (57 °F) | 3 mm (0.1 in), 0 days | Sunny; cool evenings; busy |
| February | 24 °C (74 °F) / 15 °C (58 °F) | under 1 mm, 0 days | Sunny; coolest sea |
| March | 26 °C (80 °F) / 17 °C (63 °F) | 2 mm (under 0.1 in), 0 days | Warming; good diving |
| April | 30 °C (87 °F) / 21 °C (69 °F) | under 1 mm, 0 days | Warm; excellent |
| May | 35 °C (94 °F) / 24 °C (76 °F) | 0 mm (under 0.1 in), 0 days | Hot; calm seas |
| June | 38 °C (100 °F) / 27 °C (81 °F) | under 1 mm, 0 days | Very hot; good visibility |
| July | 38 °C (101 °F) / 28 °C (83 °F) | under 1 mm, 0 days | Very hot; busy |
| August | 38 °C (101 °F) / 29 °C (84 °F) | under 1 mm, 0 days | Very hot; warmest sea |
| September | 36 °C (97 °F) / 27 °C (81 °F) | under 1 mm, 0 days | Hot; warm sea |
| October | 32 °C (90 °F) / 24 °C (75 °F) | 2 mm (under 0.1 in), 0 days | Warm; excellent; rare showers |
| November | 28 °C (82 °F) / 20 °C (67 °F) | 2 mm (under 0.1 in), 0 days | Warm; very good |
| December | 24 °C (75 °F) / 16 °C (60 °F) | 1 mm (under 0.1 in), 0 days | Mild; holiday crowds |
Sharm El Sheikh averages about 10 mm (0.4 in) of rain a year; rare winter storms can cause flash floods in the wadis.
How long to stay
Five days allows a Ras Mohammed trip, a Tiran trip, a day off and a Mount Sinai night excursion; divers often stay a week or more, or combine Sharm with a few days in Dahab.
What a trip to Sharm El Sheikh costs
Prices are approximate, for October 2026, converted at about EGP 52.3 to the US dollar.
| Item | Typical cost |
|---|---|
| Ras Mohammed snorkeling boat trip with lunch | about US$30–60 per person |
| Two boat dives with equipment | about US$70–110 |
| Thistlegorm day trip (two dives) | about US$120–200 |
| Mount Sinai and St Catherine night trip | about US$40–80 |
| Sharm El Sheikh Museum ticket | EGP 200 (about US$3.80) |
| Dinner in the Old Market | EGP 500–1,200 (about US$9.50–23) |
| Taxi between Naama Bay and the Old Market | EGP 150–300 (about US$2.90–5.70) |
| All-inclusive 4-star hotel double, per night | about US$70–170 |
Practical tips for Sharm El Sheikh
- Choose your bay: reefs and jetties in Sharks Bay and Hadaba; nightlife in Naama; quiet resorts in Nabq.
- Carry your passport: checkpoints on the roads and at Ras Mohammed check documents.
- Think about your entry: the free Sinai stamp limits you to the South Sinai resorts for 15 days; get a visa if you might travel further.
- Book reputable boats: check reviews, safety equipment and what is included.
- Bring warm layers for Mount Sinai: the summit is near freezing on winter nights.
- Protect the reef: don’t touch coral, collect shells or feed fish.
Safety
Sharm El Sheikh is a heavily guarded resort, with checkpoints around the town and airport security screening at hotels and malls. The main risks are at sea. Dive and boat safety standards vary: choose licensed operators with good reviews, ask for a full safety briefing, especially on liveaboards, stay within your training and insurance depth limits, and carry a surface marker buoy; currents in the Strait of Tiran and at Ras Mohammed can be strong. Sharks rarely approach swimmers, but there have been attacks off the Sinai coast, including a series near Sharm in 2010 that led to temporary beach closures; follow closures and lifeguard instructions, and never feed fish. Watch for sea urchins, lionfish and stonefish, and wear water shoes. The sun and summer heat are intense, so drink plenty of water. Quad bikes cause accidents; wear a helmet. Outside the resorts, travel in South Sinai uses roads with police checkpoints. North Sinai, including El Arish, is a closed military zone not open to tourism, and access to the interior of central Sinai is restricted; 4×4 trips from mainland Egypt into Sinai need permits from the Ministry of Interior. Excursions to Mount Sinai, St Catherine and the canyons run with licensed operators and Bedouin guides. In an emergency, call 122 for the police, 123 for an ambulance and 126 for the tourist police.
What to pack for Sharm El Sheikh
Swimwear and a rash guard, reef-safe high-factor sunscreen, water shoes, a mask and snorkel if you prefer your own, a hat and sunglasses, a windproof jacket for boat trips, warm layers, a hat and gloves for a winter Mount Sinai climb, sturdy shoes with grip for the mountain path, and modest clothes for the monastery. See our water shoes, hiking shoes and travel adapters guides.
Sharm El Sheikh travel FAQ
Do I need a visa for Sharm El Sheikh?
Not if you fly into Sharm El Sheikh and stay for up to 15 days only in the South Sinai resorts of Sharm El Sheikh, Dahab, Nuweiba and Taba: you receive a free entry stamp. To travel elsewhere in Egypt or stay longer, buy a visa on arrival or an e-visa.
What is the best time to visit Sharm El Sheikh?
March to May and October to November; winter is sunny with cool evenings, and summer is very hot but best for warm water.
Is Ras Mohammed worth visiting?
Yes. Its reefs are among the best in the Red Sea for both snorkelers and divers, with walls, big schools of fish and clear water.
Can I snorkel from the beach in Sharm El Sheikh?
Yes, from hotel jetties in Sharks Bay, Ras Um Sid and Hadaba, which lead straight to the reef edge.
How far is Mount Sinai from Sharm El Sheikh?
About 220 km (137 miles), or 3 hours by road; night trips climb the mountain for sunrise and visit St Catherine’s Monastery.
How far is Dahab from Sharm El Sheikh?
About 90 km (56 miles), or 1–1.5 hours by road.
Which area of Sharm El Sheikh is best?
Naama Bay for restaurants and nightlife, Sharks Bay and Hadaba for reefs, and Nabq Bay for quiet family resorts.
Is the sea warm in Sharm El Sheikh in winter?
It is about 21–23 °C (70–73 °F) in January and February: fine for snorkeling in a rash guard or shorty, but divers usually wear a 5–7 mm wetsuit.
Can I dive the Thistlegorm from Sharm El Sheikh?
Yes, on a long day trip of about three hours each way by boat, or on a liveaboard; it suits experienced divers.
Are there sharks in Sharm El Sheikh?
Sharks live in the Red Sea and divers see them offshore. Attacks on swimmers are rare, but they have happened; follow local beach closures.
Plan your trip
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Sources · last reviewed 5 October 2026
Researched and last reviewed on 5 October 2026. The Sharm El Sheikh Museum ticket and hours: the Ministry of Tourism and Antiquities (egymonuments.com); visas and the e-visa: the Egypt e-Visa Portal; the free Sinai stamp, closed areas in North Sinai and permits for 4×4 travel into Sinai: the UK government’s factual entry and safety pages, used for practical facts only; climate normals: the Egyptian Meteorological Authority via the World Meteorological Organization’s 1991–2020 normals (Sharm El Sheikh airport station); the exchange rate: the Central Bank of Egypt. Ras Mohammed fees, sea temperatures, dive sites, St Catherine opening days, the Hurghada ferry, shark incidents, transport times and typical trip prices are general references or estimates, flagged for checking. Prices and rules change, so check locally before you go. For visas, money and general safety, see our Egypt travel guide.
Data: Weather: MET Norway (CC BY 4.0) · Sea temperature: NOAA CoastWatch · Rates: ECB · Holidays: Nager.Date · Costs: World Bank ICP and price levels · Wikidata (CC0)