A Complete Guide to Sharm el-Sheikh

Egypt has major cities like Cairo, Aswan, and Luxor that have been world-famous tourist destinations for a large collection of archaeological monuments. However, Egypt is also home to amazing holiday resorts with perfect beach landscapes and numerous water activities. Sharm el-Sheikh is one of the world's most renowned resort towns in Egypt. If you like the thrill of exploring more, Sharm el-Sheikh may be your perfect destination. Here you will find a full guide to Sharm El Sheikh, from the top attractions to see to the best things to do. 

Why Visit Sharm El Sheikh?

Sharm el-Sheikh, commonly shortened to Sharm, is a popular holiday destination for Egypt tours. It was formerly a port on the southern tip of the Sinai Peninsula, along the coastline of the Red Sea. Sharm El Sheikh is also referred to as "the city of peace" as a result of the great number of international conferences on peace held there due to the city's close proximity to a number of important Middle Eastern nations and its opulent lodgings. The city experiences a subtropical climate, plus its prime coastal location, and thus enjoys long, hot summers and warm winters with year-round sunshine. This blesses Sharm El Sheikh with crystal beaches and clear and calm waters and also makes the city a recreational center with various watersports such as scuba diving, snorkeling, surfing, and boating. Besides, Sharm El Sheikh is home to many protected areas, like the well-known Ras Muhammad National Park. The protected lands offer travelers great opportunities to explore the diversity of marine life and wildlife. Sharm el-Sheikh is definitely a paradise if you are up for a beach holiday.

Clear Water and White Sandy Beach in Sharm El Sheikh

Best Places to See

Ras Mohammed National Park

Ras Mohammed National Park can be listed as one of your top attractions in Sharm El Sheikh. It is located in Egypt, at the southern tip of the Sinai Peninsula. The majority (about 133 square miles) of the park is marine, in addition to two islands off the peninsula. Ras Mohammed National Park is mostly known for the coastal sights of the magnificent Red Sea reef and crystal-clear blue water. The park's protected area has a mangrove forest, mountains, wadis, sand dunes, and other landscapes, which enable you to shoot amazingly pristine pictures. As a wonderful underwater paradise, the Red Sea Reef area of the park is home to hundreds of species of coral and is inhabited by over 1000 species of marine life, such as starfish and green turtles. Such diverse coral reefs, accompanied by colorful and unique sea life, can astonishingly feast your eyes.

Saint Catherine's Monastery

The Monastery of Saint Catherine is an Eastern Orthodox Christian monastery located at the base of Mount Sinai, a holy place in the Burning Bush where Moses bumped into God. It was built between 548 and 565 by the Byzantine emperor Justinian I, and until now, the old monastery has always been inhabited. Saint Catherine's Monastery is a hot destination for pilgrims who follow Christianity, Judaism, and Islam due to its significant location. The building is known for its original structure of a basilica church, belfry, and exterior walls. For example, you can see a huge 6th-century Transfiguration Apse mosaic depicting the transformation of Christ by the radiance of light. It is a grand treasury that houses an extraordinary collection of Byzantine artworks. There are more than 2,000 manuscripts from countries like Persian, Greek, Syriac, Arabic, Turkish, and Russian. You can also find amazing collections of early and middle Byzantine icons and frescoes from the 6th to the 13th century, from the prophets Elijah and Moses, Chris, and some Roman mythological gods.

Naama Bay

Naama Bay lies in the northern part of Sharm El Sheikh and is considered the "downtown" of the city. Naama Bay features a long stretch of soft sandy beach and shallow seas with few corals, making it an excellent recreational zone for sunbathing and all sorts of watersports with children. The sparkling clear gentle waters and abundant sunshine can help travelers wind down during a busy trip. The bay houses a number of majestic buildings, among which outstanding are the Al Mustafa Mosque and Coptic orthodox church. They feature tall standing minarets, a huge dome made of carved stone, and a mesmerizing light show at night. There are also many diving spots in Naama Bay on the North and South. Known sites include Middle Garden , Shark Bay , and Turtle Bay . You can dive into one of the spots and enjoy a picturesque sight underwater.

Tiran Island

At the southernmost point of the Sinai Peninsula in Egypt, Tiran Island sits at the entrance to the Straits of Tiran, at a certain point where the Red Sea encounters the Gulf of Aqaba. The island is entirely uninhabited and not open to visitors for landing. However, it will be a memorable experience to go on a cruise through the marine crossroads between the Red Sea and the Gulf of Aqaba to reach Tiran Island. You can have great fun on the island. Tiran Island offers a scenic picture of a completely unspoiled island landscape surrounded by pristine beaches and fascinating waters. The area enjoys the richness and diversity of the seabed, making it an ideal destination to scuba dive and snorkel around its coastline. You can go diving or snorkeling to explore the underwater world full of beautiful fish in dazzling colors and shapes. You may discover shipwrecks laying on a sandy seafloor covered with artificial or circular corals that contain colorful fish like grouper and eagle rays.

Best Things to Do

Exploring Ras Mohammed National Park

Ras Mohammed National Park, a predominantly marine nature reserve, is one of the must-see attractions in Sharm El Sheikh. Located just a few kilometers south of the city, this peninsula is home to some of the most beautiful coral reefs and marine life in the world. You can take a water-based trip to explore the reserve. The trip allows you to take a boat along superb beaches like Old Quay Beach and Aqaba Beach. Or you can engage in a sea excursion on Ras Mohammed's yacht. You'll be picked up at the starting jetty from Sharm. The yacht will stop at different sites for swimming, diving, or snorkeling for you to explore wonderful species of marine creatures and beautiful coral reefs. On the cruise, you will also have a breathtaking panorama of the Northern Hemisphere. No matter what you expect, cruising is somehow a fabulous way to explore Ras Mohammed National Park.

Diving Sharm El Sheikh

Diving can be a great part of your journey to Sharm El Sheikh, especially if you're crazy about such a watersport. Sharm El Sheikh is home to awesome dive sites for both fresh and advanced divers. You can explore the Jackson Reef, Ras Um Sid Reef, Jolanda Reef, and the Blue Hole and view a rich and colorful array of corals. Or you can make a wreck dive at the Dunraven Site or Thistlegorm Site, discovering the wrecked ship SS Dunraven in 1876 and the shipwreck sunk during World War II. A great diversity of aquatic animals, including goatfish, pipefish, and cardinalfish, can be found everywhere in the wreckage.

Diving in Sharm El Sheikh

Walking up Mount Sinai

Sharm El Sheikh has lots of things to seek out besides enjoying the beauty of its beaches and waters. The city also has a rugged but charming inland landscape to explore. Mount Sinai is one of the most iconic mountainous destinations in the city. Mount Sinai is the holy ground for the Orthodox Church and Christianity. In the course of hiking, you have the potential to feast on the superb panorama of Saint Catherine's Monastery from the mountain's base, one of the oldest Byzantine monasteries in Egypt. There are two primary uphill trails: the Camel Trail and the Steps of Repentance. The first trail is easy to trek, while the second is quite tricky with 3750 steps and stone staircases, but you'll be given more scenic landscapes than along the first trail. It holds expansive views of the jagged curves of the surrounding mountains interspersed with the ruins of monasteries, shrines, and chapels, and you may be lucky enough to spot an ibex (a mountain goat with long, curved horns) along the way. The top of Mount Sinai offers a stunning view of ripples of peaks in shades of orange.

Shopping at Sharm Old Market

Sharm Old Market is an important part of the Old Town and a less-visited tourist attraction in Sharm El Sheikh. Sharm Old Market will give you a distinctive feeling as you experience the local lifestyle and Egyptian culture. The open-air market is filled with a myriad of vendors, shops, restaurants, and cafes. You can see a vast collection of tourist goods, from diving or snorkeling gear, Egyptian clothing like T-shirts, and Bedouin crafts to unique souvenirs such as engraved woodwork. It is acceptable to bargain for what you want, and you will get something cheaper here than in Naama Bay. You can also try some typical Egyptian food like koshari while hopping at the market.

Best Time to Visit

Generally speaking, Sharm El Sheikh is an ideal holiday destination to visit all year. The resort city has a warm yearly climate and a great consistency of adequate heat and sunshine. The peak travel season falls in the spring between March and May and in the fall from September to November. Temperatures in this period typically range between 25 and 30 °C, which is less intense than in the summer. The lack of excessive warmth and cloudless skies give most beaches good conditions for sunbathing and beach sports. Besides, the mild waters make some attractions like Ras Mohammed National Park, Tiran Island, and Ras Um Sid busy with scuba diving services. Spring and fall are good times to enjoy beach sights and diving sports. But diving sites during this time are packed with flocks of travelers, which brings expensive hotel and activity rates.

The hottest months in Sharm El Sheikh are June, July, and August. Temperatures can reach over 30°C and even approach 40°C. Although the scorching heat stops most visitors, it's favorable for you to experience wonderful beach landscapes and activities with few crowds if you're seeking the absolute sun. You can enjoy much cheaper travel and accommodation costs than during the peak season. What's more, the city at night has milder temperatures at around 21°C than during the day. You can spend a quiet, undisturbed night alone.

Sharm El Sheikh has cooler temperatures and very little humidity in the winter between December and February, with the average temperature reaching around 20°C. Some travelers, especially from Europe, choose to stay in Sharm El Sheikh during these months to keep away from the cold and clammy winter there. Despite less heat and sunshine than in spring and fall, beaches in winter feature pretty refreshing and comfortable sea breezes coming from the northwest. You can still go swimming in the provided warm-up pools, and the mildly sunny weather gives you great chances to experience camel riding and a desert safari.

Where to stay

There are several lodging possibilities in Sharm El-Sheikh, ranging from high-end, opulent resorts to more affordable options. Here, you can consider the resort areas below.

Naama Bay Area

Naama Bay is habitually considered "the heart of Sharm" and is a prominent destination to stay at. Naama Bay has just about everything you could wish for. It has a myriad of 5-star-rated hotels, such as Naama Blue Hotel, Sharm Dreams Resort, and Fayrouz Resort, with an aqua park, an outdoor swimming pool, a private beach, and a sauna or spa. You're more likely to get a premium property offering an ocean view of the Red Sea. Besides lodging, Naama Bay features a wide variety of amenities for entertainment, like shisha cafes, shops, restaurants, nightclubs, bars, and bazaars. The area is also close to Ras Mohamed National Park, about a 15-minute drive away. The resort is full of hustle and bustle, and you will enjoy all the fun you could seek.

Nabq Bay Area

Nabq Bay is one of the hot hubs in Sharm El-Sheikh. Just 7 miles (11 km) northeast of Sharm International Airport, Nabq Bay has a long stretch of various luxury hotels and resorts. You can choose all-inclusive hotels and resorts like Rixos Premium Seagate, Rixos Sharm El Sheikh, and Steigenberger Alcazar. Most of them are located on the seafront and dotted with luxurious palm trees, which serves as an ideal place for a peaceful break with your friends or family. There is a large area of nature reserve around the bay. The protected areas afford you great opportunities for diving and snorkeling. Moreover, you spend your nightlife at shops like Mall Darya for specialty items, souvenirs, or gifts, or at Hard Rock Café, sampling the oriental coffee.

El Hadaba Area

El Hadaba, in the southern part of the Ras Umm Sid peninsula, was Sharm's first development. Apart from the usual top-rate resort hotels near Hadaba Beach, such as Jaz Fanara Resort and Reef Oasis Beach Resort, Hadaba has distinctively chic lodging, including private apartments, tents, compact studios, and so on. The inner area is very much like a workday home for those who aren't that into adventure diving and opulent accommodation. The neighborhood is full of eateries, marketplaces, drug stores, and schools. If you long for a variety of activities, the southern part of Hadaba is great for water sports in Hadaba Aqua Park, spending a night out partying in beach bars or shopping at the Old Market.

How to Get There

By Air

Taking a flight is a less stressful and easier way to reach Sharm. The closest airport is Sharm El Sheikh International Airport (SSH), which is the largest airport in the Sinai region. If you travel abroad, the airport provides dozens of international flights each day. You can take a 5-hour flight directly from some European cities like Berlin and Paris and British cities like London. Flying from America often takes you around 12 hours, and you need to change flights mostly in Europe. But there are some direct flights from the USA to Sharm operated by providers like US Airways and Egypt Air. If you travel domestically, you can fly directly from Cairo or Luxor for about an hour. Significantly, a direct flight from Luxor to Sharm is available only once a week. You have to change lines in Cairo if you travel from Aswan or Hurghada.

By Bus

A bus trip can be another nice option if you travel within Egypt. There is no shortage of buses in Egypt every day. The most popular route is between Cairo and Sharm. A one-way trip always takes around six hours and costs about $40. Most buses come with air conditioning. You can enjoy the cool while capturing some impressive scenery along the route. Some recommended bus companies include East Delta, Go Bus, and Superjet.

By Car

It is convenient to hire a private car from Sharm El Sheikh International Airport to your arranged hotel in between dozens of minutes and an hour and a half. Wherever you land in domestic cities in Egypt, you're able to enjoy car service to Sharm El Sheikh. You can hire a private car in advance through Travel Trend Egypt, My Sharm Adventure, or Odynovo, from the economy at $25 to luxury at $120 per day. The drive often takes you around 6 hours from Cairo and several more hours from other Egyptian cities like Hurghada, Aswan, and Luxor. You can also take the car smoothly from one hotel in Sharm to another outside of the Sharm Bay district.

Sharm el-Sheikh is a beautiful and exciting place full of magic and fun. It can be one of the top vacation destinations for your family tour to Egypt. Whether you're looking for seductive beaches or all manner of exploratory activities like desert safaris and diving in the coral reefs, Sharm El Sheikh has something for everyone to offer. If you're interested in the city, visit our website for more information. If you're planning your trip to Sharm El Sheikh, please contact us. We'll provide a traveler-needed itinerary for you. Travel with Odynovo, and you will have a memorable experience in this beautiful corner of Egypt.