Sharm El Sheikh

Naama Bay Resort Hotel

A full-service resort right on Naama Bay's promenade, walking distance to restaurants, dive centers and the nightlife strip.

Sharks Bay / Ras Nasrani Dive Resort

A quieter resort area near the airport with shore-accessible reefs right off the beach, popular with dedicated divers who want to skip the boat commute.

Nabq Bay All-Inclusive Resort

Newer, larger all-inclusive hotels north of Naama Bay with expansive pools, kids' clubs and calmer beaches, popular with families on package holidays.

Hadaba / Ras Um Sid Clifftop Hotel

Hotels perched on the Hadaba plateau above Ras Um Sid's lighthouse reef offer dramatic sea views and direct access to one of the area's best shore dive sites.

Old Market Budget Guesthouse

Simple guesthouses in and around Sharm El Maya's Old Market put visitors in the authentic Egyptian town rather than the resort strip, at a fraction of the cost.

SOHO Square Area Hotel

Hotels near the SOHO Square entertainment complex put families within walking distance of the dancing fountain, ice cream parlors and family restaurants.

Sharm El Sheikh International Airport (SSH)

Egypt's third-busiest airport sits about 15 minutes from Naama Bay, with most visitors arriving on direct international charter and scheduled flights.

Hotel & Resort Transfers

Most visitors arrive on organized all-inclusive package transfers directly from the airport to their resort, avoiding the need to negotiate a taxi on arrival.

City Taxis — Agree the Price First

Taxis around Sharm El Sheikh don't use meters, so the fare must be agreed with the driver before getting in; hotel staff can suggest a fair local rate.

GoBus from Cairo

GoBus runs long-distance coaches from Cairo to Sharm El Sheikh, taking roughly 8-9 hours through the Sinai desert — a budget alternative to flying.

Inter-Area Minibuses

Shared minibuses connect Naama Bay, the Old Market, Hadaba and Nabq for locals and budget travelers, running along the main coastal road.

Ferry to Hurghada

A passenger ferry crosses the Red Sea to Hurghada, but the schedule is not always reliable — flying is the recommended way to reach the opposite coast.

Hard Rock Cafe Nabq

Hard Rock Cafe Nabq is an American restaurant with a rock 'n' roll theme and a high-energy vibe, serving burgers and American classics. It boasts an impressive 4.7-star rating from 7628 reviews.

📍El-Salam Road, Nabq Bay, ثان شرم الشيخ، محافظة جنوب سيناء 8753801, Egypt · View on map

Basata Cafe Sharm El Sheikh

Basata Cafe Sharm El Sheikh is a well-regarded cafe, earning a 4.7-star rating from 3597 reviews.

📍Sharks Bay oasis Resort, Sharm El Sheikh 1, South Sinai Governorate 46619, Egypt · View on map

Mahony Restaurant

Mahony Restaurant is an unpretentious seafood restaurant offering imaginative seafood soups and mains, which can be enjoyed on its terrace. It boasts a 4.6-star rating from 3981 reviews.

📍Naama Bay mall number 6، Sharm El Sheikh 1, South Sinai Governorate 46619, Egypt · View on map

Arab Bucks, Cafe And Resturaunt, Sharm el Shiekh

Arab Bucks, Cafe And Resturaunt in Sharm el Shiekh, is a restaurant with a 4.7-star rating from 1698 reviews.

📍Sharm El Sheikh 2, South Sinai Governorate 8753231, Egypt · View on map

Wild West

Wild West is a Tex-Mex restaurant. It boasts an impressive 4.9-star rating from 1231 reviews.

📍inside Chillout station, in front of Domina Coral Bay, El Salam Road, Sharm El Sheikh 1, South Sinai Governorate 46628, Egypt · View on map

Amedeo Restaurant & Cafe

Amedeo Restaurant & Cafe is an Italian restaurant, highly rated at 4.8 from 377 reviews.

📍W869+RH4, Sharm El Sheikh 1, South Sinai Governorate 8761337, Egypt · View on map

Shore Snorkeling at Shark's Bay

Shallow, calm reef right off the beach at Shark's Bay lets even first-time snorkelers see colorful fish and coral without a boat trip.

Glass-Bottom Boat Tour

A glass-bottom boat cruises over shallow reefs so non-swimmers and younger children can watch coral and fish without ever entering the water.

SOHO Square Dancing Fountain & Entertainment

SOHO Square's evening dancing fountain show, ice cream parlors, arcade games and open-air restaurants make for an easy, walkable family evening out.

Light Desert Quad Safari

A shortened, gentle version of the desert quad safari suits older children and teens, riding across the sand to a Bedouin tea stop.

Resort Pool Day

Most Sharm El Sheikh resorts offer large freshwater pools, water slides and shallow kids' pools as a rest day alternative to sun and salt water.

Marine Aquarium & Sea Life Park

A local aquarium and marine life park introduces kids to Red Sea species up close in an air-conditioned setting, a good option on an especially hot day.

Al-Sahaba Mosque

The striking Al-Sahaba Mosque, with its Mamluk-style minarets and Ottoman-inspired domes, overlooks the Old Market and welcomes respectful visitors outside prayer times.

Naama Bay Promenade & Nightlife

Naama Bay's palm-lined promenade fills each evening with cafes, live music bars, shisha lounges and shops, the social heart of Sharm El Sheikh after dark.

Old Market Shopping & Haggling

Sharm El Maya's Old Market is the place for spices, textiles, papyrus and souvenirs, where haggling over price is expected and part of the experience.

Semi-Submarine Boat Tour

A yellow semi-submarine boat descends passengers below the waterline in a sealed viewing cabin, showing off Red Sea coral and fish without getting wet.

Bedouin Desert Safari & Stargazing

Evening jeep safaris head into the Sinai desert to a Bedouin camp for a traditional dinner, tea and clear-sky stargazing far from city lights.

Old Market Fish Auction

Early evening at Sharm El Maya harbor, fishing boats unload their catch and a lively local fish market and auction unfolds along the waterfront.

Al-Sahaba Mosque Visit

Sharm El Sheikh's largest mosque, overlooking the Old Market, welcomes non-Muslim visitors outside prayer times to admire its Islamic architecture.

St. Catherine's Monastery

A UNESCO World Heritage site at the foot of Mount Sinai, St. Catherine's is one of the oldest continuously inhabited Christian monasteries in the world, home to the traditional Burning Bush.

Mount Sinai (Jebel Musa) Sunrise Pilgrimage

Pilgrims and hikers climb through the night to reach Mount Sinai's summit for sunrise, following a route believed by tradition to be where Moses received the Ten Commandments.

Burning Bush Chapel

Within St. Catherine's Monastery grounds, a chapel marks the spot traditionally identified as the biblical burning bush, a quiet focal point for pilgrims.

Bedouin Spiritual Desert Evening

Bedouin-led desert evenings combine traditional tea, storytelling and quiet stargazing, reflecting the deep spiritual connection Sinai's Bedouin have with the desert.

Ramadan Etiquette for Visitors

During Ramadan, visitors are asked to avoid eating, drinking or smoking in public during daylight hours out of respect, though resort restaurants still serve tourists.

Sharm El Sheikh International Convention Centre

A major conference venue that hosted the UN's COP27 climate summit in 2022, regularly used for international diplomatic and business gatherings.

Diving & Watersports Industry

Dozens of PADI and SSI-certified dive centers anchor Sharm El Sheikh's core economy, employing instructors, boat crews and gear technicians year-round.

Hospitality & Resort Sector

Large-scale resort hospitality is Sharm El Sheikh's dominant industry, with international hotel chains and locally owned properties competing across Naama Bay and Nabq.

Marine Conservation Sector (HEPCA)

HEPCA, the Hurghada Environmental Protection and Conservation Association, coordinates reef protection, mooring buoys and marine cleanups across the Red Sea coast including Sharm El Sheikh.

Sharm El Sheikh International Airport Hub

As Egypt's third-busiest airport, SSH functions as the logistical backbone for the entire South Sinai tourism economy, handling charter flights from across Europe.

Duty-Free & Retail Trade

Duty-free shops at the airport and in Naama Bay's retail strip form a notable slice of the local economy, selling everything from perfume to Egyptian souvenirs.

Emergency Numbers

Dial 122 for police and 123 for ambulance anywhere in Egypt; hotel front desks can also connect guests directly to emergency services.

Sharm International Hospital

A private hospital in Sharm El Sheikh handling general emergencies and tourist medical needs, with English-speaking staff experienced with visiting travelers.

Hyperbaric Chamber for Diving Accidents

Sharm El Sheikh has a dedicated hyperbaric recompression chamber for treating decompression sickness, a critical safety net for the area's dense diving industry.

Pharmacy Access

Pharmacies are widely available in Naama Bay and near the Old Market, most stocking common travel medications and staffed with English-speaking pharmacists.

Food & Water Safety

Drink only bottled or filtered water, avoid ice from unverified sources, and wash or peel salads and fruit to reduce the risk of travelers' stomach upset.

Sun & Heat Safety

The desert sun is intense year-round; use high-SPF sunscreen, drink water frequently, and limit direct midday sun exposure especially with young children.

Scuba Diving at Ras Muhammad

Ras Muhammad National Park's Shark Reef and Yolanda Reef rank among the world's best dive sites, with sheer walls, dense fish life and a mangrove-fringed shoreline.

Snorkeling the Tiran Strait

Day boats sail out to the four famous reefs of the Tiran Strait — Gordon, Jackson, Woodhouse and Thomas — offering strong currents, sharks and dramatic coral walls.

Desert Jeep & Quad Safari

Full desert safaris combine off-road jeep or quad riding through Sinai's dunes and canyons with a stop at a Bedouin village for tea and traditional food.

Windsurfing & Kitesurfing

Consistent Red Sea winds and flat, shallow lagoons north of Sharm El Sheikh make the area a solid destination for windsurfing and kitesurfing lessons.

Hiking Mount Sinai & the Colored Canyon

Beyond the sunrise pilgrimage route, Mount Sinai and the striped rock formations of the Colored Canyon offer scenic day hikes through Sinai's mountainous interior.

Sport Fishing Boat Trips

Chartered fishing boats head out from Sharm's marina in search of tuna, barracuda and other Red Sea game fish, with equipment and crew included.

Private Dive Guide & Instructor Booking

Book a private, licensed dive instructor for one-on-one guidance at Ras Muhammad or the Tiran Strait, ideal for less-experienced or nervous divers.

Airport Fast-Track & Private Transfer

Skip arrival queues at SSH with a fast-track meet-and-greet service and a private door-to-door transfer straight to the resort.

SIM Card & Travel WiFi

Egyptian SIM cards from providers like Vodafone or Orange are available at the airport and in Naama Bay shops, offering affordable data for the whole trip.

Excursion Concierge Service

A dedicated local concierge arranges Ras Muhammad boat trips, Mount Sinai transport, restaurant bookings and any last-minute excursion request.

Underwater Photography Service

Professional underwater photographers join dive or snorkel trips to capture family memories among the coral, delivering edited photos and video after the trip.

Luggage & Dive Gear Storage

Hotels and some dive centers offer secure storage for luggage or bulky dive equipment between checkout and a late flight, or between multi-stop trips.

Best Months for Diving & Weather

March through May and October through November bring the most comfortable air and water temperatures, ideal for diving, snorkeling and desert excursions alike.

Extreme Summer Heat

June through August brings intense desert heat exceeding 40°C during the day, though the sea itself stays warm and pleasant for swimming and diving.

Cool Winter Water Temperatures

December through February keeps daytime air pleasant, but sea temperatures drop to around 21°C, meaning divers and snorkelers should wear a wetsuit.

Northern Winds & Sea Conditions

Strong northern winds, more common in spring, can whip up waves and choppy conditions that may cancel or reroute boat trips to more sheltered dive sites.

Islamic Holiday Considerations

Ramadan and Eid dates shift yearly on the Islamic calendar and can affect restaurant hours and local pace, though resort services continue for tourists as usual.

Peak Season Pricing

European winter holidays (December-January) and Easter week push resort prices and flight demand to their highest, so booking well ahead is worthwhile.

Ras Muhammad Is the Jewel

Book a snorkel or dive boat trip to Ras Muhammad National Park early in the visit — its Shark Reef and Yolanda Reef are widely considered among the most beautiful in the world.

Don't Touch or Stand on the Coral

Ras Muhammad and the surrounding reefs are a protected marine reserve — touching or standing on coral carries fines and causes lasting damage to a fragile ecosystem.

Agree Taxi Prices Before Getting In

Taxis have no meters and ride-hailing apps work only partially in the area, so always negotiate and confirm the fare with the driver before the trip starts.

Bring Both Foreign Currency and Egyptian Pounds

Resorts and dive centers generally accept dollars or euros, but the Old Market and local taxis expect Egyptian pounds, so carry some local cash too.

Mount Sinai Sunrise Needs a Night Departure

Reaching the summit by sunrise means leaving around 23:00 the night before — pack warm layers, a flashlight and sturdy shoes for the steep final steps.

Verify Dive Insurance and Operator Certification

Before any dive, confirm the operator is a licensed PADI or SSI center with well-maintained equipment, and that personal dive insurance such as DAN is active.