This travel guide is filled with tips on how to plan your holidays in Sharm el Sheikh, the City of Peace. This charming city is the Egyptian resort town and it’s most famous for the sandy beaches, clear waters and best coral reefs in the Red Sea. That’s also where you come to stroll along the palm tree promenade, enjoy delicious food and go on the desert safaris. Those looking to explore the marina life can visit the Ras Muhammad National Park and do some scuba diving or snorkelling around the Shark & Yolanda Reefs and the Thistlegorm wreck.
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What to Visit in Sharm el Sheikh
Generally, Sharm el Sheikh is the seaside resort town, located on the southern tip of the Sinai Peninsula in South Sinai Governorate. The city overlooks the Straits of Tiran at the narrow entrance of the Gulf of Aqaba. What’s more, it lies between the Sinai Desert and the Red Sea with the most beautiful Naama Bay and the Ras Muhammad National Park nearby. In fact, Sharm el Sheikh covers around 33,140 square km of land with the population reaching over 73,000 people.
Don’t leave Sharm el Sheikh without seeing:
- Al Sahaba Mosque
- Al-Mustafa Mosque
- The Old Market
- Heavenly Cathedral
- Seascope Semi Submarine
- Dolphina Park
- Alf Leila wa Leila
- Hollywood Sharm
- Naama Bay
- Nabq Bay
- Shark’s Bay
- Hadaba Bay
- Sharm Maya Bay (near the Old Town)
- Aqua Blue Water Park
- Ras Mohamed National Park
- Mount Moses Trekking
- Monastery of St. Catherine
- Coloured Canyon
- White Canyon
- Bedouin Camp
- Desert Safari
- Diving Centres
- Water Sports
- Tiran Island
- White Island
Read more: What to see and do in Sharm el Sheikh
Daily Excursions from Sharm el Sheikh
- Jerusalem & Dead Sea
- Sinai Desert Safari
- Dahab
- Coloured Canyon
- Mount Moses
- Monastery of St. Catherine
- Bedouin Night
- Seascope Semi Submarine
- Ras Mohamed National Park
- Tiran Island
- White Island
Hiking in Sharm el Sheikh
If you want to do some trekking in Sharm el Sheikh, you should book one from the local tour operators or your hotel. The best hiking trails include the Mount Sinai (Mount Moses where Ten Commandments were revealed to Moses by God), Mount Catherine, Coloured Canyon, White Canyon and Ras Muhammad National Park.
Beaches in Sharm el Sheikh
When you stay in the holiday resort in Sharm el Sheikh, the hotel most likely owns the private beach. That’s why, if you want to visit different beaches, you might have to pay the entrance fee. The best beaches in Sharm el Sheikh are located around the Hadaba, Sharm Maya Bay (near the Old Town), Naama Bay, Sharks Bay and the Nabq Bay.
Where to Stay in Sharm el Sheikh
The best places to spend your holidays in Sharm el Sheikh are the Naama Bay and Nabq Bay. Both are located on the Red Sea beaches with plenty of bars, restaurants and top-notched resorts to choose from.
If you plan on staying in Sharm el Sheikh, it’s good to know the city is divided into five districts: Nabq Bay, Ras Nasrani, Naama Bay, Umm Sid, and Sharm El May. Additionally, together with Hay el Nour, Hadaba, Rowaysat, Montazah and Shark’s Bay, they form a metropolitan area.
Most recommended hotels in Sharm el Sheikh:
- Aurora Oriental Resort
- Sunrise Diamond Beach Resort
- Maritim Jolie Ville Resort and Casino
- Novotel Sharm el Sheikh
What to Eat in Sharm el Sheikh
When you stay in the holiday resort in Sharm el Sheik, your hotel normally provides either the half/full board or all inclusive options. Having the food and drinks from the hotel’s restaurant is a big advantage and the best option to dine in Sharm. If, however, you wish to eat out in town, you may as well visit some local places serving the most popular Egyptian dishes such as:
- Simit – bagel bread covered in sesame
- Falafel – deep-fried chickpeas and fava beans balls
- Hawawshi – sandwiches stuffed with slices of different meat
- Ful Medames – breakfast stew made of cooked fava beans
- Koshary – rice, pasta, and lentils cooked in tomato & vinegar sauce
- Shawarma – slices of meat carved from a slowly revolving skewer in the bread, sort of kebab
- Mahshi – different vegetables stuffed with rice and spices
- Egyptian meze – dips such as baba ganoush (eggplant) and hummus, Roumy cheese and garlic tomatoes, pita and falafels
- Om Ali – desert, bread pudding with nuts, raisins, coconut, cinnamon, cream and sugar
- Coffee – steamed from water pipes
- Tea – black or mint tea
How to Get Around Sharm el Sheikh
The best way to get around Sharm el Sheikh is to use the taxis. They are fast and reasonably priced (LE150, £7 from Naama Bay to the Old Town one way). When you travel from the airport, you shouldn’t pay more than LE220, £10 or $15. The rule is you should set the price first and have the exact change to give to avoid being scammed. If you want to save money, use the mini buses. In general, they are the cheapest but might be slow and often late when you need them.
The Sharm el Sheikh International Airport is located roughly 20 km (25 min) away from the city centre (Sharm Old Centre) and 12 km (15 min) from the Na’ama Bay.
How to get from Sharm el Sheikh airport to the city centre?
- Hotel Airport Shuttle - it's the best way. If you book all inclusive holidays from the travel agent back home, the airport transfer is normally included. If you book your holidays from the hotel, it's best to directly arrange it with them. The price should be around 200 LE (£10) one way.
- Mini Bus - there are many services available. It's best to set the price before you board the bus and have the exact change.
The public transport in Sharm el Sheikh is not developed as such. It relies on the blue and white mini buses (tuk-tuks) that take you around the city. They usually have 10-15 seats available, start from the Old Market and operate from the North to the South. The buses in Sharm are very cheap though (maximum 2 LE to 5 LE (£0.10 to £0.23) to go from Hadaba to Nabq) but the level of service is low.
The mini buses in Sharm el Sheikh often wait for more people to fill the vehicle if there isn't enough. When on the road, they are usually slow, but they are able to pick you up and drop you off anywhere you want (just wave your hand when you see them arriving). The drivers will take you somewhere off the road (eg. drive you to your hotel) for some extra money. Many of them can speak good English.
Taxis in Sharm el Sheikh are quite cheap. There's a minimum charge of 9.50 LE (£0.40) and additional 5 LE (£0.23) per km of your journey. If needed, one hour waiting time costs 50 LE (£2.30). Overall, the single ride shouldn't be more than 300 LE (£13) at the most.
There are many cabs around the city and you can hail them in the streets. If you don't want to spend a fortune, it's best to set the price before you board the cab and have the exact change as the drivers often claim not to have any.
Sharm el Sheikh Travel Guide – Cost and Budget
If you want to fly to Sharm from the UK, it normally takes up to 5 hours and costs between £300 and £350 return. The domestic flights between Sharm el Sheikh and the main cities in Egypt take roughly one hour and cost £30 one way.
If you want to visit Sharm el Sheikh on the low budget, you should spend roughly £31 a day. That’s assuming you stay in the B&B or the hotel with the breakfast included, eat street food or inexpensive meals, use the public transport and see the basic attractions.
If you wish to visit Sharm el Sheikh on the mid – range budget, you shouldn’t spend more than £70 daily. Within that range, you are be able to book a half/full board package from the hotel or the resort. Taken that the main meals are included, the drinks and extras are still to be paid for. Things such as local taxis and most daily excursions are also affordable.
If you want luxury in Sharm el Sheikh, be prepared to spend at least £80 a day. This budget allows you to stay in the All Inclusive Resort with everything paid for, including the meals and alcoholic drinks. Additionally, you are be able to take taxis (LE150, £7 from Naama Bay to the Old Town one way) and go on the daily trips (roughly £30 per person per trip). The most popular daily excursions from Sharm el Sheikh are the Semi Seascope Semi Submarine, Mount Moses and Catherine Monastery, Colour Canyon and Dahab, plus Ras Mohamed National Park.
| Accommodation | Food | Transport | Attractions | Avg Daily Cost | |
| Backpacker | £15 | £10 | £1 | £5 | £31 |
| Mid-range (Half/Full board) | £40 | £10 | £5 | £15 (£30) | £70 |
| Luxury (All inclusive) | £60 | £0 | £5 | £15 (£30) | £80 |
Sharm el Sheikh Travel Guide – Best Time to Visit
The fact is, Sharm el Sheikh is sunny and warm all year around. But, the best time to go to Sharm el Sheikh is either autumn (September to November) or spring (March to May), although summer and winter are also popular with tourists. When planning to visit Egypt, you should avoid travelling during the Ramadan (ninth month in the Muslim calendar)
Autumn & Spring in Sharm el Sheikh
Basically, autumn and spring bring the best weather for exploring not only Sharm el Sheikh, but the whole of Egypt. If you want to combine your beach holiday in Sharm with sightseeing the cities such as Cairo or Luxor, cruising the Nile and trekking the Sinai Desert, that’s when you should travel. Both seasons bring the temperatures between 26°C and 36°C, although spring is always cooler. If you plan the long treks around the desert, spring is when the sandstorms are likely to disturb your holidays.
Summer in Sharm el Sheik
Generally, summer in Sharm el Sheikh (June to August) is brutally hot with up to 40°C every day. Although it’s a good time to stay on the beach (if you don’t mind the heat), it’s definitely too much to go anywhere else around the country. Basically, the sun beats down on you during the day and the temperatures hardly ever fall below 30°C at night.
Winter in Sharm el Sheikh
If you travel to Sharm in winter (December to February), you get to enjoy the warm temperatures up to 23°C. It’s warm and sunny during the day so sunbathing and swimming at the Red Sea feels pleasant. The nights, however seem cooler and jackets much needed during your evening strolls. Basically, winter is when exploring the country is recommended but nights in the desert definitely feel cold.
High (Sep-Nov, Mar-May)
- Autumn, spring are best
- Hotels full and expensive
- Beach and sightseeing
Mid Season (Jun – Aug)
- Brutally hot temps 40°C
- Sightseeing is hard
- Beach holiday only
Low Season (Feb-Dec)
- Sunny days, cooler nights
- Hotels are full at Xmas
- Beach and sightseeing
Sharm el Sheikh Travel Guide – Average Monthly Temperatures
Basically, Sharm el Sheikh gets the warm weather all year long, but it’s the hottest in summer, from June to August. Those months bring the boiling temperatures up to 40°C, with July being the hottest. In contrast, Sharm el Sheikh is the coldest in winter from December to February. That’s when there’s still plenty of sunshine and temperatures around 22°C, with January being the coolest.
| Jan | Feb | Mar | Apr | May | Jun | Jul | Aug | Sep | Oct | Nov | Dec | |
| High Temp (°C) | 22 | 23 | 26 | 30 | 36 | 37 | 38 | 37 | 36 | 31 | 27 | 23 |
| Low Temp (°C) | 13 | 14 | 16 | 20 | 24 | 26 | 27 | 28 | 26 | 23 | 19 | 15 |
| Avg Sea Temp (°C) | 23 | 22 | 23 | 23 | 25 | 26 | 28 | 29 | 28 | 27 | 25 | 24 |
Sharm el Sheikh Travel Guide – Average Monthly Precipitation
Generally, it hardly ever rains in Sharm el Sheikh. The city is the wettest between October and March, during the autumn and winter seasons. In fact, November is the month when it rains the most with up to 3 mm and half a day of showers. In contrast, Sharm el Sheikh is the driest between April and September, during the spring and summer seasons with no drop of rain whatsoever.
| Jan | Feb | Mar | Apr | May | Jun | Jul | Aug | Sep | Oct | Nov | Dec | |
| Rainfall (mm) | 0.5 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0.5 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 3 | 0.5 |
| Rainfall (days) | 0.5 | 0 | 0.5 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0.5 | 0.5 | 0.3 |
Sharm el Sheikh Travel Guide – Practical Information
This part of my travel guide is focused on tips on what to expect during your trip to Sharm el Sheikh. For more information on language and local time, religion, electricity plug, internet, currency, visa, safety and health matters in Sharm el Sheikh, just follow my clues below.
Population and Language – Around 73,000 people live in Sharm el Sheikh. The official language is Arabic and most Egyptians speak good English.
Religion – 90% Muslim, 10% others.
Local Time – There is 1 time zone in Sharm el Sheikh: UTC+2 hours.
Electricity – Sharm el Sheikh runs on 220V voltage. There is 50Hz and the two round pin plug type C, F and L. Getting an adapter is recommended.
Internet – The internet in Sharm el Sheikh might be a bit of the problem in some areas. You can either get the the free Wi-Fi from your hotel or pay extra to use one. There are some internet cafes around Sharm el Sheikh you can visit. It’s also recommended to buy a cheap Egyptian sim card (£2) and mobile internet on arrival. The best prepaid sim cards in Sharm el Sheikh are: Orange Egypt, Vodafone Egypt or Etisalat.
Money and Currency in Sharm el Sheikh
Money – There are some ATMs you can use in Sharm el Sheikh (eg. HSBC), but it’s safer to withdraw the money from your hotel or the nearest bank for a standard fee. Cards such as Visa, MasterCard and other major Debit or Credit Cards are widely accepted. Sometimes, the card payments are charged a sale fee of 3% to 10%. It’s best to always have lots of cash (preferably US dollars) and plenty of change (many vendors and cab drivers say they don’t have it when you pay).
Currency – The official currency in Sharm el Sheikh is Egyptian Pound (LE). Most businesses such as hotels, tour operators etc insist on paying in US Dollars ($) so it’s best to have this currency in cash instead.
Visa Requirements for Sharm el Sheikh
Visa – The British and Polish citizens don’t need to apply for the visa if staying in Sharm el Sheikh for up to 15 days. What they receive is the free entry permission stamp on arrival. If staying for longer than 15 days or willing to leave the Sharm el Sheikh area, they must apply for a visa (e-visa for 30 days to travel around Egypt).
Safety in Sharm el Sheikh
Safety Sharm el Sheikh is a safe destination to travel. Back in 2015, the Sharm el Sheikh’s airport was targeted by the Russians and many were killed in the plane crash. Since then, the Egyptian government put a lot of effort into securing the area and the airport is safe again. The flights to and from Sharm operate as normal. The thing to watch out for are the taxi drivers. If using one, make sure to arrange the fare before you board the car and have the exact cash. Sharm el Sheikh is the Muslim city, but since you’re staying in the resort, there’s no requirements on how you dress. If you go for a daily trip out of the city, remember to be respectful and cover the knees and arms. LGBT is illegal in Sharm.
Emergency Numbers – The numbers for each emergency services in Egypt are: Police – 122, Ambulance – 123, Fire – 180, Highway Emergency Service – 136.
Health and Travel Vaccinations in Sharm el Sheikh
Health – Before you travel to Sharm el Sheikh, it’s recommended to consider: the cholera vaccination, meningococcal meningitis vaccination, tuberculosis (TB) vaccination, typhoid vaccination and malaria vaccination. The World Health Organization (WHO) recommends that everyone is covered for the diphtheria, tetanus, measles, mumps, rubella and polio, hepatitis A, hepatitis B regardless of their destination.