Top places to visit in Sharm El-Sheikh

• Naama Bay Reef & Dive Sites

  Beach · 4.7 rating · about 4 h

  World-class reefs directly fronting Naama Bay — Near Garden, Middle Garden and Far Garden with extraordinary coral gardens from shore level. Tower drift dive, Japanese Gardens. PADI courses and day/night dives with Emperor Divers, Camel…

• Mount Sinai & St Catherine's Monastery

  Monastery · 4.8 rating · about 8 h

  Mount Sinai (Jebel Musa, 2,285 m) — where Moses received the Ten Commandments according to Abrahamic tradition. Pre-dawn hike (2.5 hrs via the Steps of Repentance) leads to one of the world's most atmospheric sunrises over the Sinai…

• Naama Bay Beach

  Beach · 4.4 rating · about 4 h

  Sharm's most famous beach strip — a 1km crescent of sandy waterfront lined with dive shops, beach bars, water sport centres and resort hotels. The safest and most accessible swimming in Sharm El-Sheikh.

• Ras Mohammed National Park

  Nature · 4.8 rating · about 5 h · entry EGP 250

  Egypt's first marine national park at the southern tip of Sinai where the Red Sea's two gulfs meet. The Shark and Jolanda Reefs — coral walls plunging 70 m — are legendary diving sites with whitetip and hammerhead sharks, napoleon wrasse…

• Soho Square Sharm

  Nightlife · 4.2 rating · about 3 h

  The main entertainment complex in Naama Bay — outdoor restaurants, live music, ice rink, cinema and family amusements. The social hub of Sharm's evening scene for all ages.

• Sharm El-Sheikh Promenade (Naama Bay Boardwalk)

  Activity · 4.4 rating · about 1 h

  The pedestrian boardwalk running the length of Naama Bay — the most pleasant evening stroll in Sharm. Street performers, souvenir stalls, ice cream and shisha cafés overlooking the illuminated bay.

• Old Market (Sharm El-Sheikh Old Town)

  Market · 4.3 rating · about 1.5 h

  Sharm's original neighbourhood with a traditional Egyptian market atmosphere — local restaurants, souvenir shops and the weekly farmers' market. The most authentic non-resort part of Sharm, 5 minutes from Naama Bay.

• Sharks Bay Beach

  Beach · 4.5 rating · about 3 h

  Quieter, upscale beach north of Naama Bay with a coral reef directly off the shore — snorkel from the beach with no boat needed. Crystal clear water, family-friendly, and significantly less crowded than Naama Bay.

• Sharm El-Sheikh Marina

  Nature · 4.3 rating · about 1 h

  The modern marina in Naama Bay with berths for private yachts and glass-bottom dive boats. The waterfront promenade has restaurants, ice cream shops and a lively pedestrian scene. Departure point for all boat trips.

• Hard Rock Café Sharm El-Sheikh

  Nightlife · 4.1 rating · about 2 h

  The iconic American restaurant-bar-entertainment venue in the heart of Naama Bay. Good burgers, cocktails and live music. The best guaranteed dinner-with-entertainment option in Sharm for international tourists.

• St Catherine's Monastery Only Visit

  Monastery · 4.8 rating · about 2 h

  One of the world's oldest continuously inhabited Christian monasteries (330 AD) at the foot of Mount Sinai. Houses priceless Byzantine mosaics, the Burning Bush and a library of irreplaceable illuminated manuscripts — Egypt's most sacred…

• Coloured Canyon (Sinai Desert)

  Nature · 4.7 rating · about 2 h · entry EGP 150

  A 700m slot canyon in the Sinai desert, 60km from Sharm, with walls of multi-coloured sandstone striped in red, yellow, purple and white. One of Sinai's most photographed natural wonders. Reached by 4WD + short hike.

Things to do

• Ras Mohammed National Park Snorkel Trip Water Sports · 6 h · from EGP 1,500 per person
• Mount Sinai Sunrise Hike & St Catherine's Monastery Adventure · 12 h · from EGP 1,900 per person
• Tiran Island Snorkeling Boat Trip Nature · 7 h · from USD 45 per person
• Blue Hole Dahab Day Trip from Sharm Nature · 8 h · from USD 50 per person
• White Island & Ras Mohammed Desert-Sea Safari Nature · 7 h · from USD 55 per person

Day trips and tours

• Ras Mohammed & White Island Snorkel Day 8 h · from EGP 1,900
• Mount Sinai Overnight Hike & St Catherine's Monastery 12 h · from EGP 2,500

Where to stay in Sharm El-Sheikh

• Naama Bay about EGP 5,000 per night

  The lively tourist hub of Sharm. All-inclusive resorts, restaurants, dive centres and Naama Bay beach. Best for first-time visitors and those who want everything in walking distance.

• Sharks Bay about EGP 9,000 per night

  Quieter upscale enclave north of Naama Bay. Exclusive resorts with private beaches. Less noise, more family-friendly. Coral reef directly from the beach.

Hotels

• Ritz-Carlton Sharm El Sheikh 5-star · EGP 8,000 to EGP 28,000 per night
• Four Seasons Resort Sharm El Sheikh 5-star · EGP 6,500 to EGP 22,000 per night
• Sharks Bay Oasis Hotel 3-star · EGP 800 to EGP 1,800 per night
• Baron Resort Sharm El Sheikh
• Rixos Sharm El Sheikh
• Renaissance Sharm El Sheikh Golden View

Where to eat

• Fares Restaurant Egyptian, Middle Eastern · about EGP 150 per person
• Rangoli Indian Restaurant Indian · about EGP 350 per person
• Pomodoro Restaurant Naama Bay Italian · about EGP 235 per person
• La Rustica Sharm Italian · about EGP 235 per person
• Il Mercato Italian · about EGP 235 per person

Getting around

• Taxi main way to get around

  Seeded from the curated primary_local_modes array; per-city parameters not yet researched.

• Walking

  Every city has walking. 2.5 km ceiling is a placeholder default, not a researched per-city figure -- Singapore is sheltered and air-conditioned, Bangkok often has no pavement.

Safety and scams to avoid

• Taxi Airport Price Gouging

  Sharm El-Sheikh Airport

  Unlicensed taxis at arrivals charge EGP 500–1000 for trips that should cost EGP 80–150. They target tourists with heavy luggage.

  How to avoid it: Use pre-booked hotel transfer or official airport taxi desk (fixed price board displayed). Download Uber before landing.

• Dive Shop Certificate Scam

  Naama Bay dive shops

  Some shops sell PADI "certificates" after a 1-day course with minimal instruction. These are not valid PADI certifications.

  How to avoid it: Use only PADI-certified dive centres with visible instructor credentials. Verify the shop on padi.com/find-courses.

More in Egypt

• Cairo
• Luxor
• Hurghada
• Aswan
• Alexandria
• Dahab