Surrounded by a crystal-clear, deep-blue sea and a breath-taking desert landscape, Sharm El Sheikh occupies a prime position devoting itself solely to sun-and-sea holidays offering a family-friendly vibe and resort comforts, with world-class diving thrown in. Sharm el-Sheikh has developed into one of the most popular holiday destinations in Egypt.
Diverse marine life and hundreds of Red Sea coral reef sites make Sharm El Sheikh a magnet for divers and eco-tourists. Sharm el-sheikh is far more than just a resort town, it is also an ideal spot to discover real Egyptian culture and to travel to the neighbouring historic sites such as the renowned Mount Sinai.
This article contains information about visiting Sharm el sheikh Egypt including:
Sharm el-sheikh
Sharm el-Sheikh is a resort town on the southeastern coast of the Sinai Peninsula, the area was occupied from 1967 to 1982 by the Israelis, who began building the town as a tourist destination. Its development as such continued after being returned to Egypt.
Sharm el-Sheikh was uninhabited throughout most of historical time due to its prohibitive climate, but it gained modern importance because of its strategic situation commanding the narrow entrance to the Gulf of Aqaba.
The area’s clear water and extensive coral reefs have made Sharm el-Sheikh a popular site for snorkeling and scuba diving. The city’s proximity to several prominent Middle Eastern countries and its luxurious accommodations have made it an attractive location for a number of international peace conferences, gaining Sharm el-Sheikh special recognition from UNESCO as a city of peace.
Among Egyptians and many visitors, the name of the city is commonly shortened to “Sharm” , which is its common name in the Egyptian slang. The name is also sometimes written as Sharm el-Cheikh, Sharm el-Sheik in English.
Its population is approximately 53,658 as of 2021. Sharm El Sheikh is the administrative hub of Egypt’s South Sinai Governorate, which includes the smaller coastal towns of Dahab and Nuweiba as well as the mountainous interior, St. Catherine and Mount Sinai. The city and holiday resort is a significant centre for tourism in Egypt, while also attracting many international conferences and diplomatic meetings.
Climate of Sharm el sheikh
The city experiences a subtropical arid climate. Temperatures are just short of a tropical climate. Typical temperatures range from 18 to 23 °C (64 to 73 °F) in January and 33 to 37 °C (91 to 99 °F) in August. The temperature of the Red Sea in this region ranges from 21 to 28 °C (70 to 82 °F) over the course of the year.
Marsa Alam, Kosseir and Sharm el-Sheikh have the warmest winter night temperatures of cities and resorts in Egypt.
The highest recorded temperature was 46 °C (115 °F) on June 3, 2013, and the lowest recorded temperature was 5 °C (41 °F) on February 23, 2000.
Tourism in Sharm el sheikh
Sharm El Sheikh’s major industry is foreign and domestic tourism, owing to its landscape, year-round dry climate with long hot summers and warm winters and its long beaches. Its waters are clear and calm for most of the year and have become popular for various watersports, particularly recreational scuba diving and snorkeling. There is scope for scientific tourism due to the diversity of marine life: 250 different coral reefs and 1000 species of fish.
These natural resources, together with its proximity to tourist markets in Europe, have stimulated rapid growth in tourism in the region. The number of resorts has increased from three in 1982 to ninety-one in 2000.
There is nightlife in Sharm El Sheikh. The colorful handicraft stands of the local Bedouin culture are a popular attraction. Ras Mohammed, at the southernmost tip of the peninsula, has been designated a national park, protecting the area’s wildlife, natural landscape, shoreline and coral reef. There are a number of international restaurants and hotels in Sharm, in the area known as Naama Bay, with golf courses and other leisure facilities further up the coast.
What to do in Sharm el sheikh?
There are numerous places to visit in Sharm El Sheikh. The most popular attraction at Sharm El Sheikh is the sea itself, with all its beautiful and exotic marine wildlife that people around the world dive in to see for their own eyes. Vibrant and colorful coral reefs are scattered throughout the Red Sea floor. Schools of fish of all sorts of colors and figures swim lively in swarms, providing an unforgettable sight under the sea.
Sharm El Sheikh has become a popular location for scuba diving as a result of its underwater scenery and warm waters. Other beach activities include snorkeling, windsurfing, kite-surfing, para-sailing, boating, and canoeing. Here are some of the best things to do and plaves to visit in Sharm el sheikh Egypt:
Day Trip to Saint Catherine’s Monastery
St. Catherine’s Monastery sits at the foot of Mt. Sinai, where Moses is said to have received the Ten Commandments.
One of the oldest working monasteries in the world, this Greek Orthodox hermitage is home to the famous “burning bush” of the Old Testament, as well as a museum showcasing some of the monastery’s glittering collection of religious icons and ancient manuscripts that is revered as one of the finest in the world.
The monastery is 209 kilometers northwest from Sharm el-Sheikh, within the Sinai’s barren mountainous interior. Group tours from Sharm are offered both as overnight trips, including the hike up Mt. Sinai for sunrise, and as early morning departures to just visit the monastery.
Climb Sinai Mountain
For a taster of this craggy landscape, head 209 kilometers inland from Sharm el-Sheikh to hike up to the summit of Mt. Sinai to see an expanse of orange-hued peaks rippling out before you.
Revered by all three of the major monotheistic faiths as the place where Moses received the 10 Commandments, the summit hike is a pilgrimage for many people (and usually combined with a visit to St. Catherine’s Monastery which sits at the trailhead for the hike).
There are two main trails up to the top. The Camel Trail is a well-worn switchback path, while the Steps of Repentance is a more difficult, but much more scenic, set of stone-cut staircases that was carved out by one of the monastery’s monks.
From Sharm el-Sheikh, most tours travel overnight to reach the trailhead in the wee hours of the morning so that the hike up the Camel Trail is completed in the cool, dark hours, and the summit is reached in time to watch sunrise over the surrounding peaks.
Ras Mohamed national Park
Surrounded by some of the world’s most incredible dive sites, this peninsula, 38 kilometers south of Sharm, is home to glorious beaches with excellent snorkeling just offshore, the world’s second most northerly mangrove forest, and a saltwater lake.
While diving trips concentrate on the offshore reefs, land-based day trips to Ras Mohammed explore the peninsula’s desert environment and its beaches with swim and snorkel stops along the way.
The best beaches are Old Quay Beach (with its top-notch coral reef easily reached from the shore) and Aqaba Beach.
Travelers seeking a good view should head to the Shark Observatory cliff top right on the southern edge of Ras Mohammed, where views stretch across both sides of the Red Sea.
Shark’s Bay
One of Sharm el-Sheikh’s newer resort development areas, Shark’s Bay sits 11 kilometers north from Naama Bay.
The vibe here is slightly more exclusive, with some of Sharm’s most luxurious five-star resorts and hotels clustered around Shark Bay’s sweep of sand.
As with Naama Bay, the beach areas are run by the individual hotels, which means facilities are well-kept and there are restaurants and cafés right on the sand. The snorkeling right off the shore, is also good here.
Behind the beach, the focus of Shark’s Bay life is the Soho Square Center, which includes some of Sharm el-Sheikh’s top restaurant and café choices, as well as shops. This means Shark’s Bay resort guests often choose to not move from this northern section of Sharm for their entire vacation.
Snorkel or Dive the Blue Hole
The Sinai’s most notorious dive site is the Blue Hole, just north of Dahab and 100 kilometers north from Sharm el-Sheikh.
This sinkhole’s infamy is due to the number of lives it has claimed, but all the deaths that have happened here are due to divers diving beyond the normal recreation diving limits. Despite the site’s reputation for danger, divers who stick within sensible limits are perfectly safe here, and the fish life and incredible vistas of ethereal blue below make this an incredibly beautiful dive.
As the Blue Hole can be accessed from the shore, it’s also a popular snorkeling spot, with plenty of fish life to see flitting near the surface if you don’t fancy heading into the depths.
Shopping at Sharm Old Market
Sharm Old Market (also known as Sharm al-Maya) is the town’s souq (bazaar) area, where twinkling Arabic lamps, traditional shisha pipes, and finely engraved woodwork can be found in abundance.
It’s best to come at sunset or later, when the worst heat of the day has dissipated, and you can shop and browse in comfort.
The area is full of cheap and cheerful restaurants and cafés as well, so it’s a good place to spend the entire evening.
This is one of the best areas in Sharm el-Sheikh to seek out classic Egyptian cooking, as the restaurants of the resort areas focus on more international fare. Head here for traditional café life complete with shisha and Arabic coffee as well.
On the edge of the market area is the new Al-Sahaba Mosque with an imposing facade that cherry-picks influences from Fatimid, Mamluk, and Ottoman mosque styles.
Day Trip to Dahab
Dahab, 90 kilometers north from Sharm el-Sheikh, is the Sinai’s backpacker beach resort and a chilled-out alternative to the holiday package feel of Sharm el-Sheikh.
The rocky shoreline here is lined with open-air cafés and restaurants, while a little shopping district winds its way up to the main highway in a jumble of souvenir shops.
There is some excellent diving and snorkeling here, with nearly all the local dive sites accessed from the shore, and most people who choose to base themselves in Dahab are here for a dive-centric vacation.
Dahab’s laid-back atmosphere, though, is also great for a day out from Sharm el-Sheikh.
Explore the Colored Canyon
The swirling mineral-rich layered rock formations of the aptly named Colored Canyon are one of the Sinai’s top out-of-the-water natural attractions.
The canyon, 177 kilometers north from Sharm el-Sheikh, is a showcase of the natural beauty of the desert, carved out of by millennia of wind and water whittling away the rock. There are plenty of opportunities for visitors to scramble along the canyon path accessing the rose-pink striped interior of the rock face.
For nature lovers, this is one of Sharm el-Sheikh’s top days out, and exploring the bizarrely shaped pinnacles and boulders, which have been brushed with shimmering red and orange hues offers up some fantastic photography opportunities.
Wear walking shoes with a decent tread if you want to visit, and bring along plenty of water.
Shopping and dinning in Sharm el sheikh
SOHO Square is more than a nice spot to dine and shop, and it goes beyond being a center for cultural exhibitions. With great fine dining locations, a plethora of nightlife options, and cultural events and entertainment programs, there is always something to keep you entertained at SOHO Square.
Another great shopping and entertainment center in Sharm El Sheikh is Genena City, with a large variety of shopping, dining, and entertainment options to make your visit more exciting and fun.
For authentic and traditional souvenirs to remind you of the memorable experience you had at Sharm El Sheikh, there’s nothing like the old town and the old market. You’ll definitely find a suitable memorable gift from the old town of Sharm El Sheikh for anyone you promised back home.
Staying by the Red Sea also means biting down on tasty and delicious seafood, and there are plenty of seafood restaurants, including the highly praised Felucca Seafood Restaurant. Prefer some more familiar western flavor? You can find that at several spots throughout the city, too, and Hard Rock Café is just one of those popular spots not to be missed.
