Hurghada, Marsa Alam or Sharm el-Sheikh? How to Choose Your Red Sea Resort
Comparing Egypt's three big Red Sea destinations for beaches, reefs, nightlife, families, day trips and value – and which one suits your holiday.
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Egypt's Red Sea coast offers three very different holidays. Hurghada is busy and varied, Marsa Alam is quiet and wild, and Sharm el-Sheikh mixes world-class reefs with resort life on the Sinai Peninsula. Here's how they compare.
At a glance
| Hurghada | Marsa Alam | Sharm el-Sheikh | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Vibe | Lively, varied | Quiet, natural | Resort, lively at night |
| Snorkelling | Boat trips to islands | Best house reefs, turtles | Ras Mohammed, Tiran |
| Beaches | Sandy, many bays | Natural bays, coral | Mostly coral, some sand |
| Families | Excellent | Good, very calm | Very good |
| Nightlife | Good | Very little | Good (Naama Bay) |
| Day trips | Luxor, Cairo, islands | Wadi El Gemal, Hamata | Mount Sinai, Dahab |
Hurghada: best all-rounder
1. Choose Hurghada if you want variety
Hurghada and its neighbouring bays have the widest choice of hotels, restaurants and excursions, an airport minutes from most hotels and easy day trips to Luxor. It suits families, first-timers and anyone who wants both beach time and things to do. Read our Hurghada travel guide.
Marsa Alam: best for nature
2. Choose Marsa Alam for marine life and peace
Marsa Alam is the place for snorkellers and divers who want turtles, dolphins and healthy house reefs right off the hotel jetty – and for anyone looking for peace and quiet. The trade-off is fewer restaurants and longer transfers between hotels. Read our Marsa Alam guide.
Sharm el-Sheikh: best reefs plus resort life
3. Choose Sharm for Ras Mohammed and Sinai
Sharm sits beside two of the world's great reef areas and offers an easy trip to Mount Sinai. Naama Bay has a lively evening scene, and many hotels have clifftop pools above coral reefs. Read our Sharm el-Sheikh guide.
How to decide
- First time in Egypt, with kids: Hurghada or one of its bays.
- Snorkelling with turtles, total relaxation: Marsa Alam.
- Diving, reefs and a bit of nightlife: Sharm el-Sheikh.
- Want to see Luxor too: Hurghada is closest.
Still deciding? Our Red Sea family holiday guide compares the bays around Hurghada in more detail.
Frequently asked questions
Which Red Sea resort has the best snorkelling?
All three are excellent. Sharm el-Sheikh has Ras Mohammed and the Tiran reefs, Marsa Alam has the best house reefs and turtles, and Hurghada has easy boat trips to the Giftun Islands.
Which resort is best for families?
Hurghada and its nearby bays – Makadi, Sahl Hasheesh, El Gouna and Soma Bay – have the widest choice of family hotels, sandy beaches and short airport transfers.
Which is quietest?
Marsa Alam is the quietest and most natural, with hotels spread along a long stretch of coast and little nightlife.
Keep reading
Hurghada Travel Guide: 15 Best Things to Do on Egypt's Red Sea
Island boat trips, snorkelling, diving, desert safaris, the Marina and El Dahar old town – the best things to do in Hurghada, plus where to stay and getting around.
Marsa Alam Travel Guide: Turtles, Dugongs and the Red Sea's Best Reefs
Snorkel with turtles at Abu Dabbab, look for dugongs, dive Elphinstone and explore Wadi El Gemal – the best things to do in Marsa Alam on Egypt's southern Red Sea.
Sharm el-Sheikh Travel Guide: 10 Best Things to Do
Snorkel Ras Mohammed and Tiran, dive the Thistlegorm, climb Mount Sinai at dawn and explore Naama Bay – the best things to do in Sharm el-Sheikh.
Luxor Day Trip from Hurghada: How to Plan It and What You'll See
Is a Luxor day trip from Hurghada worth it? Travel time, a realistic itinerary for Karnak, the Valley of the Kings and Hatshepsut, and whether to stay overnight instead.