Sharm el-Sheikh Travel Guide: 10 Best Things to Do

At the southern tip of the Sinai Peninsula, where the desert mountains meet the Red Sea, Sharm el-Sheikh is home to some of the richest coral reefs on the planet. Clifftop hotels with infinity pools, lively Naama Bay and easy trips into the Sinai mountains make it a great choice for families, couples and divers alike.

Sharm el-Sheikh at a glance

In the sea

1. Snorkel and dive Ras Mohammed National Park

Egypt's first national park protects sheer coral walls, schools of barracuda and jacks and, in summer, huge shoals of spawning fish. Boat trips from Sharm stop at several reefs in one day.

Slip into the water at Ras Mohammed and the reef wall drops away into an endless blue, covered in corals of every colour. Huge shoals of snapper and barracuda hang in the current, turtles glide past and the visibility seems to go on for ever. Listen carefully to the guide's briefing – currents can be strong at the tip.

2. Explore the Tiran reefs

In the Strait of Tiran, four reefs – Jackson, Woodhouse, Thomas and Gordon – are famous for their coral, strong currents and big fish. Day boats suit snorkellers and divers of all levels.

The boat ties up near a rusting wreck perched on the reef, and you snorkel over coral gardens alive with fish in the clear turquoise water of the strait. The boats get busy in high season, so a trip that leaves early gets the calmest water.

3. Dive the SS Thistlegorm

This British supply ship, sunk in 1941, is one of the world's best wreck dives, still loaded with motorbikes, trucks and wartime equipment. It's a long day trip for experienced divers.

As you descend the line, a huge dark hull appears below you. Inside the holds, motorbikes, trucks and boots lie where they fell in 1941, covered in coral and swirling with glassfish – eerie, moving and one of the world's great wreck dives. It's a long boat day and can be deep and current-swept, so it's for experienced divers.

4. Snorkel from your hotel

Many Sharm hotels – especially in Nabq Bay, Ras Nasrani and around Ras Um Sid – have jetties straight onto the reef. Ask about the house reef before you book.

Walk down the cliff steps or along the jetty, step in and you're straight over the reef wall, with fish swirling around your fins in water so clear it looks like glass. Mornings are calmest; wear water shoes and never stand on the coral.

On land

5. Spend an evening in Naama Bay

Sharm's original resort bay has a pedestrian promenade lined with restaurants, cafés and shops – the place to be after dark.

After dark, the promenade glows with neon and fairy lights, music drifts from the bars and the smell of grilled meat and shisha fills the air. It's lively and touristy – fun for an evening out, but check menu prices and expect shopkeepers to call you in.

6. Visit the Old Market and Al Sahaba Mosque

In the Old Town, the elegant Al Sahaba Mosque overlooks a bazaar of spice and souvenir shops. Come in the early evening when it's cooler and the mosque is lit up.

In the Old Market, stalls spill over with spices, lanterns, scarves and perfume bottles, and the shopkeepers' calls mix with the smell of incense. Above it all, the white Al Sahaba Mosque glows like a palace when it's lit at night – one of the most photographed sights in Sharm.

7. Watch the sunset at Ras Um Sid

The clifftop around the Ras Um Sid lighthouse offers sweeping views over the Strait of Tiran – one of the best sunset spots in Sharm.

From the clifftop by the lighthouse, the sea below turns from turquoise to gold and then deep blue as the sun sinks behind the mountains of Sinai. People gather quietly with cameras and cold drinks – a simple, beautiful end to the day.

Day trips

8. Climb Mount Sinai at dawn

Overnight trips drive to St Catherine to climb Mount Sinai in the dark and watch the sunrise from the summit, followed by a visit to St Catherine's Monastery, one of the oldest working Christian monasteries in the world. Bring warm clothes – it's cold at the top.

You start climbing in the dark, a stream of torches winding up the mountain under a sky full of stars, camels padding past and the cold biting your fingers. At the summit, everyone huddles in blankets until the sky turns pink and the jagged peaks of Sinai appear in waves below. It's tiring and freezing cold in winter, but unforgettable – bring warm layers and a torch.

9. Visit Dahab

Bohemian Dahab, about an hour and a half north, has a relaxed seafront of cafés and some superb snorkelling at the Lighthouse Reef and the Canyon. The famous Blue Hole is beautiful from the surface; deep diving there is only for highly experienced, properly trained divers.

Dahab feels like a different world from Sharm: low-key cafés with cushions on the waterfront, the smell of grilled fish, bicycles and barefoot travellers, and the mountains glowing pink across the gulf at sunset. Spend a lazy afternoon snorkelling and drinking fresh juice by the sea.

10. Hike the Coloured Canyon

Near Nuweiba, this narrow canyon is streaked with red, yellow and purple sandstone. Trips usually combine a jeep ride through the desert with a guided walk.

The walls of the narrow canyon close in around you, striped in red, purple, yellow and white like a painted wave of rock. In places you squeeze sideways between the walls or climb down short ledges. Bring plenty of water and go with a Bedouin guide.

Where to stay

Many hotels in Sharm are built on cliffs above coral reefs, with jetties or steps leading straight into deep water. They're wonderful for snorkellers, but families with small children may prefer hotels in Naama Bay or Nabq with sandy beaches and shallow water.

When to visit

October to May is the most popular time, with warm, sunny days and a sea that stays pleasant for swimming. December to February brings cooler evenings and occasional wind – bring a jumper for boat trips. From June to September, temperatures often exceed 35°C, but the water is at its warmest.

Comparing the Red Sea resorts

Sharm el-Sheikh has some of the most spectacular reefs in the Red Sea and easy trips to Mount Sinai and Dahab. Hurghada offers more variety in town and is closer to Luxor, and Marsa Alam is the quietest and most natural. See our comparison of Hurghada, Marsa Alam and Sharm el-Sheikh and our Red Sea liveaboard guide.

Practical tips

• Bring reef shoes – many hotel beaches lead straight onto coral.
• Protect the reef: don't stand on coral, touch marine life or feed the fish.
• Book trips with licensed operators and check that boats carry life jackets and first-aid kits.

Exploring further? Compare Sharm with the Red Sea's quieter south in our Marsa Alam travel guide, and plan the rest of your trip with the 15 best places to visit in Egypt.