Sharm el-Sheikh is the Sinai Peninsula’s major tourism centre and one of the world’s top diving destinations.
It is the underwater tourist attraction – particularly the waters of the Ras Mohammed Marine Park just south of town – that put “Sharm el Sheikh ” centre-stage on Sinai’s tourism map in the first place, and for anyone planning an Egypt diving holiday, this is one of the best places to visit in Egypt .
This is also one of Egypt’s best destinations if you just want to chill out on the beach. Non-divers will find plenty of land-based things to do, as Sharm El Sheikh is day-tripping distance to many of the Sinai Peninsula’s historic and natural attractions.
It’s a particular favorite for family-friendly holidays due to the excellent facilities of Hotels.
Whether you’re here for the sand or the sea-life, Sharm El-Sheikh is a great choice for a Holiday
Ras Mohammed National Park
Ras Mohammed National Park is what put Sharm el-Sheikh on the tourist map.
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
Surrounded by some of the world’s most incredible dive sites, this peninsula, 38 kilometres south of Sharm El Sheikh , is home to glorious beaches with excellent snorkeling just offshore, the world’s second most northerly mangrove forest, and a saltwater lake.
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.
The best beaches are Old Quay Beach (with its top-notch coral reef easily reached from the shore) and Aqaba Beach.
Soak Up the Sun at Naama Bay
Fringed by a white-sand beach and swaying palm trees, Naama Bay is the epicenter of Sharm el-Sheikh’s resort life.
There are plentiful restaurants, cafés, and souvenir stores if you get bored of the sand, but Naama Bay is really all about the beach.
A pedestrian-only promenade rims the entire beach area, backed by a cluster of luxury and mid-range resorts.
For those looking for a holiday full of sloth-like sunbathing, Naama Bay is one of Egypt’s top choices. The entire beach area has excellent facilities, including ample sun-shades and loungers, and the beachside cafés mean you don’t even have to move from your patch of sandy bliss all day.
Note that the entire sweep of beach here is sectioned into separate areas owned and run by the hotels, with complimentary access for resort guests. When choosing your Naama Bay accommodation, especially if it’s not beachfront, always check what beach access they provide.
Snorkel of Ras Um Sid Beach
One of Sharm el-Sheikh’s best snorkelling destinations is Ras Um Sid Beach, right at the southern tail of the town, near the lighthouse.
Here, people slouch on the beach, or at the café on the cliff above, between snorkelling trips into the water, where an excellent coral reef is just offshore and so easily accessed by non-divers.
Farther away from the sand, Ras Um Sid Reef is perfect for first-time into diving and is used as a try-dive site by many local dive operators.
If you’re just here for the snorkeling, though, there is still plenty of variety of reef fish to see closer to the shore.
Address: Al-Fanar Street
Relax on the Beach at Sharks 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 snorkelling right off the shore, is also good here.
Behind the beach, the focus of Shark’s Bay life is the Soho Square, 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.