Egypt
The best beaches in Egypt: where to go and when
For a first beach block, pick Hurghada or Sharm el-Sheikh for easy flights and resort reefs, Dahab for cheap diving and a town you can walk, Marsa Alam for quiet southern reefs, Alexandria for a Mediterranean city break, El Gouna for a tidier resort base. Go March to November on the Red Sea; Alexandria is April to October.
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- Plan calculated
- Worked out by Voykit from its own data (times, distances, budgets). A calculation, not a measurement.
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GuideEgypt
Key facts
- Best all-round beach base
- Hurghada or Sharm el-Sheikh: direct flights, resort reefs, easy transfers
- Best for divers on a budget
- Dahab: shore diving, Blue Hole, walkable town
- Best for quiet reefs
- Marsa Alam: dugongs and dolphins, few crowds
- Best Mediterranean beach city
- Alexandria: corniche, seafood, 2.5 h from Cairo by train
- Red Sea seasoncheck
- March–November; winter is cooler but swimmable in the south
- Mediterranean seasoncheck
- April–October; winter is wet and windy
- Sea temperature, wintercheck
- About 21–23 °C on the Red Sea; a shorty wetsuit helps
- Nights to allow
- 3–5 nights for a Red Sea block; 1–2 for Alexandria
Our top picks
Ranked for a first or second trip to Egypt, assuming you are adding a beach block after Cairo and the Nile. Each pick names who it suits, the best months and how to reach it.
| Beach | Why go | Best time | Cost (2026 estimate) | Getting there |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Hurghada | Red Sea resort strip with direct flights from Europe; easy reef snorkelling from the shore | Mar–Nov | Hotel from about EGP 1,500–4,000 a night (2026 estimate, check) | Fly to HRG; 4 h by road from Luxor |
| Sharm el-Sheikh | South Sinai resort city and dive base; Naama Bay and Ras Um Sid reefs | Mar–Nov | Hotel from about EGP 1,800–5,000 a night (2026 estimate, check) | Fly to SSH; 1 h by road from Dahab |
| Dahab | Laid-back dive town; the Blue Hole and Mount Sinai trips; cheap shore diving | Mar–May, Sep–Nov | Guesthouse from about EGP 600–1,500 a night (2026 estimate, check) | Fly to SSH then about 1 h by road |
| Marsa Alam | Quiet southern reefs with dugongs and dolphins; few crowds | Mar–Nov | Hotel from about EGP 1,500–4,500 a night (2026 estimate, check) | Fly to RMF; long road transfers from Hurghada |
| Alexandria | Mediterranean port city: corniche, library and seafood; a city break with beaches | Apr–Oct | Hotel from about EGP 1,200–3,500 a night (2026 estimate, check) | 2.5 h by train from Cairo |
| El Gouna | Tidier resort base north of Hurghada; lagoons, kite schools, walkable centre | Mar–Nov | Hotel from about EGP 2,000–6,000 a night (2026 estimate, check) | Fly to HRG then about 30 min by road |
| Port Ghalib and the far south | Marina base for southern reefs and the Dolphin House area | Mar–Nov | Hotel from about EGP 1,800–5,000 a night (2026 estimate, check) | Fly to RMF then about 20 min by road |
How we chose
We ranked on four things: how easy the beach is to reach from Cairo or the Nile Valley, whether the water and reef are worth the trip, how many months a year you can swim, and whether there is a town to walk into rather than only a resort gate.
- Reach: direct flights or a road transfer under about 4 h
- Water: reef quality, visibility and swimming season
- Base: town, food and non-beach things to do on a windy day
- Value: mid-range hotel and food costs in 2026 (check)
- Crowd level: resort strip versus quiet coast
Best time
The Red Sea is a year-round destination, but the comfortable window is March to November. Summer (June–August) is hot on land, around 35 °C and above, while the water stays pleasant; winter days are mild, roughly 20–24 °C, and the sea cools to about 21–23 °C, which is fine for a short swim and a wetsuit for diving (check).
Alexandria is a Mediterranean city: April to October for swimming and the corniche, with July and August the busiest. Winter there is wet and windy, so treat it as a city stop rather than a beach one (check).
Wind matters more than heat on the Red Sea. Dahab and El Gouna are kitesurf and windsurf centres, so expect breezy afternoons; if you want flat, calm water, mornings are usually better (check).
| Month | Red Sea | Alexandria |
|---|---|---|
| Jan–Feb | Mild days, cool sea, good diving with a wetsuit (check) | Wet and windy; city only (check) |
| Mar–May | Warm, calm, best all-round window (check) | Warming up; swimming from April (check) |
| Jun–Aug | Hot on land, busy, book ahead (check) | Peak beach season, crowded (check) |
| Sep–Nov | Warm sea, quieter, good visibility (check) | Warm into October, then cooling (check) |
| Dec | Mild days, cool sea, low prices (check) | Cold and wet; city only (check) |
Getting there
Most travellers reach the Red Sea by air. Hurghada (HRG) and Sharm el-Sheikh (SSH) have the most direct flights from Europe; Marsa Alam (RMF) is smaller and often served via Cairo or a charter (check). From Cairo, flying takes about an hour; the alternative is a long road or bus transfer, roughly 5–6 h to Hurghada (check).
From the Nile Valley, Luxor to Hurghada is about 4 h by road, which makes a Nile cruise plus Red Sea combination practical. Dahab is about 1 h by road from Sharm el-Sheikh airport, and El Gouna about 30 min from Hurghada airport (check). Alexandria is easiest by train from Cairo, about 2.5 h (check).
If you are flying home from a Red Sea airport, keep a buffer day before your international flight; domestic connections via Cairo can slip.
- Hurghada (HRG): direct flights from Europe; 4 h by road from Luxor
- Sharm el-Sheikh (SSH): direct flights; 1 h to Dahab (check)
- Marsa Alam (RMF): smaller airport; often via Cairo (check)
- Alexandria: 2.5 h by train from Cairo (check)
- El Gouna: 30 min by road from HRG (check)
Map
Approximate positions of the main beach bases. Coordinates are approximate.
| Place | Approximate coordinates |
|---|---|
| Hurghada | 27.2579, 33.8116 |
| Sharm el-Sheikh | 27.9158, 34.3300 |
| Dahab | 28.5091, 34.5136 |
| Marsa Alam | 25.0676, 34.8950 |
| Alexandria | 31.2001, 29.9187 |
| El Gouna | 27.3942, 33.6782 |
| Port Ghalib | 25.5333, 34.6333 |
Questions people ask
The best beaches in Egypt: where to go and when?
Hurghada and Sharm el-Sheikh for easy flights and resort reefs, Dahab for cheap diving, Marsa Alam for quiet southern reefs, Alexandria for a Mediterranean city beach break, El Gouna for a tidier resort base. Red Sea season is March to November; Alexandria is April to October.
When is the best time to go in Egypt?
For the Nile and Cairo, October to April. For the Red Sea beaches, March to November, with March–May and September–November the best balance of warm sea, calm water and fewer crowds. Alexandria is best April to October.
How many days do I need in Egypt?
Seven days is a highlights itinerary: Cairo, Luxor and Aswan, not comprehensive coverage. Ten days adds a Nile cruise. Fourteen days lets you add a 5-night Red Sea beach block at the end, the usual way to combine the two.
Which Egyptian beach is best for diving?
Dahab for shore diving and the Blue Hole, Sharm el-Sheikh for Ras Um Sid and boat dives, Marsa Alam for southern reefs with dugongs and dolphins. Conditions and site difficulty vary, so check with a local dive centre before you book.
Can I combine a Nile cruise with a beach?
Yes. Luxor to Hurghada is about 4 h by road, so many travellers finish a Luxor–Aswan cruise and then transfer to the Red Sea for 3–5 nights before flying home from HRG or via Cairo.
Deep dive
Every source; changeable facts are marked check
Sources
- officialEgyptian Tourism Authority
- secondaryWikivoyage – Egypt
- secondaryWikivoyage – Red Sea Coast