Major city · Egypt
Sharm el-Sheikhشرم الشيخ
Come for 4–5 nights if you dive or snorkel; 2–3 nights if you only want a beach base. Skip it entirely if you want history — that is Cairo and Luxor.
Sharm el-Sheikh is Egypt's most developed Red Sea resort, at the southern tip of the Sinai Peninsula. The reason to come is the water: reefs at Ras Mohammed and Tiran, plus wreck diving on the SS Thistlegorm. The town itself is a strip of hotel zones — Nabq in the north, Na'ama Bay in the middle, Hadaba and the Old Market in the south — with almost nothing historic to see. Give it 4–5 nights if you dive, 2–3 if you just want sun, and treat Cairo or Luxor as a separate block.
More ways in
Local time, weather, currency, airports
- Weather
- see forecast
- Currency
- EGP
- Best months
- Mar–May, Sep–Nov
- avoid Jun–Aug (38 °C (100 °F) days), and the cold-wind weeks of Jan–Feb if you plan to swimavoid Jun–Aug (100 °F (38 °C) days), and the cold-wind weeks of Jan–Feb if you plan to swim
- Airport
- SSH
- Nights
- 4–5 (divers), 2–3 (beach only)
Rules in force · 8Nine African countries on this site have no trip line bec…
- Africa ↗When a route touches a yellow-fever country — even a transit of 12 hours or more — keep the original yellow card (ICVP) in your hand luggage; health desks and airlines can refuse boarding or entry without it.
- Africa ↗Nine African countries on this site have no trip line because governments advise against travel; several others have no-go regions. Read your government's advice for every country on the route before paying deposits.
- North Africa ↗Plan links between North African countries by air or by ferry via Europe; the only regularly usable land borders for visitors are Tunisia–Algeria and Morocco–Mauritania via Western Sahara.
- North Africa ↗Book Saharan nights (dunes, desert camps, oasis tours) between October and April; from May to September desert day temperatures regularly exceed 40 °C and many tours stop.
- Egypt ↗Check visa rules for your passport on the official Egypt e-visa portal before flying; visa on arrival availability depends on nationality and can change.
- Egypt ↗Drones need prior permission and are routinely confiscated on arrival; leave them at home.
- Egypt ↗Do not photograph military sites, police, bridges or government buildings; some museums and tombs charge for or ban photography.
- Egypt ↗During Ramadan, avoid eating, drinking or smoking in public in daylight; hotels and tourist restaurants still serve.
What is in this basic guide9 covered · 4 not yet ▾
In this guide
Not in this guide yet
- Walking areas with bag rules
- Day plans checked against opening hours
- Airport-to-bed timings and the last safe connection
- Field-checked times and prices
Emergency numbers for Sharm el-Sheikh122 ▾
Tap a number to call from your phone. These are the numbers listed in this guide; a row marked check has not been verified.
EssentialsQuick answers and what things cost
Essentials
Quick answers and what things cost
Quick answers
The questions people ask first about Sharm el-Sheikh, one line each. Tap a card for the full answer.
- Cash or card?Currency is the Egyptian pound (EGP, also written LE or £E).Egypt-wide
- SIM or eSIMcheckVodafone, Orange, Etisalat (e&) and WE sell tourist SIMs at Cairo airport with passport; about EGP 500–1,000 for 20–40 GB — check.Egypt-wide
- Tap waterTap water is chlorinated in cities but most visitors drink bottled; do not drink Nile water.Egypt-wide
- TippingRestaurant: 10% even when service is added (it rarely reaches staff).Egypt-wide
- Plugs & powerSockets C/F. US/Canada (A/B): adapter · UK/Ireland (G): adapter · Australia/NZ (I): adapter. 220 V: US 120 V-only devices (hair dryers) need a converter; most chargers are dual-voltage.Egypt-wide
- SafetyResort areas are heavily policed and generally safe for tourists; the real risks are taxi overcharging, sun and coral cuts…
Show all 12 answers
- RestroomsWestern toilets in hotels and restaurants; attendants at sites expect EGP 10–20.Egypt-wide
- Emergency numbers122 police · 123 ambulance · 126 tourist police (not 911, 999 or 000)
- Sundays & holidaysFriday is the weekend day (with Saturday for offices); sites open daily, some close earlier in Ramadan.Egypt-wide
- Your embassyFind your embassy's 24-hour line before you fly.
- AirportSSH Sharm El Sheikh International Airport (Two adjacent terminals; about 10 min by taxi to Na'ama Bay, 15–20 min to Nabq or Hadaba.
- Getting aroundTaxis have no working meters — agree the fare in Egyptian pounds before you get in, pay at the end, and note the driver's ID number.
Cost cheat-sheet
Typical prices for the everyday things, as ranges. Your currency is shown next to the local price.
- CoffeeCoffee or tea at a Na'ama Bay caféEGP 60–150
- Sit-down mealRestaurant meal in a hotel zoneEGP 300–700
- BeerBeer (local, 500 ml)Alcohol is served in licensed hotels and bars only.EGP 80–200
- Taxi, about 5 km (3 mi)Taxi, about 3 mi (5 km)Taxi, Na'ama Bay to Old MarketAgree before boarding.EGP 100–200
- SIM or eSIM, a weekeSIM or data SIM, about a weekEGP 300–600
- Budget bedHostel or budget hotel bed, a night, per personEGP 400
- Mid-range bedMid-range double room, a night, per roomEGP 2,500
- High-end bedMid-range double room, a night, per roomEGP 5,000
A day, not counting the bed: Budget EGP 1,200 · Mid EGP 3,000 · High EGP 7,000
Local prices, with USD next to them (rates 2026-09 (approximate); change it in the header). Ranges are desk estimates: check locally. Every price and the budget calculator →
DecideWhat it is known for, and when the weather works
Decide
What it is known for, and when the weather works
At a glance
What the city is known for, how you fly in, and where to find the phrases.
- Airports
- SSH Sharm El Sheikh International Airport (Two adjacent terminals; about 10 min by taxi to Na'ama Bay, 15–20 min to Nabq or Hadaba. EgyptAir is the main domestic carrier; low-cost European charters dominate winter.)
Best months at a glance
From the guide's best and avoid lists
Jan
Avoid
22°C (72°F)72°F (22°C)
Feb
Avoid
24°C (75°F)75°F (24°C)
Mar
Best
26°C (79°F)79°F (26°C)
Apr
Best
30°C (86°F)86°F (30°C)
May
Best
35°C (95°F)95°F (35°C)
Jun
Avoid
38°C (100°F)100°F (38°C)
Jul
Avoid
38°C (100°F)100°F (38°C)
Aug
Avoid
38°C (100°F)100°F (38°C)
Sep
Best
36°C (97°F)97°F (36°C)
Oct
Best
33°C (91°F)91°F (33°C)
Nov
Best
28°C (82°F)82°F (28°C)
Dec
not flagged
24°C (75°F)75°F (24°C)
Best: Mar–May, Sep–Nov. Avoid: Jan–Feb, Jun–Aug. Month by month →
Warmest Jun (38°C (100°F)100°F (38°C)), coolest Jan (14°C (57°F)57°F (14°C) low), wettest Jan (3 rain days), driest Feb (0). Averages, not a forecast.
Weather and climate
Sharm el-Sheikh: next 7 days
Loading forecast…
Forecast: Open-Meteo (CC BY 4.0), model data for this point.
Air quality
Loading…
Model estimate (CAMS via Open-Meteo), not a street-level station; readings near busy roads run higher.
Jan
22°C (72°F)72°F (22°C)
14°C (57°F)57°F (14°C)
3 rd
Feb
24°C (75°F)75°F (24°C)
15°C (59°F)59°F (15°C)
0 rd
Mar
26°C (79°F)79°F (26°C)
17°C (63°F)63°F (17°C)
2 rd
Apr
30°C (86°F)86°F (30°C)
21°C (70°F)70°F (21°C)
0 rd
May
35°C (95°F)95°F (35°C)
24°C (75°F)75°F (24°C)
1 rd
Jun
38°C (100°F)100°F (38°C)
27°C (81°F)81°F (27°C)
0 rd
Jul
38°C (100°F)100°F (38°C)
28°C (82°F)82°F (28°C)
0 rd
Aug
38°C (100°F)100°F (38°C)
29°C (84°F)84°F (29°C)
0 rd
Sep
36°C (97°F)97°F (36°C)
27°C (81°F)81°F (27°C)
0 rd
Oct
33°C (91°F)91°F (33°C)
24°C (75°F)75°F (24°C)
2 rd
Nov
28°C (82°F)82°F (28°C)
20°C (68°F)68°F (20°C)
2 rd
Dec
24°C (75°F)75°F (24°C)
16°C (61°F)61°F (16°C)
1 rd
High / low, both scales · rd = rain days
Arrive & moveAirports are listed under At a glance; this is how to move once you are in
Arrive & move
Airports are listed under At a glance; this is how to move once you are in
Getting around
Taxis have no working meters — agree the fare in Egyptian pounds before you get in, pay at the end, and note the driver's ID number. Microbuses and blue-and-white tuk-tuks run a fixed north–south route along Peace Road for a few pounds; pay the driver as you leave. Distances are short but the strip is long: Na'ama Bay to the Old Market is about 10 min by car, Na'ama Bay to Nabq 20–30 min.
Nearest full guides
Straight-line distance, not travel time
See & doDay-trips, door to door
See & do
Day-trips, door to door
Day-trips
Ras Mohammed National Park
goDoor to door: Half to full day
Organised boat or bus from Na'ama Bay hotels
The southern tip of Sinai where the two gulfs meet; the bus option needs a visa or Sinai stamp check.
Tiran Island reefs
goDoor to door: Full day
Day boat from Sharm marina
Snorkel or dive; boats leave early, so sleep the night before.
SS Thistlegorm wreck
cautionDoor to door: Full day or overnight
Liveaboard or long day boat
Advanced dive: strong current and an overhead environment. Only with a certified operator.
Dahab
goDoor to door: 1–1.5 h
Taxi or bus north along the coast, about 1 h
Different, slower vibe; the mountain road is best not driven at night.
Mount Sinai and St Catherine's Monastery
overnightDoor to door: 3 h
Night bus or organised tour, 2–3 h each way
Sunrise climb means leaving Sharm around midnight; sleep in St Catherine's instead.
Door to door: 4 h
Fly SSH–CAI, about 1 h
Too far for a day; give Cairo its own 3 nights.
Eat & sleepWhich area to sleep in
Eat & sleep
Which area to sleep in
Where to sleep
Areas, not hotels: pick the one that fits your arrival time and plans.
Na'ama Bay
The tourist centre: most restaurants, cafés, clubs and shops, midway between the airport and the Old Market. Noisy at night; hotel beaches share one bay.
Nabq
Northern resort strip, 20–30 min from Na'ama Bay. Big all-inclusive compounds, quieter, better for families; you will need a taxi for everything.
Hadaba / Ras Um Sid
South of Na'ama Bay, on the cliff above good house reefs. Cheaper hotels, fewer restaurants, taxi to the nightlife.
Old Market (Sharm Old Town)
The only part that feels like an Egyptian town: Al Sahaba Mosque, cheap eats, local prices. Basic hotels; 10 min by taxi to Na'ama Bay.
PracticalWhat a day costs, what to watch out for, and the pocket card
Practical
What a day costs, what to watch out for, and the pocket card
Cost per day
- Budget
- EGP 1,200–2,200 excl. bed
- Mid
- EGP 2,500–4,500 excl. bed
- High
- EGP 6,000+ excl. bed
Trip budget
| Mid-range double room1 × 4 nights × EGP 2,500 | EGP 10,000 |
| Food, local transport, entries2 × 4 days × EGP 3,000 | EGP 24,000 |
| Two-tank boat dive day2 × EGP 2,500 | EGP 5,000 |
| Snorkel day trip to Ras Mohammed2 × EGP 1,200 | EGP 2,400 |
| Airport taxi to Na'ama Bay1 × EGP 400 | EGP 400 |
| eSIM, about a week of data2 × EGP 400 | EGP 800 |
| Buffer 10%Price creep, a taxi you did not plan, one splurge | EGP 4,260 |
| Trip total≈ EGP 5,860 per person per day, bed included | EGP 46,860 |
2026 estimate in Egyptian pounds; flights and dive courses excluded. Your choices stay in this browser.
Prices of common things
| Coffee or tea at a Na'ama Bay café | EGP 60–150 |
| Local meal (koshari, grilled chicken, fuul) | EGP 100–250 |
| Restaurant meal in a hotel zone | EGP 300–700 |
| Beer (local, 500 ml)Alcohol is served in licensed hotels and bars only. | EGP 80–200 |
| Taxi, Na'ama Bay to Old MarketAgree before boarding. | EGP 100–200 |
| Microbus or tuk-tuk ride | EGP 5–20 |
| Two-tank boat dive with equipment | EGP 2,000–3,500 |
| eSIM or data SIM, about a week | EGP 300–600 |
2026 estimate; check locally.
Watch out
Safety
- Airport taxis are the worst-priced in Egypt: pre-book a hotel pickup or walk to the main road and hail a cab.
- Agree the taxi fare first and confirm it is Egyptian pounds, not British pounds.
- Do not swim or walk on coral — it cuts and it is protected; use the marked entry points.
- Quad-bike and desert tours: wear long sleeves, closed shoes and a helmet, and check your insurance covers it.
- Some desert areas near the borders are restricted; go with a licensed operator and carry your passport.
- Reef trips and St Catherine's/Mount Sinai leave the visa-free Sinai zone — check your entry stamp before booking.
Emergency numbers
- Police
- 122
- Ambulance
- 123
- Tourist police
- 126
- Fire
- 180
Pocket card
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Sharm el-Sheikhشرم الشيخ
Pocket card · Voykit
My bed tonight
—
—
—
على العنوان ده، لو سمحتTo this address, please
Emergency
- Police122
- Ambulance123
- Tourist police126
- Fire180
Embassy
Most embassies are in Cairo; several countries keep consulates or honorary consuls in Sharm el-Sheikh — check your embassy's list before you travel.
My embassy: —
Fare anchors (2026 estimate)
- Airport → Na'ama Bay, taxi: EGP 300–500 agreed in advance
- Na'ama Bay → Old Market, taxi: EGP 100–200
- Microbus or tuk-tuk, one leg: EGP 5–20
- Na'ama Bay → Dahab, taxi: about EGP 800–1,200 each way
Say or show
- السلام عليكم — Hello / Peace be upon you (as-salāmu ʿalaykum)
- شكراً — Thank you (shukran)
- بكام؟ — How much is it? (bikām)
- غالي أوي — Too expensive (ghāli awi)
- استنى هنا — Stop here, please (istanna hena)
- فين الحمام؟ — Where is the toilet? (fēn el-ḥammām)
Baksheesh is expected for small services: EGP 20–50, and 10–15% in restaurants.
Deep diveWhat this guide covers so far, and its sources
Deep dive
What this guide covers so far, and its sources
Not a trip line yet
This is a basic guide: no airport-to-bed contract, walking clusters or day plans are published for Sharm el-Sheikh. Airport, fare and schedule details are unverified; check the operators before you fly.
What we know, and what is coming
On this page
- Best months: Mar–May, Sep–Nov · avoid Jun–Aug (38 °C days), and the cold-wind weeks of Jan–Feb if you plan to swim · month by month →
- 1 airport and 4 areas to sleep in
- Weather: a 7-day forecast and monthly averages
- Cost per day in 3 bands
- 6 day-trips, door to door
- 6 things to watch out for, with emergency numbers
Coming as the guide grows
- Airport-to-bed contract for SSH: pre-booked pickup prices, taxi fallback, late-arrival rung.
- Four sleep clusters with walking anchors: Na'ama Bay, Nabq, Hadaba/Ras Um Sid, Old Market.
- Dive-operator pages with certification levels, boat departure times and Ras Mohammed/Tiran/Thistlegorm cutoffs.
- Sinai visa-zone fixture so reef trips and Mount Sinai departures show the right entry rule.
Sources
- officialSharm el-Sheikh city portal
- officialSharm El Sheikh International Airport
- officialEgyptAir
- secondaryWikivoyage: Sharm el-Sheikh, revision 5307222 (CC BY-SA 4.0)