Things to do in Sharm El Sheikh: top sights and where to go
Sharm El Sheikh sits at the southern tip of Sinai: the Naama Bay promenade, the Old Market with Al Sahaba Mosque and the Coptic Heavenly Cathedral are 10–15 minutes apart by taxi, and SOHO Square is another 15–20 minutes north. The reefs of Ras Mohammed, White Island and the Strait of Tiran are half-day or full-day boat trips. Keep a separate night for Mount Sinai and St Catherine's Monastery, about three hours' drive each way.
Sights
Ras Mohammed National Park
Sharm El Sheikh, Egypt
4 h≈ US$5–7, usually included in toursnaturewaterbeaches
Sharm El Sheikh itineraries
Sharm El Sheikh travel guide
Before you go: the reefs of Ras Mohammed and Tiran, Naama Bay and the Old Market, Mount Sinai, areas, the airport and weather.
Sharm El Sheikh: the essentials
- How many days
- 7–10 days: sea, reefs, Sinai
- When to go
- October–November and March–May
- Visa
- Depends on your passport; a free Sinai stamp may apply
verifyingi
From reliable travel sources; we are still checking it against an official one. Double-check before you go. - Currency
- Egyptian pound (EGP); dollars and euros widely taken
- Airport
- Sharm El Sheikh (SSH) ≈ 15 km from Naama Bay
- Sea
- Red Sea: reefs right off the hotels
- Mount Sinai
- Night climb for sunrise, ≈ 2.5–3 h up
- Getting around
- Taxis, minibuses, hotel transfers
- Diving
- Year-round; the best visibility in autumn and spring
- Time zone
- UTC+2, UTC+3 in summer
verifyingi
From reliable travel sources; we are still checking it against an official one. Double-check before you go.
Key facts
Sourcei
Wikipedia, “Ras Muhammad National Park”Sourcei
UNESCO World Heritage List, No. 954Sourcei
Wikipedia, “Mount Sinai”Sourcei
UNESCO World Heritage List, No. 954Things to do in Sharm El Sheikh
The best things to do in Sharm El Sheikh are in the water: the reefs of Ras Mohammed National Park, Tiran Island and White Island. On land there is Naama Bay’s promenade, the Old Market with Al Sahaba Mosque, the Coptic Heavenly Cathedral and SOHO Square. A night trip takes you up Mount Sinai to Saint Catherine’s Monastery. Every place with its YesGo score is in the list above.
| Naama Bay | Bay and promenade | evening |
|---|---|---|
| Old Sharm | Old Market, Al Sahaba | 2 h |
| Hadaba | Heavenly Cathedral | 30 min |
| Nabq | SOHO Square | evening |
| Sea | Ras Mohammed, Tiran | 1 day each |
| Islands | White Island | ½ day |
| Sinai | Mount Sinai, monastery | overnight |
Rather not plan it yourself? The list above has ready itineraries for 1–2 days, with places in a sensible order.
Where to stay in Sharm El Sheikh
Where to stay in Sharm El Sheikh: Naama Bay for cafés, nightlife and a sandy bay; Sharks Bay and Nabq for house reefs and big resorts; Hadaba and Ras Um Sid for coral gardens reached by steps and pontoons. Families often pick hotels with a sandy entry into the sea.
| Naama Bay | Nightlife, cafés, sand | Busy, reef further out |
|---|---|---|
| Sharks Bay | House reef, snorkelling | ≈ 15 min to Naama |
| Nabq | Big resorts, SOHO | ≈ 25 min to the centre |
| Hadaba, Ras Um Sid | Reef, near Old Market | Pontoon entry |
Sharm El Sheikh airport to hotels
Sharm El Sheikh International (SSH) is ≈ 15 km from Naama Bay and ≈ 5 km from Sharks Bay and Nabq — 10–30 minutes by transfer or taxi.
| Transfer | Naama Bay | ≈ 20 min |
|---|---|---|
| Transfer | Nabq, Sharks Bay | ≈ 10–15 min |
| Taxi | Hadaba, Old Market | ≈ 25–30 min |
Taxis have no meters — agree the fare before you set off.
Sharm El Sheikh weather by month
Sharm El Sheikh is warm all year, and the sea never drops below ≈ 22 °C. The best time to visit is October–November and March–May, ≈ 27–33 °C by day. Summer reaches 37 °C; winter days are ≈ 22–23 °C — warmer and less windy than Hurghada.
°CiLong-term averages, °C: day and night air, sea water near the shore, rain — rainy days a month. Any given year can be warmer or cooler. Tap a month for details below. | ||||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Day | 22° | 23° | 25° | 29° | 33° | 36° | 37° | 37° | 35° | 31° | 27° | 23° |
| Night | 15° | 15° | 17° | 21° | 24° | 27° | 28° | 29° | 27° | 24° | 20° | 16° |
| Sea | 23° | 22° | 23° | 24° | 26° | 27° | 28° | 28° | 28° | 27° | 25° | 24° |
| Rain | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 |
Warm — 20 °C and above by dayBest time to go: March–May and October–November
- day ≈ 22°
- night ≈ 15°
- sea ≈ 23°
- rain 0 days
About 22°, sea ≈ 23°. Swimmable, the water is fresh — about 23°.
- day ≈ 23°
- night ≈ 15°
- sea ≈ 22°
- rain 0 days
The coolest month, sea ≈ 22°. Swimmable, the water is fresh — about 22°.
- day ≈ 25°
- night ≈ 17°
- sea ≈ 23°
- rain 0 days
About 25°, warming up. Swimmable, the water is fresh — about 23°.
- day ≈ 29°
- night ≈ 21°
- sea ≈ 24°
- rain 0 days
About 29° — a great time. Warm for swimming, water — about 24°.
- day ≈ 33°
- night ≈ 24°
- sea ≈ 26°
- rain 0 days
About 33°, sea ≈ 26°. Warm for swimming, water — about 26°.
- day ≈ 36°
- night ≈ 27°
- sea ≈ 27°
- rain 0 days
Hot, ≈ 36°. Warm for swimming, water — about 27°.
- day ≈ 37°
- night ≈ 28°
- sea ≈ 28°
- rain 0 days
Heat ≈ 37°. Warm for swimming, water — about 28°.
- day ≈ 37°
- night ≈ 29°
- sea ≈ 28°
- rain 0 days
Hot, sea ≈ 28°. Warm for swimming, water — about 28°.
- day ≈ 35°
- night ≈ 27°
- sea ≈ 28°
- rain 0 days
About 35°. Warm for swimming, water — about 28°.
- day ≈ 31°
- night ≈ 24°
- sea ≈ 27°
- rain 0 days
About 31° — the best month. Warm for swimming, water — about 27°.
- day ≈ 27°
- night ≈ 20°
- sea ≈ 25°
- rain 0 days
About 27°, sea ≈ 25°. Warm for swimming, water — about 25°.
- day ≈ 23°
- night ≈ 16°
- sea ≈ 24°
- rain 1 days
About 23°, warm days. Warm for swimming, water — about 24°.
Mount Sinai is cold at night even in summer and near freezing in winter — bring warm layers.
Snorkelling and reefs in Sharm
Snorkelling is the main reason to visit Sharm: at many hotels the reef starts right off the pontoon. The best reefs are at Ras Mohammed and around Tiran Island, reached by boat. Bring a mask and reef shoes from day one.
- Ras Mohammed — national park in the south: reef walls, mangroves and the Magic Lake.
- Tiran — four reefs in the strait, ≈ 1 h by boat.
- White Island — a sandbar in the open sea, good with kids.
- House reefs — Sharks Bay, Ras Um Sid, Nabq — free for hotel guests.
Sharm El Sheikh trip prices
Naama Bay, the Old Market, the mosque and the cathedral are free. You pay for boat trips to Ras Mohammed and Tiran (plus a national park fee), the night climb of Mount Sinai and entry to the monastery.
| Saint Catherine's Monastery | 49 | 1 h | Free entry, museum extra |
|---|---|---|---|
| Mount Sinai | 41 | 4 h | Tour from Sharm ≈ US$30–80 |
| White Island | 22 | 1 h 30 min | Tour ≈ US$30–50 + park fee ≈ US$5 |
| Tiran Island | 21 | 4 h | ≈ US$30–50 + ≈ US$5 park fee |
| Ras Mohammed National Park | 16 | 4 h | ≈ US$5–7, usually included in tours |
Free — 5 places: Heavenly Cathedral, Naama Bay, Al Sahaba Mosque, Old Market (Old Sharm), SOHO Square.
Tips
- Mount Sinai tours leave around midnight: climb for sunrise, then visit the monastery as it opens.
- Don’t feed fish or stand on coral — park rangers fine visitors.
- Wear a sun shirt on boat days to Ras Mohammed and Tiran — the sun is fierce on deck.
FAQ
Is Sharm El Sheikh worth visiting?
Yes, for some of the world’s best reefs close to shore, warm winter sea and the night climb of Mount Sinai.
What to do in Sharm El Sheikh at night?
Walk Naama Bay’s promenade, visit the Old Market and Al Sahaba Mosque lit up, or head to SOHO Square for shows and a fountain.
What to do in Sharm El Sheikh with kids?
White Island’s sandbar, a glass-bottom boat, the reef off your hotel and the SOHO Square fountain shows.
What is the weather like in Sharm El Sheikh in December?
About 23 °C by day and 16 °C at night, with the sea near 24 °C.
When is the best time to visit Sharm El Sheikh for diving?
October–November and March–May: warm water, calm seas and good visibility.
Do I need a visa for Sharm El Sheikh?
It depends on your passport. Visitors staying in South Sinai for up to 15 days may get a free Sinai stamp; travel beyond needs a full visa. Check the rules for your passport.
How do I climb Mount Sinai?
On a night tour: ≈ 2.5–3 hours up on foot or partly by camel, sunrise at the top, then Saint Catherine’s Monastery.
Can I see the pyramids from Sharm El Sheikh?
Yes, as a day trip by plane to Cairo — about an hour each way. By road it is 6–7 hours.
How far is Sharm El Sheikh airport from Naama Bay?
About 15 km, roughly 20 minutes by transfer.
Where is the best snorkelling in Sharm?
Ras Mohammed National Park and the Tiran reefs by boat; from shore, Sharks Bay and Ras Um Sid.
Sources and fact-check
- UNESCO World Heritage List, No. 954 (Saint Catherine Area)
- Wikipedia, “Sharm El Sheikh”; “Ras Muhammad National Park”; “Mount Sinai”; Sharm El Sheikh climate (1991–2020 normals)
- Sharm El Sheikh International Airport — official website
Day trips from Sharm El Sheikh
- Hurghada · 89 km
- Luxor · 297 km
- Cairo · 383 km
- Alexandria · 563 km