# St Catherine's Monastery, a day trip from Sharm El Sheikh > St Catherine's Monastery is a working 6th-century Greek Orthodox monastery at the foot of Mount Sinai, about three hours' drive from Sharm El Sheikh. It opens 9:00–11:30, closed Fridays, Sundays and major feast days. Entry is reportedly free; the museum charges separately. An hour covers the basilica, the Burning Bush and Moses' Well. Web page: https://yesgo.io/egypt/sharm-el-sheikh/saint-catherines-monastery - City: [Sharm El Sheikh](https://yesgo.io/egypt/sharm-el-sheikh), Egypt - YesGo score: 49/100 (Yes, if nearby) - Time on site: 1 h - With kids: Fine with kids - Opening hours: 9:00–11:30, mornings only - Closed: Fridays, Sundays and major Orthodox feast days - Entry: Free, unofficial - Sacristy museum: Separate ticket; no official price published - Time needed: About an hour inside; a full day from Sharm - From Sharm: 220–230 km, about three hours each way - Guided tours inside: Organised guided tours are not allowed - Filming: Recording inside is not permitted - Dress: Shoulders and knees covered - Payment: Cash in Egyptian pounds at the monastery - Coordinates: 28.55583, 33.97556 - Facts checked: 03.11.2026 ## Key facts - **548–565** — built under the Byzantine emperor Justinian I (source: Egyptian Ministry of Tourism and Antiquities; English Wikipedia) - **2002** — UNESCO World Heritage listing as part of the Saint Catherine Area (source: English Wikipedia; Wikipedia (Saint Catherine Area)) - **9:00–11:30** — visiting hours, closed Fridays and Sundays (source: St Catherine's Monastery (official site)) - **Burning Bush** — a bramble the monks identify as the bush from which God spoke to Moses (source: English Wikipedia; Russian Wikipedia) - **1871** — the bell tower; its nine bells were a gift from Tsar Alexander II of Russia (source: St Catherine's Monastery (official site); Russian Wikipedia) - **12 columns** — granite columns in the basilica, each hung with icons of one month's saints (source: St Catherine's Monastery (official site)) - **1106** — a chapel inside the walls was converted into a Fatimid mosque (source: English Wikipedia; Egyptian Ministry of Tourism and Antiquities (12th century)) - **2nd largest** — collection of early manuscripts in the world, after the Vatican Library (source: English Wikipedia; travel guides) - **Codex Sinaiticus** — a 4th-century Bible found here in the 19th century; most of it is now in the British Library (source: English Wikipedia; Russian Wikipedia (Codex Sinaiticus)) - **Moses' Well** — still supplies the monastery with water; by tradition, Moses met Zipporah here (source: English Wikipedia; Russian Wikipedia) > **Two and a half hours a day — and not every day** The monastery admits visitors only from 9:00 to 11:30, and it is closed on Fridays, Sundays and major Orthodox feast days, according to its own website. Arrive after 11:30 and you'll see only the walls. When you book a trip, check the day: a Thursday or Saturday night departure lands you at a locked gate. ## St Catherine's Monastery tour from Sharm El Sheikh: your options There are two ways to do it from Sharm. The classic is the overnight Mount Sinai tour: a night climb to the summit for sunrise, the walk down, and the monastery as it opens at 9:00. The gentler option is a daytime trip to the monastery alone, often paired with a stop in Dahab — no sleepless night, but still a pre-dawn start to beat the 11:30 cut-off. Prices vary by agency and season. Before you pay, ask whether the St Katherine Protectorate fee and the museum ticket are included, and which day the trip runs. Keep in mind that your guide can't take you round: the monks don't allow organised guided tours inside. Expect the talk at the gate, then a set route on your own. ## Opening hours and entry fee The monastery gives its visiting hours as **9:00–11:30**, closed on Fridays, Sundays and the major feasts of the Greek Orthodox Church. Egypt's Ministry of Tourism and Antiquities lists different hours — 8:45–12:45, Friday 10:30–11:30, closed Sunday. The monks decide who comes in, so go by the monastery's times and aim for the opening. Neither the monastery nor the ministry publishes an admission price. Unofficially, entry to the monastery itself is **free**, while the sacristy museum with its icons and manuscripts takes a small separate ticket, paid in cash. The protectorate fee is usually built into tour prices — confirm with your operator. > **Dress code** Cover shoulders and knees — this applies to men as well as women — and skip low necklines and beachwear. If you're coming straight off the mountain in shorts, carry light trousers or a large scarf. Wraps are sometimes handed out at the gate, but don't count on it. Filming is not permitted inside, and photography in the basilica is off limits. ## What is St Catherine's Monastery? It is a Greek Orthodox monastery at the foot of Mount Sinai — **Jebel Musa** in Arabic — built under the Byzantine emperor Justinian in the mid-6th century and lived in by monks ever since. It is often described as the oldest continuously inhabited Christian monastery in the world. Its full name is the Sacred Monastery of the God-Trodden Mount Sinai; it takes the name of St Catherine of Alexandria, whose relics are kept inside. From outside it looks like a granite fortress dropped into bare red mountains. Inside, the space is tight: the Basilica of the Transfiguration, the Burning Bush, Moses' Well, a bell tower and a small mosque. Together with the mountain it forms the UNESCO-listed Saint Catherine Area. ## What to see inside - **Basilica of the Transfiguration** (6th century) — twelve granite columns, each hung with icons of the saints of one month; a 17th-century iconostasis made in Crete, a marble floor laid in 1715 and the relics of St Catherine. - **The Burning Bush** — a bramble growing in the courtyard. The chapel over its original roots sits behind the basilica's altar, and you enter it barefoot. - **Moses' Well** in the courtyard, still a water source for the monastery. - **The bell tower** of 1871, with nine bells sent by Tsar Alexander II of Russia. - **The Fatimid mosque** inside the walls — a former chapel converted in 1106 and opened on special occasions. - **The sacristy museum** — icons, including early encaustic panels, and ancient manuscripts. Separate ticket. - **The walls themselves** — Justinian's granite fortress, best seen from above on the Steps of Repentance if you walk down from the summit. ## The Burning Bush: what you actually see In the Book of Exodus, God speaks to Moses from a bush that burns without being consumed. The monks identify it with the bramble that grows in the monastery today. It was moved a few metres into the courtyard, and the Chapel of the Burning Bush now covers the spot where its roots were. The chapel has no iconostasis; its altar stands right over the roots, and pilgrims take their shoes off as Moses did. Whether you get inside depends on the day and the services. The bush in the courtyard is always on view and always crowded — head there first. ## Library, icons and history Monks were living at the foot of the mountain by the 4th century. Justinian enclosed their church with walls in the 6th, and the basilica's roof beams still carry the names of Justinian and Empress Theodora. Tradition says the monks found St Catherine's relics on a nearby peak in the 9th century, which is how the monastery got its name. Its library holds the second-largest collection of early manuscripts in the world after the Vatican. The **Codex Sinaiticus**, a 4th-century Bible, was found here in the 19th century; most of it is now in the British Library. The monastery also owns one of the finest sets of early icons, including a 6th-century encaustic Christ Pantocrator. The library is closed to tourists; some icons are on show in the sacristy museum. ## How to get to St Catherine's Monastery from Sharm El Sheikh 1. The easy way is a tour booked through your hotel or an agency: transport, a guide and timing built around the monastery's hours. Bring your passport. 2. Pickup is at your hotel; [Naama Bay](https://yesgo.io/egypt/sharm-el-sheikh/naama-bay) and nearby areas are on the way. Overnight Mount Sinai tours leave around 22:00–23:00, daytime monastery trips early in the morning. 3. The drive to St Catherine village takes about three hours through the mountains of southern Sinai, with stops at police checkpoints. 4. From the car park it's a few minutes on foot to the north gate, where the set route begins: through the courtyard past Moses' Well to the basilica, the Burning Bush and the sacristy. 5. Independently: a taxi or car with driver from Naama Bay takes about three hours each way — agree the price before you set off. Buses run via Dahab with a minibus on to St Catherine (unofficial), but you won't make the 11:30 cut-off that way, so plan a night in the village. 6. The drive back is another three hours; you'll be in Sharm by mid-afternoon. ## Money, passport and safety Visa and Mastercard work in hotels and larger shops in Sharm, and tours can usually be paid by card or in US dollars or euros at the agency. At the monastery and in the village it's cash: carry **Egyptian pounds in small notes** for the museum, water, toilets and tips. Bring your passport — there are several checkpoints on the road. Tour operators say the free Sinai-only stamp you get when flying into Sharm covers this trip; the UK government's list for the stamp names only the Sharm, Dahab, Nuweiba and Taba resorts, so confirm with your operator. UK travel advice does not place the monastery or Mount Sinai in its areas to avoid. ## Before you go: checklist - [ ] Not a Friday, Sunday or feast day - [ ] Arriving before 11:30, ideally at opening - [ ] Shoulders and knees covered, plus a scarf - [ ] Egyptian pounds in small notes - [ ] Passport - [ ] Water and a snack for the road - [ ] A warm layer if you're coming from the Mount Sinai climb ## The monastery or Mount Sinai? | | St Catherine's Monastery | Mount Sinai | | --- | --- | --- | | What it is | A 6th-century monastery at the foot of the mountain | A night climb to a 2,285 m summit for sunrise | | When | 9:00–11:30, not Fri, Sun or feast days | Overnight, every day | | Effort | Hardly any walking | 2.5–3 hours uphill in the dark | | Good for | Everyone, children included | Fit adults and teenagers | Monastery hours are from its official website; the mountain details are from YesGo's Mount Sinai page. ## Is St Catherine's Monastery worth it? Yes, if early Christianity, icons or biblical sites mean something to you: there is nothing else this old and still working in Egypt. It's best combined with [Mount Sinai](https://yesgo.io/egypt/sharm-el-sheikh/mount-sinai) — one long road, the two great sights of the Sinai interior. Probably not if you expect a big museum. The space is cramped, much of it is closed, and every bus from the mountain arrives in the same short window. Six hours on the road for an hour inside is a fair trade only if the place itself matters to you. For pure scenery, spend the day at sea at [Ras Mohammed](https://yesgo.io/egypt/sharm-el-sheikh/ras-mohammed) instead. ## A night and morning in Sinai Sunrise climb, the monastery at the foot, then an evening by the sea after some rest. 1. [Mount Sinai](https://yesgo.io/egypt/sharm-el-sheikh/mount-sinai) — YesGo score 41/100 (Yes, if nearby) · 4 h · Tour from Sharm ≈ US$30–80 2. [Saint Catherine's Monastery](https://yesgo.io/egypt/sharm-el-sheikh/saint-catherines-monastery) — YesGo score 49/100 (Yes, if nearby) · 1 h · Free entry, museum extra 3. [Naama Bay](https://yesgo.io/egypt/sharm-el-sheikh/naama-bay) — YesGo score 41/100 (Yes, if nearby) · 2 h · Free (promenade) ## Places of worship around Sharm El Sheikh compared Mosques, churches and monasteries in and around Sharm El Sheikh, rated by YesGo. - [Saint Catherine's Monastery](https://yesgo.io/egypt/sharm-el-sheikh/saint-catherines-monastery) — YesGo score 49/100 (Yes, if nearby) · 1 h · Free entry, museum extra - [Mount Sinai](https://yesgo.io/egypt/sharm-el-sheikh/mount-sinai) — YesGo score 41/100 (Yes, if nearby) · 4 h · Tour from Sharm ≈ US$30–80 - [Heavenly Cathedral](https://yesgo.io/egypt/sharm-el-sheikh/heavenly-cathedral) — YesGo score 41/100 (Yes, if nearby) · 30 min · Free; donations welcome - [Al Sahaba Mosque](https://yesgo.io/egypt/sharm-el-sheikh/al-sahaba-mosque) — YesGo score 39/100 (Yes, if nearby) · 30 min · Free ## Good to know Egypt's highest peak is Mount Catherine, next to the monastery — not Mount Sinai. A large tourism development is under construction around St Catherine village, so expect fences and machinery near the walls. The monastery also runs a guest house; booking details are on its official website. ## Tips - Get there for the opening: the window is short and the Burning Bush is rarely quiet. - Do the basilica and the bush first, the museum second — if time runs short, you've seen what matters. - Put trousers on before you leave if you're climbing first; there's nowhere to change by the walls. - Put cameras away before the gate — filming is not allowed inside. - For a quiet visit, stay overnight at the monastery guest house or in the village and walk in at opening, before the tour groups. - On a monastery-only trip, pick one that stops in Dahab — you get the afternoon by the sea. ## Questions ### What are St Catherine's Monastery opening hours? 9:00–11:30, closed Fridays, Sundays and major Orthodox feast days, according to the monastery. Egypt's Ministry of Tourism lists different hours, so aim for the opening. ### Is there an entry fee for St Catherine's Monastery? No official price is published. Unofficially, entry is free and the sacristy museum takes a small separate ticket, paid in cash. Tour prices usually cover the protectorate fee. ### Can I visit St Catherine's Monastery without climbing Mount Sinai? Yes. Daytime trips from Sharm go to the monastery only, often with a stop in Dahab. They still leave early so you arrive before 11:30. ### How far is St Catherine's Monastery from Sharm El Sheikh? About 220–230 km by road, roughly three hours each way by car or tour bus. ### What is the dress code at St Catherine's Monastery? Shoulders and knees covered for everyone, no beachwear. Carry light trousers or a scarf if you're coming from the climb. ### Can you take photos inside St Catherine's Monastery? No — the monastery doesn't permit recording inside, and photography in the basilica is off limits. The walls and bell tower can be photographed from outside. ### Can you see the Burning Bush? Yes. The bramble grows in the courtyard and is always on view; the chapel over its original roots is entered barefoot and isn't always open to visitors. ### Can a guide take you inside St Catherine's Monastery? No. Organised guided tours are not allowed inside; guides brief you at the gate and you follow the set route on your own. ### Is St Catherine's Monastery worth it? Yes for anyone drawn to early Christian history and icons, especially combined with Mount Sinai. Not if you want a big museum — the visit is short and crowded. ### Can you stay at St Catherine's Monastery? Yes, the monastery runs a guest house with dinner and breakfast included; booking is by phone via its official website. The village also has hotels and Bedouin camps. ## How we checked Hours, closing days and the bans on guided tours and recording come from the monastery's official website; the 1871 bell tower and Alexander II's bells from the monastery's site and Russian Wikipedia; other facts are checked against at least two sources. Egypt's Ministry of Tourism and Antiquities gives different hours (8:45–12:45, Friday 10:30–11:30, closed Sunday) — we show the monastery's. Neither the monastery nor the ministry publishes an admission price, so free entry and a separate museum ticket are unofficial. Manuscript counts differ (the ministry about 6,000, Russian Wikipedia 3,304), so we give none. The monastery dates the basilica from AD 542, the ministry and Wikipedia the monastery to 548–565; we say mid-6th century. The transplanted bush is from English Wikipedia; audiala.com confirms it stands in the courtyard. In 2025 the monastery closed its gates for a time over a dispute about its legal status; Egyptian news reported visitors in October 2026 — check the day before you go. The English query core comes from search results and “People also ask”. ## Sources - St Catherine's Monastery, official site: General information, Catholicon of the Transfiguration, Holy Bush, Guest House — 03.11.2026 - Egyptian Ministry of Tourism and Antiquities: Saint Catherine's Monastery — hours and description - English Wikipedia: Saint Catherine's Monastery, Burning bush; Russian Wikipedia; Wikidata Q185362 - Wikivoyage: St. Katherine - audiala.com: Saint Catherine Monastery — hours, entry, dress - GOV.UK: Egypt — warnings and insurance, entry requirements - Tour listings from Sharm El Sheikh (Tripster, Headout, Expedia) — trip formats and timings --- This is the Markdown version of a YesGo page for AI assistants. Quote the web page link above, not this file.