Sharm El Sheikh

Sharm El Sheikh sits at the southern tip of the Sinai Peninsula, facing the Strait of Tiran and the Red Sea. The town functions as a collection of purpose-built resort enclaves connected by a single coastal highway. You move between bays using blue microbuses, hotel taxis, or private drivers. Expect shorelines designed for diving and snorkeling rather than historic city walks.

Dining in Sharm El Sheikh revolves around fresh marine catches and Sinai Bedouin grilling techniques. The best local meals sit inside the Old Market bazaar rather than resort buffets. Sayadeya, a dish of white fish baked over spiced rice with caramelised onions, represents the regional coastal staple. Local diners choose fish directly from iced display counters by weight before choosing whether it gets fried, grilled over charcoal, or baked in clay pots.

• Choose by weight

  Select whole sea bass or red snapper directly from iced displays at Fares Seafood in Old Market. Pay by raw weight before specifying cooking style.

• Avoid resort buffets

  Hotel meal packages often rely on imported frozen fish. Head to Old Town fish halls after 18:00 when daily coastal catches arrive.

• Bedouin herbal tea

  Sinai tea is brewed with fresh habak (wild desert mint). Drink it hot after grilled meats to aid digestion in desert heat.

Sharm El Sheikh transformed from a fishing village into a strategic military outpost and modern international resort over six decades. Israeli occupation between 1967 and 1982 brought early dive infrastructure to Naama Bay. After the Camp David Accords returned Sinai to Egypt, targeted national investment created a premier Red Sea tourism hub.

1. 1967

   Six-Day War

   Israel occupies the Sinai Peninsula and establishes naval infrastructure at Sharm El Sheikh.

2. 1982

   Egyptian Sovereignty

   Sinai returns to Egypt following peace treaties. The government designates Sharm El Sheikh for tourism development.

3. 1983

   Marine Protection

   Ras Muhammad becomes Egypt's first national park, protecting fringing coral reefs from overbuilding.

4. 2022

   COP27 Summit

   Sharm El Sheikh hosts the UN Climate Change Conference, boosting modern sustainable infrastructure.

Choose your area by your tolerance for crowds and how you enter the water. Naama Bay offers walkable streets and calm sandy access. Hadaba provides dramatic cliffside drop-offs directly into deep coral gardens. Nabq Bay caters to modern all-inclusive resort complexes, though wind conditions alter sea access daily.

• First-timers & diversNaama Bay — Central location with walkability to dive operators and sandy shorelines.
• Snorkelers & couplesHadaba & Ras Um Sid — Immediate access to deep reef walls directly from shore platforms.
• Families & luxury seekersNabq Bay — Spacious self-contained resort properties with extensive pool complexes.
• Budget travelersOld Town & Sharm El Maya — Affordable municipal hotel options close to local food markets.

Sharm El Sheikh has no train network or mass public transit system. A single asphalt highway connects northern Nabq Bay down through Naama Bay to Old Town. White and blue microbuses run fixed routes along the main road, while private taxis and hotel transfers cover point-to-point journeys.

• White-and-blue minivans run continuously along Peace Road between Nabq and Old Town. Hail them anywhere and pay exact small notes when exiting.

• City taxis lack meters or refuse to use them. Always state destination and agree total fare in EGP before stepping inside.

• Ride-hailing apps operate in Sharm El Sheikh with driver bidding. Fares often come out 30% lower than traditional street taxis.

• Hotel shuttles run fixed morning and evening runs to Naama Bay. Reserve seats at reception six hours ahead on busy weekends.

Prices in Sharm El Sheikh reflect its resort economy, costing more than Cairo or Luxor for imports while maintaining affordable local food and public transit. Dual pricing exists for entrance fees, with non-Egyptian nationals paying set foreign rates in foreign currency or foreign credit card equivalent.

• Ras Muhammad entrance: 200–300 EGP

  National park fee paid per person at gate; dive boats collect park fees directly into boat tabs.

• Old Town seafood meal: 400–800 EGP

  Covers a whole fresh fish cooked to order, rice, salads, and tea at local seafood halls.

• Two-tank boat dive: 2,500–3,500 EGP

  Includes equipment rental, guide, and lunch aboard daily dive vessels departing Naama Bay.

• Microbus trip: 10–20 EGP

  Flat rate fare per ride along the main Peace Road highway between adjacent bays.

• Shisha in Old Market: 80–150 EGP

  Standard price at local cafes; resort lounge prices run three times higher.

• Coral safety laws

  Egypt strictly protects Red Sea corals. Stepping on live coral reef or collecting shells carries fines starting at $100.

• Water safety

  Tap water is desalinated seawater and not suitable for drinking. Use bottled or filtered water for brushing teeth and drinking.

• Friday prayer rhythm

  Shops and market stalls close on Friday between 11:30 and 13:30 for congregational prayers. Plan visits to Old Town around sunset.

• Currents and wind

  Strait of Tiran dive sites experience strong tidal currents. Always follow divemaster safety briefings regarding reef entries.