Naama Bay
The lively centre, about 12 km from the airport: a beach promenade with restaurants, cafés and nightlife within walking distance.
Best for: First visit, couples, nightlife
Things to Do in Sharm El Sheikh: 2026 Travel Guide
The best things to do, where to stay, the weather month by month and practical tips — written by our team in Sharm El Sheikh, with every idea linked to a real tour.
Sharm El Sheikh sits at the southern tip of the Sinai Peninsula, where the Gulf of Aqaba meets the Red Sea. It is best known for its coral reefs — Ras Mohammed National Park and the reefs of Tiran Island are among the most famous snorkeling and diving spots in the world — but it is also the base for desert safaris, Bedouin evenings, the sunrise climb of Mount Sinai and day trips as far as Cairo and Luxor.
Our team runs tours in Sharm El Sheikh every day, so this guide is written from the ground: what is really worth your time, which area to stay in, when the sea is warmest and how to plan your days. Each idea links to the matching tour, where you can see the live price and book online.
15 Best Things to Do in Sharm El Sheikh
Our list starts with the sea, because the reefs are why Sharm is famous, then moves into the desert, the mountains and the town. Every entry links to the tours that do it.
1. Snorkel Ras Mohammed and White Island by boat
Ras Mohammed National Park, at the very tip of Sinai, is the reason many divers come to Sharm. Boat trips stop at two reefs inside the park for snorkeling — coral walls, big shoals of fish and, with luck, turtles — and then anchor at White Island, a bar of white sand surrounded by shallow turquoise water. Lunch is served on board, and you can add a short introductory dive with an instructor. It is the most popular day out in Sharm and a good first trip.
From $35 per personSee tours
2. Explore Ras Mohammed by land
If you prefer to stay on land, the bus tour drives into the park to the Gate of Allah, the Magic Lake and the mangroves, stops at the Earthquake Crack and at the point where the Gulf of Suez and the Gulf of Aqaba meet, and gives you about an hour of snorkeling at Breka Bay. Park fees and a guide are included.
From $25 per personSee the tour
3. Snorkel the reefs of Tiran Island
Tiran Island lies in the Straits of Tiran, north-east of Sharm. Boats stop at two of its reefs, known for some of the clearest water in the Red Sea and colourful hard corals. You can snorkel, or choose the trip with an introductory dive. Lunch and drinks are served on board, and park fees are included.
From $35 per personSee tours
4. Try scuba diving for the first time
Sharm is one of the easiest places in the world to try diving. On the beginner beach dive a PADI-certified instructor takes you down to a maximum of 10 metres at Ras Umm Sid, with all equipment and a wetsuit included — no experience needed. Want to see more? Book a boat trip to Ras Mohammed or Tiran with an introductory dive.
From $30 per personSee tours
5. Climb Mount Sinai for sunrise
The night climb of Mount Sinai (Mount Moses) is one of the most memorable things you can do from Sharm. You leave in the evening, climb with a Bedouin guide by torchlight and reach the 2,285 m summit for sunrise over the Sinai mountains, then visit St. Catherine's Monastery on the way back. Bring warm layers: the summit is cold before dawn, even in summer.
From $40 per personSee tours
6. Visit St. Catherine's Monastery
If the night climb is too much, the day trip to St. Catherine's Monastery takes you through the Sinai mountains to one of the oldest working Christian monasteries in the world, part of a UNESCO World Heritage site. You see the Chapel of the Burning Bush and the Church of the Transfiguration, with a guide and lunch included.
From $35 per personSee the tour
7. Ride a quad or buggy into the Sinai desert
The desert starts minutes from the hotels. The classic evening safari is a 45 to 60-minute quad ride, a camel ride and a stop at the Echo Temple, followed by Bedouin tea, dinner under the stars and an oriental show with belly dance, Tanoura and fire. Prefer to drive together? Choose a buggy. There are sunrise and sunset rides too.
8. Spend an evening at The Echo Temple
For a desert night without the driving, The Echo Temple evening brings you to a Bedouin camp for dinner with oriental desserts, bread-making and Mandi cooking shows, a fire show and Bedouin dance — and, with almost no light around, a sky full of stars.
From $50 per personSee the tour
9. Take a day trip to Dahab
Dahab, about 90 km north of Sharm, is a relaxed Bedouin town by the sea. Our day trip visits Salama Canyon, includes a quad ride and a camel ride along the sea, snorkeling at the 3 Pools reef, a Bedouin lunch on the beach and free time in town.
From $30 per personSee the tour
10. See the reef without getting wet
Not a swimmer, or travelling with small children? The semi-submarine has panoramic windows below the waterline, so you watch the coral and the fish while you stay dry. You spend about an hour and a half on the water with a guide.
From $30 per personSee tours
11. Watch — or swim with — dolphins
Dolphin Park has a one-hour live show with professional trainers, a favourite with children. You can also book a separate 15-minute swim with the dolphins, with a safety briefing and life jackets.
From $25 per personSee tours
12. Explore the Old Market, Al Sahaba Mosque and the Heavenly Cathedral
The Old Market is the most local part of Sharm, with spice and souvenir shops, cafés and the white Al Sahaba Mosque, the city's most photographed building. The late-afternoon city tour visits the Al Sahaba and Al Mustafa mosques and the Heavenly Cathedral with its painted ceiling, then gives you time to shop. Finish at Farsha Cafe, a lounge with Red Sea views.
From $25 per personSee tours
13. Spend your evenings in Naama Bay and SOHO Square
Naama Bay is Sharm's original resort centre: a beachfront promenade of restaurants, cafés and shops that stays busy late into the night. SOHO Square, in the Sharks Bay area, is the modern entertainment district — our night tour includes the Ice Bar with a drink, ice skating, a round of bowling and an electric-car ride.
From $30 per personSee tours
14. Take a sunset dinner cruise
Watch the sun go down over the Red Sea from the deck, with a buffet dinner of seafood, pasta and salads, a live band and a belly dance show. It is one of the most popular evenings for couples.
From $30 per personSee tours
15. Go further: Cairo, the Pyramids and Luxor
Sharm is a good base for Egypt's big sights. Cairo is about 500 km away: travel overnight by bus, or fly for a long day at the Pyramids and the Grand Egyptian Museum. Luxor is a day trip by plane to Karnak, the Valley of the Kings and the Temple of Hatshepsut. These trips leave Sinai, so you need the full Egyptian tourist visa (see Visa below).
From $50 per personSee tours
Where to Stay in Sharm El Sheikh: The Best Areas
Sharm stretches for about 30 km along the coast, so the area you choose decides how your evenings look. All of them are within easy reach of our tours — every trip includes hotel pickup.
Sharks Bay
Between the airport and Naama Bay, with resorts built on reefs and SOHO Square close by.
Best for: Snorkeling from the hotel, families
Nabq Bay
North of the airport, with newer, large all-inclusive resorts on a long stretch of coast. Naama Bay is a taxi ride away.
Best for: All-inclusive holidays, families
Hadaba & Ras Umm Sid
South of the centre, on the cliffs above the sea, close to the Old Market and Farsha Cafe. Ras Umm Sid is a well-known beach dive site.
Best for: Quieter stays, divers
Old Market (Sharm El Maya)
The old town near the harbour, with local restaurants, shops and smaller hotels.
Best for: Local atmosphere, smaller budgets
Best Time to Visit Sharm El Sheikh & Weather by Month
Sharm is sunny all year and it almost never rains. The most comfortable months are March to May and October to November, with warm days of about 24–32 °C and the sea at 22–27 °C.
June to September is hot — around 34–35 °C in the afternoon — but the sea is at its warmest, about 26–28 °C. December to February is mild by day (about 20–22 °C) and cool at night; the sea stays around 22–25 °C, which is fine for snorkeling, with a wetsuit for longer swims.
| Month | Day | Night | Sea |
|---|---|---|---|
| Jan | 20° | 10° | 23° |
| Feb | 21° | 11° | 22° |
| Mar | 24° | 14° | 22° |
| Apr | 28° | 18° | 23° |
| May | 32° | 21° | 25° |
| Jun | 34° | 24° | 26° |
| Jul | 35° | 25° | 28° |
| Aug | 35° | 26° | 28° |
| Sep | 34° | 24° | 27° |
| Oct | 29° | 20° | 27° |
| Nov | 25° | 16° | 26° |
| Dec | 22° | 12° | 25° |
Getting There and Getting Around
By air
Sharm El Sheikh International Airport (SSH) has direct flights from many European cities and connections through Cairo. It is about 12 km — around 20 minutes by car — from Naama Bay.
Airport transfer
Book a private transfer before you land and the driver meets you on arrival and takes you straight to your hotel.
See the tourGetting around
Taxis are easy to find — agree the price before you get in. For the Old Market, Naama Bay, SOHO Square and Farsha Cafe we also offer private transfers at a fixed price.
See the tourFrom Cairo by road
Cairo is about 500 km away, roughly six to seven hours by car through the Ahmed Hamdi Tunnel under the Suez Canal. A private transfer is the most comfortable way.
See the tourVisa for Sharm El Sheikh
Many nationalities can get a tourist visa on arrival at Sharm El Sheikh airport, or an e-visa online before travel.
If you only stay in South Sinai — Sharm El Sheikh, Dahab, Nuweiba, Taba and St. Catherine — for up to 15 days, most visitors can enter with a free "Sinai only" stamp instead. It does not cover trips to Cairo, Luxor or the rest of Egypt: for those you need the full tourist visa.
Rules depend on your nationality and can change, so check with the Egyptian consulate or your airline before you fly — and tell us which entry you have when you book a day trip.
Sharm El Sheikh Itineraries: 3, 5 and 7 Days
Boat trips leave in the morning and desert safaris in the afternoon or evening, so you can often fit a relaxed beach morning around them.
3 days in Sharm El Sheikh
- Day 1Boat trip to Ras Mohammed and White Island. See the tour
- Day 2Beach morning, then a quad safari with camel ride and Bedouin dinner. See the tour
- Day 3Old Market and mosques city tour, then SOHO Square in the evening. See the tour
5 days in Sharm El Sheikh
The 3-day plan, plus:
- Day 4Snorkeling trip to Tiran Island. See the tour
- Day 5Day trip to Dahab — or, for early risers, the Mount Sinai sunrise climb (it leaves the evening before). See the tour
7 days in Sharm El Sheikh
The 5-day plan, plus:
- Day 6A slower day: dolphin show or semi-submarine, and a sunset dinner cruise. See the tour
- Day 7Cairo and the Pyramids — or Luxor by plane (full visa needed). See the tour
How Much Do Tours in Sharm El Sheikh Cost?
Starting prices per adult, taken live from our booking system — children usually pay less. Hotel pickup is included on these tours.
| Type of trip | From |
|---|---|
| Snorkeling boat trips (Ras Mohammed, Tiran) | $35 |
| Diving for beginners | $30 |
| Sinai day trips (Dahab, St. Catherine, Mount Sinai) | $30 |
| Family trips (dolphins, semi-submarine, aqua park) | $25 |
| Evenings (city tour, SOHO Square, dinner cruise) | $25 |
| Cairo and Luxor day trips | $50 |
Practical Tips for Sharm El Sheikh
What to wear
Swimwear is fine at the hotel and on the beach. In town, at the Old Market and especially inside mosques and churches, cover your shoulders and knees.
Protect the reef
Don't touch or stand on the coral and don't feed the fish. Ras Mohammed and Tiran are protected areas — reef-safe sunscreen helps.
Sun and water
The sun is strong all year: wear a hat, use sunscreen and drink bottled water.
Money
Cards are accepted in hotels and most restaurants. Carry some Egyptian pounds or small notes for tips, taxis and the market.
Tipping
Tipping is customary: about 10% in restaurants if service is not included, and small tips for boat crews, drivers and guides are appreciated.
At the market
Prices at the Old Market are often open to bargaining — agree on the price before you buy.
Popular Tours in Sharm El Sheikh
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Reviews
What travelers say about Sharm El Sheikh
AM
Andrew Mark
That was a very Nice Tour , I recommend it 100 % ⭐️
Kitesurfing Tour Sharm El SheikhС
Станислав
Понравилась экскурсия, шикарная яхта,все абсолютно как на фото. Прекрасная команда на яхте. Входит легкий завтрак, сытный обед с морепродуктами и легкий фруктовый перекус. Все прошло отлично, организация экскурсионного тура понравилась, не было неприятных моментов и это порадовало,что все Как описано
Ras Mohammed & White Island Premium Boat Trip Sharm El SheikhA
Ayman
Was amazing party )
Del Mar Beach Party Sharm El SheikhSharm El Sheikh Travel FAQ
Five to seven days is ideal: enough for Ras Mohammed and Tiran Island by boat, a desert evening, the Old Market and one longer trip such as Mount Sinai, Dahab or Cairo. With three days, focus on Ras Mohammed, a desert safari and the Old Market.
March to May and October to November are the most comfortable, with warm days and the sea at 22–27 °C. July and August are the hottest months but have the warmest sea, about 28 °C.
Yes. Even in January and February the sea is about 22–23 °C, which is fine for snorkeling. Many people wear a light wetsuit for longer swims.
Naama Bay if you want restaurants and nightlife within walking distance, Sharks Bay for snorkeling from the hotel and easy access to SOHO Square, Nabq Bay for large all-inclusive resorts, and Hadaba for a quieter stay near the Old Market.
Many nationalities can get a visa on arrival or an e-visa. Most visitors staying only in South Sinai for up to 15 days can use a free "Sinai only" stamp, but it does not cover Cairo, Luxor or the rest of Egypt. Check the rules for your nationality before you travel.
Yes. Snorkeling boat trips to Ras Mohammed and Tiran Island need no experience, and the semi-submarine lets you watch the reef through underwater windows without getting wet.
Very. The dolphin show, the semi-submarine, the aqua park and the shallow water at White Island are all popular with children, and every trip includes hotel pickup.
Yes, as a long day trip: overnight by bus, or by plane to see the Pyramids and the Grand Egyptian Museum. You need the full Egyptian tourist visa, not the Sinai stamp.
Ready to plan your days?
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