South Sinai Governorate · Egypt
Where to stay in Sharm el-Sheikh
Sharm el-Sheikh is a city in South Sinai Governorate, Egypt, home to about 73,000 people. This guide covers 1 hotel in Sharm el-Sheikh.
- Places to stay in this guide
- 1
- Best months
- November to April
- Nearest airport
- SSH17 km · Sharm El Sheikh International Airport
- Currency
- EGPEgyptian pound
- Time zone
- Africa/Cairo
- Language
- Arabic
About
About Sharm el-Sheikh
Sharm El Sheikh, alternatively rendered Sharm el-Sheikh or Charm el Sheikh, is an Egyptian city located on the southern tip of the Sinai Peninsula, in South Sinai Governorate, on the coastal strip along the Red Sea in Asia. Its population is approximately 77,000 as of 2017.
Sharm el-Sheikh is at the south tip of a desert peninsula backed by rugged mountains, with no historic trade or pilgrim routes through it, and no mineral wealth. So it remained an insignificant fishing village until the 20th century, when it developed as a naval base to control the shipping lanes east up the Gulf of Aqaba to Jordan and west up the Gulf of Suez to the canal. But that made it a target for military attack. World War II attacks were against the shipping convoys rather than town, Thistlegorm sunk in 1941 being one notable nearby casualty.
Wikipedia and Wikivoyage contributors, CC BY-SA 4.0; excerpted.
Things to do
What to see and do in Sharm el-Sheikh
See
- Al-Mostafa Mosque
- Al Sahaba Mosque
- El-Samaeyeen Cathedral
Do
Diving is the main activity in Sharm el-Sheikh. When you dive into the warm water of the Red Sea and leave the remote desert behind, you will enter a world full of life and colours. Divers, especially photographers, should be confident with their buoyancy to avoid damaging the fragile coral reef system. Some hotels in Na'ama Bay have cleared the coral reef from their section of beach for tourists to use the water.
- Oonas Dive Center
- Sinai Divers Naama Bay
- Camel Dive Club
- Colona Divers
- Emperor Divers
- Enigma Charters
- Ocean College
- RedSea Diving College
- Diving Ocean
- Ultimate Diving Holidays
- Sharks Bay Umbi Diving Village
- Dolphin Diving Center
Wikivoyage contributors, CC BY-SA 4.0; excerpted.
Where to stay
Places to stay in Sharm el-Sheikh
1 place to stay from the chains this guide covers, each linked to its own website.
| Place to stay |
|---|
| Barceló Tiran Sharm hotel |
Schematic: the city centre in orange, each place to stay as a dot, distance rings in kilometres.
Where to stay
Which part of Sharm el-Sheikh to stay in
Most hotels in Sharm, particularly in the Na'ama Bay area cater for package tourists. There are mostly 3-6 star all-inclusive hotels and there are very few (if any) budget options. Generally it is best to knock a star off the official rating to avoid disappointment. Renting privately owned apartments is economical, but they vary in facilities. Nabq or Montaza area it is quite a distance to the north (12 km) from Na'ama Bay and Old Market, so you either are tied to their all-included ration, or need to pay for taxi for every dinner in Na'ama (although taxi is inexpensive from most of hotels, or take the hotel courtesy bus).
Wikivoyage contributors, CC BY-SA 4.0; excerpted.
When to go
The best time to visit Sharm el-Sheikh
The most comfortable months for a city stay in Sharm el-Sheikh are November to April. August is the warmest month, with average highs of 37 °C; December is the wettest, with about 2 mm of rain.
Comfortable means average daytime high between 18 °C and 29 °C and under 80 mm of rain in the month. Averages for 1991–2020 over the surrounding area, a grid square about 50 km across, so a coast or a nearby mountain can make the town itself warmer or cooler. Data: CRU TS v4.10, Climatic Research Unit, University of East Anglia (Open Database License).
Getting there
Getting to Sharm el-Sheikh: airports and arrival
The nearest airport with scheduled flights is Sharm El Sheikh International Airport (SSH), about 17 km from the city centre in a straight line; Hurghada International Airport (HRG, 90 km) and Neom Bay Airport (NUM, 98 km) are also within reach.
Getting in
See Sinai for information on the Sinai visit pass, which allows visa-free travel for up to 14 days.
Getting around
In Sharm the taxis are generally modern models, either Hyundai or Chevrolet. Don't bother with the meter in the taxi: it probably does not work anymore. They soon break due to the dust, and would work out more than the "fixed" prices anyway. Always note the driver's ID number. The tourist police are very helpful if you have a problem, or quickly realise you left something inside, but only with the taxi number. Don't assume they have meters. Locals tell you they don't.
Wikivoyage contributors, CC BY-SA 4.0; excerpted.
SSH · Sharm El Sheikh International Airport
HRG · Hurghada International Airport
NUM · Neom Bay Airport
Local knowledge
Eating, drinking and staying safe in Sharm el-Sheikh
Eat
If you need a break from resort food try one of the local places below. If you're looking for a taste of home, Il Mercato houses a McDonald's, KFC, Pizza Hut, Costa and a Starbucks. Manchow Wok has nice Chinese food and is opposite Stella, the only place to drink in El Mercato. Na'ama Bay is amusing, especially at night, where lights of Bedouin-style and modern restaurants, café shops, and other 'bazaars' are glittering. Pork is not sold, even when it is advertised on a menu (it is actually a salted beef). A 10-15% service charge will be added to any bill.
Drink
For nightlife, Na'ama Bay offers several clubs: The Pacha, Little Buddha and Hard Rock Cafe. (Yes, the latter is one of the chain.) There are countless bars and the pedestrian walkways offer many coffee houses where you may also enjoy a shisha along with some people watching. Alcohol (including beer) is available in restaurants and street cafes. Travellers must be aware that taxes are now levied on alcoholic drinks that are purchased in cafes or bars that are not associated with the hotels. Drinks can be relatively expensive, compared to those in European destinations. Always ask to see a drinks menu before ordering a drink.
Stay safe
As of 2025, Sharm El-Sheikh is generally considered the safest place to be in the Sinai Peninsula. Police and the Egyptian Military have installed a wall around the city and there are military/police checkpoints even on the main streets. Each vehicle is checked before entering the city. Mild food poisoning, the so-called traveler's diarrhea and stomach-ache is common among the European travelers. Tap water is not drinkable, but considered safe for tooth-brushing and showering. Always drink bottled water. Avoid food that is not cooked in front of you or likely have been stored for days without proper refrigeration.
Wikivoyage contributors, CC BY-SA 4.0; excerpted.
Questions
Sharm el-Sheikh: questions travellers ask
When is the best time to visit Sharm el-Sheikh?
The most comfortable months for a city stay in Sharm el-Sheikh are November to April. August is the warmest month, with average highs of 37 °C; December is the wettest, with about 2 mm of rain.
Which airport is closest to Sharm el-Sheikh?
The nearest airport with scheduled flights is Sharm El Sheikh International Airport (SSH), about 17 km from the city centre in a straight line; Hurghada International Airport (HRG, 90 km) and Neom Bay Airport (NUM, 98 km) are also within reach.
What currency is used in Sharm el-Sheikh?
Egyptian pound (EGP).
Nearby
Destinations near Sharm el-Sheikh
Sources: city facts from Wikidata and Wikipedia; airports from OurAirports; climate from CRU TS v4.10 (University of East Anglia Climatic Research Unit), 1991–2020 monthly means, 0.5° grid; places to stay, guest scores and amenities from each operator's own public pages. How this guide is made.