Sharm El Sheikh

Sharm el-Sheikh (also written occasionally without the dash, as Sharm el Sheikh) is a beach resort city and one of Egypt’s most popular tourist destinations.

What to Do

Sharm el-Sheikh is not only one of the biggest tourist draws for Egypt, but for the entire region. The city’s beaches are excellent, so are ideal spots if you’re just looking for a little bit of sand on which to sunbathe all day (don’t forget to turn over every so often). But the city offers so much more than just nice beaches.

In fact, Sharm el Sheikh is perhaps best known as a world-class diving destination – the Tiran and Ras Mohammed reefs in particular are famous the world over, and are a short two hours away from the city. They are incredibly popular diving sites, so you don’t want to head there on your own with the hope that you’ll be alone. If you’re looking for a more personal and private experience, you’ll want to hire someone to take you on a diving safari. Either way, you’ll have some of the best diving the world’s oceans have to offer.

Away from the water, the nearby Sinai Desert is a great destination for excursions (day trips or overnight adventures can both be arranged from Sharm el-Sheikh) to see the Bedouins and the sights which are only available in the desert.

Getting There

Sharm el-Sheikh Airport (airport code SSH) is the main entry point and is where you’ll fly into when you book an airline ticket to Sharm el Sheikh. It’s not a major international airport, however, so you may have to fly through Cairo first and then hop on a local EgyptAir flight.

In addition to getting around on foot, it’s easiest to go longer distances in Sharm el Sheikh via taxi or by bus.

Where to Stay

Sharm el-Sheikh has several big and luxurious resort hotels right along the beach, but if you’re looking for more budget hotels in Sharm el Sheikh there are options for you as well. You will find cheaper options if you look a little further away from the beach, and check out the Sharm el-Sheikh hostels listings for the one- and two-star hotels that will likely best fit a budget traveler’s budget.