By air
Sharm El Sheikh International (SSH), ~15 km
Africa · Egypt
Sharm El Sheikh, Egypt
Red Sea reefs and the Sinai mountains
Getting there
Best time to visit
October to May — warm seas
Don't miss
Ras Mohammed
The Straits of Tiran
Naama Bay
St Catherine's Monastery
Things to do
Diving Ras Mohammed
Snorkelling the Straits of Tiran
The Mount Sinai hike
Where to eat
Sources: Photo: Marc Ryckaert · CC BY 3.0
What to pack
Snorkel gear, reef-safe sunscreen
A quieter corner
Mount Sinai at sunrise, with a guide
Questions travellers ask
When is the sea warm in Sharm El Sheikh?
October to May is the season for warm seas. Pack snorkel gear and reef-safe sunscreen.
Where can I dive and snorkel near Sharm El Sheikh?
Dive Ras Mohammed and snorkel the Straits of Tiran. Back on shore, relax at Naama Bay.
Can I hike Mount Sinai from Sharm El Sheikh?
Yes, the Mount Sinai hike is a highlight. Go at sunrise with a guide, and visit St Catherine's Monastery as well.
Which airport serves Sharm El Sheikh?
Sharm El Sheikh International (SSH), about 15 km away. Once you're settled, try a Bedouin barbecue.
About Sharm El Sheikh
- Coastal
- Desert
Where it is
Sharm El Sheikh is a resort city at the southern tip of the Sinai Peninsula in Egypt's South Sinai Governorate, on the Red Sea where the Gulf of Aqaba opens out, with the granite mountains of Sinai rising behind.
History
For centuries this coast was home only to Bedouin tribes and small fishing camps. Israel held Sinai from 1967 until it was returned to Egypt in 1982, and Sharm El Sheikh then grew rapidly into one of Egypt's main resorts and a venue for international summits, including the COP27 climate conference in 2022.
People
The Bedouin of South Sinai, among them the Muzeina of the coast and the Jebeliya of the St Catherine mountains, lived here long before the resorts, and many now work as guides, drivers and camel handlers. Most other residents are Egyptians from the Nile Valley who work in tourism, and Arabic is spoken, with English and other European languages common in the hotels.
Known for
- Diving at Ras Mohammed National Park
- Snorkelling the Straits of Tiran
- Naama Bay
- The sunrise climb of Mount Sinai
- St Catherine's Monastery
Did you know?
St Catherine's Monastery, at the foot of Mount Sinai inland from Sharm El Sheikh, was built in the 6th century under the emperor Justinian and is one of the oldest working Christian monasteries in the world.
We haven't written a guide for this place yet — you can still plan a trip here.