Guide to Sharm El Sheikh

"The jewel in the Red Sea's crown, Sharm El Sheikh has everything from magnificent beaches to vibrant nightlife and much, much more besides"

Think Red Sea Riviera and you'll probably picture a place like Sharm El Sheikh. Spread along glittering beaches on the southern end of the Sinai Peninsula, it's the most developed haunt on the Riviera, with all the showiness and amenities to match. Now spread over two areas, Old Sharm and Naama Bay, a walk from end to end presents a cavalcade of extravagant hotels, atmospheric bazaars, glitzy malls, smart restaurants and countless watersports facilities and schools. So whatever you fancy – enjoying the coral-reefed waters, lounging on the sands cocktail in hand or haggling in an outdoor market – it's all on tap. Whether you're a beginner or old hand at scuba, Sharm's fusion of excellent diving instruction, warm transparent waters and magical sub-aquatic world will automatically cater for your every need. At Naama Bay, the gently shelving sands are heaven for learner divers, while farther out some of the world's best marine sites wait under the waves. Plunge into the waters of Ras Mohammed Park to descend sheer sandstone walls to exquisite coral reefs. View giant manta rays and shoals of fluorescent fish as they fly through sunbeamed waters. And when you're done, peel off your wetsuit and let the Egyptian sun gently dry your skin. Later, you'll find plenty of hotel-based entertainment in the shape of starlit dinners and live music shows. Or immerse yourself in the bars and casinos of Naama Bay and party hard. And make time to uncover the Egypt behind Sharm's glitzy display. Visit St. Catherine's Monastery, where Moses reputedly received the Ten Commandments, in the rugged interior. Or seize the chance to experience Cairo, Petra or Luxor – they're all accessible from here.

Not far from the resort, you can visit the Ras Mohammed National Park. It's made up of two contrasting examples of natural beauty - one on land and the other beneath the waves of the Red Sea. The Park features immense sandstone mountains that spill down to stunning coral reefs.

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Recommended Sharm El Sheikh hotels and apartments

Jaz Mirabel Beach

Reef Oasis Blue Bay Resort And Spa

Jaz Mirabel Park

Sharm El Sheikh hotels and apartments

Our hotels and apartments in Sharm El Sheikh include Baron Hotel, Baron Palms Resort, Club Magic Life Sharm El Sheikh Imperial, Crowne Plaza Resort, Dreams Beach Resort, Dreams Vacation Resort, Falcon Hills, Four Seasons, Hilton Fayrouz, Hilton Sharks Bay Resort, Hilton Sharm Dreams, Hotel Cleopatra Tsokkos, Hotel Louis Tiran, Hotel Royal Plaza, Hotel Tropicana Rosetta, Iberotel Club Fanara And Residence, Iberotel Grand Sharm, Iberotel Palace, Jaz Mirabel Beach, Jaz Mirabel Club, Jaz Mirabel Park, Lti Grand Azure Resort, Maritim Jolie Ville Golf Resort, Maritim Jolie Ville Resort And Casino, Mercure Luna, Park Inn Resort, Radisson Sas Resort, Reef Oasis Blue Bay Resort And Spa, Renaissance Golden View Beach Resort, Savita Resort And Spa Hotel, Sharming Inn, Sierra, Sofitel Sharm El Sheikh, Sol Verginia, Sonesta Beach Resort, Sonesta Club, St George Three Corners, The Hilton Sharm Waterfalls Resort, The Hyatt Regency Sharm El Sheikh, The Ritz Carlton, The Three Corners Kiroseiz Resort, Tropicana Club Azure, Tropicana Garden Palms and Tropicana Grand Oasis.

More Egypt Red Sea holiday destinations

Looking for holidays in Egypt Red Sea? Our Egypt Red Sea holiday destinations include Dahab, El Gouna, Hurghada, Makadi Bay, Marsa Alam, Nuweiba, Sharm El Sheikh, Soma Bay, Taba and Taba Heights.

Beaches

The beaches here are quite simply stunning. Long swathes of golden sands sweep down into the sparkling waters of the Red Sea. Most of the hotels have their own private sandy havens and offer a great alternative for those who would rather dive into a good book while topping up their tan than dive beneath the waves. However, scuba diving is unquestionably one of the main draws of the Red Sea Riviera. Divers travel to this aquatic idyll from all over the world to explore the unique bio-diversity and wrecks hidden beneath the depths of the sea. It provides the perfect arena for viewing turtles, sharks, hard corals and fish of every size, shape and colour. Unsurprisingly there are a number of dive schools dotted along the coastline if you want to take the plunge and uncover an underwater paradise. Please note that most beaches in Sharm El Sheikh have access to the sea via a jetty.

Eating out

When in Egypt it's good to walk, and eat, like an Egyptian. Local food is more eclectic than you may think and is heavily influenced by Turkish cuisine. Expect to be treated to juicy, fresh fruit such as figs, oranges and lemons. Chickpeas, rice and couscous play a part in most dishes and are often served with aubergines, chicken and lamb. Of course, being on the coast, you'll also be able to sample a variety of freshly cooked fish, plucked straight from the sea.

Nightlife

Resorts along the Red Sea Riviera all have entertainment to cater for the international tourist, as do the hotels. Many put on their own Egyptian-themed nights that will treat you to the joys of local folk music and belly dancing. For some local action it is always worthwhile checking out a bar or two to see how it should be done Egyptian style. Sharm el Sheikh has a vibrant nightlife with casinos, discos and nightclubs to enjoy.

Shopping

Away from the turquoise waters, the Red Sea Riviera is also known for its excellent shopping facilities. Have fun haggling with the locals as you barter for good value leather goods and Egyptian ornaments in the local bustling bazaars. Away from the hustle and bustle of the markets, take a trip out to one of the Western-style enclosed shopping malls where you can shop to your heart's content in sleek boutiques and glossy department stores.

Local information

Take a trip out through rugged, rocky scenery and visit St Catherine's Monastery - located at the foot of the mountain where Moses received the Ten Commandments. St Catherine was supposedly tortured on a spiked wheel for her beliefs and today gives her name to the Catherine Wheel firework. You can enjoy a guided tour of this famous sanctuary and see the legendary 'Burning Bush'. Or why not travel further afield to Cairo, Luxor or Petra - Sharm El Sheikh is the ideal base.