Sharm el-Sheikh City

Sharm el-Sheikh was founded by the Israelis, who felt a need to improve control over the land they occupied in 1967. This is still characterizing the place. Now, when Sharm el-Sheikh is all about tourism, the only reason to go here, will be to discover the areas around. And that's a good reason, too.
Unfortunately, Sharm el-Sheikh is Egypt's most expensive resort, with restaurant prices about 3 times normal. There are no budget hotels, but a nice range of good-valye 3 star places. Sharm el-Sheikh has a ferry running on Hurghada, and good communications going up on either side of Sinai.
Diving is compulsory when around the Red Sea. The coral reefs and the tropical fish, are among the greatest you can get across. And picking up your certificate, either PADI or CMAS, might be cheaper here than in your home country, but not always. Scandinavians are among those who should avoid getting their course from Sharm el-Shaykh, not only is it more expensive, but you will get no training with cold water diving.

If Sharm el-Sheikh is the best place for swimming and relaxing in Egypt, Na'ama is the best in Sharm. The setting and the amenities reach a level of quality that helps marketers push many other Egyptian destinations to a foreign audience.
Na'ama Bay boosts of great hotels, good restaurants and almost all activities imaginable. There are reefs off the beach at Na'ama, but the best places for going snorkelling are the Gardens (Near, Middle and Far) slightly east of Na'ama centre.

If you are heading for a week or two in Sharm el-Sheikh you are best advised to avoid Central Sharm, which is the least appealing of the bays here. The fact that this is the closest you get to a town around here, sounds nice, but it is badly planned.
There are however some nice hotels, and swimming can be just as good here so, it truly is a question of your mood. But there are no reefs in the lagoon, so snorkelling is not terribly exciting here.

There isn't much free space left at Shark's Bay, but the place is a testimony that heavy tourism can work. It is quite beautiful and the reef just off the beach is well-preserved, colourful and full of fish that loves swimming rich under you.

Ras Um Sid is located next to the local lighthouse, and has a nice but small beach that often becomes one of the most crowded of all at Sharm el-Sheikh.
The reef off the beach is really good, noted especially for the fan corals. The fish life is of equal standard, with innumerable variations.

The so-called old market, is really a rather new market placed in the area of old Sharm el-Sheikh. Still, the houses here were built a few decades ago, and correspond to the typical style of Egypt. The whole thing is far more genuine than what you may expect at a design-made tourist resort like Sharm el-Sheikh.
The products on sale here, are exactly the same as elsewhere in Egypt, and you will have to look hard and long to locate local handicrafts. On the good side, prices seem to be quite moderate, but new tourists often pay 5-10 times the normal price for their souvenirs.

Since Sharm el-Sheikh is all about tourism, of course there is a lot of choice with water sports. In brief you can choose from sailing lessons (E£50/hour), windsurfing (E£60/hour), parasailing (E£150/hour) and treading boats (E£30/hour), as well as trips with glass-bottom boats (E£30/hour) or banana boats (E£60/half hour).
Among other sports are camel riding to so-called traditional Bedouin villages. The price level is a reflection of your willingness to believe that this is genuine, between US$40 and 60 for a day. Better perhaps to visit the desert in a Quad, which is a 4 wheel motorbike, which costs about E$180 for two hours.
 

In Sharm el-Sheikh, both diving and snorkelling can be rewarding just by stepping out from the beach. There are great reefs in Na'ama Bay, Ras Um Sid and Shark's Bay. But you will soon see plenty of offers for short or long excursions. Not only does this offer variation, but also experiences that should not be missed.
When joining some of the joint diving and snorkelling excursions, note that the value for snorkellers can sometimes be limited.
Many visitors to Sharm el-Sheikh take dive courses while down here. The quality of the courses vary somewhat, but many are of good quality. For many foreigners, prices are attractive, but not for all. Western countries with many dive centres, often offer better prices as well as better preparation for cold-water diving.


Sharm el-Sheikh is really bad for shopping! The place thrives from tourists just off the plane, who never get accustomed to the true price level of Egypt. If you are a really good haggler, you might get items at just the double price from what a lazy haggler pays in Cairo. There are very few local products (Sinai Bedouin products are the exception), most items are the same as what is for sale all around Egypt

The White Lagoon is only accessible by boat from Sharm el-Sheikh, and is one of the main attractions for everyone next to the Tiran Islands. They belong to an archipelago that has status as protected area, and may not be visited in the future.
For divers, the choice goes much further. There are many shipwrecks out here, which means not only rich fish life but also underwater adventures. The Jackson Reef is another great attraction, with its 70 metre drop-off.