Sharm el-Sheikh is a popular resort town near the southern tip of the Sinai Peninsula in Egypt. It is sometimes known as the "City of Peace" because of the numerous international peace conferences that have been held there.
The weather ranges from moderately warm during the winter months to very hot during the summer months, and the daytime weather is reliably dry and sunny. Sharm el-Sheikh also lies along the east-facing coastline of south-eastern Egypt and is also close to the south-facing coastline associated with the Ras Mohammed National Park, and consequently, there are plenty of good beaches to choose from, be it for relaxing and sunbathing, or indulging in diving, snorkelling and kite-surfing within the nearby seas. Most of the beaches are located along the east-facing coastline, to the east and north-east of Sharm el-Sheikh itself.
Some beaches are good for relaxation and chilling out, while other beach resorts focus more on providing entertainment and facilities, including bars, restaurants and nightclubs, though these tend to be noisier and with more hustle-bustle. Some beaches also offer better snorkelling and diving opportunities than others, depending on the amount of coral reef and fish species in the surrounding seas.
Diving & snorkelling
The Ras Mohammed National Park contains some pleasant beaches, and some spectacular reefs and fish species just off the coast, which are best explored via scuba diving and snorkelling trips in the area, but can also be seen from some of the nearby beaches. The most popular beach location is the Main Beach, while other good beaches in the area include the Yolanda Beach, Old Quay Beach and Khashaba Beach. Just to the south of Sharm el-Sheikh, near the main Sharm el-Sheikh port, lies the beach resort of Ras um Sid which is especially popular with visitors to the area. Ras um Sid contains numerous popular and spectacular diving and snorkelling sites where reefs, numerous species of fish, and shipwrecks can all be viewed from close by.
The popular beach resort of Naama Bay is situated to the west of the main Sharm el-Sheikh port, close to the Ras um Sid beach resort. It is a good area for scuba diving and contains the Red Sea Diving College for those who would like to learn how to dive and/or go on organised dive trips. Nabq Bay also offers good diving and snorkelling opportunities, and there are many famous shipwrecks around the seas off the east coast.
Pure bliss
The Ras Mohammed National Park contains numerous beaches that are ideal for just lazing about and relaxing and sunbathing. The most popular beach location is the Main Beach, which is good for viewing spectacular coral reef formations, though this can get quite crowded. Other good beaches in the area include the Yolanda Beach, Old Quay Beach and Khashaba Beach. As the National Park is a protected area, you need to pay a small fee to enter. Tiran Island is off the Egyptian mainland, and thus must be accessed by boat, but it also boasts numerous beaches which are relatively free from crowds of tourists.
Just to the south of Sharm el-Sheikh, near the main Sharm el-Sheikh port, lies the beach resort of Ras um Sid which is especially popular with visitors to the area. Ras um Sid contains numerous popular and spectacular diving and snorkelling sites where reefs, numerous species of fish, and shipwrecks can all be viewed from close by. The beaches are also pleasant for a spot of relaxation and sunbathing. The resort is good for those who want a relatively quiet stay- those after nightlife and a wide choice of good pubs, bars and restaurants are better off trying Naama Bay or Nabq Bay.
Also easy to recommend to visitors is Shark's Bay, which is situated to the south of El Sheikh Zaied Street, off the south-east of Sharm el-Sheikh. Like Ras um Sid, this bay offers good opportunities for diving and snorkelling and surveying spectacular reefs and species of fish, as well as sunbathing on the beach, while not as crowded or noisy as the resorts of Naama Bay or Nabq Bay, though the downside is that there is less of a wide choice of entertainment and nightlife. There are numerous shops, bars and cafes by the sea front.
Nabq Bay is another popular beach resort which, despite being full of entertainment, is also a protected area, and thus there are many species of flora and fauna as well as spectacular coral reefs, and there are large, mostly man-made, beaches that provide ample scope for relaxation and for sunbathing.
Lively beaches
Terrazzina Beach is situated at the west end of Sharm el-Sheikh, off El Khazan Street. It is suitable for sunbathing but not one of the better spots around Sharm el-Sheikh for diving and snorkelling. There is a lot of dance-themed entertainment- DJs regularly visit the beach and play music, and there is a weekly Bikini Party which is held on Fridays. There is also a restaurant on-site which sells traditional pub food and snacks including burgers, and also fish dishes.
Naama Bay is a popular beach resort crammed full of entertainment and nightlife, situated to the west of the main Sharm el-Sheikh port, close to the Ras um Sid beach resort. The beaches are good for relaxing and sunbathing on, and there are plenty of shops, pubs and restaurants in the area, some of which offer high quality service. However, beware of the tendency of certain outlets to try and "push" tourists into visiting and then charging extortionate prices- some shopkeepers are particularly notorious for this. Nabq Bay is another popular beach resort crammed full of entertainment, restaurants, pubs, and nightclubs. It is situated along the coast off the north-east of Sharm el-Sheikh, off El Salom Road. Some of the beaches are privately owned, and visitors have to pay a fee to make use of them.