--- title: "Top 10 Things To Do in Sharm El Sheikh, Egypt | Wimup" description: "The ten best things to do in Sharm El Sheikh: Ras Mohammed's reefs, the Thistlegorm wreck, the Straits of Tiran and the Old Market, ranked and mapped." url: https://wimup.com/city/sharm-el-sheikh type: City guide updated: 2026-10-31 publisher: Wimup (https://wimup.com) --- # Top 10 Things To Do in Sharm El Sheikh Sharm El Sheikh, Egypt · Africa · By Wimup Editorial, 12 min read Sharm El Sheikh was a fishing anchorage until 1967, then an Israeli base and settlement until 1982. Egypt built the resorts after that, and they now run 30 kilometres up the coast. The draw is unchanged: some of the Red Sea's best reefs start a short boat ride from the hotels. ## Quick answer Sharm El Sheikh is a sea trip first, so plan it around the boats. Give a day to Ras Mohammed, a day to the Straits of Tiran and, if you dive, a long day out to the Thistlegorm. Spend the evenings in Naama Bay or the Old Market, and save one night for the drive to Mount Sinai and the climb to sunrise. Spring and autumn are best: the sea is warm and July runs well past 35°C. ## Quick facts - **Best months:** Mar · Apr · Oct · Nov - **Ideal length:** 5–7 days - **Budget per day:** $45–100 - **Language:** Arabic (English widely used in resorts) - **Getting around:** Taxis, microbuses, dive and excursion boats - **Tourism board:** [↗ Website](https://www.experienceegypt.eg/en?utm_source=wimup.com&utm_medium=referral) ## The 10 best things to do in Sharm El Sheikh ### 1. Ras Mohammed National Park Reef · Ras Mohammed, southern tip of Sinai Egypt's first protected area, declared in 1983, at the point where the Gulf of Suez meets the Gulf of Aqaba. Shark and Yolanda Reef is the dive everyone remembers. Go by boat for the reefs; the road trip suits snorkellers and the mangrove channel. - **Time:** Full day - **Cost:** Park fee on top of the trip - **Best at:** Early boats, before the crowds - **Tip:** Bring your passport; it is checked at the park gate ### 2. The SS Thistlegorm Wreck · Shaab Ali, Gulf of Suez A British cargo ship sunk by German bombers on 6 October 1941, its holds still full of motorbikes, trucks and rifles. It is the Red Sea's most famous wreck dive. Day boats leave before dawn for a long crossing, so a liveaboard gets you there first. - **Time:** Full day, two dives - **Cost:** Priced by dive centre - **Best at:** First dive of the morning - **Tip:** Currents are strong; book only with advanced certification and recent dives ### 3. The Straits of Tiran Reef · Straits of Tiran, north of Sharm Four reefs in a line across the mouth of the Gulf of Aqaba: Jackson, Woodhouse, Thomas and Gordon. The walls and the drifts are the draw. Day boats usually manage two of the four, and Gordon is the gentlest for newer divers. - **Time:** Full day - **Cost:** Priced by boat operator - **Best at:** Calm mornings - **Tip:** Boats cannot always reach the straits on windy days; keep a spare day in the plan ### 4. Naama Bay Beach · Naama Bay, Sharm El Sheikh The resort's centre: a sheltered sand bay with a pedestrian promenade running its full length, lined with hotels, dive centres, bars and restaurants. Swim in the day, walk the promenade after dark. Most hotel beaches are private, so check access first. - **Time:** Half a day or an evening - **Cost:** Free to walk the promenade - **Best at:** After sunset - **Tip:** Book dives at the centres here; most run boats from the town's marinas ### 5. The Old Market and Al Sahaba Mosque Landmark · Sharm El Maya, Sharm El Sheikh Sharm El Maya's market was rebuilt around the Al Sahaba Mosque, which opened in 2017 in a blend of Ottoman, Fatimid and Mamluk styles. Come in the evening, when the stalls open and the minarets are lit. Spices, lanterns and seafood dinners are the reason to stay. - **Time:** 2–3 hours - **Cost:** Free - **Best at:** After dark - **Tip:** Bargain in the stalls and agree the taxi fare back before you leave ### 6. Sharm El Sheikh Museum Museum · Sharm El Sheikh Sinai's first antiquities museum, opened in 2020 with thousands of pieces drawn from the national collections: statues, mummies, jewellery and two ancient boats. It is the town's one stop for ancient Egypt. Time a visit for the evening session. - **Time:** 1–2 hours - **Cost:** Ticketed - **Best at:** Evening opening - **Tip:** It opens in two sessions, morning and evening; check the hours on the official site Links: [Official site](https://egymonuments.gov.eg/museums/sharm-al-sheikh-museum/?utm_source=wimup.com&utm_medium=referral) ### 7. The Heavenly Cathedral Landmark · Hay El Nour, Sharm El Sheikh Sharm's Coptic Orthodox cathedral, consecrated in 2010, with a ceiling and walls painted floor to dome. The frescoes are the reason to stop. It is a working church, so dress modestly and keep quiet during services. - **Time:** 30–45 minutes - **Cost:** Free to enter - **Best at:** Between services - **Tip:** Pair it with the Old Market and the mosque on one evening ### 8. Nabq Protected Area Nature reserve · Nabq, north of Sharm El Sheikh A coastal reserve declared in 1992 between Sharm and Dahab, with one of the most northerly mangrove forests in the world. Expect herons, a shallow reef and empty shore. A jeep trip with a snorkel stop covers it. - **Time:** Half a day - **Cost:** Reserve fee - **Best at:** Morning - **Tip:** Wear reef shoes; the shallows are rocky ### 9. Ras Um Sid Reef · Hadaba, Sharm El Sheikh The best shore snorkelling in Sharm: a narrow fringing reef below the lighthouse cliff that drops to a wall of gorgonian fans. Divers do it as a drift. Swim out at the marked entry points, not over the reef top. - **Time:** Half a day - **Cost:** Beach access fee at some entries - **Best at:** Morning, before the boats - **Tip:** Stay for sunset at Farsha Cafe on the cliff behind it ### 10. Mount Sinai and St Catherine's Monastery Landmark · Saint Catherine, South Sinai A night drive inland, a climb of about four hours to the 2,285-metre summit for sunrise, then the monastery at the foot of the mountain. It is the trip that leaves the coast behind. Bring warm layers: the top is cold before dawn. - **Time:** Overnight - **Cost:** Priced by tour operator - **Best at:** Sunrise - **Tip:** The monastery is closed on Sundays; plan the trip for another night ## Best reefs in Sharm El Sheikh Six reefs from the national park to the straits, from easy shore swims to strong drifts. 1. **Shark and Yolanda Reef** (Dive · All levels · Ras Mohammed): Twin pinnacles at Ras Mohammed, and the Yolanda's cargo of toilets scattered on the reef below. 2. **Jackson Reef** (Dive · Experienced · Straits of Tiran): The northernmost of the Tiran reefs, a wall dive known for its strong currents and big fish. 3. **Thomas Reef** (Dive · Experienced · Straits of Tiran): The smallest of the four and one of the most popular. No moorings, so it is always a drift. 4. **Gordon Reef** (Dive and snorkel · All levels · Straits of Tiran): The Tiran reef closest to Sharm, with the calmest water of the four. 5. **Ras Um Sid** (Dive and snorkel · From shore · Hadaba): A shore reef under the Hadaba lighthouse, with a gorgonian wall to about 30 metres. 6. **Ras Nasrani** (Dive and snorkel · Beginners · North of the airport): A headland north of the airport: shallow coral bays, then soft coral walls and overhangs. ## Best wrecks in Sharm El Sheikh Four wrecks within reach of Sharm, from a 1941 war cargo to a freighter still sitting on the reef. 1. **SS Thistlegorm** (Dive · Advanced · Gulf of Suez): A 1941 British cargo ship, its holds full of motorbikes and trucks. Two dives, one outside, one in. 2. **SS Dunraven** (Dive · Intermediate · Beacon Rock, Gulf of Suez): A Victorian steamer lying upside down near Beacon Rock, at about 30 metres, with holes to swim through. 3. **Loullia** (Sight · Boat · Straits of Tiran): A freighter grounded on top of Gordon Reef in 1981. Seen from the boat, not dived; its oil barrels sit at 15 metres. 4. **Abu Nuhas** (Dive · Intermediate · Gulf of Suez): The reef that sank the Carnatic in 1869 and the Giannis D in 1983. Usually a liveaboard stop. ## Best beaches in Sharm El Sheikh Four bays, each with a different pace, from the busy centre to the quiet north. 1. **Naama Bay** (Beach · Central · Naama Bay): A sheltered bay with soft sand, calm shallows and the promenade behind it. 2. **Sharks Bay** (Beach and reef · Sharks Bay): A smaller bay between Naama and Nabq, with reef close enough to snorkel from the beach. 3. **Nabq Bay** (Beach · Quiet · Nabq Bay): The quiet resort strip north of the airport, beside the mangroves of the Nabq reserve. 4. **Ras Um Sid** (Beach and reef · Hadaba): Hotel beaches below the Hadaba cliffs, with the reef a few metres out. ## Best landmarks in Sharm El Sheikh The town's four sights away from the water, all of them best visited in the evening. 1. **Al Sahaba Mosque** (Mosque · Free · Old Market): Opened in 2017 in Ottoman, Fatimid and Mamluk styles, with two tall minarets over the Old Market. 2. **The Heavenly Cathedral** (Church · Free · Hay El Nour): A Coptic cathedral consecrated in 2010, painted from floor to dome. 3. **Sharm El Sheikh Museum** (Museum · Ticketed · Central Sharm): Sinai's first antiquities museum, opened in 2020, with morning and evening sessions. 4. **Soho Square** (Leisure · Evening · Sharks Bay): A purpose-built leisure square near Sharks Bay, with shops, restaurants and evening entertainment. ## Best eating and drinking in Sharm El Sheikh Two places to eat like a local and two to drink with a view. 1. **Fares Seafood** (Seafood · Good value · Old Market): An Old Market institution, busy with locals. Choose your fish by weight, then grilled or fried. 2. **El Masrien** (Egyptian grill · Budget · Old Market): A plain grill house in the Old Market for kofta, kebab and Egyptian sides. 3. **Farsha Cafe** (Cafe and bar · Sunset · Hadaba): A shisha bar built into the Hadaba cliff, with lanterns, cushions and the sunset over the sea. 4. **Camel Bar** (Rooftop bar · Evening · Naama Bay): The rooftop of the Camel Dive Club, the Naama Bay drink at sundown. [Camel Dive Club](https://www.cameldive.com/food-and-drinks-camel-bar-rooftop?utm_source=wimup.com&utm_medium=referral) ## Best neighbourhoods in Sharm El Sheikh Sharm is a string of bays rather than one town. Five of them, south to north. 1. **Sharm El Maya** (Old town · South): The old town and port, with the Old Market, the mosque and the local restaurants. 2. **Hadaba** (Residential · Reef · South): A quieter clifftop district above Ras Um Sid, with shore reefs and Farsha Cafe. 3. **Naama Bay** (Central · Lively · Centre): The centre: the promenade, the dive centres and the nightlife. 4. **Sharks Bay** (Resorts · Reef · North): Between Naama and the airport, close to Soho Square and the northern reefs. 5. **Nabq Bay** (Resorts · Quiet · Far north): Large resorts north of the airport. Quiet, but every evening out means a taxi. ## Best day trips in Sharm El Sheikh Five trips into the Sinai, from a sunrise climb to a canyon walk. 1. **Mount Sinai and St Catherine** (Overnight · By tour · Saint Catherine): About 230 km inland: a night climb to the summit for sunrise, then the monastery. 2. **Dahab** (Full day · Gulf of Aqaba coast): A low-key dive town about 100 km north, an hour and a half by road. 3. **The Blue Hole** (Snorkel and dive · North of Dahab): A deep reef sinkhole about 10 km north of Dahab. Snorkel the rim; leave the depths to technical divers. 4. **Ras Abu Galum** (Full day · On foot · North of Dahab): A protected coast north of the Blue Hole, reached on foot or by camel along the shore. 5. **The Coloured Canyon** (Full day · By 4x4 · Near Nuweiba): An 800-metre slot canyon of striped sandstone near Nuweiba, two hours by 4x4. ## Festivals & annual events in Sharm El Sheikh (2026) - **Coptic Christmas** (7 January): A national holiday. The Heavenly Cathedral holds its main service the night before. - **Ramadan** (Mid-Feb to mid-Mar (2026)): The month of fasting moves with the lunar calendar. Old Market restaurants fill after sunset. - **Eid al-Fitr** (About 20 March (2026)): The end of Ramadan, and one of the busiest weeks for Egyptian visitors on the coast. - **Sham El Nessim** (13 April (2026)): Egypt's spring festival, the Monday after Coptic Easter: picnics, parks and salted fish. - **Sinai Liberation Day** (25 April): A national holiday marking the 1982 Israeli withdrawal from Sinai, with local celebrations. - **Eid al-Adha** (About 27 May (2026)): The feast of the sacrifice. Hotels fill with Egyptian families, so book ahead. - **Armed Forces Day** (6 October): A national holiday for the 1973 war. Expect flags and closed government offices. - **Sharm El Sheikh International Theatre Festival for Youth** (Late November): Young companies from around the world. Dates have moved between editions; check before you plan. ## Must-try dishes in Sharm El Sheikh, Egypt - **Sayadeya**: The coast's own dish: fish baked over spiced rice and caramelised onions. - **Grilled Red Sea fish**: Sold by weight. Pick it from the ice, then choose grilled or fried. - **Bedouin tea**: Black tea, sweet, steeped with wild sage or mint. - **Bedouin bread**: Flour, water and salt, baked on a domed plate over the fire. - **Koshary**: Rice, lentils, pasta and chickpeas under tomato sauce and fried onions. - **Ful medames**: Slow-cooked fava beans with oil and cumin, the standard breakfast. - **Taameya**: Egypt's falafel, made with fava beans rather than chickpeas. - **Om Ali**: Baked pastry pudding with milk, nuts and raisins, served hot. ## Sharm El Sheikh transport & airports - **Sharm El Sheikh International Airport** (SSH): About 10 to 12 km from Naama Bay, 15 to 20 minutes by car. Most hotels arrange transfers; otherwise agree the taxi fare first. - **Long-distance buses** (Coach): Go Bus and other operators run to Cairo in six to eight hours and to Dahab in under two. Check which Sharm terminal your ticket leaves from. [Go Bus](https://go-bus.com/?utm_source=wimup.com&utm_medium=referral) - **Taxis and microbuses** (Agree first): Microbuses run along Peace Road between the bays and stop when flagged. Taxis are not metered, so settle the fare before you get in. - **Dive and excursion boats** (Marina): Boats for Ras Mohammed, Tiran and the wrecks leave the town's marinas each morning. Most operators collect you from your hotel. ## Sharm El Sheikh at a glance - **Country:** Egypt - **Region:** South Sinai Governorate - **Population:** About 77,000 (2017 estimate) - **Founded:** Grew from a fishing anchorage after 1967 - **Nickname:** The City of Peace - **Language:** Arabic (English widely used in resorts) - **Currency:** Egyptian pound (EGP) - **Time zone:** UTC+2 (EET), UTC+3 in summer - **Calling code:** +20 (area code 69) - **Airports:** Sharm El Sheikh International (SSH) - **Power:** 220V, plug types C and F - **Emergency:** 122 police, 123 ambulance, 180 fire, 126 tourist police ## Interesting facts - Israel held Sharm from 1967 to 1982 and built a settlement here called Ofira. - The airport began as an Israeli air force base, opened in 1968. - Ras Mohammed was declared in 1983, the first of Egypt's protected areas. - The Yolanda ran aground at Ras Mohammed in 1980 carrying a cargo of toilets and bathtubs. - The city hosted COP27, the UN climate conference, in November 2022. ## Sharm El Sheikh travel FAQ ### Is Sharm El Sheikh worth visiting? For the sea, yes. Ras Mohammed and the Straits of Tiran are some of the best reefs in the Red Sea, and both are a short boat ride from the hotels. The town itself is resorts and two evening districts, Naama Bay and the Old Market. ### When is the best time to visit Sharm El Sheikh? March to May and October to November. The sea is warm and the days are hot but not punishing. July and August run past 35°C, and winter evenings are cool enough for a jacket. ### Where should I stay in Sharm El Sheikh? Naama Bay for walking to restaurants and dive centres, Hadaba or Sharks Bay for shore reefs, Nabq Bay for quiet resorts. Nabq is far from the evening districts, so every night out means a taxi. ### Can you snorkel in Sharm El Sheikh without a boat? Yes. Ras Um Sid in Hadaba has the best shore snorkelling, and Sharks Bay and Ras Nasrani have reefs close to the beach. Many hotel beaches have their own reef with a jetty out to the drop-off. ### Can you visit Mount Sinai from Sharm El Sheikh? Yes, on an overnight tour. The monastery and the mountain are about 230 km inland. Tours leave in the evening, climb in the dark for sunrise and visit St Catherine's Monastery on the way back, except on Sundays, when it is closed. ## Nearby guides - [Hurghada](https://wimup.com/city/hurghada.md): Day trip · 10 picks - [Aqaba](https://wimup.com/city/aqaba.md): Jordan · 10 picks - [Luxor](https://wimup.com/city/luxor.md): Egypt · 10 picks - [All of Africa →](https://wimup.com/africa): 67 cities Part of the [Egypt guide](https://wimup.com/country/egypt.md) · [Africa](https://wimup.com/africa.md) ## Sources - [Sharm El Sheikh tourism board](https://www.experienceegypt.eg/en?utm_source=wimup.com&utm_medium=referral) - [Sharm El Sheikh Museum (official site)](https://egymonuments.gov.eg/museums/sharm-al-sheikh-museum/?utm_source=wimup.com&utm_medium=referral) - [Camel Bar: Camel Dive Club](https://www.cameldive.com/food-and-drinks-camel-bar-rooftop?utm_source=wimup.com&utm_medium=referral) - [Long-distance buses: Go Bus](https://go-bus.com/?utm_source=wimup.com&utm_medium=referral) - Rankings are Wimup editorial picks. Prices, durations and budgets are editorial estimates, not live quotes; check the official site before you go.