Egypt · must-see
Top attractions in Sharm el-Sheikh
The most-booked attractions, monuments, and experiences in Sharm el-Sheikh, Egypt. Skip-the-line tickets, guided tours, and audio-guide options — all bookable through Expedia Attractions.
- ✓The most-booked sights and experiences in Sharm el-Sheikh
- ✓Skip-the-line tickets for the biggest draws
- ✓Guided tours and audio guides for context
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What's actually worth your time in Sharm el-Sheikh
The reef is the attraction and the rest is filler. Ras Mohammed, twelve kilometres south, puts Shark Reef and Yolanda Reef inside one drift, with the wreck's cargo of scattered bathroom fittings still lying on the sand. Tiran's Jackson and Gordon reefs are the day-boat standard. Naama Bay and SOHO Square are built environments; the Old Market at Sharm el-Maya is where local prices survive.
What first-timers get wrong in Sharm el-Sheikh
Landing at Sharm airport you can take a free Sinai-only entry permit valid fifteen days, but it does not cover Ras Mohammed or anywhere beyond South Sinai, so buy the full visa if you intend to dive there or reach Cairo. Tipping is expected at every stage and small notes are essential. Agree taxi fares before getting in, because meters are essentially unused.
What things cost in Sharm el-Sheikh
The Egyptian pound has been floated twice since 2022 and prices move accordingly, so treat any quote as current-day only. A meal in the Old Market runs a few hundred pounds against several times that inside a resort. Two-tank boat dives with equipment are usually quoted in euros or dollars rather than pounds. Ras Mohammed charges a per-person park fee plus a vehicle fee at the gate.
Sharm el-Sheikh with kids, realistically
The honest problem is the beaches. Most of Sharm's shoreline is fringing reef ending in a sharp drop, so hotels build jetties out over it and small children cannot simply wade in. Naama Bay and parts of Sharks Bay have sandy entry, which is worth confirming before booking. Reef shoes are necessary. Glass-bottom boats and the Nabq lagoons work for under-sixes.
When the weather turns in Sharm el-Sheikh
Rain is close to irrelevant here and barely falls, though flash floods do hit the inland wadis a few days a year and can close the Dahab road. The real weather problem is wind, which cancels boat trips and shuts Tiran and Ras Mohammed to day boats without warning. Fall back on the Sharm museum, SOHO Square's indoor rink, or a dive-centre theory session.
When to go to Sharm el-Sheikh
| Best months for top-attractions | Avg daily high | Rain days |
|---|---|---|
| December | 25°C / 77°F | 0 days |
| January | 22°C / 72°F | 1 days |
| February | 23°C / 73°F | 1 days |
The month to avoid is July — around 40°C (104°F) with roughly 0 rain days. Prices and crowds track the weather here: December is the sweet spot, July the month most people skip.
Pack for peak season: Summer clothes, plus one light layer for air-con and evenings, Comfortable walking shoes — every guide on this site assumes you'll use them.
Where to base yourself in Sharm el-Sheikh
- Naama Bay — Main tourist strip — restaurants, dive shops, souks, mid-range hotels.
- Sharks Bay — Higher-end resorts on the reef edge — home reef diving straight from your hotel beach.
- Nabq — Newer resort area 15 min north of the airport — quieter, larger all-inclusives.
- Old Market (Sharm el-Maya) — Original town — cheaper local restaurants, souvenir stalls, more authentic.