Sharm el Sheikh in Egypt - 13 things to do

Writer: Helena Bergström

Sharm el Sheikh in Egypt is a tourist resort in the southern part of the Sinai Peninsula. It's best known for its crystal clear waters and stunning coral reefs, but you can also sunbathe and swim or experience nature, culture or history. Here are 13 things to do in Sharm el Sheikh.

Sharm el Sheikh in Egypt

Where the city of Sharm el Sheikh is today was until the 20th century just a small Bedouin village, but the clear waters of the Red Sea and the fine coral reefs began to attract divers, and after a while tourism developed. Now tourists are coming again, from Asia, Africa and around Europe.

What to do in Sharm el Sheikh?

People may go to Sharm el Sheikh mainly to enjoy the heat, as well as to sunbathe and snorkel or perhaps scuba dive, but there are also many other things to experience. Here are 13 things to see and do in Sharm el Sheikh, Egypt.

1. Sunbathing and swimming on beautiful beaches

First and foremost, of course, you can sunbathe and swim on the beautiful beaches of Sharm el Sheikh. The largest and most famous beach is perhaps Naama Bay. We also liked the nice beach at El Fanar as well as the relaxed Adrenalin Beach, where you can hang out on comfortable beach sofas or try different water sports. We also heard that there is a really good beach in the Shark's Bay.

READ MORE: 10 great beaches in Sharm el Sheikh

2. Snorkelling and diving among coral reefs

Many people travel to Egypt just to snorkel or dive, and the water in Sharm el Sheikh is truly crystal clear. Many beaches have floating docks, so you can go out and snorkel right from the shore. There are also plenty of boat trips every day, for those who want to snorkel or dive from a boat. Equipment is available for hire.

READ MORE: Snorkelling boat trip

3. Try different water sports

For those who do not want to just lie still under a parasol, but be active in the water, there are of course many different activities to choose from. For example, you can try kayaking, stand-up paddle boarding, windsurfing, banana boat, wakeboard or zipline.

4. Go on a desert safari - by quad bike or camel!

If you're looking for an exciting excursion with speed, adventure and both natural and cultural experiences, you should definitely go on a desert safari. Tours can be organised by quad bike or by camel, or a combination of both. You can also have the opportunity to meet Bedouins, bake bread the Bedouin way and have dinner while watching a dance show in the middle of the desert.

READ MORE: Desert safari by quad bike and camel

5. Enjoy a spa and Turkish bath

One of the evenings in Sharm el Sheikh we visited a spa, and it was a lovely experience. You can choose between different treatments. We chose Turkish bath (hammam) in combination with a full body massage. This meant that we started with a sauna, continued with a ”bath”, then went swimming in the pool and finally got a proper massage.

6. admire the church The heavenly Cathedral

The church in Sharm el Sheikh, The Heavenly Cathedral, is a relatively new church. This Coptic cathedral was built in 2010, and it's amazing that such a modern church is so ornate. The walls and ceiling are painted with biblical motifs and it's fascinating to walk around inside.

Although the majority of Egyptians are Muslim, there are also many Christian residents. Coptic Christians make up around 5 per cent of the population according to some sources, and more according to others.

7. See the mosques Mustafa Mosque and El Sahaba Mosque

Once you have seen the beautiful church in Sharm el Sheikh, you may want to see the beautiful mosques as well. The Mustafa Mosque is located right next to the Heavenly Cathedral and is an impressive building.

El Sahaba Mosque is located in the centre of the city and looks almost like a building from a fairy tale. You can visit the inside of this mosque if you wish, but as a woman you will need to borrow covering clothes, which you can do in a small changing room. If you haven't visited a mosque before, it can be interesting, but the building is most beautiful from the outside.

8. Stroll or shop at the Old Market

Sharm el Sheikh is a relatively new city and the closest thing to an old neighbourhood is the Old Market. Originally there was nothing but a small market here. Today you will also find the large mosque El Sahaba Mosque as well as many restaurants and small shops. Here you can shop for everything from clothes and bags to local handicrafts.

9. Experience Ras Mohammed National Park

Ras Mohammed National Park is a nice national park about 10 kilometers south of Sharm el Sheikh. The park is perhaps best known for its fantastic coral reefs, and for the diving and snorkeling that can be done here. There is also a small campsite in the national park, and those who want can spend the night in the campsite's tents.

10. Visit the bohemian city of Dahab

About 120 kilometers north of Sharm el Sheikh lies the bohemian and charming town of Dahab. The town attracts windsurfers and divers, as the winds here are good. The small tourist resort also has plenty of shops, restaurants and cafes.

11. Take an excursion to the Catherine Monastery

St Catherine's Monastery on Mount Sinai is a really old monastery with a lot of religious history. You'll find the burning bush and the place where Moses received the Ten Commandments from God. You can take a regular guided day trip here, or you can start by climbing Mount Sinai at night, and at the top you'll see an amazing sunrise.

READ MORE: Catherine's Monastery at Mount Sinai

12. eat Egyptian food

When you are in Egypt, you should of course take the opportunity to eat Egyptian good food! Many restaurants serve dips, such as hoummus and baba ganoush, before the meal along with bread. Fantastically delicious!

In Sharm el Sheikh there are also many places that serve fish and seafood, preferably grilled or in soup, such as Fares Seafood. If you want to try classic Egyptian dishes, you can visit the restaurant. Elmasria.

13. stay in a luxury hotel

Travelling to Sharm el Sheikh is relatively inexpensive, especially if you're travelling outside of the holidays and major festivals. If you want to, it can be a great opportunity to stay in a luxury hotel. There are many nice hotels, with both beautiful pool areas and nice beaches. One example is Seagull pick at Naama Bay and another example is Hyatt Regency.

READ MORE: Two good hotels in Sharm el Sheikh - in different price ranges

What else can you do in Sharm el Sheikh?

We received tips on Farsha Café located by the sea, on Umm El Sid Hill. Described by many as romantic, the café is said to be especially nice to come here at sunset.

If you have a little more time on your hands, it can be exciting to make a journey to Cairo. However, you should allow around 7 hours by bus one way, so this may be a trip best suited to those spending more than a week in Sharm el Sheikh.

Film from Sharm el Sheikh

Peter has of course, as usual, put together a film from our trip. You can check out the film from Sharm el Sheikh here:

Facts about Sharm el Sheikh in Egypt

• Country: Egypt
• Guvernement: Sina al-Janubiyya
• Population: About 73 000 (2015)
• The name of the city: Sharm el Sheikh means 'bay of the sheikh'. The city is also known as the 'City of Peace' as many peace conferences have been held here.
• Areas: Nabq, Ras Nusrani, Naama Bay, Umm Sid and Sharm El Maya

Practical information

• Currency: Egyptian Pound (GDP)
• Price mode: Cheaper than Sweden
• Time difference: +1 hour
• El: Like Sweden
• Water: Choose bottled drinking water
• Religion: Islam, a minority are Christians

Good to know before travelling

• Alcohol: Served in hotel restaurants and bars, but often not in other restaurants. Shops selling alcohol are available.
• Upholstery: There are no general rules on dress, but outside of hotel areas, women may find it helpful to cover their shoulders and knees.
• Security: It is currently considered safe to travel to the South Sinai Peninsula. The current security situation can be checked on Sweden Abroad. Read more here: Do you dare to travel to Egypt?

Climate in Sharm el Sheikh

• Climate: Subtropical desert climate with extremely low rainfall
• Winter temperature: 20-25 degrees during the day (10-12 degrees at night)
• Temperature in summer: 33-27 degrees during the day (23-25 degrees at night)
• Water temperature in winter: 21-24 degrees
• Water temperature in summer: 26-28 degrees

Travelling to Sharm el Sheik

• Flight: There are several different flights to Sharm el Sheikh, for example via Istanbul.