Sharm El Sheikh
Also known as ‘Sharm-Sheikh’ or ‘Sharm’, Sharm El Sheikh is on the southern tip of Egypt’s Sinai Peninsula, set on the Red Sea coast with views towards the Strait of Tiran and the mouth of the Gulf of Aqaba. Sharm El Sheikh city is divided into five centers: Nabq, Ras Nusrani, Naama Bay, Umm Sid and Sharm El Maya.
Getting to Sharm El Sheikh is easy: Sharm El Sheikh Airport is near the heart of the city, about a 15-minute drive from the airport to the city center. Transportation options from Sharm El Sheikh Airport include buses or taxis; car rentals are also available. Click here to purchase a ticket to Sharm Al Sheikh.
When to visit Sharm El Sheikh
The area’s warm climate makes Sharm El Sheikh a year-round holiday destination, with temperatures in winter an average of 21 degrees. In the summer, the air temperature is, on average, 30 degrees, but sea breezes and the Mediterranean winds relieve the muggy heat. The sea’s temperature remains fairly consistent throughout the year.
If you seek a quieter holiday in Sharm El Sheikh, the winter months are good times to visit. For diving, the optimal seasons are spring and autumn.
In Sharm El Sheikh, the Coptic Christmas, Unity Day, the Abu Simbel Festival are celebrated in January and February. The Islamic New Year is also celebrated according to the Islamic calender. In addition, camel races, Independence Day celebrations and spring festivals take place in April.
Do you need a visa to enter Sharm El Sheikh?
For travel to Egypt, a visa is required for Turkish citizens with ordinary passports. Citizens of Türkiye under the age of 20 and over the age of 45 can obtain an entry visa with a one-month residence permit at border gates.
To enter Sharm El Sheikh, Turkish citizens are given a free 15-day visa on arrival. Also, this visa is valid in Egypt South Sinai region (Sharm El Sheikh, Dahab, Nuweibaa, Taba, Saint Catherine).
Citizens of Bahrain, Hong Kong, Saudi Arabia, United Arab Emirates, Kuwait, Oman, Yemen and Macau can visit Egypt without a visa for three months.
All European Union and US citizens are given a stamp of leave for a maximum of 14 days on arrival in Sharm El Sheikh.
Russian citizens can obtain a visa on arrival.
What to eat in Sharm El Sheikh
The culinary traditions of Egypt bear influences from its neighbors in the region, Türkiye, Syria, Lebanon and Palestine, while the Greek, Persian, Ottoman and Roman empires also left a gastronomic mark on Egyptian cookery. However, the relative scarcity of Egypt’s arable land determines the basic characteristic of traditional cuisine.
One of Egypt’s most well-known dishes is koshary, a dish of rice, macaroni, and lentils with a spicy tomato sauce and a topping of chickpeas and fried onions. Mulukhiyah is a leafy green plant, prepared as a rich stew. Fattah is a celebratory dish featuring crispy flatbreads, a meat stew and rice, while ful medames is a spicy dish with fava beans. Visitors to Sharm El Sheikh will find that these dishes, along with falafel, are served in most restaurants. As well, there is plenty of seafood in Sharm El Sheikh.
To learn more about African cuisine, see African cuisine for beginners.
Places to visit in Sharm El Sheikh
Sharm El Sheikh is a lively city around the clock – and its status as a touristic center has contributed to its dynamism. With its luxurious restaurants and cafes, nightclubs, art workshops, 5-star hotels and markets, Naama Bay is considered the entertainment center of Sharm El Sheikh. For history buffs, the King Tut Museum and Sharm Papyrus Museum are popular.
Other notable points are Ras Mohammed National Park, Colorful Canyon and the Nabq Conservation Area, while the Jolanda, Jackson, Thomas and Garden Reefs are prominent diving spots. Visitors can also join excursions to Mount Sinai, along with the Companions Mosque, El-Mustafa Mosque, St. Catherine’s Monastery and the Heavenly Cathedral.
Twenty Thousand Leagues Under the Sea: Diving in Sharm El Sheikh
Sharm El Sheikh is a destination for sea sports. Boat tours, canoeing, windsurfing, kitesurfing, parasailing and snorkeling are among the most popular activities but diving draws the majority of visitors.
At the southernmost tip of the Sinai Peninsula, Ras Mohammed National Park has a unique habitat that harbors a wide variety of marine life due to strong currents – there are more than 200 corals and more than a thousand fish species. Jolanda Reef and Shark Reef are among the favorite diving spots. Sharm El Sheikh offers dozens of diving schools, so the area is a terrific place for beginner divers. Jackson Reef, Gordon Reef and Ras Bob Reef near Tiran Island are some of the most popular diving centers in Sharm El Sheikh.
In addition to plentiful underwater life, the area features SS Thistlegorm Wreck. This 180-meter-long ship, sunk in 1941 during World War II, offers a unique diving experience. At 32 meters below the surface, the shipwreck and its surrounding marine life resemble a surrealist painting.
For non-divers, snorkeling is also an option for observing the colorful depths. Just west of Naama Bay, Ras Um Sid is the most popular place for snorkeling and watching thousands of tropical fish.
Do note that it is forbidden to remove sea creatures from Sharm El Sheikh. If you plan on grabbing a coral, a fish or another denizen of the deep as a souvenir, be prepared to face consequences when departing the country.
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