Sharm El Sheikh
Weather and sea temperatures
The average annual temperature is 22ºC, but varies through the cooler months of October to April from 20 to 30ºC with July and August temperatures rising above 35ºC. On average Egypt experiences approximately 1 inch of rainfall a year,
Best time to visit
Perfect if you are looking for year round sunshine.Temperatures are cooler between October and April but can still reach 30ºC.
Explore the surroundings
Destination introduction
Sharm el Sheikh is a bustling cosmopolitan resort at the south end of Sinai Peninsula between the Gulf of Suez and Gulf of Aqaba. It offers a breath-taking mountainous backdrop, sandy beaches, crystal-clear waters and some of the world's finest coral reefs.
Sharm holiday highlights
There are many long stretches of natural sand and pebble beach along the coastline around Sharm el Sheikh, and most hotels offer access to a sandy beach.
Much of the coast near Sharm el Sheikh is rocky, however – and sometimes there are cliffs – with the coral reefs extending right into shore. Beach access is, therefore, sometimes via steps, and to protect both your feet and the valuable coral, access for swimming is usually via jetties.
Popular beaches include Sharm el Sheikh Bay, Naama Bay with its gently shelving beaches, and Sharks Bay. Nabq Bay's narrow sandy beaches and reef at the southern end soon give way to the gently sloping sands and shallow waters of the lagoon to the north.
Nightlife
There are a huge number of restaurants to choose from in Sharm el Sheikh, catering for an international clientele with a huge choice of styles: from western fast food to Lebanese and Egyptian cuisine and wonderful seafood.
Most hotels have excellent bars for you to enjoy both day and night. Hadaba and the Naama Bay area, with its bustling bazaars, are great places to go for trendy bars, restaurants, and clubs. Here you can relax with a cocktail or a shisha pipe and take in the sunset at one of the many rooftop bars.
Shopping
Shopping in Egypt is a fun and vibrant experience – be prepared to haggle though, as there are no fixed prices! The old market area of Sharm el Sheikh is a maze of genuine Arab bazaars, while the more recently developed areas of Hadaba, Naama Bay and Sharks Bay offer a contemporary experience, with their wide selection of shops, bars, restaurants and nightclubs.
Popular excursions
- Day tour to Petra – travel to Jordan and visit the famous ancient city of Petra – £245 (includes border taxes)
- Luxor day trip, by air. Visit the Karnak temple, the Valley of the Kings and Hatshepsut’s Temple – £179 per person
- Ras Mohamed national park snorkelling trip by boat – £34 per person (plus $3 National Park fee)
- Moses’ Mountain and St Catherine’s Monastery, home to the Codex Sinaticus, the earliest known Bible – £35pp
- Camel safari, with camel riding, bedouin greeting and dinner under the sunset – £35pp