Sharm El Sheikh Holidays 

Sharm El Sheikh is best for

Package Tourists: Sharm El-Sheikh is an ideal destination for those who like their holidays to be All Inclusive deals, with everything included in the price. 

Divers: The warm water of Naama Bay will tempt you to take a dip, and beneath the surface of the clear water you’ll see a colourful variety of marine life, coral reefs and wrecks. 

Adventurers: Biking across the desert, rock climbing, cave discovering and explorations under the sea are all possible.

Fast facts

Language: The official language of Egypt is Standard Arabic, and unofficially it is Egyptian Arabic. Plenty of people can speak English and French, and some can speak German.  

Currency: Egypt uses the Egyptian Pound (EGP) as its currency. 

Local Time: Egypt is in the EET zone, which means its 2 hours ahead of GMT/UK time.

Fly To: If you’re planning to spend all of your time in Sharm El-Sheikh, it's probably best to fly directly there, rather than arriving through the much larger and busier Cairo International Airport.

Flight Time From UK: A flight from London to Sharm El-Sheikh takes about 5 hours and 20 minutes.

Tourist Information: Find more info about visiting Egypt here.

Visas & Health: If your visit will be entirely within the Sinai region and not more than 14 days, you can obtain a free Sinai Visit Pass, and a visa is not necessary. Vaccinations are not essential for visiting Egypt.

Weather and climate

Temperature: The hottest months are July and August, where temperatures are in the mid 30s (°C). . Travel in spring or autumn and you’re looking at mid to high 20s (°C). 

Best time to visit Sharm El-Sheikh: The high season in July and August has an average or 13 hours of sunshine a day but the resorts are often the busiest during this period. A good time out of season is either March to May and from October to November when the resorts are quieter.

Getting Around

By Bus: You can travel in and out of Sharm El-Sheikh by intercity buses, but the journey will be long. For intercity travel it’s usually better to go by plane, or pay somebody to take you across the Red Sea by boat. 

By Taxi: If you’re using a taxi in Sharm El-Sheikh, most of the time the cost will be lower if the meter is not used.

By Hire Car: Hiring a car is only a good idea if you’re making regular long trips or visiting remote areas. If you plan to head out into the desert, spend as much as possible to get the best available luxury 4WD vehicle you can find. Even better would be to hire a local person to take you, or go with one of the many Desert Safari operators, as driving in the Sinai is a challenge best left to the locals.

By Horse: This is not really a practical means of getting around, but it can be a lot of fun. Most riders use horses for desert treks, and if you are going to do this, it's always a good investment to take a guide with you.

Events

For clubbers: Sharm El-Sheikh is a clubber’s paradise and you’ll find loads of special themed club nights in the area.  

For fans of religious history: Take a day trip out to the Greek Orthodox Monastery of St Catherine, which sits at the foot of Mount Sinai. Your hotel will have more information on booking a trip if you want to go.

For shopaholics: Sharm El-Sheikh holds its own International Festival of Shopping and Tourism every July, so get ready to indulge in some retail therapy.