Things to Do in Sharm El Sheikh: Reefs, Sights and Day Trips Worth Your Time

Sharm El Sheikh sits at the southern tip of the Sinai Peninsula, between the desert mountains and the coral reefs of the Red Sea. Here is what is worth your time, with real distances and the practical details that guidebooks often skip.

In the water

Ras Mohammed National Park

Ras Mohammed is where the Gulf of Suez meets the Gulf of Aqaba, about 33 km by road from Naama Bay, roughly 30 minutes' drive. It is Egypt's oldest protected area. IUCN reports up to 90% live coral cover in places and more than 210 coral species, and turtles, dolphins and manta rays are often seen. The classic dive is a drift from Shark Reef to Yolanda Reef, where the cargo of the wrecked ship Yolanda, including its toilets and bathtubs, still lies on the shallow reef. Visitors must leave the park by sunset.

One point many visitors miss: the free Sinai entry stamp does not cover Ras Mohammed. You need a full Egyptian visa to visit it.

The Tiran reefs

Four reefs sit in the Strait of Tiran: Gordon, Thomas, Woodhouse and Jackson, named after the British map-makers who first charted them. Gordon is the closest to Sharm, marked by the old wreck of the Loullia. Boat trips visit the reefs; Tiran Island itself is a closed military zone.

The SS Thistlegorm

The Thistlegorm was a British cargo ship bombed on 6 October 1941, and 6 October 2026 marked 85 years since it sank. Its cargo of wartime motorcycles and two steam locomotives makes it one of the Red Sea's best-known wreck dives. It lies at about 32 m, so it is for qualified divers, and boat trips from Sharm can take up to 3 hours each way. Like Ras Mohammed, it needs a full visa.

Easy snorkeling and glass-bottom boats

You do not need to dive to see the reef. Shark's Bay, a short drive from Naama Bay, is known for clear water and coral close to the shore, and a glass-bottom boat lets children and non-swimmers see the coral without getting wet. Our snorkeling guide compares the best spots.

On land

Naama Bay

Naama Bay is the main tourist hub, with cafes, restaurants, hotels and shops. Its palm-lined seafront promenade runs for about 1.3 km along the beach and is lit at night, which makes it a pleasant evening walk when the heat drops.

The Old Market and Al Sahaba Mosque

The Old Market in Sharm El Maya, also called Old Sharm, is the place for spices, souvenirs and a slower pace. Its landmark is Al Sahaba Mosque, opened in March 2017, which mixes Ottoman, Fatimid and Mamluk styles and has minarets 76 m tall. It is an active mosque: visitors should cover their shoulders and arms, wear long, loose clothing and avoid prayer times.

The Heavenly Cathedral

The Heavenly Cathedral is Sharm's largest Coptic Orthodox church. It was consecrated in 2010, and its gilded, painted interior surprises many visitors.

Sharm El Sheikh Museum

Opened in late 2020, this is the first antiquities museum built in Sinai, with about 5,200 objects covering the whole span of Egyptian history. According to Egypt's Ministry of Tourism and Antiquities, a ticket for a foreign adult costs 200 Egyptian pounds, and the museum opens from 10:00 to 13:00 and from 17:00 to 23:00, with shorter hours in Ramadan.

Nabq Protected Area

North of the airport, Nabq protects desert, coral reef and mangroves that run along about 7 km of shore. It is one of the most northerly mangrove stands in the world, and a quiet contrast to the resort bays.

The desert

Desert trips by jeep, quad bike or camel are popular, especially at sunset. Choose a licensed operator and wear a helmet on a quad bike: the UK Foreign Office reports several serious quad bike accidents in resort areas.

Day trips from Sharm

• Dahab: a relaxed coastal town about 93 km away, roughly 1 hour 15 minutes by road. It is famous for its Blue Hole, a sinkhole in the reef that drops to more than 100 m.
• Mount Sinai and St Catherine's Monastery: about 208 km away, around three hours by road. Many visitors climb Mount Sinai overnight for the sunrise and then visit St Catherine's Monastery, built between 548 and 565 and part of a UNESCO World Heritage site. Our Mount Sinai guide explains the climb.
• Cairo and Luxor: Cairo is about 7 to 8 hours by road, so trips there are long or overnight. Luxor is more than 12 hours away by road, so Luxor trips go by air. You need a full visa for both.

Book with Sharm Connect

• Ras Mohammed: full-day snorkeling trip
• Tiran Island: four reefs snorkeling day
• Glass-bottom boat: 2-hour reef cruise
• Dahab day trip
• Mount Sinai overnight: sunrise at the summit
• All tours and day trips
• Airport pickup at a fixed price

Sources

• Ras Mohammed, IUCN (3 December 2018): iucn.org
• Ras Mohammed factsheet, Key Biodiversity Areas: keybiodiversityareas.org
• Ras Mohammed, Tiran and Sharm dive sites, Dive The World: dive-the-world.com
• Visa needed for Ras Mohammed and the wrecks, DIVE Magazine (8 December 2025): divemagazine.com
• SS Thistlegorm history, The Thistlegorm Project: thethistlegormproject.com
• Naama Bay promenade, Great Runs: greatruns.com
• Al Sahaba Mosque, Egyptian Streets (14 May 2022): egyptianstreets.com
• Heavenly Cathedral, World Council of Churches (17 November 2022): oikoumene.org
• Sharm El Sheikh Museum, Egypt's Ministry of Tourism and Antiquities: egymonuments.gov.eg
• Nabq Protected Area factsheet, Key Biodiversity Areas: keybiodiversityareas.org
• Quad bikes and off-road travel, UK Foreign Office (updated 4 August 2026): gov.uk
• St Catherine Area, UNESCO World Heritage List: whc.unesco.org
• Driving distances: OpenStreetMap routing (OSRM), measured from Naama Bay on 11 October 2026