The sights of Sharm el-Sheikh are not only nightclubs, restaurants and bars, but also national parks, a beautiful underwater world and the Old City.
Sharm El Sheikh is the second polar resort in Egypt, located in the southeastern part of the Sinai Peninsula. More than 1 million tourists visit this place annually. Despite the relatively small age of the city, there are several interesting sights that will be of interest to many travelers.
Below you will find a list of 8 of the most interesting places to see in Sharm El Sheikh, Egypt.
Ras Mohammed National Park
Ras Mohammed is a national park in Sharm el Sheikh, known for its beautiful landscape and many natural attractions. This place is in many ways unusual because tourists can see here both the underwater world of Egypt (i.e., dive into the Red Sea), or just walk along the well-groomed paths.
Detailed information about the reserve is presented on this page.
Soho Square and the Singing Fountain
Soho is one of the central squares of Sharm el-Sheikh, famous for the abundance of glowing garlands, sculptures and a singing fountain. There are always a lot of tourists in this part of the city, but the maximum number of people comes here in the evening to enjoy the show.
Vacationers say that the Singing Fountain in Soho Square is an interesting and picturesque place, but it is no different from similar sights in other countries of the world. You shouldn’t come here specifically to watch the show. However, if you are nearby, you can have a look at the show.
Location: White Knight Sharks Bay, Sharm El Sheikh
Old market
The Old Market of Sharm El Sheikh is a shopping arcade located near the newest mosque in the city of Al-Sahab. There are a lot of people here, and most of the buyers are tourists. Locals almost never buy here because prices are above average.
In total, there are about 300 shops on the market, where you can buy:
-
- vegetables and fruits;
- spices;
- fish and seafood;
- souvenirs;
- ceramic dishes;
- jugs and candlesticks;
- hookahs;
- leather products;
- oils.
Markets in eastern countries are not only malls where you can buy something, but also places where you can relax, watch performances by artists or see trained snakes. Foreigners should come here not for shopping, but for the atmosphere and good mood.
Some helpful tips:
- Do not buy goods in shops located at the very entrance to the bazaar. The deeper the store is located in the Old City, the lower the prices will be.
- Be sure to bargain – the cost of goods is greatly overestimated here.
- Check out one of the oil and perfume shops.
Practical information:
- Working hours: from morning to midnight (each merchant works as much as he sees fit).
- Location: Sharm el-Sheikh, Sharm el-Maya area, Old City quarter.
Naama Bay
Naama Bay is a favorite vacation spot for tourists and locals alike. The area is developing rapidly, and within a few years it has developed from a small village on the seashore to the tourist center of Sharm el-Sheikh.
In fact, this is a mini-city where there is everything for a comfortable stay: a lot of shops and boutiques, cafes and restaurants with national cuisine, nightclubs and bars, hotels and guest houses. Here you can also find the best diving centers and offices of the leading travel companies in Egypt.
There are 5 beaches on the territory of Naama Bay, which are distinguished by their cleanliness and picturesque views. All of them are free – the only thing you have to pay for is renting a sun lounger or umbrella. An overview of other beaches in the resort is presented on this page.
The largest number of people go to the streets of Naama Bay in the evening to walk along the promenade and look at the evening Sharm el-Sheikh. Closer to midnight, a temporary market begins to work, where artisans sell their products: paintings, panels, figurines in the form of Egyptian pyramids and leather goods.
Read more about diving in Sharm el-Sheikh here, and on one of the best reefs in the world near the resort – in this article.
Coptic Orthodox Church
The Coptic Church is one of the original buildings, known as the only Christian temple in the city. Tourists should look at this attraction of Sharm el-Sheikh, because here guests are treated extremely favorably, and do not seek to earn more on them.
The Coptic Church is worth visiting not only for believers, but also for those who just want to learn as much as possible about this trend of Christianity.
You will find a detailed description of the temple with a photo in this article.
Mustafa Mosque
El Mustafa, one of the newest mosques that appeared on the city map in 2006, is one of the things to see in Sharm el-Sheikh on your own. The attraction is located in the northern region of Delta Sharm, so not everyone gets here.
The mosque is built in the shape of a square, and on the sides there are two carved minarets of gray marble. In the dark, the mosque is illuminated, making it look snow-white. Around the attraction there is a large park with benches, small gazebos and beautiful flower beds.
Anyone can visit El Mustafa, however, the following rules must be observed:
- The entrance is separate for men and women, and men can view the main hall, and women can view the rooms on the second floor.
- You need to take off your shoes.
- The majority of believers come to the mosque in the afternoon, so travelers are better off here in the morning – this way you will not only consider all the interior details, but also be able to take a couple of pictures.
- Remember the dress code.
With luck, a muezzin (the same as a church minister in Christianity) can take a free tour of the mosque and tell unexpected facts from the history of Islam. It is interesting that many volunteers working on the territory of this attraction of Sharm el-Sheikh in Egypt know Russian.
- Working hours: 8.00-20.00.
- Location: South Sinai governorate, Sharm el-Sheikh, Hai-en-Noor region.
Dolphin Park
Dolphina Park is one of the most famous dolphinariums in Egypt, located in the center of Sharm el-Sheikh. Performances are regularly held here, and there is also the opportunity to swim with dolphins.
Traveler reviews are conflicting. Most are delighted with the quality shows and the opportunity to take pictures with dolphins, but this establishment has several significant drawbacks.
Firstly, the water in the pool is sometimes very cold, and if you have already paid for a swim with a dolphin, your money will not be refunded. Secondly, the costumes that are issued to all visitors will have to be put on immediately after the previous person takes them off – this is not very pleasant, and, besides, putting on already wet clothes is problematic.
Thirdly, many visitors note that the declared 15 minutes of swimming with a dolphin do not correspond to reality – most of this time is spent on posing in front of the camera and filming.
Finished photos and video are paid separately. One photo costs $ 8, video recording (15 minutes) – $ 35.
Working hours: 9.00-18.00.
Price (dollars):
| Show (45 minutes) | Swimming with dolphins | Therapy | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Adults | twenty | – | – |
| Children | 10 | – | – |
| 15 minutes | – | one hundred | – |
| 30 minutes | – | 130 | 600 |
| 40 minutes | – | – | 700 |
- Location: Sharm El Sheikh, Dolphina, Nabq Bay.
- Official website: www.dolphina.net
Hollywood Sharm El Sheikh Park
Hollywood Sharm El Sheikh is a famous and once very visited amusement park in Sharm el-Sheikh, which is now going through its hard times. On the territory of the complex, there are a lot of sculptures of heroes from American films and a large number of small cafes, there are slot machines and a concert area where artists perform in the evenings.
Once the most popular club in Sharm el-Sheikh, located in the park, it has been closed for more than three years, and the flow of people is slowly but surely drying up. As for the singing fountains, now they are not turned on at full capacity, which is why a spectacular show does not work.
Travelers recommend going to Hollywood Sharm El Sheikh if you are nearby – there is no point in going to this place purposefully.
Working hours: 9.00-18.00.
- Cost: $ 6.
- Location: Peace Road, Sharm El Sheikh
- Official website: http://hollywoodsharm.com
Desert excursions
Sharm el Sheikh is surrounded by desert on all sides, and a trip to this natural area is incredibly popular. You can go on a trip on your own, but it will be much more interesting to go with a professional guide who will tell you a lot of interesting information and will not allow you to get lost.
Quad safari
One of the most sought-after desert excursions is the quad bike or buggy safari. The journey lasts only a few hours, so tourists never get tired of the heat. An approximate trip plan looks like this:
- 09.00 – boarding the bus in Sharm el-Sheikh;
- 09.40 – arrival at the base in the desert, boarding ATVs (buggies);
- 10.00 – ATV trip to the Bedouin village;
- 10.30 – breakfast in the village (tasting Bedouin tea and traditional Egyptian dishes);
- 11.00 – return to the base by ATVs;
- 12.20 – arrival in Sharm el-Sheikh.
Cost: $ 15 for ATVs and $ 35 for a buggy ride.
Discovery 4 in 1
Perhaps this is the most atmospheric and interesting excursion program that allows you to turn into Bedouins and travel on camels for the whole day.
Program:
- 7.30 – departure from Sharm el-Sheikh by minibus;
- 8.30 – arrival to the Tsvetnoy canyon, walk;
- 10.00 – arrival by minibus to the Bedouin village, rest and tasting of local varieties of tea;
- 11.00 – camel ride along the Red Sea to coral reefs;
- 11.30 – snorkeling (masks are provided);
- 13.00 – lunch;
- 14.00 – arrival in Dahab, shopping;
- 18.00 – arrival in Sharm el-Sheikh.
Cost: $ 20 for adults and $ 10 for children.
Lost land
This is one of the least known but certainly very interesting excursions from Sharm El Sheikh. Trip plan:
- 07.30 – boarding the bus (or jeep);
- 10.00 – arrival at the “Lost Land” area (this is a section of the desert located at an altitude of 1000 meters above sea level);
- 10.00-13.00 – a long walk, during which you will see stones of an unusual shape, long tunnels through the walls of the canyon, dunes and ancient rock paintings;
- 13.30 – lunch with the Bedouins;
- 14.30 – arrival in Sharm el-Sheikh.
Cost: $ 30.
Bedouin island
This is an excursion from Sharm el-Sheikh, during which you can look at the starry sky and enjoy the silence of the desert. The trip starts at 18.00 and ends at dawn:
- 18.00 – boarding the bus;
- 19.30 – arrival in the desert, stop near the base, where there is a telescope;
- 20.00 – Bedouin dinner;
- 21.00-03.00 – observation of the stars and “excursion” to the “sights” of the sky of Sharm el-Sheikh.
Please note that you must take warm clothes with you, as it is cold in the desert at night.
Cost: $ 25.
Prerequisites for all of the above excursions are the presence of:
- headdress;
- comfortable clothes and shoes;
- bathing accessories (relevant for the second excursion);
- sunscreen;
- it is recommended to bring a handkerchief with you if you are riding ATVs in the desert.
In addition to the above excursions, boat trips with a transparent bottom are very popular – so those who do not want or cannot dive into the water will be able to see all the beauties of the underwater world.
The sights of Sharm el-Sheikh are very diverse, due to which they will be of interest to different categories of tourists.
