Sharm El Sheikh (Sharm El Sheikh) Attractions and Travel Guide

Known as the pearl of Egypt Sharm El SheikhIt is a paradise for those who are interested in sea and water sports. How and when to go to Sharm El Sheikh, diving in Sharm El Sheikh, transportation to Sharm El Sheikh, places to visit in Sharm El Sheikh and much more Sharm El Sheikh travel guide I am waiting for you in this article of the nature, have a pleasant reading!

Sharm El Sheikh Travel Video

I prepared a video about our Sharm El Sheikh trip. Before reading the article to video you can take a look. If you like the video, don't forget to subscribe to my channel!

Is a Visa Required to Visit Sharm El Sheikh?

Under normal circumstances, Turkish citizens need a visa to go to Egypt. However, as of April 1, 2022, Egypt has lifted the paid visa application for Turkish Citizens for Sharm El Sheikh and Sinai Region.

Turkish Citizens; They can stay in Sharm El Sheikh for 15 days free of charge with a gate visa. The gate visa is only valid for the Sinai Region, not Sharm El Sheikh. Many beautiful places such as Sharm El-Sheikh, Taba, Dahab, Nuweiba, Saint Catherine are within the region. You can travel in these places with a gate visa for 15 days.

How to get Egypt visa? My post will definitely come in handy.

Sharm El Sheikh Transportation

You can easily reach Sharm El Sheikh with direct flights from Istanbul. It is also possible to reach Cairo by plane or bus. However, flights from Turkey to Cairo are more expensive, it is much more economical to fly directly to Sharm. Our flight was with Pegasus' Sharm plane, which departed at 00:35 at night. The flight from Istanbul to Sharm takes 2 hours and 15 minutes. There is 1 hour difference between us, Egypt is behind us.  

Where is Sharm El Sheikh, how to get there I explained all the details in my post.

The agency that organized our accommodation and diving in Sharm also arranged our airport transfer. Our group of 21 people, 1 for our luggage and 2 cars for us, we quickly reached Iber Hotel Palace, where we will stay for a week. Welcome drinks greeted us at the hotel. Even though our registration process was completed quickly, it took 04:00 for us to settle into our room. We fell asleep right away. 

In Sharm El Sheikh, you can use a taxi for urban transportation, or you can use the blue minibuses you see in the photo above. Minibuses are very cheap.

Sharm El Sheikh Attractions

Sharm El Sheikh is actually an old fishing town. Since it does not have an old culture or history, the places to visit are generally nature-oriented.

Old Market

This is the real center of Sharm. Fisherman's town was established here, and over time the region expanded thanks to hotels. They have a small bazaar here, where you can find everything from fishermen to souvenirs. Sabaha Mosque is the most remarkable structure here. Be sure to examine the stonework closely.

Ras Um Sid – Lantern District

As the name suggests, there is a lantern here. There is a diving point in the area just under the lighthouse. There are many cafes and restaurants overlooking the sea here. Farsha Cafe had been recommended a lot in this region, we couldn't find the opportunity to go. They say that you should definitely stop by for a drink at sunset.

Naama bay

Naama Bay is the liveliest area of ​​Sharm El Sheikh. There is also a port here, as it is named. There are many cafes, restaurants, souvenir shops, and diving equipment shops here. After dark in the evening, the action starts here. Frankly, I didn't like that it was overcrowded.

Sharks bay

Sharks Bay takes about half an hour by car from the old market area. This is the point where boats leave for those who want to dive or snorkel in the Tirana Islands region. However, you can only come here for swimming. I don't know how clear it is in the photo below, but there is a huge school of fish on the seashore, and there are 4-5 lionfish in the herd. This place is lined with reefs along the coastline.

Ras Mohammed National Park

We said that Sharm El Sheikh is right at the tip of the Sinai Peninsula. In fact, exactly at the edge is the Ras Mohammed National Park. There are many places to see in the national park, both underwater and on land. In the diving part, I will talk about a few diving spots in the national park. This is a vast area covered with arid soil. You can also visit the national park by land by joining daily tours. The entrance fee to the national park is 6 Usd.

Saint Catherine's Monastery and Mount Sinai

You can take a daily tour of Mount Sinai and St. Catherine's Monastery from Sharm. Hz. Mount Sinai is considered sacred in monotheistic religions, as it is the place where Moses was given 10 commandments, and the region is worth seeing both with its spiritual aspect and its geography.

I described my trip to Mount Sinai in detail. Holy Mount Sinai and St. Catherine's Monastery Tour I suggest you read my post too. I bought this tour from Dahab, it was 15 Usd.

Bedouin Village and Desert Safari Tour

While in Sharm, you can join a desert safari at sunrise or sunset in the evening. Safaris are usually made with ATVs, you can take a tea break in a Bedouin village and travel by camel. You can buy such tours for around 15 USD.

Diving in Sharm El Sheikh

10 of the 3 best diving spots in the world are located in Egypt, in the Red Sea. By staying in Sharm, it is possible to reach these diving spots for the day.

• Shark and Yolanda, Ras Mohammmed National Park
• Thistlegorm Shipwreck
• Blue Hole, Dahab 

diving equipment for beginners Check out my post too.

During our stay in Sharm, we did 5 dives for 10 days. We went to the port every day and went to a point by boat and did our dives. One of the ways to dive in this region is liveaboard diving trips with boat accommodation. You stay on the luxury boat for a week so you can do very early morning or night dives.

I list our diving spots below.

1. Ras Katy
2. Ras Ummsid (Flashlight)
3. Ras Mohammed National Park, Shark and Yolanda (we dived here 2 times)
4. Ras Mohammed National Park, Jackfish Alley 
5. Ras Mohammed National Park, Ras Za'atar 
6. Tirana Islands, Gordon Reef 
7. Tirana Islands, Jackson Reef 
8. Tirana Islands, Woodhouse Reef
9. Tirana Islands, Thomas Reef

I had the chance to see underwater in different parts of the world. In Zanzibar Island in Tanzania, in Komodo National Park in Indonesia, in sinkholes in Mexico, cage diving in South Africa, between continents in Iceland... There is no other spot where we can see such rich underwater underwater. Swimming with thousands of fish, accompanying dolphins to your boat, colorful coral reefs, and encountering sharks once in a while. Excellent experiences even for a novice diver like me.

There were also many questions about whether we would not be able to see the fish if we did not dive in Sharm. In many places, the reefs start when you go a few meters from the shore. Even with snorkeling, you can see hundreds of kinds of fish. For example, we saw our first blue-spotted stingray, our boxfish, on the reef in front of the hotel.

In addition, there are tour boats covered with glass so that you can see the undersea. I haven't tried it, but touring with them can be an interesting experience.

What to Eat and Where to Eat in Sharm El Sheikh

You can find everything about Arabic cuisine in Sharm El Sheikh. Kebabs, falafels, hummus, doner kebabs, baklava and all kinds of desserts. Mango is produced a lot in this region and it is very delicious. And, of course, dates. Fresh is eaten more than dried, and I love fresh.

One of the nice things about being by the sea is, of course, fresh fish. There are many restaurants in the old city center of Sharm El Sheikh where you can choose fresh fish and have it cooked.

There is a place called Candle in the Sharm El Sheikh Old Bazaar (old market) area. Dervish Show, music, a place where you can see the city view from above. However, their prices are quite high compared to Egypt. Beer is 6 USD for example.

Also, everybody smokes hookah in a frenzy around here. A variety of hookah tobacco is sold. Extremely fancy hookah bottles, shops everywhere.

Sharm El Sheikh Nightlife

Naama Bay is the most popular spot in Sharm El Sheikh. The heart of nightlife also beats here. You can find many international venues, from the Hard Rock Cafe to the Little Buddha.

There are also so many venues here with young men standing on tables and dancing, I have no idea what they are enjoying.

There are shows by men who look like our whirling dervishes in colorful clothes, which they call Dervish Show. I chose not to watch them because they all sounded too touristy and artificial.

Where to Stay in Sharm El Sheikh

Sharm El Sheik is one of the Egyptian tourism development projects by Hosni Mubarak. The region, which has been revitalized by diving tourism, offers many hotel options. The hotel we stayed in is in the old city center, walking distance to the market. Iber Hotel Palace was. Built in the 90's, the hotel's retro atmosphere is quite nice. It has its own beach, with free boats departing from the hotel's beach every hour, you can swim among the corals in five minutes. I can say that the general manager of the hotel, Türk, has brought the quality of our hotel to Sharm. 

Naama Bay in Sharm is also rich in shopping, dining and hotels. You can also look at that area for accommodation. 

Best Time to Visit Sharm El Sheikh?

Needless to say, the temperature increases as you get closer to the equator. If you want to plan a trip to Egypt, it should not coincide with our summer months. Although we went in September, the average temperature was 35 degrees.

The best time to go to Sharm is October-November-December, March-April-May. During these periods, the weather is suitable for us to swim in the sea. Hot but not burning. If you tell me it will be cool, you can go to Egypt and swim in the sea while we are experiencing winter. The sea water temperature will be at the levels you see in the summer in our northern Aegean. In the evenings, it is sufficient to buy a cardigan/jacket.

What to Buy in Sharm El Sheikh?

We've come this far, if you ask what to buy from Sharm El Sheikh, various Egyptian souvenirs will be waiting for you. Pharaoh or sphinx statues, scrolls, colorful lamps. Prices are completely negotiable. You can't even take a taxi without bargaining in Egypt, not shopping. So whatever you buy, don't forget to bargain to the death.

You can buy mango and lime from Egypt. Take the hardest part of the mango and keep it in your vegetable rack. Before eating, keep it outside and eat it when it is soft. I may have eaten as many mangoes as I have eaten in my entire life during my stay in Sharm.

How Much Does a 1 Week Sharm El Sheikh Trip Cost?

We had a diving-oriented holiday for 1 week in Sharm El Sheikh, the pearl of Egypt. I haven't stayed in the same place for this long and had a five-star vacation in a long time. It was a different experience for me. 

Let's look at the cost items and the total cost of a 1-week Sharm holiday together. I would like to remind you that the costs are group prices for 21 people. 

• The plane ticket I bought from Pegasus Airlines was 875 TL. Since I will give the total budget in Usd, let me convert this as well, 153 Usd. Since the Egyptian visa is problematic, flight ticket prices do not increase too much. I bought tickets in May for the trip at the beginning of September. When I checked a few weeks before I went, ticket prices were similar.
• We paid 345 TL per person, together with the agency commission, for the Egyptian visa that turned into a nightmare, ie 60 Usd. Egypt visa is very troublesome these days. We got our visa through Anemon Turizm.
• We paid a total of 7 Usd for 513 nights Iber Palace Hotel accommodation. One of the very good options to stay in Sharm area. We were very pleased with the location, the staff, the sea, the cleanliness and the food.
• We paid a total of 5 usd for 10 days 222 dives. Again, we paid 6 USD twice for the entrance to Ras Mohammed National Park, so we paid a total of 234 USD for dives.
• I bought a Vodafone line from Egypt so that I can always have internet in Egypt. 10 Usd with 12,5 Gb internet package. You can also choose Orange instead of Vodafone.
• Of course, we paid an international departure fee of 50 TL like the door: 9 Usd.
• Since our hotel is all inclusive and lunch on the boat is included in the dives, we did not spend money on eating out. We just went out and had a few drinks. It cost around 10 usd.
• We used taxis a few times for transportation. Long distance around 3 usd. It's priceless to share when it's crowded.

The total cost per person of our 1-week trip was 995 Usd. For about 5700 TL, we had a holiday in one of the most beautiful underwater diving spots in the world, I think it's not bad at all 👍

Sharm El Sheikh Airport

Sharm El Sheikh Airport is very close to the city center. You can reach places around Sharm El Sheikh for around 10 usd by taxi. Bargaining is a must here, of course.

It is a good idea to go to the airport 2 hours before your flight instead of 3 hours. Because everything works very slowly at the airport. You go through checkpoints many times, there are processes such as body search, bag control, and recording your passport numbers in a notebook over and over. This is why long queues can form at security checkpoints. Remember “this is Egypt”.

Sharm El Sheikh is a paradise for those who love sea holidays, a place that can be visited frequently if our visa problem is resolved.

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