Sharm El Sheikh is Egypt’s most celebrated Red Sea resort, drawing millions of visitors every year from the UK, Germany, the United States, and across Europe. Nestled at the southern tip of the Sinai Peninsula, this sun-drenched destination offers far more than just beautiful beaches. From world-class diving and vibrant nightlife to dramatic desert landscapes and authentic cultural markets, the things to do in Sharm El Sheikh are as diverse as the travellers who visit.
Whether you are planning your first trip or returning for another sun-soaked holiday, this complete guide covers every experience worth having in Sharm in 2026 — along with practical tips to help you make the most of your time in one of Egypt’s most iconic destinations.
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If you’re looking for the best things to do in Sharm El Sheikh beyond the beach, you’re in the right place. According to Egypt’s official tourism portal, Sharm El Sheikh welcomes over 3 million international visitors annually, making it one of the country’s most visited destinations. The combination of year-round sunshine, world-class diving, and easy international flight connections continues to draw travellers from the UK, Germany, France, and beyond.
Top Things to Do in Sharm El Sheikh
1. Dive or Snorkel the Red Sea Reefs
Sharm El Sheikh is consistently ranked among the world’s top diving destinations. The waters around the Sinai Peninsula are home to some of the most spectacular coral reefs on earth, teeming with colourful marine life including clownfish, moray eels, sea turtles, rays, and the occasional reef shark.
Popular dive sites near Sharm include Ras Mohammed National Park, the legendary SS Thistlegorm shipwreck — one of the most famous dive sites in the world — and Shark Bay. Even if you have never dived before, beginner PADI courses are widely available in Naama Bay. For those who prefer to stay at the surface, snorkelling trips offer an equally magical way to explore the underwater world without a diving licence. The shallow reefs at Shark Bay and Nabq Bay are ideal for spotting vibrant fish just metres from the shore — making snorkelling one of the most popular things to do in Sharm El Sheikh for first-time visitors.
2. Visit Ras Mohammed National Park
One of the most rewarding things to do in Sharm El Sheikh is a trip to Ras Mohammed National Park, located just 20 kilometres south of the city centre. Established as Egypt’s first national park, Ras Mohammed is famous for its dramatic mangrove forests, crystal-clear lagoons, and some of the finest snorkelling and diving conditions in the entire Red Sea.
The park features a fascinating geological landscape shaped by volcanic and tectonic activity over millions of years, with dramatic cliff faces dropping directly into deep-blue water. Most tour operators include a park entry permit in the tour price and handle all the logistics, making it a stress-free day out from Sharm.
3. Explore Naama Bay
Naama Bay is the beating heart of Sharm El Sheikh tourist scene. Stretching along the northern coastline, this palm-lined promenade is packed with hotels, restaurants, dive centres, souvenir shops, and lively bars. During the day, the bay beach is perfect for sunbathing, swimming, and water sports including banana boats, jet skis, and parasailing.
At night, Naama Bay transforms into one of the most vibrant entertainment strips on the Red Sea coast, with music spilling out of open-air restaurants, shisha lounges glowing along the waterfront, and travellers from across the world mixing over fresh seafood and cold drinks. It is the perfect base for exploring everything Sharm has to offer.
4. Take a Desert Safari
Beyond the beach, the Sinai desert offers some of the most dramatic scenery in the Middle East — and a desert safari is one of the most exhilarating things to do in Sharm El Sheikh. Choose between a quad bike adventure, a jeep excursion, or a camel trek through the golden dunes and craggy mountain passes of inland Sinai.
Desert safari tours typically include a visit to a Bedouin camp, where you can enjoy traditional mint tea, ride a camel, and experience the extraordinary silence of the desert at night beneath a canopy of stars. Sunset safaris are particularly popular, combining golden light over the mountains with the warmth of Bedouin hospitality.
5. Explore the Old Market (El Hadaba)
For an authentic taste of Egyptian culture, the Old Market in the El Hadaba neighbourhood offers a very different experience to polished Naama Bay. Here you will find a traditional bazaar atmosphere, with stalls piled high with aromatic spices, handmade silver jewellery, leather goods, and brightly coloured souvenirs.
Practise your bargaining skills, sip freshly squeezed mango juice from a street vendor, and soak up the sights and sounds of everyday Egyptian life. The market is most lively after dark and is best reached by taxi or tuk-tuk. It is one of those things to do in Sharm El Sheikh that many visitors say stays with them long after they return home.
6. Take a Day Trip to Dahab
Just 90 kilometres north of Sharm, the laid-back seaside town of Dahab is a favourite day trip destination for travellers who want to see a different side of the Sinai. Known for its chilled cafe culture, colourful coral lagoon, and the world-famous Blue Hole dive site, Dahab offers a relaxed contrast to the resort bustle of Sharm.
The Blue Hole is a large underwater sinkhole that draws both novice snorkellers and experienced technical divers. The drive north along the Gulf of Aqaba is beautiful in itself, with turquoise water on one side and towering Sinai mountains on the other.
7. Boat Trip to Tiran Island
A full-day boat excursion to Tiran Island is among the most popular things to do in Sharm El Sheikh for families and water sports enthusiasts. Located at the mouth of the Gulf of Aqaba, the waters around Tiran are home to four pristine reef systems that rank among the Red Sea’s most biodiverse underwater environments.
Most boat trips include multiple snorkelling stops, a freshly prepared barbecue lunch on board, and plenty of time to relax on the sun deck. Dolphin sightings are common on the crossing, and the views of the Sinai Mountains reflected in the glittering water are breathtaking.
8. Watch Sunrise from Mount Sinai
One of Egypt’s most iconic spiritual experiences is the pre-dawn hike to the summit of Mount Sinai (Gebel Musa), located approximately two hours from Sharm El Sheikh by road. Most organised tours depart around midnight, allowing visitors to hike through the cool night air and reach the 2,285-metre summit in time for sunrise.
The views from the top — rolling desert mountains bathed in shades of pink, orange, and gold — are extraordinary. The main camel path makes the hike accessible to most fitness levels, though the final 750 steep stone steps to the summit require effort and determination.
9. Visit St Catherine’s Monastery
Often combined with a Mount Sinai tour, St Catherine’s Monastery is one of the oldest continuously inhabited Christian monasteries in the world, founded in the 6th century AD. The monastery houses an extraordinary library of ancient manuscripts as well as a stunning Byzantine mosaic and chapel. It sits in a dramatic desert valley and is a UNESCO World Heritage Site. Entry requires modest dress (shoulders and knees covered).
Best Time to Visit Sharm El Sheikh
The best months for things to do in Sharm El Sheikh are October through April, when daytime temperatures range from 22 to 30 degrees Celsius — ideal for sightseeing, diving, and outdoor activities. Summer months bring extreme heat but significantly lower hotel prices. For diving and snorkelling, underwater visibility is excellent year-round, with autumn offering the ideal combination of calm seas and pleasant air temperatures.
Practical Travel Tips for Sharm El Sheikh
Here are the key things to know before you explore the things to do in Sharm El Sheikh:
Visa: British, American, and most European citizens can obtain a free 15-day entry stamp at Sharm El Sheikh airport, valid for travel within the South Sinai resort area. For travel beyond this zone — including Cairo, Luxor, or Aswan — a full Egyptian tourist visa is required, available on arrival at other Egyptian airports or via the official e-visa portal.
Currency: The Egyptian Pound (EGP) is the local currency. ATMs are widely available in Naama Bay. Many shops, tour operators, and restaurants also accept US dollars and euros.
Getting Around: Taxis and tuk-tuks are the primary forms of local transport. Always agree on a fare before getting in. Most hotels run shuttle buses to Naama Bay, and licensed tour operators provide hotel pickup and drop-off as standard.
Safety: Sharm El Sheikh is a well-secured tourist destination with a long history of welcoming international visitors. Resort areas are considered safe for solo travellers, couples, and families alike.
How to Book Tours in Sharm El Sheikh
With so many remarkable things to do in Sharm El Sheikh, the most convenient way to arrange excursions is through a trusted, licensed local tour operator. Tours Egypt Sharm El Sheikh experiences are hand-picked for quality and value, with certified local guides, hotel pickup, and free cancellation on most bookings.
Planning a longer Egypt trip? Combine your Sharm holiday with a visit to ancient Luxor via a Luxor day trip from Hurghada, or explore Cairo’s iconic Pyramids and the Grand Egyptian Museum with a Cairo day tour by flight. Egypt rewards those who explore beyond the beach, and our expert local guides make every step easy.
Final Thoughts
From vibrant coral reefs and ancient desert monasteries to buzzing bazaars and golden dune adventures, the best things to do in Sharm El Sheikh offer something genuinely special for every kind of traveller. This remarkable corner of Egypt combines natural beauty, ancient history, and modern resort comfort in a way that few destinations anywhere in the world can match.
Whether you are spending a week relaxing by the Red Sea or using Sharm as a base to discover the wider wonders of the Sinai Peninsula, you will find that this iconic Egyptian resort rewards every visitor who takes the time to look beyond the pool.
