By Sem Elegant Voyage | Updated: March 2026
Sharm El-Sheikh has only existed since 1968. A few huts. Then the government discovered the corals. Boom. Today ? 60,000 inhabitants. Hotels everywhere. Mythical diving. And you are hesitating: Naama Bay or Souk? All-inclusive or boutique? Diving here or elsewhere? This guide decides.
I set foot in Sharm in 2019. Three days to test. Then I came back to it. Then again. NOW ? I send dozens of French people there every month. I know where you will succeed. I know where you're going to miss. This guide answers candidly.
In 90 seconds: Naama Bay = polished tourist beaches, boutiques, chic restaurants. Souk (Old Sharm) = noisy market, grilled fish, real culture. Ras Mohammed = spectacular coral caves 20 minutes by boat. Diving costs £40-£60 per site. Your flight to Egypt takes approximately 4.5-5.5 hours from Europe. All-inclusive 5-star: £90-£140/night. Go February-March or October-November. Otherwise: punishing heat.
Naama Bay: Smooth Beaches, Oiled Tourism
Naama Bay is why people come. Fine beach. Transparent water. No dead fish. No plastic. 5-star hotels dominate the bay like white castles.
You choose a hotel. You almost never leave the property. Swimming pool in the morning. Diving in the afternoon. Dinner at the resort restaurant. So. It's effective. It's smooth. It's no surprise. For some couples, this is perfect. For curious travelers? Boring on day three.
Where to sleep in Naama Bay
The Hilton Sharks Bay rests on the front line. Private beach. £120-£150 per night in low season. In high season (February)? £220-£270. Pool entry fee included.
The Sofitel Legend Old Town is attractive if you want charm + style. £110-£130/night. Breakfast included. View of the bay from the balcony. A French woman told me: “This is where I would come back to die.” It's excessive but honest.
Insider tip: All-inclusive hotels have a price. The real cost? Overpriced alcohol at the beach (£10 a beer). Overpriced excursions. Avoid the pitfalls. Pay the “drinks included” package in advance (+£20/day, it’s worth it).
Restaurants at Naama Bay
Farsha Café sits high up. Splendid view of the bay. Hummus, falafel, grilled octopus. £10-£20 per person. The coffee tables, the cushions, the relaxed atmosphere. This is where French speakers eat when they get tired of the hotel.
Blue Beach Club: fresh fish straight from the boat. Branzin, sea bream. £10 per kilo. Grilled to order. Lemon sauce. White rice. Cold beer. £20 for two people. Reserve at 6 p.m., eat at 6:30 p.m. Otherwise complete.
Looking for a reliable all-inclusive?
Naama Bay has 20+ resorts. Which one to choose? Our local team compares real prices and verified French reviews.
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Souk (Old Sharm): Where the Real Egypt Shakes
Leave Naama Bay for the Souk. It's like going from cinema to live theater. Suddenly the noise. The sellers hail you. The smells. Grilled fish. Cumin. Mint. Cat urine (yes, really).
The market winds around three narrow streets. Crampon stalls. Chaotic displays. Silk, jewelry, spices, rotting fish. The prices displayed are lies. Negotiate. That's the game. A scarf displayed £20? Offer £10. Wait for the counterproposal. Finish at £10. You both won.
In short, the Souk is the pulsing heart. Tourists? Rare. The Egyptians? Everywhere. You eat what the Egyptians eat. At 4 p.m., in a small canteen, you devour ful medames (beans boiled in oil) with hot khobz bread. £0. Divine.
Fish Market: The Beating Heart
5am. The fishermen arrive. The nets shiver. Sea bream, mullet, barracuda. Sellers shout prices. "Fresh! Fresh! Buy now!" You point to a fish. We prepare it for you on site. Scales, viscera, head. Then it’s grilled to order.
Namely: You only pay for the fish. The local cook grills it for free if you buy bread and a drink from him. That's the arrangement. A whole sea bream = 6-£10. Bread = £0. Mango juice = £10. Breakfast for two = £10.
Where to Sleep in the Souk
3-star hotels abound. No swimming pool. No guaranteed air conditioning. But ? £20-£40/night. And the soul. Sharm Al Sheesh is tiny. Egyptian owner. Tea on arrival. Stories of Old Sharm. £30/night, breakfast included.
Are you looking for authenticity? Go to the Souk. Are you looking for rest? Naama Bay. But honestly? Do both. Three days in Naama (diving included). Two days in the Souk (real Egypt). It's the ideal balance.
Ras Mohammed: Underwater Diving Temple
Ras Mohammed is a 20-minute boat ride from Naama Bay. It is a marine national park. The corals explode in impossible colors. Electric blue. Neon yellow. Bright orange. Then the creatures emerge. Moray eels. Rays. Angelfish.
Divers love Ras Mohammed. Snorkelers too (you can go there without a bottle). Three sites dominate: Shark Reef, Yolanda Reef, and the Caves. Each offers something different.
Shark Reef: The Classic
Shark Reef. Don't panic. Sharks don't eat divers. You're just a clumsy fish to them. The reef slopes gently down. You will see (harmless) reef sharks. Also turtles. Corals on a plate. Coral gardens that undulate like green grass.
Max depth: 25 meters. Duration: 50 minutes. Price: £40 with bottle. Open-water certification required. Otherwise, go snorkeling (£20). The water is so transparent that you will see the corals without going down.
Diver advice: Arrive at the start at 7am. You dive when the water is calm. No swell. No crazy current. Afternoons? Chaotic. The waves stir up the sediment. Visibility drops.
Yolanda Reef: Spectacular Wreck
The wreck of the MS Yolanda lies 15 meters away. Cargo ship sunk in 1980. Corals coated it. Fish have colonized it. You slip between the holds. You explore the cabins. This is underwater archaeology.
Elevation difference: 30 meters. Experience required. Price: £60. An unforgettable dive. The photos are spectacular. The French love this spot.
The Caves: Secret Guardian
The Caves lie further away. Less touristy. You enter cavities. You will emerge into an underground chamber filled with air (yes, natural air bubbles). It's Jules Verne underwater.
Depth: 18-25 meters. Possible current (check with monitors). Price: £60. Only most dives here are done by experienced couples or guided groups.
Diving in Egypt: Ras Mohammed vs other spots
Ras Mohammed is spectacular. But comparable to Hurghada or Dahab. Which one to choose according to your level and your dates? Our team recommends.
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How to Reach Sharm El-Sheikh
Your flight to Egypt takes approximately 4.5 to 5.5 hours from Europe. You land at Sharm El-Sheikh airport directly, or transit through Cairo depending on your company. SEV then organizes all your domestic travel in Egypt - domestic flights Cairo-Sharm El-Sheikh, VIP transfers, and connections to Luxor, Aswan or Hurghada if you extend your stay.
Arrival generally at 10 p.m. The airport? Modern and quiet. Passage through customs: 15 minutes. Collect your luggage. Buy a visa (£20 in cash, requested on arrival or obtained online before). Then hotel transfer. Allow £20-£30 by private taxi.
Travel advice: Take out comprehensive travel insurance before departure. Visas? Not complex if you are a tourist. Passport valid for at least 6 months. Buy the visa on arrival (£20 in cash) or online before leaving. Then it's simple.
When to Go: Climate and Seasons
February-March. October-November. These two windows are perfect. Temperature: 25-28°C. Sea water: 23-24°C. Sun without burning. Suddenly, all the hotels are full. Prices are exploding.
May-September? Stuffy. 35-40°C in the shade. The water also heats up. It's humid. Annoying. Travelers who go there in July return exhausted. They curse.
January ? Cool (20-23°C). Some people love it. Others find the sea “cold for diving”. It's relative. You decide.
Extra Day: Dahab Excursion
Do you have 6-7 days in Sharm? Dedicate one to Dahab. It's 80 km north. Spectacular coastal route. You drive 1h30. Suddenly the landscape changes. Dahab is quiet. Backpacker vibe. Fine sand beaches.
There, the Blue Hole awaits you. It is a fascinating underwater sinkhole. Explore the Three Pools. Eat grilled fish by the water. Return to Sharm at 5 p.m. Day rates: £50-£60 for an organized tour. You can rent a car (£30/day) and go there alone.
Or combine the two into a broader journey. Our guide Dahab explains why it's different from Sharm. Quite simply: Sharm = luxury, Dahab = soul.
Planning a complete Sharm + Dahab package?
We often configure combined stays: three days diving in Sharm, two days relaxing in Dahab. A rare balance. Local stay budget: £540-£920/person for 5 nights, excluding your flight to Egypt.
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Sharm Budget Recap 2026
| Element | Low Budget (EUR) | Average Budget | Luxury |
|---|---|---|---|
| 3-5 star hotel (5 nights) | 150 | 650 | 1200 |
| Diving (2 outings) | 0 | 140 | 160 |
| Daily meals | 35 | 75 | 120 |
| Transfers + taxis | 30 | 50 | 80 |
| Total | 215 | 915 | 1560 |
Notes: Low budget = Souk hostel, shared transport, no diving. Average budget = all-inclusive 3-stars, two diving trips. Luxury = 5-star Naama Bay, spa included. Your flight to Egypt is to be planned in addition.
Additional Resources
Before Sharm, also read:
- Complete Hurghada Guide - Detailed comparison Hurghada vs Sharm
- Best diving spots Red Sea - Top 8 sites for all levels
- When to go to Egypt - Climate month by month
- Egypt travel budget 2026 - Complete week/person calculation
- French Egypt Visa 2026 - Process on arrival
- Egypt Tour Packages - Turnkey options
- Transport Egypt: getting around - Taxis, buses, internal planes
- Nile Cruise 2026 - If you extend towards Cairo
In summary: Sharm El-Sheikh offers three experiences in one: dream beaches in Naama, vibrant culture in the Souk, legendary diving in Ras Mohammed. You can go there in quiet luxury mode. Or in adventure mode. It's your choice. February-March for prestige. October-November to avoid peaks but stay comfortable. And then? Go back to Dahab if you're looking for more soul. It's the perfect complement.