Beaches in Sharm el-Sheikh

Understanding what Sharm’s beaches actually are saves a significant amount of disappointment. The Red Sea coastline in South Sinai is primarily rocky reef dropping into deep, clear water — this is what makes it one of the world’s great diving destinations. It is not, by nature, a stretch of long sandy beach. The resort industry has adapted by building artificial sandy sections on top of reef platforms, creating functional beach environments that work well for sunbathing and swimming but are fundamentally different from the beaches of the Mediterranean or Caribbean.

Naama Bay Beach

The main public beach running along the Naama Bay resort strip. A sandy section backed by the hotel row; entry is free. Sun loungers and umbrellas are available from private operators on the beach at a charge. Crowded during peak season (December–January and July–August). The reef quality directly off the beach here is modest — the real diving and snorkeling is accessed by boat.

Shark’s Bay

A smaller, quieter beach section 5km north of Naama Bay. Associated with the hotels and dive clubs in that area. The reef starts close to shore and is accessible for snorkeling without a boat. Day passes to resort beach clubs here typically include sun lounger and pool access. Better for snorkeling than Naama Bay.

Coral Bay

South of Naama Bay, Coral Bay is quieter and has cleaner reef access. Accessible via a resort property or day pass arrangement. Less developed than Naama Bay and closer to what the natural coastline looks like before heavy resort construction.

Ras Um Sid

Further south on the headland, Ras Um Sid has some of the clearest water in the immediate vicinity of the town. Accessible from cliff-top restaurants and hotels in the area. The reef quality here is better than the main Naama Bay stretch.

Private Resort Beaches

Most major hotels have private beach sections for guests. Non-guests can access many of these via day passes, typically costing EGP 300–600, which usually includes a sun lounger and access to the hotel pool. For a day’s beach access without staying in a luxury hotel, this is often the cleanest and most comfortable option.

Reem Beach

About 20km north of Naama Bay, Reem Beach is accessible by organised day trip. Reportedly cleaner and less developed than the main resort beaches, with good snorkeling. This requires some organisation — a taxi or day trip booking — but is worth it for those wanting a quieter stretch of coastline.

Water Quality

The Red Sea has no rivers feeding into it, which means extremely low sedimentation and no sediment runoff. The water clarity in Sharm is exceptional — visibility at open water sites is typically 20–30 metres. Water temperature ranges from 22–24°C in winter to 27–28°C in summer. The sea is warm enough for comfortable swimming year-round without a wetsuit for surface swimmers, though divers in winter will want a 5mm wetsuit.