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.

Most resort beaches provide a sandy sunbathing area with loungers, then a jetty or pontoon that extends over the reef flat to a drop-off point where you can enter the water over deeper sections. Reef shoes are recommended at most beaches — the shallow sections have coral and sea urchins.

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 approximately EGP 100–200 per set as of 2026. Crowded during peak season (December–January and July–August). The reef quality directly off the beach here is modest — years of heavy tourism and boat traffic have degraded the near-shore coral. The real diving and snorkeling is accessed by boat from the marina, with half-day snorkeling trips running approximately $25–40 per person.

The Naama Bay promenade behind the beach has restaurants, cafes, and souvenir shops — it functions as Sharm’s de facto town centre. Evening activity concentrates here, making it the most convenient beach area for visitors who want dining and nightlife within walking distance.

Shark’s Bay

A smaller, quieter beach section approximately 5km north of Naama Bay. Associated with the hotels and dive clubs in that area, including the Reef Oasis and Savoy resorts. The reef starts close to shore and is accessible for snorkeling without a boat — this is the key advantage over Naama Bay. The house reef here is well-preserved and supports a range of fish species visible from the surface.

Day passes to resort beach clubs here typically cost approximately EGP 300–500 as of 2026 and include sun lounger and pool access. Better for snorkeling than Naama Bay by a considerable margin. A taxi from Naama Bay costs approximately EGP 80–120.

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. The snorkeling here is good — the reef is less disturbed than in the main bay — though access can be limited depending on which resorts control the beachfront.

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, including the Reef Oasis Blue Bay. The reef quality here is better than the main Naama Bay stretch — the wall drops off steeply, and you can see large fan corals, moray eels, and schools of reef fish within snorkeling depth.

The Il Mercato restaurant above the headland is a well-known spot for watching the sunset over the reef. Entry to the beach area below is through the restaurant or adjacent hotel properties. This is one of the more scenic spots in Sharm for an evening drink with a sea view.

Private Resort Beaches

Most major hotels have private beach sections for guests. Non-guests can access many of these via day passes, typically costing approximately EGP 300–600 as of 2026, 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.

Notable resort beaches include the Four Seasons (exclusive, guests only), the Rixos Premium (large beach, good facilities, day passes available), and the Savoy at Shark’s Bay (well-maintained house reef). Quality and crowd levels vary significantly between properties — the higher the room rate, the fewer guests per metre of beach, as a general rule.

Reem Beach

About 20km north of Naama Bay, Reem Beach is accessible by organised day trip or private taxi (approximately EGP 200–300 each way). Reportedly cleaner and less developed than the main resort beaches, with good snorkeling over relatively undisturbed reef. This requires some organisation — a taxi or day trip booking — but is worth it for those wanting a quieter stretch of coastline away from the resort zones.

Water Quality and Conditions

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 approximately 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.

Currents are generally mild in the bay areas but can be stronger at headland points like Ras Um Sid. Jellyfish are uncommon but not unheard of — the clear water makes them easy to spot.

Practical Tips

Reef shoes are essential at most Sharm beaches. The shallow reef flat between the sand and the drop-off has coral fragments, rocks, and occasional sea urchins. Decent reef shoes cost approximately EGP 100–200 from shops on the Naama Bay promenade.

Sunscreen is a consideration for reef health — mineral-based (zinc oxide) sunscreens are less damaging to coral than chemical formulations. Some dive operators request that guests avoid applying sunscreen immediately before entering the water.

For more on Sharm, see our Sharm el-Sheikh guide. For organised beach excursions and snorkelling day trips, browse Sharm tours and activities.