Discover the relaxing area of Sharm El Sheikh amazing beaches, cafés, and top sights from SOHO Square to Naama Bay.
One of Egypt’s top holiday
destinations is Sharm el Sheikh. It is situated on the coast of the Red Sea and
the Sinai Peninsula. Hailed as the ‘City of Peace’, it has become a world-acclaimed
dive centre and the most developed of the Red Sea resorts.
Sharm el-Sheikh has many activities,
luxury accommodation and restaurants available. Most hotels and diving centres
are situated four miles (7km) from the city at Na’ama Bay where there is a wide
range of restaurants, clubs and shops that sell everything from local art and
craft, clothes and jewellery.
There are many dive sites within
reach of Sharm el Sheikh such as Ras Mohammed in the extreme southern part of
the peninsula. There are also the Straits of Tiran, wrecks and 28 sites located
along the coast that are reached by boat.
Na’ama Bay is ideal for dive classes,
and provides diving and snorkelling opportunities for all levels without having
to use a boat or car to get there. It is not all about diving and snorkelling
though. There are plenty of water-sports available should you feel like doing
more than just soaking up the sun. With a vibrant nightlife with casinos,
discos and nightclubs, there is no chance of anyone complaining of boredom.
Despite the extremely hot
temperatures, given that the sprawling sand dunes of the desert are just a
stones throw away, Sharm el Sheikh's attractions of hiking, camping and of
course unforgettable sunsets make a memorable and thoroughly enjoyable holiday
destination.
Sharm el Sheikh has two
main seasons, both of which remain dry. The winter months (November – March)
are a warm average of 23 °C. But the summer months (April – October) are hot
and humid and in August the heat can often soar to an uncomfortable 40°C.
The average monthly
temperatures are:
|
°C |
Jan |
Feb |
Mar |
Apr |
May |
Jun |
Jul |
Aug |
Sep |
Oct |
Nov |
Dec |
|
Day |
21 |
22 |
25 |
29 |
33 |
36 |
37 |
37 |
35 |
31 |
27 |
23 |
|
Night |
12 |
12 |
15 |
19 |
23 |
25 |
26 |
27 |
25 |
22 |
17 |
14 |
There is a shopping style to suit
everyone. Sharm el Sheikh offers a variety of malls and traditional souks. The
main street for shopping in Sharm is known as the "King of El Bahrain
Kingdom Street", in the heart of Na’ama Bay.
The main shopping draws
are gold and silver jewellery and semi-precious stones from Na'ama Bay or the
Old Market. Spices, glass perfume bottles, slippers, leather bags, Bedouin
embroidery and Turkish delights are also popular. Good buys include Egyptian
cotton bed linen and beach towels.
If you prefer mall
shopping, head over to Nabq Bay where the Al Khan Mall is home to 85 shops. Also
in Na’ama Bay there is the popular Na’ama
Shopping Centre and Tiran Mall, which are upmarket malls where
shop-keepers are less likely to haggle.
If that still isn’t big enough for
you, head for the Il Mercato which
has 450 shops under one roof. It boasts designer brands, big name chain stores
and exquisite boutiques.
After a day full of
activities at the beaches, the discos and the pubs are a perfect place to relax
and unwind. Many of the large five star hotels provide a variety of discos,
bars and pubs.
Na'ama Bay is the centre
of nightlife. Popular venues include the Camel Bar, The Tavern,
Pirate's Bar, Little Buddha, and the Mövenpick Beach. Clubs such as The Bus Stop and Pacha throw parties almost every night
of the year.
There is also a cinema at
The Star Hotel, Nabq Bay and, for those who enjoy a flutter, casinos – Sinai
Grand Casino and Casino Royal at Na’ama Bay.
Sharm el Sheikh’s location
makes it an ideal base to visit other historical sites in the region such as:
The tap water in Sharm el
Sheikh should not be consumed and
tourists are advised to drink only bottled water, even when cleaning your
teeth.
Avoid eating fruit and
vegetables that are unwashed, unpeeled or from stalls in the street. Dairy
products should not be consumed as milk is unpasteurised.
However hot it may get
never drink water from the Nile or bathe in it as it is host to numerous
parasites that can pierce skin.
