Hurghada or Sharm el Sheikh: which is better for a Red Sea escape?
With just 50 miles of glistening Red Sea waters separating them as the crow flies, it can be difficult to decide between Egypt's resort towns of Hurghada and Sharm el Sheikh.
Both started life as small fishing villages, hinting at the quality of the Red Sea's warm waters and the marine life, which can be spotted, before developing into world-renowned holiday resorts as popular with Egyptians as with Europeans, including various presidents, prime ministers and royals.
While the focus is invariably on their long list of top-quality family-friendly beaches, together Hurghada and Sharm (as almost everyone calls it) also have enough to keep those from one to one hundred smiling, making it even harder to decide between the two.
Getting there: search for great value Red Sea holidays* to both Sharm el Sheikh and Hurghada with Travel Republic.
Location, location, location
The larger and more cosmopolitan of the two, Hurghada* stretches for around 25 miles along the western shores of the Red Sea at the mouth of the Gulf of Suez.
This makes tours to the important temples of Luxor* and Karnak as well as the famed Valley of the Kings, where the tomb of Tutankhamun was discovered in 1922, an added possibility.
Close to being Egypt's easternmost point, smaller Sharm el Sheikh* sits near the southern tip of the Sinai Peninsula, where the Red Sea divides into the gulfs of Suez and Aqaba.
Although this might seem to make it the more isolated choice, both Hurghada and Sharm are served by their own international airports with direct flights from across Europe.
What might swing it for Sharm is its unique visa situation within Egypt. Most holidaymakers landing at Sharm el Sheikh International Airport can obtain a free entry permission stamp.
This lasts for 15 days for stays within Sharm and other Sinai destinations (Dahab, Nuweiba and Taba), saving the requirement to obtain a visa before arrival as is the case for holidays in Hurghada.
Best of the beaches
Their beaches are probably the main reason Hurghada and Sharm have made it onto your shortlist of holiday destinations. In truth, both offer sandy beaches with sun loungers shaded by large umbrellas echoing the sound of families enjoying themselves and the lapping of calm turquoise waters.
Hurghada's double-figure beach count comprises a mixture of public (free-to-visit) and private (pay-to-visit) sands. Many of the latter are linked to specific hotels and free for their guests while the former tend to have fewer facilities and can become more crowded, particularly on evenings and weekends.
Of them all, centrally-located Old Vic Beach takes some beating, with soft sands, water sports including windsurfing and several trustworthy restaurants and bars close by. Makadi Bay is another safe bet given its shallow, calm waters.
Sharm's version of Old Vic Beach is Na'ama Bay, whose name of 'pleasant bay' rather undersells this stunning patch of white sand a short shuttle ride from central Sharm. Slightly further south, Old Market Bay is a good option for a change of scenery and for those staying in hotels without beach access.
Time on the water
With such a range of water sports on offer, there are plenty of ways to cool off whether you opt for Hurghada or Sharm el Sheikh.
Ever-popular parasailing gives a bird's eye view of Hurghada's phenomenal coastline from above. However, many are more interested in delving down to glimpse life beneath the waves with the snorkelling and diving options available at sites including Giftun Island, Umm Gamar and Abu Ramada.
The waters of Ras Mohammed National Park and White Island around Sharm are favourite places for observing Sinai's offshore reefs with a snorkel and mask.
For a bit of holiday frivolity, banana and sofa boats also dash along the shoreline while families can pick from a number of water parks packed with jets, slides and splash zones that will keep kids entertained for hours.
Other unmissable attractions
When you need a break from the sun loungers or just fancy exploring all your chosen destination has to offer, Hurghada and Sharm won't disappoint.
Opened in 2020, Hurghada Museum is the first antiquities museum in the region, filling an obvious void with its collection of 2,000 artefacts spanning the country's thousands of years of history, from ancient Egypt to modern times.
The museum's near neighbour, Hurghada Grand Aquarium, takes you underwater without getting your feet wet. The second largest aquarium in Africa, its wow-worthy exhibits include a shark tunnel patrolled by nurse sharks among many other fish species.
Elsewhere, El Mina Mosque is open to anyone keen to discover more about the culture and architecture of the region.
Away from the beaches of Sharm, it's another kind of sand which has many holidaymakers enthralled, those of the Sinai Desert. Quad bike (ATV) tours are a great way of discovering the dunes outside the city, with a sunrise ride an unforgettable experience should Sharm's nightlife not have kept you on the dance floor until the early morning.
For souvenirs, look no further than Old Market (close to the bay of the same name), where the stalls of the Bedouin Bazaar will soon have you haggling over everything from traditionally styled ceramics to modern perfumes.
The tastiest food & drink
Hurghada's food scene has come on leaps and bounds since the early days of international tourism on Egypt's Red Sea* coast. Today, the city has a greater diversity of places to eat and drink than ever before.
Beyond the easily recognisable logos of worldwide fast-food giants are restaurants serving up cuisine from around the globe, not forgetting Egypt* itself, all within easy reach of most hotels and resorts.
And once the evening kicks in, there are also plenty of places to enjoy your favourite tipple in relaxed beachside surroundings. Alcohol is freely available despite Egypt's Islamic cultural norms.
Although Sharm has its fair share of casual eating spots, the restaurant scene is more about fine dining experiences. Understandably, given its location, fresh fish makes it onto many menus, with outdoor terraces filling up from early evening onwards.
Compare Red Sea weather
Use the graphs below to compare the weather in both destinations. Find out more about the climate in Hurghada and the climate in Sharm el Sheikh as well as conditions across the Red Sea and the wider country in our complete guide to the climate in Egypt.
Hurghada vs Sharm el Sheikh
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- Hours of sunshine
- Days with some rainfall
- Monthly rainfall
- Sea temperature
Maximum daytime temperature (°C)
Hours of sunshine per day
Days with some rainfall
Monthly rainfall (mm)
Sea temperature (°C)
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