Red Sea
Hurghada or Sharm el-Sheikh: which suits you best?
In short: choose Hurghada for a relaxed beach finish after a tour of Egypt, because you reach it by road from Luxor in about four hours; choose Sharm el-Sheikh if diving, snorkelling on reefs such as Ras Mohammed or a visit to Mount Sinai matters most, because it lies on the Sinai Peninsula and you fly there via Cairo. Two to five nights on the Red Sea is ideal for most travellers. After a tour, many people add a few days by the sea, and the question is then Hurghada or Sharm el-Sheikh. Both offer lovely beaches, comfortable resorts and excellent snorkelling and diving, but there are a few important differences, which this guide sets out.
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Hurghada: a relaxed finish, a wide choice of resorts and an easy link with Luxor, about four hours by road.
Sharm el-Sheikh: world-class reefs, Mount Sinai and more nature under water; you fly there via Cairo.
Both combine well with a tour along the Nile.
Choose Hurghada for a relaxed finish
Hurghada is the right choice if you mainly want to relax on the beach, like a wide choice of resorts and are looking for a good base for a calm end to your trip. It is also the easier of the two to combine with a tour: from Luxor you drive there in about four hours, so you do not need another flight, and depending on the route your flight home can leave from Hurghada.
Choose Sharm el-Sheikh for diving and Mount Sinai
Sharm el-Sheikh is the right choice if you want to snorkel or dive on reefs that rank among the best in the world, would like to visit Mount Sinai, or want a little more nature and marine life. It lies on the Sinai Peninsula and has its own airport, with domestic flights from Cairo. On our tours you reach it by air, never overland.
Our advice
For most tours we recommend Hurghada as a relaxed finish, mainly because of the simple connection with Luxor. If you want to climb Mount Sinai or diving is high on your wish list, Sharm el-Sheikh is the better choice. Both are on the Red Sea coast, which is cooler and windier than Luxor and Aswan; the guide to the best time to visit Egypt gives temperatures for every month. Not sure which to pick? Tell us about your route and how many days you have, and we will help you decide as part of a tailor-made trip.
Side by side
Hurghada and Sharm el-Sheikh compared
How the two resorts compare as the finish to a tour of Egypt.
| Topic | Hurghada | Sharm el-Sheikh |
|---|---|---|
| Location | Western shore of the Red Sea | Sinai Peninsula |
| Getting there from a Nile tour | By road from Luxor, about four hours | Domestic flight from Cairo |
| Best for | A relaxed beach finish and a wide choice of resorts | Diving, snorkelling and nature |
| Under water | Beautiful coral, boat trips to islands and reefs | Beautiful coral, reefs such as Ras Mohammed |
| On land | Beach, resorts and boat trips; day trip to Luxor or desert excursions | Mount Sinai and St Catherine’s Monastery |
| Cost | Usually slightly cheaper | Usually slightly more expensive |
| Our usual advice | The default finish for most tours | When diving or Mount Sinai is the priority |
Two to five nights on the Red Sea is ideal for most travellers.
Practical
Getting there
Hurghada lies on the western shore of the Red Sea and can be reached by road from Luxor, in about four hours with a private driver. Sharm el-Sheikh lies on the Sinai Peninsula and needs a domestic flight. Both resorts have direct flights from many European airports; from North America you will usually connect somewhere on the way.
Under water
Both destinations have beautiful coral. The reefs around Sharm el-Sheikh, such as Ras Mohammed, are counted among the most beautiful in the world.
On land
From Sharm el-Sheikh you can visit Mount Sinai and St Catherine’s Monastery. Hurghada is mainly about the beach, the resorts and boat trips.
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Frequently asked questions
Hurghada or Sharm el-Sheikh: what is the difference?
The biggest difference is location and atmosphere. Hurghada lies on the western shore of the Red Sea and you reach it by road from Luxor, in about four hours; Sharm el-Sheikh lies on the Sinai Peninsula and needs a domestic flight via Cairo. Sharm el-Sheikh has the strongest reputation for diving thanks to reefs such as Ras Mohammed, while Hurghada offers a wider choice of resorts and is usually slightly cheaper. In short: Hurghada suits a relaxed beach finish to your tour, Sharm el-Sheikh suits divers and nature lovers.
Which is better, Hurghada or Sharm el-Sheikh?
That depends on what you are looking for. For beach, resorts and a relaxed finish to your tour, Hurghada is ideal. For diving, snorkelling and nature, the reefs around Sharm el-Sheikh, such as Ras Mohammed, are hard to beat.
Sharm el-Sheikh or Hurghada: which is better for diving and snorkelling?
Sharm el-Sheikh has the stronger reputation for diving, thanks to reefs such as Ras Mohammed, which are counted among the most beautiful in the world. Both destinations have beautiful coral, though, and from Hurghada you can take boat trips to islands and reefs. If you want to dive or snorkel, plan five nights rather than three.
Is Hurghada or Sharm el-Sheikh cheaper?
Hurghada is usually slightly cheaper and offers a wider choice of resorts. The exact difference depends on the resort and the time of year.
How do you combine the Red Sea with a tour of Egypt?
The most logical order is Cairo and the Nile first, then on to the Red Sea. You reach Hurghada by road from Luxor; for Sharm el-Sheikh you fly via Cairo. Our Egypt Highlights tour (10 days, from €2,195, about $2,525 or £1,910 per person sharing a double room) ends with two nights at the Red Sea, and Complete Egypt (15 days, from €2,995, about $3,445 or £2,605) with five nights by the sea. We plan the transfer so that the trip stays relaxed.
How many days on the Red Sea are ideal?
Two to five nights is ideal for most travellers. After a tour full of culture, three nights are often enough to recharge; if you want to dive or snorkel, plan five.
Can you take excursions from Hurghada?
Yes. Popular choices are boat trips to islands and reefs, a day trip to Luxor and desert excursions. We include the excursions you want in your trip proposal in advance, so that everything is planned in a logical order.
Are Hurghada and Sharm el-Sheikh safe to visit?
The current government advice for both resorts is set out, with dates, in our guide to whether Egypt is safe, which has a section on Hurghada and the Red Sea coast and one on Sharm el-Sheikh and the Sinai. Check your own government’s advice again shortly before you travel. On our tours you reach Sharm el-Sheikh by domestic flight, never overland, and excursions on the peninsula are accompanied and booked through approved operators.
Read on
Complete Egypt (15 days)
The complete private tour with culture along the Nile and a quiet finish by the sea.
Weather in Egypt
Temperatures per month for Cairo, Luxor, Hurghada, Marsa Alam and Sharm el-Sheikh, with the sea temperature.
Best time to visit Egypt
Month by month: when Cairo, Luxor, Aswan and the Red Sea are at their most comfortable.
Is Egypt safe?
An honest assessment of the current situation for culture travellers, with practical advice.
Egypt with kids
Which family tour fits, the best school holidays and how to handle sun, food and water on a private tour.
Egypt Highlights (10 days)
Private tour through Cairo, Luxor and Aswan with the great sights of ancient Egypt.
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