There is a beautiful saying I remember about coming to Dahab for the first time. “You don’t just come to Dahab. Dahab calls you.”
When I first came to Dahab, it was by chance and I had no idea what to expect. Now, three years later, I have not only fallen in love with it, but also lived there for a full year in 2024.
In this guide, I will share with you everything you need to know before your first Dahab trip. This your guide to the best accommodation, the best food, the best activities and how to contribute to the community in a meaningful way.
Key Takeaways
- Dahab is a laid-back beach town on the Sinai Peninsula, popular for diving, hiking Mount Sinai, and desert adventures.
- To get there, fly to Sharm El-Sheikh Airport and take a taxi or bus to Dahab; buses from Cairo take about 6 hours.
- Accommodation options range from affordable hostels like Rafiki to boutique hotels and desert camps.
- Top activities include scuba diving at the Blue Hole, snorkeling at Eel Garden, hiking Mount Sinai, and exploring desert canyons.
- Local dining offers diverse options from Egyptian to international cuisine, with many places affordable and welcoming to travelers.
- Key Takeaways
- An Introduction to Dahab
- How to Get to Dahab from Different Places in Egypt
- Where to Stay in Dahab: From Boutique to Independent
- Where to Eat in Dahab: From Quaint Cafés to Slow-Cooked Goodness
- What to Do in Dahab: From the Mountains to the Sea
- The Bottom Line
- Frequently Asked Questions
An Introduction to Dahab
Dahab is a small town located on the southeast coast of the Sinai Peninsula in Egypt. It sits along the Red Sea and has a population of around 15,000 people. Known for its relaxed and laid-back atmosphere, Dahab is popular with divers and travelers seeking outdoor adventures. The town is famous for its clear waters, coral reefs, and proximity to Mount Sinai. Dahab offers affordable accommodation and easy access from Sharm El-Sheikh Airport, about 90 kilometers away.
Not sure, if you want to go to Dahab? Find out whether you should go to Dahab or Hurghada.
How to Get to Dahab from Different Places in Egypt
Dahab itself doesn’t have an airport; instead you’ll have to fly into the nearest airport, Sharm El-Sheikh airport or find other ways to get there. So what’s the best way to get to this charming town on the Sinai peninsula? From Cairo to Jordan, these are the easiest and most affordable methods to get to Dahab:
From Cairo to Dahab
If you arrived to Egypt via the international airports of Cairo and Giza, there is two straightforward ways to get to Dahab from there. From Cairo you can either take a direct flight to Sharm El-Sheikh and go to Dahab from there or take a direct bus to Dahab. If you opt for the flight, jump to the next passage to earn how to get to Dahab from Sharm El-Sheikh Airport.
If you opt for the bus ride, we recommend taking a GoBus from Cairo’s central bus station at Tahrir Square. The bus station is located behind the Old Egyptian Museum just off Tahrir Square and hosts most departures of GoBus, one of Egypt’s most reliable bus companies. Ticket prices from Cairo to Dahab range from 500 EGP to 850 EGP depending on the class you choose to travel in. Available classes are Super Go, Super Go Mini and Business Class. In our experience, all classes are fine.
The bus rides from Cairo to Dahab takes about six hours with a good chance for delays at the Suez Canal. Note that, at the Suez Canal every passenger has to disembark the bus and thorough searches are conducted on the bus and the luggage. Usually, these checks are a quick affair, but during peak hours wait times at Suez can be quite long. Therefore, I recommend taking a night bus to Dahab to cross the Suez Canal in the early morning hours when it’s the calmest.
From Sharm El-Sheikh to Dahab
Whether you took a connection from one of Cairo’s airports or came directly from an overseas location, Sharm El-Sheikh host the closest airport to Dahab. From Sharm El-Sheikh Airport you can either take a taxi to Sharm El-Sheikh Bus Station or hire a driver to take you directly to Dahab. While going by bus can be a bit cheaper, there is more potential for chaos. I’ll explain both methods in more detail:
For the first option, you’ll have to take a taxi to Sharm El-Sheikh Bus Station (Royssat or Sharm Gobus Station). For this, recommend downloading InDrive and hiring a driver from there. The taxi drivers at Sharm El-Sheikh Airport tend to charge horrendous prices for short rides taking advantage of resort tourists arriving to Sharm El-Sheikh. For your InDrive, expect to pay around 250 EGP to 300 EGP. From Royssat or Sharm Gobus Station you can take a GoBus to Dahab costing you between 250 EGP and 300 EGP.
For the second option, check in Dahab’s various Facebook groups to find local providers for transfers between Sharm El-Sheikh Airport and Dahab. These transfer services are quite frequent, offering mini buses taking groups and solo travelers from Sharm El-Sheikh to Dahab. They are the least stressful and fastest option to get to Dahab, taking about an hour and dropping you closer to the center of Dahab, usually in front of the German Bakery in Mashraba. Prices for transfers start at 800 EGP to 900 EGP.
From Nuweiba to Dahab
If you are heading towards Dahab from the other side of the Sinai Peninsula, getting there is even easier. For anyone staying in one of Nuweiba’s bedouin camps, there are two quick and easy ways to get to Dahab. You can either get a taxi or transfer to Nuweiba Port and take a GoBus from there or arrange for a driver to pick you up directly from your camp.
To catch the bus in Nuweiba, arrange for a taxi to Nuweiba Port with your camp owner. From there, you will find a daily GoBus connection at 5 pm take will take you to Dahab within one to two hours. Bus tickets from Nuweiba to Dahab are currently priced at 160 EGP. For alternatives departures times, we recommend checking with other bus companies such as BlueBus or We Bus.
For a direct transfer to Dahab, I’d once again recommend checking for transfer services in one of Dahab’s many Facebook groups. There you’ll find mini bus services and private drivers offering pre-arranged transfers between Nuweiba and Dahab for 400 EGP to 500 EGP. Alternatively, you can also check for drivers through the InDrive app. Just a word of caution: Because of the longer distance drivers on InDrive will re-negotiate the ride fare even after accepting your request. Therefore, make sure that you have a clear agreement with the driver before taking the ride.
From Jordan to Dahab
Is Egypt the next leg of your longer Middle East adventure, possibly after visiting Wadi Rum? Luckily for you, it is quite a bit easier to get to Dahab from Jordan than you might be thinking. To get to Dahab from Jordan, you can either take an international flight from Amman or Aqaba to Sharm El-Sheikh or take the Aqaba Nuweiba ferry connecting the two countries across the Gulf of Aqaba. For the first option, jump back to the passage ‘From Sharm El-Sheikh to Dahab’.
If you opt for the Aqaba Nuweiba ferry, you can head straight to the AB Maritime website where ferry tickets can be purchased online. From there, head to Aqaba Port on your departure day. At Aqaba Port, you will have to pass Jordanian immigration before boarding the ferry. The ferry is known for hour-long delays, so make sure to plan flexibly. The ride itself is pretty uneventful, however. It takes about two to three hours and usually arrives to Nuweiba in the middle of the night.
Once you have arrived to Nuweiba port, you’ll have to cross Egyptian immigration. Make sure to acquire the right visa stamps before leaving the port and continue your journey to Dahab. As the ferry arrives in the middle of the night, you cannot count on buses to complete the last leg of your journey. Instead, I recommend arranging a transfer with a driver from Dahab beforehand to have a secured transport even in case of delays. For more information on how to find a transfers between Nuweiba and Dahab, jump back to the last passage.
More question about the Aqaba Nuweiba ferry? Get familiar with our in-depth guide on the ferry service between Jordan and Egypt to plan your ride.
Where to Stay in Dahab: From Boutique to Independent
Once you’ve have made your way to Dahab, it’s time to check into your accommodation and settle down. Here’s where to stay in Dahab and what to take into account when looking for a place to stay:
Staying in Hostels
As a backpacking destination, Dahab has no shortage of hostels. Dotted along the coastline you will find many hostels with many of them being centred around diving – if you didn’t know already, scuba diving is kind of the main reason people come to Dahab. Just off the beach strip, there is also some great hostel options in the second and third row of Dahab. Hostels in Dahab usually come at very affordable prices and offer great opportunities to connect with other travelers.
My personal favorite hostel in Dahab has to be Rafiki. Rafiki Hostel is not only locally-run, but also an absolute gem when it comes to connecting with other travellers and planing day trips. The hostel is located between Mashraba and Assalah, positioning it right in-between all the best diving and hangout spots of Dhabi. Its proximity to Assalah als means that you’ll be very close to Dahab’s cheapest food markets and restaurant. Moreover, there is tons of daily (and nightly) activities in the hostel, covering all of Dahab’s must-do activities from the Blue Hole to boat parties on the Red Sea.
Staying in Hotels
While Dahab has thankfully been spared by huge international hotel chains and their colossal beach hotels, there is a number of smaller, boutique-style hotels in Dahab that are definitely worth a visit. Further from the center you can even find the odd resort offering a more Sharm-like experience in Dahab. The best hotels of Dahab, however, are located on the beaches of Mashraba and Assalah.
My personal favourite hotel in Dahab is NEOM hotel on Assalah beach. NEOM hotel not only features carefully-decorated rooms with high-quality interiors, but also a large pool, a balcony, a restaurant and a ‘private’ beach. On the beach right in front of the hotel, you can find an arrangements of cushions and low tables where you can enjoy the hotels food and drinks while connecting with locals and digital nomads that like to hang out at the café to get some work done or to watch the sunset. Whether you come to NEOM for breakfast or the sunset views, it will absolutely be worth it.
Staying in Apartments
Ever since Dahab first rose to fame in the 80s, it has been defined by it s tight-knit community of Bedouins, Egyptians and internationals that often-times stayed in Dahab for a long time. Therefore, private rooms and apartments have long been the go-to for many frequent visitors to Dahab. In Dahab, the apartment market is abundant, offering affordable options to both Egyptians and foreigners. While offering more space, it needs to be said, that renting an apartment in Dhaka will also expose your more to the occasional power and water outage.
Recently, due to Dahab’s growing fame among backpackers and divers, the market for apartments in Dahab has seen an influx of investors and brokers that rent out these apartments to foreign tourists that are willing to pay a higher price tag that Egyptians cannot afford. At the same time, many of these investors do not even live in Dahab. Their tactics have already been called out by long-time residents of Dahab for being invasive and endangering the very community that makes Dahab so special. When looking for an apartment in Dahab, I urge you to take the extra minute to look for local hosts and to resist paying inflated prices.
Staying in a Camp
Just like in Nuweiba, there is also a number of camps located in and around Dahab offering a basic camping experience that allows you to save money and connect with nature at the same time. Along the Red Sea coast you can find a number of desert camps that offer cheap accommodation in tents, huts or dorms. They are often centered around diving, offering snorkeling equipment and diving courses. Some better-known camps in Dahab are Elrayga Camp, Dolphin Camp and Sindbad Camp. For a more secluded camping experience on the beach, I recommend heading out to Abu Galoum and the Blue Lagoon.
If you prefer the desert over the beach, there are also some real desert camps in the Sinai mountains just behind Dahab. For a simple desert camping in experience in the Sinai mountains, you can reach out to one of the village’s many providers of camel safaris. These will be able to take you to the best spots in the desert where you can camp right under the stars. For desert treks with overnight stays in camps, I recommend reaching out to Desert Divers Dahab.
For a more luxurious camping experience, I recommend Malakot Mountain Oasis. This camp in the Sinai Mountains offers hut-like accommodation along with a range of services such as meditations, different types of therapy, and a Mexican-style sauna (temazcal) and a pool.
Where to Eat in Dahab: From Quaint Cafés to Slow-Cooked Goodness
Thanks to its multifaceted community of Bedouins, Egyptians and foreigners, the food scene in Dahab is filled to the brim with amazing options. From traditional Bedouin food, to Egyptian food and specialties from all around the world, these are my favorite restaurants in Dahab:
The Red Cat in Lighthouse
The Red Cat is Dahab’s favorite when it comes to pizza and Russian food. Yes, you read right, Russian food. Among the many foreigners that have started calling Dahab home over the years, there is quite a few Russians and Ukrainians that have settled in the beach town. The Red Cat bares testament to this community by bringing some of the best Eastern European dishes such as Borscht and Pierogi to Dahab along with a number of other European classics such as pasta and pizza.
Shanti’s Café in Assalah
Shanti’s Café is a cool refuge from the scorching desert sun that is tucked away in one of Assalah’s many alleyways. Located just a minute off the beach, this café is a must-visit for anyone looking to have a morning coffee accompanied by a hearty breakfast in a shaded place. The menu features many hot and cold options for coffee, but the breakfast options steal the show. From Shakshouka to Smoked Salmon Benedict an d Chicken Halloumi Quesadillas, at Shanti’s you are guaranteed to start your day on the right foot.
Treats Café in Assalah
Treats Café is a quaint café on Assalah Road that stands out with its warm and from-the-heart service. The small café features a mix of coffee, freshly-baked cake and breakfast options that can very well hold their own in Dahab. But what really kept me coming back to Treats was the warm service by the owners and the staff. More than anyone else, Ehab always made us feel right at home whenever we visited, making want to come back time and time again. Treats Café is one of those places that really embody the spirit of Dahab, so make sure to have a piece of carrot cake there during your stay in Dahab. P.S. Treats Café is also a great place for digital nomads to get a few hours of work in on a hot day.
Lenopatra Café in Lighthouse
If there is one spot in Dahab we absolutely loved, it has to be Lenopatra Café in Lighthouse. Lenopatra Café is an Egyptian-German restaurant right in the middle of Dahab that fuses food, drinks, shishas and community on its roofgarden. From it’s Asian-style food (prepared by Box Meal Dahab), to its extensive alcohol-free drink menu and its high-quality shishas (the best in Dahab, I may add), Lenopatra Café doesn’t leave anything to wish. On important occasions, Lenopatra Café also streams football matches on a large screen, making for the perfect late night hangout.
Nawaem Restaurant on El-Fanar Street
Nawaem Restaurant is the first outright dinner option in my list of my favorite restaurants in Dahab. This hidden gem on El-Fanar Street stands out with carefully-crafted meals ranging from pasta dishes to slow-cooked pots and artsy interior crafted by a local artist. For a unique dinner experience in Dahab, look no further than Nawaem Restaurant. While at Nawaem’s don’t miss your chance to browse through their art gallery to pick up one or the other unique souvenir from Dahab.
ZANOOBA Slow Cooking in Lighthouse
Talking about slow-cooked goodness, there is no way around ZANOOBA Slow Cooking in Lighthouse. ZANOOBA Slow Cooking is yet another local staple that stands out with its unique dinner experience. At this restaurants meals are made to order and slow-cooked for several hours before serving. Book in advance to choose the pot of your preference and come to the restaurant from 6 pm onwards to experience some real cooking magic including not only your pot, but also a starter, a drink and a dessert – just perfect for your final night in Dahab.
The Breakfast Club Dahab on El-Fanar Street
Walking along El-Fanar Street past Nawaem Restaurant you will find yet another hidden gem that goes by the name of The Breakfast Club Dahab. At the Breakfast Club, you can enjoy a range of healthy and hearty breakfast options served with coffee, chocolate and homemade lemonades. Some of our favorites on The Breakfast Club’s menu are their sweet breakfasts, Eggs Benedict and Pancakes. Despite being called The Breakfast Club, the restaurant also offers lunch and dinner options that are also worth checking out.
Miami Seafood in Assalah
A tour through Dahab’s culinary scene wouldn’t be complete without visit to one of its many seafood restaurants. While many adorn Darwish Restaurant for its seafood, I actually preferred Miami Seafood for its chill atmosphere and more affordable prices. At Miami Seafood you can pick your fish and seafood straight out of the fridge. The fridge features various types fish, shrimps, calamaris and other seadfood served to your preference with sides of rice, bread, salads and tahini. What more could you wish for?
With this list of Dahab restaurants I only scratched the surface of the town’s food scene. Some places missing from the list are Vegan Lab, The German Bakery, Schoenemann’s, 11:11 Avenue and Tina’s Tent. It looks like I will have to write an in-depth guide on Dahab’s best restaurants soon. Stay tuned for that!
What to Do in Dahab: From the Mountains to the Sea
Before I leave you to enjoy your Dahab trip, there is one more thing left to be considered: the activities. These are some activities you cannot miss during your stay in Dahab and what you need to know before booking them:
Scuba Diving in the Red Sea
Dahab has gained worldwide fame for its marine life and coral reefs with the Red Sea being considered one of the best locations for scuba diving just after the Great Barrier Reef in Australia. If you plan to go scuba diving in Dahab, I recommend booking a diving course beforehand. If you have never scuba dived before, start off slow with an intro dive. If you have at least some diving experience, opt for a multiple-day course for a PADI diving license or a diving safari. For PADI courses and diving safaris, I recommend reaching out to Desert Divers, a locally-run diving school and hotel.
In Dahab itself, there are some great locations for shore dives. Lesser experienced divers usually start off at Lighthouse before heading on to other diving sites in and around Dahab such as Three Pools, Islands, Eel Garden, Abu Helal, The Blue Hole and Ras Abu Galoum. Note: If you are not planning to bring diving equipment, you can rent and buy it at one of the town’s dive shops.
Free Diving in the Blue Hole
More experienced divers take their stay in Dahab as a chance to venture into free diving. Free diving describes the sport diving underwater on a single breath, without any breathing equipment such as scuba tank. For free divers, Dahab is one of the world’s best location for practice and competitions with the Blue Hole in specific ranking as the best free diving site in Dahab.
The Blue Hole is a roughly 100 meters deep blue hole just off the Red Sea Coast that was first explored in the late 60s and became a prime dive site in the 80s. Besides offering an outstanding 100 meter drop, the Blue Hole is renowned for its Arch, an underwater arch at a depth of 26 meters. That being said, free diving in the Blue Hole is only recommend to experienced divers. The Blue Hole is said to have claimed the most lifes of any diving locations around the world, with official numbers surpassing 200 in recent years. For a better impression of the Blue Hole, I recommend watching ‘The Deepest Breath’.
Snorkeling at Eel Garden
For non-divers, the Lighthouse area is usually the place to go for an easy snorkeling experience. And granted, the marine life and coral walls at Lighthouse are already impressive. One time, we even encountered a dolphin right at the turn of Lighthouse. Still though, the area can be quite busy. If you are looking for a less crowded place for snorkelling in Dahab, I recommend walking 15 minutes north to Eel Garden.
The diving site Eel Garden owes its name to its population of garden eel. Garden eels are a type of eel that burrows into the sea ground in huge numbers mimicking the look of an actual garden. To get a view of the garden eels, visit the public beach in Assalah or visit one of the beach restaurants on the beach strip for a cold drink. From there, you can enter the water cautiously until the water depth increases dramatically due to an underwater cliff. From there, you can start exploring the garden eels that usually burrow at a depth of 10 meters to 25 meters. When diving along Eel Garden and Assalah Beach, make sure not to step on any corals and avoid snorkeling under windy conditions.
Hiking from St. Catherine’s Monastery to Mount Sinai
If you only have time for one hike in the Sinai Mountains during your Dahab trip, Mount Sinai is the way to go. Mount Sinai is the most famous mountain of the Sinai peninsula standing tall at 2,285 meters (or 7,497 feet). Most people know Mount Sinai under its nickname Moses Mountain that refers to the biblical story that Moses received the Ten Commandments from god on this very mountain. Nowadays hikes from Saint Catherine’s Monastery on the foot of the mountain to the chapel on the peak of Mount Sinai attract pilgrim and nature lovers alike.
To summit Mount Sinai, find a tour provider in Dahab guiding night hikes from St. Catherine’s to the summit. When choosing between providers, I recommend not only checking prices but also departure prices. Generally, I’d recommend leaving as late as possible. The hike up takes about four hours at leisurely speed. Still though, some providers start way too early for sunrise, hoping to get you to buy blankets, hot drinks and snacks for the wait. That being said, it gets very cold at the top of Mount Sinai. Bring warm clothes, a hat and gloves to keep warm and bring water and snacks.
Honorable Mentions: More Day Trips in and around Dahab
It is impossible to name all things to do in Dahab within the limitations of a single article. These are some other day trips and tours in and around Dahab that didn’t make the final cut:
- Go Quad Biking in the Desert: Looking for an adrenaline-high activity around Dahab? Quad Biking tours are regularly offered by hostels and local tour providers and a great alternatives for non-divers.
- Explore the Coloured Canyon and other Desert Sights: There is no shortage of hidden gems in the Sinai desert. Join a desert tour to see some of the desert’s wonders such as the Coloured Canyon, Wadi Arada, Double Canyon, Bier Safra, Dragon Mountain and many more.
- Visit Abu Galoum the Blue Lagoon: Hit some of the best diving sites north of Dahab. Catch a boat or taxi to Abu Galoum and head to the Blue Lagoon from there to take windsurfing lessons or to enjoy the laid back vibes of the secluded ‘lagoon’.
- Catch the Sunrise from the Sinai Mountains: Just a 30 min hike from Assalah, you can find the Small Canyon Walk. Head there an hour before sunrise to catch the fiery sun rising over the beautiful Red Sea and Saudi Arabia.
Looking for more things to do in Dahab? For even more activities in and around Dahab, visit my in-depth article on the best things to do in Dahab. (P.S. It’s still in the works.)
The Bottom Line
From encountering dolphins and turtles on snorkeling trips to watching the sun rise from the top of Mount Sinai, there is more than a few moments from my time in Dahab that felt surreal. To this day, Dahab’s calling revers in my memory, making it very clear that one day I will be back on the shores of the Red Sea. In the meantime, I hope to have made your planning for your first Dahab trip just a little easier.
Frequently Asked Questions
How many days do you need in Dahab?
Depending on your visa type, you will have a total of 14 or 30 days to spend in Egypt. Adjust the length of your stay in Dahab according to your interests – Dahab is great for outdoor activities – and your visa length. Generally though, for your first visit to Dahab, I recommend staying between one and two weeks.
Is Dahab worth visiting?
Yes, Dahab is absolutely worth visiting assuming that you know what to expect. If you are looking for worry-free resort tourism, you might prefer Hurghada or Sharm El-Sheikh. If you value diving, hiking, a vibrant community and laid-back vibes, Dahab will be your right pick.
Is it safe to travel to Dahab, Egypt right now?
Yes, traveling to Dahab on the Sinai peninsula is considered safe. Generally travelling to tourist destination in South Sinai is considered safe. For more detailed information, I recommend consulting your country’s official travel advise and booking a comprehensive travel insurance.
How expensive is it to visit Dahab?
Visiting Dahab is considered cheap in comparison to major American and European destinations. In comparison with other places in Egypt, Dahab’s prices are considered above-average. Also, housing prices have recently surged due to the influx of non-local brokers.
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