With its lush coral reefs, crystal clear waters and vibrant marine life, the Egyptian Red Sea is undoubtedly one of the best destinations for beach holidays and diving adventures. But where to stay?
In our Hurghada Sharm El-Sheikh comparison we will help you decide between two of Egypt’s most popular holiday destinations and why you might want to consider not going to either of the two and discover something completely new instead.
Key Takeaways
- Hurghada is a larger city with vibrant nightlife, local culture, budget-friendly options, and easy access to historical sites like Luxor and Cairo.
- Sharm El-Sheikh is a resort town known for upscale hotels, world-class diving spots, and outdoor activities like desert safaris and hiking Mount Sinai.
- Hurghada requires a tourist visa, while Sharm El-Sheikh does not if staying up to 15 days in the resort area.
- Choose Hurghada for a mix of city life and beach holiday; choose Sharm El-Sheikh for a relaxing resort stay with great diving and desert adventures.
Table of Contents
Where to Stay? The Best Resort Hotels in Hurghada and Sharm El-Sheikh
Weighing your options? These are the best all-inclusive-resorts in Hurghada and Sharm El-Sheikh:
| Hurghada | Meraki Resort | from $216 per night | For rates & availability click here. |
| Sharm El-Sheikh | Baron Palms | from $207 per night | For rates & availability click here. |
Why You Should Go to Hurghada
Hughada is one of Egypt’s most popular resort cities on the Red Seas coast. The city stretches along more than 40 kilometres of coastline encompassing several small resort towns outside of Downtown Hurghada, such as Makadi Bay, Soma Bay and El Gouna.
With its more than 250,000 total inhabitants, Hurghada is not just a resort town on the Red Sea coast, but a full-blown city with vibrant cafes and markets at day, vibrant restaurants and nightlife after dark and a diverse local community that permeates both. If you are looking to not only relax on your holiday, but also get to know Egyptian culture, Hurghada is your pick.
Hurghada can count on some great marine life off its coast, including some of the better reefs of the Red Sea, such as Giftun Island. Additionally, it is located on the Egyptian mainland, making day trips to the Pyramids of Giza, Downtown Cairo, the Valley of Kings and Luxor feasible.
Generally, Hurghada is considered a budget-conscious and family-friendly destination that strikes a great balance between relaxation, entertainment and authenticity.
Did we strike a nerve? Learn more about Hurghada’s underwater world in our Hurghada Snorkeling Guide.
Hurghada at a Glance
- Located on Egypt’s Red Sea coast with a population of around 250,000.
- Offers approximately 40 kilometers of sandy beaches and crystal clear waters.
- Known for vibrant nightlife, trendy resorts, and numerous diving schools.
- Convenient base for day trips to Luxor and Cairo.
- Requires a tourist visa costing about 25 USD, available at the airport.
Why You Should Go to Sharm El-Sheikh
Sharm El-Sheikh is a resort town on the Sinai Peninsula in Egypt that is mostly know for its bustling hotels and resort scene. In Sharm El-Sheikh, you will find plenty of high-end resorts that will pamper you throughout your stay. Beyond its resorts, Sharm El-Sheikh has fairly little to show though.
Owing to the fact that Sharm El-Sheikh mostly exists because of its hotel scene, the city itself lacks character and depth. Some notable sites in Sharm El-Sheikh include the Al-Sahaba Mosque and the viral Farsha Cafe.
Sharm El-Sheikh may lack within its city limits, it makes up for beyond them. In comparison with Hurghada, Sharm El-Sheikh has the better dive sites with Ras Mohammed National Park, Ras Um Sid and the infamous Blue Hole. Adding to that, the Sinai Desert and Mountains offer great opportunities for ATV tours, camel rides and hikes to the summit of Mount Sinai.
One detail to keep in mind with Sharm El-Sheikh is its location. Located at the southern tip of the Sinai Peninsula it’s further from Cairo than Hurghada and much further from Luxor.
On the bright side: As opposed to Hurghada, you won’t have to pay a visa fee in Sharm El-Sheikh, if you are planning to stay only on the Sinai. Peninsula for 15 days or less.
Sharm El-Sheikh at a Glance
- Located on the southern tip of Egypt’s Sinai Peninsula with a population of around 73,000.
- Renowned for world-class scuba diving and snorkeling, including Ras Muhammad National Park.
- Offers an upscale, laid-back resort atmosphere with luxury hotels, restaurants, and bars.
- No visa required for tourists staying at resorts for up to 15 days.
- Accessible via daily flights from Cairo, Luxor, and Hurghada, plus bus and ferry options.
Dahab: Why You Shouldn’t Go to Either
If we were to choose between Option A and Option B in this comparison, we would create another box and cross that one. Personally, we think that a third place beats both Hurghada and Sharm El-Sheikh when it comes to atmosphere, activities and community. And that place is no other than Dahab.
Dahab is a dusty desert town located approximately one hour north of Sharm El-Sheikh. But don’t be fooled by its proximity to Sharm El-Sheihk; the two have very little in common. Once a small Bedouin village, Dahab started rising to popularity in the 1980s because of its pristine dive sites and quickly became Egypt’s new hippie capital or, as many like to refer to it, the Goa of Egypt.
Today, Dahab is not the small town it was before, but it is still void of large multi-national hotel chains that privatise beaches and strip places of their cultural identity. Instead, it continues to be a vibrant mix of Bedouins, Egyptians and foreign nationals that flock there for its dive sites, windsurfing and ever-growing spiritual community. If you are looking for a laid-back place with a soul for your summer holiday, Dahab is your pick.
First time coming to Dahab? Find out everything you need to know before coming to Dahab for the very first time.
Where to Stay in Hurghada and Sharm El-Sheikh
Both Hurghada and Sharm El-Sheikh do not lack accommodation options. All the contrary. There are 1,000s of B&Bs, hotels and resorts in Hurghada and Sharm El-Sheikh all claiming to provide the best, most luxurious experience. But which places are actually worth going to?
These are three hotels in Sharm El-Sheikh and Hurghada at three different price points that you should consider staying at:
| Budget Hotel | Boutique-Style Resort | High-End Resort | |
| Hurghada | Diva Suites | Meraki Resort | Pickalbatros Blu Spa Resort |
| Sharm El-Sheikh | Turquoise Beach Hotel | Baron Palms | Sunrise Remal Beach Resort |
Why not Do Both? How to Get from Hurghada to Sharm El-Sheikh (and Vice Versa)
While most of you will choose to spend their Egypt trip in either of the two places, there are some solid arguments for visiting both. Are you staying in Egypt for more than two weeks or planning to do a scuba diving trip there? If yes, scrap the overthinking and simply visit both.
Getting from Hurghada to Sharm El-Sheikh (and vice versa) is fairly easy, if you use one of these methods:
- By airplane: The Egyptian carrier Air Cairo currently operates two direct flights per day from Hurghada to Sharm El-Sheikh and vice versa on Mondays and Thursdays. Additionally, EgyptAir offers some more direct flights on select weekdays. A one-way ticket on this one-hour flight will cost you as little as $50.
- By bus: Alternatively, you may choose to travel between the two cities by bus. While there are no. direct bus links between Hurghada and Sharm El-Sheikh currently, you can easily take a bus to Cairo first and then continue on to your destination. If done with GoBus, this trip would cost 800 EGP and take around 15 hours in total.
- By ferry: Additionally, we saw lots of pages online recommend to use the ferry from Hurghada to Sharm El-Sheikh. This is, however, not possible anymore. While it is true that there was a ferry service, it has been out of operations since the Covid-19 pandemic and there are no signs of t returning anytime soon. So, you’ll have to choose between the airplane and the bus.
Continuing on to Dahab? Check out our in-depth transportation guide on how to get to Dahab from Sharm El-Sheikhg Airport.
The Bottom Line
Both Hurghada and Sharm El-Sheikh have a lot going for them. And in many ways, they are even similar. Both are great destinations for all-inclusive vacations and located directly to lush coral reefs with vibrant marine life. There are, however, some differences that make it easier for you to decide where to go this summer.
On the one side, Hurghada is more oof a full-fledged city. Here, you will find the better markets, the better community and the more vibrant nightlife. Also, Hurghada has a better selection of budget hotels, while Sharm El-Sheikh shines only with upscale resorts.
On the other side, Sharm El-Sheikh might not have the cosmopolitan character of Hurghada, but it has the better outdoor activities. From diving trips to world-class locations such as Ras Mohammed National Park and hikes to Mount Sinai and Saint Catherine’s Monastery, Sharm El-Sheikh has lots to show outside of its city limits.
So, what is the right place to go for you? For a budget-conscious trip with great nightlife, choose Hurghada. For a resort holiday with thrilling day trips, choose Sharm El-Sheikh.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is Hurghada better or Sharm el Sheikh?
In many respects, Hurghada and Sharm El-Sheikh are very similar. Both are cities on the Red Sea in Egypt that primarily cater to resort tourism and boast some amazing coral reefs with lush wildlife. Generally, Hurghada is considered the more interesting city, while Sharm El-Sheikh has to more exciting activities.
How do I get from Hurghada to Sharm el Sheikh?
You can get fromm Hurghada to Sharm El-Sheikh by airplane and bus. Currently, there are direct flights operated by Air Cairo on Thursdays and Sundays. Additionally, there are some connections with EgyptAir. Bus connections between the two cities include a transfer in Cairo and take up to 15 hours.
Is Sharm el Sheikh worth visiting?
Yes, Sharm El-Sheikh is worth visiting – if a resort holiday is what you are looking for. Sharm El-Sheikh has some outstanding hotels, world-class coral reefs such as Ras Mohammed National Park and lots of desert activities such as Mount Sinai. Th city itself lacks authentic character and night life though.
Hey! We are glad you are curious about travelling the Middle East.
We are Nancy & Elias.
Over four years of backpacking and digital nomading made us fall in love with the Middle East. We have lived on the Red Sea coast in Egypt, lived in a Bedouin Camp in Jordan and travelled 6+ Middle Eastern countries overland.
As we continue to travel, we share our battle-tested travels advice on this blog, from travel reports and transfer guides to accommodation recs and saving hacks.
