Sharm El-Sheikhشرم الشيخ

At the heart of Sharm's social life is Naama Bay, a vibrant promenade of restaurants, shops, dive clubs, and nightlife curving along the shore. Nearby, SOHO Square dazzles with its dancing fountains and entertainment, while the Old Market (Old Town) offers a more traditional Egyptian bazaar for spices, souvenirs, and bargaining, and the beautiful Al Sahaba Mosque showcases striking Islamic architecture. With resorts to suit every budget — many fronting their own stretch of beach — and attractions for all ages, Sharm has built a reputation as a polished, easy, family-friendly getaway.

Sharm sits beside some of the most spectacular diving on Earth. The protected waters of Ras Mohammed National Park — Egypt's first marine reserve — teem with hundreds of coral species and over a thousand kinds of marine life, with famous walls like Shark Reef and Yolanda Reef. The Straits of Tiran, with their reefs of Gordon, Thomas, Woodhouse, and Jackson, draw divers hoping to glimpse sharks and manta rays, while the nearby SS Thistlegorm — a WWII shipwreck — ranks among the world's greatest wreck dives. With warm water, superb visibility, and gentle conditions, more Europeans learn to dive here than anywhere else on the planet.

You do not have to be a diver to enjoy Sharm's underwater riches. Many beaches and house reefs let you snorkel straight off the shore, drifting over coral gardens alive with brilliantly coloured fish. Boat trips run daily to Tiran Island and the reefs beyond, while the mangrove lagoons of the Nabq Protected Area offer a quieter, wilder seascape. Whether from a sun-lounger or a dive boat, the warm, clear Red Sea is the constant star of any visit.

Beyond the sea, Sharm is a springboard into the Sinai. Travellers head into the desert on jeep and camel safaris and quad-bike adventures, often ending with a Bedouin dinner under the stars. The most rewarding excursions climb to the summit of Mount Sinai for a famous sunrise, and visit St Catherine's Monastery at its base — a UNESCO World Heritage Site and one of the oldest Christian monasteries in the world. It is a fitting contrast to the resort: ancient, austere, and deeply moving.

• What it is: Egypt's most famous Red Sea resort city, known as the "City of Peace."
• Arabic name: شرم الشيخ (Sharm El-Sheikh).
• Where: the southern tip of the Sinai Peninsula, on the Red Sea.
• Hub: Naama Bay, with its promenade, resorts, dining, and nightlife.
• Diving: Ras Mohammed National Park, the Straits of Tiran, and the SS Thistlegorm wreck.
• Snorkelling: coral reefs straight off many beaches; boat trips to Tiran Island.
• Day trips: Mount Sinai at sunrise and St Catherine's Monastery (UNESCO).
• Best time: spring and autumn, though the resort is warm year-round.

Sources include Lonely Planet and various Egyptian and Red Sea travel guides. Travel details are approximate.