A Digital Nomad Guide to Sharm El Sheikh

Sharm El Sheikh Visa

Tourists staying under 14 days without leaving the city (to places such as Ras Mohammed, Cairo, or Luxor) don’t need a visa. Those who plan to stay longer, or want to visit other cities can buy a visa at the airport for 25 UDS. They don’t accept credit cards so make sure you have the amount in cash. You can also pay in EGP, there’s an ATM at the airport. This is a short-term visa, allowing you to stay 30 days. It’s a sticker that you put in your passport and is then stamped. If you enter with an ID card only, you get a small yellow card to stick the visa on.

After 30 days, you can go to the visa office in Nabq, to make an extension. Take your passport with you, a copy of the first page and some pictures. There are Kodak shops in all parts of the city where you can make them for 4 USD. Depending on your nationality, you’ll get an extension of 3 or 6 months. The price for each of them is around 107 USD. You do the application and can pick up your card about 2 weeks after.

When you fail to extend your visa, you can still leave the country but you have to pay a fine at the airport. If you overstayed up to one month you pay around 100 USD, the longer you stayed, the more extra fines will be calculated. The police sometimes go to compounds to check visas, so it’s my advice not to take the risk and just get a visa extension.

Culture and Food in Sharm El Sheikh

Egyptian cuisine consists mostly of dishes with fish, chicken, or beef. As the majority of the country is Muslim, you will not see pork being served in hotel buffets or find it in regular supermarkets. There is a pork restaurant and shop, however, in Dahab Mall in Hadaba, and some restaurants have an option on their menu but often lack availability.

Some typical Egyptian dishes are:

Koshari: a dish with lentils, rice, chickpeas, and pasta. Mostly served with two types of tomato sauce: a spicy one and a softer one. On top of the dish, they put pieces of onion which are fried to a crisp. This is considered to be the national dish of Egypt and is very popular street food. It’s perfect to use up leftovers.

Kofta: a ground beef preparation that should not be absent at a barbecue. Herbs are being mixed with the meat, and it’s put on a stick, so it’s easier to grill.

Ful: is a popular dish made of fava beans. It’s spiced up with herbs such as lemon, garlic, and peppers. It’s eaten by grabbing some of the mixtures with pieces of Egyptian bread. These pieces are called ‘cat ears’ due to their shape. The dish can be served for lunch and dinner, but it’s also a popular breakfast.

Ta’ameya: is the Egyptian way to make falafel. They use fava beans instead of chickpeas.

Molokhia: is another dish that’s often referred to as the national dish of Egypt. It’s made with molokhia leaves which come from the plant ‘jute mallow’. The leaves are cooked in a broth, making it often mistaken for soup. The molokhia can be served with meat or chicken, and rice.

Mahshi: is a dish made of stuffed cabbage rolls. Inside is a mixture of ground beef, rice, tomatoes, and herbs.

Om Ali: the translation of this dish means ‘Ali’s mother’. There are several stories about the reason for this name. It’s a dessert that you could call the equivalent of Western bread pudding with soaked bread, milk, nuts, and a lot of sugar. Sometimes they add coconut and raisins.

If you’d like to get a taste of these, there is a chain of Egyptian restaurants called ‘El Masrien’ which translates to ‘the Egyptians’. There are 3 restaurants in Sharm El Sheikh and they also have a delivery service. You can have a meal here between 5 – 10 USD.

Another option for Egyptian food is Abu Ali, another chain where you’ll find fast food such as shoarma and savory crepes. The food here costs around 2.50 USD per dish. 

For fish and seafood, I can recommend Fares, they have amazing seafood soup and shrimp. There’s one in Mercato, one in Old Market and one in Genena Mall. The one in Old Market gets very busy so you’ll probably have to wait for a table. The other two locations tend to be less crowded.

In Sharm, you’ll find a variety of restaurants serving international food as well. At Mövenpick Hotel, there is a great Indian restaurant with stunning views over the sea and Naama Bay on the other side. On Soho Square, there’s a restaurant where you can choose from 4 different types of food: Egyptian, Indian, Thai, and Chinese. You can mix and match just as you like.

Sharm El Sheikh Nightlife

In the evenings, locals and tourists go out for dinner or drinks, watch a show, or go clubbing. The center of the nightlife lies in Naama Bay, but there are options in other neighborhoods as well. People in Sharm tend to stay inside in the mornings and afternoons, when it’s too hot, and come outside in the evening, after sunset. This results in very lively evenings with filled cafes and bars.

In Naama Bay, the clubs and bars are located close to each other, so it’s the perfect option in case you like to change places while going out. Hard Rock Café and Pacha are the more famous clubs hosting a few parties a week, and Buddha Bar is a restaurant that turns into a club after dinner servings. A great bar here is Camel Bar, where you can enjoy the views from a comfortable seat on the rooftop. There are also some smaller bars, where you sit on the floor and can dance to Arabic music. Still in Naama, but further away from the center there’s another club called Space. They mostly play house music.

In Hadaba, people love to visit Farsha café, or the one next to it, Sadiki which is on top of the cliffs. A club in this area is Marquee, an outdoor sushi restaurant, and club that organizes parties 3 evenings per week.

The nightlife in Nabq is located around La Strada, where there’s a second and bigger Hard Rock Café. People who prefer a more quiet evening hang around at ArabBucks where there are great cocktails on the menu.

In Montazah, there’s an outdoor center with shops, restaurants, and shows. It’s called Soho Square and opens up in the evening, around 5:00 PM, and closes around 11:30 PM. This is a very modern place which is great for a dinner or drink. There’s also a bowling alley where you pay just under 4 USD per game. There’s also a nightclub here, called Pangaea Night Club. 

Dolce Vita is a nightclub at a special location. The spacious dance floor is located in the desert, so you’ll have a party under the stars. Ask the locals what the best night to visit is because not all parties are the same.

If you’d like to see a show, you can go to Naama Bay, there is an open-air show there every evening, or to the one in Genena Mall. There is a location in Hadaba, which is called Alf Leila Wa Leila (translates to 1001 nights) where you pay entrance to watch a combination of shows. They have a belly dancer, snake show, and tanoura. Tanoura is an Egyptian folk dance, performed by a man wearing a big skirt and continuously turning around his axis. Excursion offices offer packages with transport and the option of a dinner, but you can also go by taxi and pay at the door. 

There are also a few casinos in the city, two in Naama and one in Nabq.

Things to do in Sharm El Sheikh

Sharm El Sheikh has a lot of outdoor activities to offer. There are also a few landmarks but once you’ve seen them you usually don’t go back for another visit. Luckily there are many options to visit other cities and countries from Sharm.

• Soho Square

  The first thing to visit in the city is the bigger city centers: Soho Square for more modern shopping, Naama Bay for a night out, and Old Market to see the authentic Egyptian culture. Soho and Naama are more interesting in the evening while you can visit Old Market also during the day.

• Old Market

  In the center of Old Market, you’ll immediately notice the majestic Al Sahaba Mosque. It’s the second-biggest mosque in the city and definitely worth a visit. During prayer, you’ll not be able to enter but at other times it’s open to visitors. You will have to cover your legs, and women also have to cover their shoulders and hair before going inside. There’s often a shopkeeper around that helps visitors to the correct clothing for a small tip in return.

• The Heavenly Cathedral

  Another landmark is the Coptic church which is named ‘The Heavenly Cathedral’. The inside is beautifully decorated with colored glasswork and many mural paintings. The church is open to visitors, and everyone who enters has to cover their shoulders and legs. They have clothes to cover up with available on-site.

• Tutankhamon

  Below Genena Mall, there’s a museum dedicated to Tutankhamon. The King Tut Museum is small but interesting and showcases 135 copied pieces. The museum is open in afternoons and evenings, and an entry ticket costs around 20 USD.

• Sharm El-Sheikh National Museum

  Recently, the Sharm El-Sheikh National Museum has opened, where the visitor gets an idea of ancient daily life through the more than 5000 artifacts on display. These artifacts include animal mummies, coffins, and papyrus. Tickets cost 13 USD and you pay a small extra fee in case you want to take pictures. These are the cultural and historical points of interest of the city, but there’s more to discover close by. Sharm El Sheikh has the perfect geographical location to visit other places. Luxor with its ancient temples and the Valley of Kings is only a one-hour flight away. So is Cairo, the home of the Great Pyramid of Giza, one of the wonders of the world. The archeological city of Petra in the neighboring country Jordan is definitely a must-see, and also one of the wonders of the world. The site consists of several locations, with the Treasury as the most famous one. It has an amazing facade of 45 meters high. Jerusalem is also close enough to visit. Highlights there are the birthplace of Jesus, Bethlehem, and Temple Mount. You can easily combine this with a trip to the Dead Sea. For the trips where you cross the border, it’s better to have a guide with you who can explain to you all the procedures. I, therefore, advise you to book these trips with a trustworthy excursion agency.

• The village of Dahab

  The village of Dahab is only one hour away, and a place that all people in Sharm love. Life in Sharm is already more laid-back than in the bigger cities, but the atmosphere in Dahab lifts the word “relaxing” to another level. It’s a lovely place to go snorkeling, stroll on the pathway with souvenir shops, or have a bite to eat in one of the restaurants overlooking the sea.

• Saint Catherine Monastery

  About a 4-hour drive into the desert lies the Saint Catherine Monastery, one of the oldest monasteries in the world which is still being used. On-site, there’s a small museum and a beautiful garden. Trips to the monastery are often combined with a climb of Moses Mountain. To watch the sunrise there is unforgettable. Be prepared to wake up very early to visit these places. As the monastery only opens a few hours in the morning, you have to leave early enough to be able to visit. Apart from sightseeing and visiting historical and cultural landmarks, Sharm also has a lot of activities to offer. Both the Red Sea and the Sinai Desert are close, so most activities have to do with one of those.

• Snorkeling

  Snorkeling and diving are possible almost everywhere and there are house reefs at most of the hotels. However, there are two places a bit further on the sea, which are well-known by divers and also great spots to snorkel. The first one is Ras Mohammed, the national park. The park is accessible by land, but also by sea. The second one is Tiran, a big reef on the surface of the sea recognizable by a half-sunken boat next to it. Diving schools organize trips to both locations, and there are also boat excursions for those who wish to alternate sunbathing and snorkeling.

• Seascope

  Those who can’t swim or suffer from seasickness but would still like to admire the colorful underwater world from up close can go on the Seascope. You can find them close to the harbor and buy a ticket there, or book through an agency. The yellow boats partially lie underwater and while taking a seat on one of the chairs you can look straight through the windows and see the corals and fish. The boat doesn’t leave the bay so it doesn’t rock with the movements of the waves as other boats do.

• Buggy Rides

  The most obvious desert activities are quad biking or buggy rides. These trips usually take a half-day and can be arranged at sunrise and sunset as well. Quad biking is possible at many destinations, but to do it between these bronze mountains while the sun disappears behind them, and finishing the last part in the dark is a unique experience. These trips are often combined with camel rides. It’s often possible to do one in the city as well, but the scenery at a parking area can not be compared to the one in the desert.

• Jeep Rides

  Another popular way to visit the desert is by jeep. The experienced drivers like to take you on exciting rides through the sand and even onto the mountains. There are two small canyons not too far away from where they usually make a stop and let you walk through them. There’s a bit of climbing involved, so make sure to wear comfortable shoes. Some jeep rides are organized during the evening and include a dinner under the stars. At these stargazing trips, a guide explains the universe and lets you take a look through a telescope.

• Colored Canyon

Further away in the desert are the colored canyon. It has been cut out by water and even though it’s narrow, you can still walk through it. The canyon has layers with different colors and this is where the place gets its name from.

Best Time to Visit Sharm El Sheikh

Most tourists come to Sharm El Sheikh for the weather. Although it’s an all-year-round holiday destination, people tend to overlook that there are also a few months of winter. It doesn’t get very cold, temperatures usually stay above 13 degrees Celsius during the day, but the cold, strong wind in some areas can make it feel colder than it actually is. Make sure to bring a jacket and scarf when you plan on visiting that period.

The coldest months are January and February, and the wind can make the sea quite rough. This often leads to a red flag at the resorts disappointing holidaymakers that only stay one or two weeks and come to enjoy the sea.

The hottest months are August and September, and they also have the highest humidity. Temperatures often easily reach 40 degrees Celsius and at night, they don’t decrease under the 30s. AC is a must during these months.

You will only experience two seasons in Sharm: winter and summer. Starting from April, the evenings start to become a bit warmer and the wind decreases. In November, it starts to be a bit chillier again.

It rarely rains in Sharm, but when it does, it’s all hands on deck. People tend to be very stressed, as there are no facilities in place to deal with the rainwater causing some flooding and big pools of water in the streets. Some houses and hotels suffer from leaks and suffer from water dripping inside. Luckily, the rain usually doesn’t last long. It’s not unusual to have a power and WiFi outage in some parts of the city after heavy rain.

Sharm El Sheikh for Families

Sharm El Sheikh is a suitable place for families with children. It’s a very international environment, with many couples who have different nationalities and their children growing up being multilingual. 

For daycare, you can check the Facebook page Sharm El Sheikh Kiddy Care Babysitting & Childminding. This is a group of European babysitters who offer babysitting services. For other babysitters or au pairs, you can post on sites such as Expat.com or Sharmwomen.com.

There are a few nurseries, such as Little Explorers Day Nursery in Nabq which follows Montessori education. The language used the most is English, but the toddlers are also taught Arabic. A child can attend the nursery from the age of 2 until 5. Another nursery is Bee Bright Nursery in Hay El Nour and VIP Kids Castle Nursery in Hadaba. 

There are also a few international schools in Naama and Hadaba. One is Sharm International British School and the other one is Saint Joseph’s Private Language School, a Japanese school that opened up recently.

There are several family-friendly locations such as the beaches and national parks, where kids can run and play as much as they like. Soho Square is a great option for the evening as there is a dancing fountain, which does a short show every hour. There are also a few attractions such as a 4D cinema, and bumper cars. All around the square are bronze statues. Some of them are very funny and nice for children to pose with. They organize summer camps as well, and so do most schools and nurseries for their students.

There are also several sports activities such as tennis, football, basketball, judo, and swimming. There are also two water parks, one in Nabq and one in Hadaba. Both offer entrance-only and all-inclusive tickets.

Living in Sharm El Sheikh

Sharm El Sheikh Transportation

Traffic in Sharm El Sheikh is quite unorganized. Luckily, it’s not a very big city, and not everybody owns a car, so it’s way better than the situation in Cairo. There are traffic regulations but anything is possible. You can see camels on pickup trucks, children sitting in open trunks or sticking their heads out of the sunroof, and scooters holding up to five people. 

When you plan on renting a car, you just have to be very careful while driving. Pedestrians who cross the street, sometimes cross without looking or jump partly on the street to make you slow down. Busses and taxis stop wherever they want, often cutting others off. Some people drive without lights when it’s dark, change lanes without looking, drive backward, and are either ridiculously slow or extremely fast. Nobody seems to know where the indicators are or understand the basics of how to use a roundabout. This might seem scary, but once you are driving for a few days, you get used to it. Renting a car costs around 350 USD per month. 

A tank of fuel is approximately 23 USD. There is always staff around to do it for you, so you just pull up and tell them whether you want a full tank or the amount you want in EGP. It’s common to give the men a tip of 5 EGP for their service, and if you let one clean your window you pay him the same amount. Most gas stations have credit card terminals.

There are no fixed traffic cameras but the police sometimes use portable ones. A fine is 10 USD which you have to pay on the spot. The fines don’t increase with higher speed violations, it’s a standard amount. The police also regularly set up checkpoints, where they ask to see your papers. It’s common to turn off your headlights when you approach such a checkpoint. 

If you don’t plan on renting a car and don’t want to walk, you have two options. The first one is a taxi. It’s very easy to find one in Sharm. From the moment you approach the street, they find you. You will hear the question “taxi?” every ten minutes and they will flash their lights at you or sound the horn of the car to get your attention. The blue and white cars are official taxis, and there are also regular cars. With both types, it’s best to agree on a price before you get in, so there are no surprises. The official taxis are supposed to put on the meter but often refuse or tell you it’s broken. You can always check his number on the car window and threaten with police. Turning on the meter costs 10 EGP (0.64 USD) and per kilometer, you pay an extra 5 EGP (0.32 USD). Most taxis will overcharge so make sure to check on Google Maps what the distance is and make your own calculation. If you find a decent driver, you can always ask for his number. This is also a good idea in case you live further away from the main street.

The second option is the minibus called the blue bus because of its color. They have a fixed route crossing the whole city on the main road. The price for a seat from Nabq to Hadaba, from one side of the city to the other, costs 0.38 USD. Try to have change or 5 EGP notes as the drivers often say they don’t have any. You also often have to ask for your change. It’s the cheapest way of transportation but you’ll understand why. There’s almost no space for your legs, so you’re squashed between the seats. There is no AC so in summer (the same goes for many taxis) so it gets unbearably hot and the ride usually takes double the time as with a car or taxi.

Most roads in the city are asphalted and new roads have been built over the last few years. Some unpaved roads have been changed into asphalted roads.

Fitness and Health

The people in Sharm El Sheikh like to keep fit. There are several small gyms all over the city and they are quite busy. 

People who rather work out in the open air, often wait until sunset in summer as it’s too hot during the day. These people go walking, jogging, or running in the streets.

Some gyms are mixed, while others have specific hours where only women are allowed. 

Some of them are really small, with almost no or old equipment. These locations often also don’t have AC, which makes it hard to work out during the summer. 

Some hotels offer access to their gyms for outsiders but they are rare. Domina Coral Bay is one of them and is located between Montazah and Naama. 

Behind the area of Hay El Nour is a sports center with an Olympic swimming pool. In the center is also a gym, where women can work out before 2 PM and men after. The price of 250 EGP (16 USD) per month also includes access to the pool. They also have day use for 20 EGP (1.28 USD).

In Nabq, there’s a gym in La Strada, above the Vodafone and Orange shops.

Some gyms, also offer classes such as HIIT and boxing workouts. In Soho Square is Soho Studio where they only offer classes. Each month has a new schedule and there are several classes per day. Some are mixed such as yoga, some for women only such as oriental dance, and others such as music and gymnastics are for children.

Sharm El Sheikh People

Most people in Sharm aren’t really from Sharm. As the city was constructed for tourism, there was no local population. In the last years, the population has been mostly growing with citizens of the second generation. Many people come to Sharm to work there, while they are living in Alexandria, Cairo, Luxor, or other places. Most of these people are men, the women tend to stay in the place of origin. 

People work hard in Sharm. Days of 10 to 12 hours are not rare, especially in the hotel business. Employees get about 7 days off per 21 working days. During that period, they work without a break, and in the end, they travel home for a short visit. Almost all hotels have male housekeepers. Women have jobs such as receptionists, bankers, teachers, nurses, etc.

Family is already very important in Egypt, and as people in Sharm are often far away from theirs, they find it essential to keep in touch. Younger people are often raised to show respect to their elders, and they do the same with their parents. The mother plays a very important role in Egyptian families.

It’s easy to meet up with friends in the city compared to in Belgium where plans are to be made weeks in advance and can be influenced by bad weather. In Sharm, you just call and ask if they’re free, and no later than the next day, you’ll meet. With most people being in Sharm without family, their friends almost become a substitution.

One of the first things I noticed is how friendly people are. I first arrived as a tourist, and they made me feel at home from the start. People also greet each other more than in Europe, it’s common to say “Salem Alaikum” (a greeting which means ‘peace be upon you’) when you enter a bus or want to ask something in a shop. When someone greets you with these words, you reply with “Alaikum Salem”.

The city is a safe place for tourists and women traveling on their own. People will not bother you in the streets, and there’s almost no crime. You don’t have to clamp onto your bag to shield it from pickpockets as in many busy touristic cities. The people that will speak to you while you’re walking around are taxi drivers and shopkeepers. Both are desperate to get customers and will try to get your attention. You’ll often hear questions such as “Where are you from?”, and “What’s your name?”, and once you answer, they will try to get you inside. If you don’t buy anything, they’ll not become unfriendly and you can just leave. 

In the hotels, most managers and reception staff speak English. In supermarkets and restaurants, there are always a few that speak good English, so others can call them to help you in case they don’t understand. Some people claim to speak English but only know a few words. Most drivers don’t speak English. It’s good to pick up a few words of Egyptian Arabic so you can try to express yourself in those situations. It will be easier to ask for your change back in case they don’t automatically give it to you, and tell you they don’t understand English.

Sharm El Sheikh Insurance and Medical Care

The level of medical care and supplies can’t be compared with the one in Western countries. There are some great doctors, however, and it’s not a bad idea to ask on Facebook groups such as Sharm Information for people’s experiences and opinions. The level of English spoken at the hospitals is sufficient.

There are two private and one public hospital in Sharm El Sheikh. All three are located between Hay El Nour and Hadaba, but there are ambulance points all over the city in case you live further away and would need urgent care. The private ones are Sinai Clinic and South Sinai Hospital, and the care is more expensive here. As always when staying abroad, it’s a good idea to have international insurance. The public hospital is Sharm International Hospital, also referred to as pyramids hospital because of its shape. There’s a clinic for less urgent care and an ER. There are also a few dental clinics, labs, and women’s clinics in the city. In the case of diving-related injuries, there are two decompression chambers. In case you can’t find the care you need in Sharm, you might be referred to Cairo.

Pharmacies are everywhere and are relatively cheap. A lot of medication is available without a prescription, so many tourists come to restock. El Ezaby Pharmacy is a chain with 4 locations and they deliver everything you need to your doorstep. The pharmacies are also the best places to buy mosquito repellent because they are quite aggressive. They also sell products for body care such as razors, shampoos, and hair dye.

Make sure you are fully covered by reading our full Digital Nomad Travel Insurance guide.

Jobs in Sharm El Sheikh

The main business in Sharm El Sheikh is tourism, so this is where most jobs are. The more languages you speak, the more chances you’ll have of finding a job. The places where most foreigners work are hotels, schools, and restaurants. 

The easiest way to find a job is by looking online. Many people post vacancies on the website Sharmwomen and there are many Facebook groups where you can check the posts for something suitable or make your own post where you introduce yourself. Examples of these groups are Sharm Information, Sharm El Sheikh & Egypt For Tourists, Hotels Jobs in Sharm El Sheikh, and Jobs in Sharm El Sheikh.

Salaries in Egypt aren’t very high and, as a foreigner, you can earn around 400-600 USD working as a guest relation in a hotel, depending on experience, language knowledge, and the position. This salary is already quite high and can be sufficient for one person to live in Sharm. The salary with other employers, such as restaurants and shops can be much lower, around 200 USD. Hotels also often look for animators, which earn salaries of around 300 USD. With most jobs, you get one day off per week.

The jobs in hotels often have fringe benefits, where you get meals (often in the staff cafeteria but sometimes even in the main restaurant of the hotel), and accommodation. This accommodation is most often a room in a staff house, which is very basic and needs to be shared. However, it’s a great extra in case you are living on a budget. 

To be able to work you need to have a visa. Most hotels arrange this for you. Make sure to ask when you have an interview, as the process to obtain one is not easy for foreigners and is expensive.

Check out our Digital Nomads Jobs Postings to find the best jobs available for Digital Nomads.