Where to Stay in Sharm El Sheikh: Naama Bay, Sharks Bay, Nabq or Hadaba?

Sharm El Sheikh is not one town but a chain of bays strung along roughly 30 km of the Red Sea coast, from Nabq in the north to Ras Um Sid and Old Market in the south. Hotels are spread across all of them, and the bay you choose decides whether you can walk to restaurants in the evening, whether there is a reef in front of your sunbed, and how long your transfers take.

The good news: every one of our tours includes pickup from any hotel in Sharm El Sheikh, so wherever you stay, the desert safaris and boat trips come to you.

Naama Bay: best for walking out in the evening

Naama Bay is the original heart of Sharm El Sheikh. A sandy, sheltered bay is lined with hotels, and behind it runs a pedestrian promenade full of restaurants, cafés, shops, shisha bars and dive centres.

• •Stay here if you want to step out of your hotel and walk to dinner, and you like a lively atmosphere.
• •Think twice if you want quiet nights or a coral reef straight off the beach. The bay is mostly sand, so the best snorkeling is a boat trip away.
• •Good to know: Naama is central, so transfers to the marina, the desert and the airport are short.

Sharks Bay: best for snorkeling from your hotel

North of Naama, Sharks Bay and the neighbouring bays sit on a rocky coast where the reef starts right at the water's edge. Many hotels here have jetties that take you over the shallow reef flat to the drop-off.

• •Stay here if snorkeling is the main reason for your trip and you would like to do it every day without booking anything.
• •Think twice if you need a long sandy beach for small children; the shore is often rocky and some hotels are built on cliffs with steps or lifts down to the sea.
• •Good to know: it is close to the airport and to the SOHO Square entertainment area.

Nabq Bay: best for big resorts and value

Nabq is the newest and most northerly part of Sharm. It is mostly large all-inclusive resorts with big pools and aquaparks, sandy beaches and a wide, shallow reef flat in front of the shore that you cross on a jetty. Just beyond the resorts lies the Nabq Protected Area with its mangroves.

• •Stay here if you want a resort holiday with lots of facilities, often at good prices, or if you kite or windsurf (it tends to be breezy).
• •Think twice if you plan to go out in the evening; you will need a taxi to reach Naama Bay or Old Market.

Hadaba and Ras Um Sid: best for reefs and views

In the south, the Hadaba plateau and Ras Um Sid look out over some of the best shore reefs in Sharm. Hotels here are often on top of the cliffs, with walkways or lifts down to their beaches and jetties. The area has a relaxed, residential feel, and the famous Farsha café is on the cliffs nearby.

• •Stay here if you want excellent house-reef snorkeling and to be close to Old Market.
• •Think twice if anyone in your group has limited mobility; check how the hotel reaches its beach.

Old Market (Sharm El Maya): best for local life

Old Market, near the marina in the south, is where Sharm feels most like a real Egyptian town: a bazaar of spice and souvenir shops, local restaurants, cafés and the large Al Sahaba Mosque. There are fewer big beach resorts here and more small hotels.

• •Stay here if you prefer local restaurants and shopping to resort life.
• •Think twice if a beach on your doorstep matters most.

Which area is right for you?

1. First visit, want a bit of everything: Naama Bay.
2. Snorkeling every day: Sharks Bay or Ras Um Sid.
3. Families who want a big resort: Nabq Bay.
4. Couples who want quiet and views: Hadaba.
5. Culture and food: Old Market.

Whichever you pick, plan at least one day at Ras Mohammed National Park and one evening in the desert. Our guide to the best things to do in Sharm El Sheikh has the full list, and the best time to visit explains which months suit which plans.

Frequently asked questions

What is the best area to stay in Sharm El Sheikh?

For a first visit, Naama Bay is the most convenient: it is central and has a walkable promenade of restaurants and shops. If snorkeling is your priority, choose a hotel with a house reef in Sharks Bay or Ras Um Sid.

Which part of Sharm El Sheikh has the best snorkeling from the beach?

The rocky coast of Sharks Bay and the reefs around Ras Um Sid and Hadaba have coral right off the shore, usually reached by a hotel jetty. Naama Bay is mostly sandy.

Is Nabq Bay far from Naama Bay?

Nabq is the northern end of Sharm, close to the airport, and about a 15–25 minute drive from Naama Bay depending on your hotel. You will need a taxi for evenings out.

Do tours pick up from every area of Sharm El Sheikh?

Yes. All of our tours include pickup and drop-off at any hotel in Sharm El Sheikh, from Nabq to Old Market. Your pickup time depends on your hotel's location and is confirmed when you book.