The top 8 things to do in Sharm el-Sheikh

Despite Sharm el-Sheikh being home to lush grassland and a stunning array of marine life, the surrounding desert offers a vastly different terrain. Sparse, wild, yet teeming with life, the best (and only safe) way to explore the sand-lands around the city is with a safari. Explore amazing sites like the coloured canyons and valleys of the Sinai, and watch as majestic birds of prey hunt in this vast, arid land. Tours vary in all sorts of ways: you can have a day tour or go stargazing at night, or you can rent buggies or be whisked away in a 4×4. 

No area encapsulates the amazing range of things to do in Sharm el-Sheikh as well as Naama Bay. With beaches, shopping, water parks, and plenty else to explore during the day, at night there are a core of outstanding restaurants, bars, and clubs to spend the dark hours in. A lot of the resorts that call the city home are in or around this area, and you can usually get day passes to the best of what they have to offer, including pools and water slides. However, there’s also the chance to try your hand at water sports, or just lounging by the sea. No matter what you want to do on your trip here, you’ll find it in Naama Bay. 

Although Egypt has long been a Muslim-majority country, it has a long history of Christianity too, especially relating to the Coptic Faith. The marvellous, ornate, imposing Heavenly Cathedral is a testament to this heritage, and an architectural highlight that would impress even the most ardent church hopper. The edifice towers over its surroundings, but as impressive as it is, it’s the interior that really wows. With hundreds of gorgeous frescoes and paintings, as well as shining light fixtures and beautiful mouldings, entering here is as awe-inspiring as anything in Vatican City. A must for anyone who wants to see otherworldly architecture.  

Widely considered to be the Biblical Mount Sinai, Jabal Mousa is right next to Egypt’s highest peak, and offers two famous trails to the top. The shallower route is a bit longer but can be done with camels too. However, if you’re an experienced hiker then the steeper route of 3,750 steps – known sometime as the Steps of Penance – is worth the extra effort. Sunrise and sunset are the best times to summit, not only because of the miraculous views but also because the sun is incredibly strong during the day, making a climb much more dangerous. Regardless of when you do the trek, a hike up here remains one of the best things to do in Sharm el-Sheikh.  

Al Mustafa Mosque is a striking structure that gleams like a mirage under the Sharm el-Sheikh sun. A fairly new creation, it was finished in 2008 and can accommodate 3000 worshipers. There are two huge minarets stabbing into the sky, and at night the building is lit up like a beacon. Inside is no less gorgeous, with ornate artwork and impressive stonework. Free to enter, and easy to wander around, it’s cool halls are the perfect place to sightsee in the middle of the scorching Sharm el-Sheikh days. 

While we at Orbzii are always keen to point out that this diamond by the Red Sea offers plenty more than just idyllic beaches and calm, warm seas, it’s simply impossible to write a list of the best things to do in Sharm el-Sheikh and not mention the vast stretches of gorgeous, soft sand. There’s a beach for everyone here, whether you’re looking to make friends while preparing for the night ahead, or keen to search for some serenity away from the bustle of the main parts of town. Regardless of where and why you want to dig your toes into the sand, there’s no better place to do it than on the shores of the Red Sea as it meets Sharm el-Sheikh.