The history of Sharm El Sheikh is highly connected to its strategic location which leads to the transformation of the small fishing village into a major part of the Egyptian Navy. It was a small fishing village until 1967, and then a wave of commercial and architectural development started to take action in the area to attract global tourism and capital investment. One of the most famous projects built in Sharm El Sheikh is the famous Naama Bay Hotel.
After the regain of the entire Sinai Peninsula in the 70s, the Egyptian Government started a series of projects to remake the city of Sharm into a tourist destination, and today it is one of the most famous destinations for foreigners visiting Egypt. Sharm El Sheikh became known as the city of peace as it has hosted many Middle Eastern peace conferences such as the 4 September 1999 agreement the Palestinian self-rule over the Gaza Strip and many other worldwide business conferences.
Sharm El Sheikh Attractions
Whether you're here for the sand or the sea life, Sharm El Sheikh is a great choice for a beach break after exploring the temples and tombs in the rest of the country. Sharm El Sheikh has also many breathtaking attractions across the entire country and even the world. These attractions are:
Ras Mohammed
This spectacular site is one of the most magical marine parks in the Sinai Peninsula. It is located 12 km from the city of Sharm El Sheikh with an area of 850 km. It is widely known for its magical scuba diving and snorkeling spots which are suitable for beginners and also for professional divers who like to have the best adventures on the crystal waters and explore the majestic coral reefs that mark the area and gives such a parka rank of being one of the most beautiful places in the world after the Great Barrier Reefs of Australia.
Nabq Protectorate
It is a wonderful reserve, about 35 km from the city of Sharm El Sheikh, in the area between Dahab and Sharm El Sheikh. It is located near the Monastery and Mount Saint Catherine, within walking distance of the tourist city of Taba. It contains rare species and a large number of birds, animals, reptiles, invertebrates, rodents, and rare fish. The reserve also has a unique plant system, where the number of plants that are considered to have disappeared is about 86 at least out of the total of about 134 plants in the reserve. If you are a fan of camping in the desert, diving or watching birds, and seeing rare animals, you should not miss visiting this wonderful and rare reserve, Nabq Reserve, during tourism in Sharm El Sheikh.
Dahab
Dahab is an Egyptian resort city in the South Sinai governorate, located in the “Asian” part of Egypt in the province of South Sinai; 100 kilometers away from the magnificent city of Sharm El Sheikh. It is one of the most important tourist cities in Egypt because it includes pristine beaches that derive their gorgeous view from the Gulf of Aqaba. It is famous for its adventure water sports like snorkeling, diving, and especially windsurfing. One of the most popular places in Dahab is the legendary infamous Blue Hole, the world’s most dangerous diving site. Dahab offers a chance to explore the Bedouin deserts through a super safari all in one day.
The Blue Hole
The Blue Hole is a submarine sinkhole with a depth of 130 meters. It is located in the north of the city of Dahab. Tourists come from different parts of the world to enjoy a scuba diving tour in the Blue Hole which is the most famous tourist spot; at the same time, it is characterized for being the most dangerous diving spot in the world.
Ras Um Sid
At the tip of a small peninsula, five kilometers south of the beautiful Namma Bay is a haven of incredible beaches offering majestic colors of reefs and absolute tranquility. It is located very close to Sharm El Sheikh’s old marketplace and Ras Mohamed National Park which makes it very popular among divers. Ras Um Sid beaches offer peace, quiet, and true relaxation very suitable for children, families, and honeymooners through its amazing accommodations in Hadaba in the central area of the peninsula.
Naama Bay
Naama Bay is a natural Bay resort that is considered the main hub for tourists in the city and is famous for its cafes, restaurants, hotels, and bazaars. It is the most famous and attractive area for tourism in Sharm El Sheikh. This area is located in the heart of Sharm El Sheikh. The bay provides a clear view of both the heavenly golden Sinai Mountains and the crystal waters of the Red Sea.
Shark's Bay
One of Sharm El Sheikh's newer resort development areas, Shark's Bay sits 11 kilometers north of Naama Bay. The vibe here is slightly more exclusive, with some of Sharm's most luxurious five-star resorts and hotels clustered around Shark Bay's sweep of sand. The focus of Shark's Bay life is the Soho Square Center, which includes some of Sharm el-Sheikh's top restaurant and café choices, as well as shops. This means Shark's Bay resort guests often choose to not move from this northern section of Sharm for their entire vacation.
Snorkeling and diving aren’t the only interesting activities you can enjoy while being in Sharm El Sheikh as among the other fabulous things you can enjoy while being there is having a hypnotic safari trip to the beautiful Canyon in a guided tour. That beautiful colorful Canyon contains many fabulous rocks that have different colors and they were formed by oxidation which gives that beautiful landscape its unique name. You will enjoy the amazing scenery while being there and spend some amazing time hiking throughout the Canyons. It is the chance of a Lifetime to take some of the most beautiful photos.
Among the most spectacular spiritual spots in Egypt that tourists love to visit is the amazing St. Catherine Monastery. It is one of the oldest monasteries in the World located at the foot of Mount Catherine, the highest mountain in Egypt, near Mount Moses. It was built by the Byzantine Emperor Justinian in the 6th century AD. It contains some of the most incredible artifacts and documents from the Byzantine and Roman periods which is why the monastery was inducted into the UNESCO World Heritage Site in 2002. It is also home to many famous icons, including the main church, the chapel of the Burning Bush, the old refectory, as well as the Fatimid mosque built next to the Orthodox Church; a rare coexistence of religions in today’s World.
Mount Sinai
One of the holiest sites in the world happens to be just steps away from Sharm El Sheikh near Saint Catherine called Mount Moses believed by many to be the holy mountain where Moses received the Ten Commandments. Mount Moses is an important holy site for the Abrahamic religions as it was mentioned at various times in holy books like the bible and the Quran. From the summit of Mount Sinai, there are breathtaking views of the wild and desolate surrounding country. The trips to the summit are not only for religion; however, coming here after a visit to the monastery of Saint Catherine to admire the sun rising from the top of Mount Sinai is usually part of the trip.
Thistlegorm Dive Site
For many advanced divers, a trip to Sharm El Sheikh means only one thing: diving the Thistlegorm. It is considered by many to be one of the best diving sites in the world as the best wreck dives in the world the Thistlegorm warship located in the Straits of Gubal since sinking in 1941 in World War II to 32m deep. It became a haven of a mesmerizing collection of marine life of rare fishes and coral reefs that would elevate the diving experience to new heights.
Sharm Old Market
Sharm El Sheikh’s old market known as the Old Town is one of Sharm El Sheikh’s most culturally rich, iridescent attractions containing a large domain of bazaars, shops, restaurants, café, entertainment centers, and everything you could think of. The majestic colors, heavenly sounds, and enchanting scents of herbs and spices will transport everyone to paradise where all dreams are turned into reality.
Sharm El Sheikh Museum
One of the most famous museums in Sharm El Sheikh is the King Tut Museum in South Sinai in the basement of the Genera City Mall, famed for containing a collection of copied pieces about King Tut. There are also 130 duplicate artifacts of jewelry, golden masks, and sculptures showcasing the life of King Tut.