Sharm El Sheikh briefly about the main thing. Map of Sharm el-Sheikh from satellite - streets and houses online Sharm el-Sheikh or El

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The underwater life of Sharm el-Sheikh needs no introduction; it is no coincidence that Jacques Cousteau and his team “checked in” here more than once or twice, not forgetting to shoot fantastically colorful videos. All kinds of coral sponges, reefs, algae, anemones and other tailless creatures are just a colorful decoration for the crazy number of scaly creatures living in the waters of Sharm. You simply don’t want to emerge from this “paradise of cold-blooded people,” especially knowing that the surface of the Red Sea in this deserted place is not nearly as good as life under water. Boring-looking low hotel complexes with dusty and slightly withered palm trees - this is the landscape that awaits a tourist touched by the advances of the fish. And here comes the same bummer for many, for which Sharm el-Sheikh begins to be indiscriminately criticized upon return. Yes, the “superficial” life of this resort is not half as good as in Nice, but that’s not why they go to Sharm.

For decades now, this resort on the Red Sea has been considered an ideal place for a vegetable, relaxing holiday, where you can lose yourself, soak up the sun, bathe your children - and all this against the backdrop of unreal sea beauties. Professionally cheerful animators with tired songs by the pools, Swedish feasts (which, by the way, are not particularly honored here) and all kinds of hammams and tennis courts are just a tiny addition that is not interesting to mention.

Resorts in Egypt: which ones are there and what to choose?

On almost all the beaches in these areas, corals start almost from the very edge of the water and stretch for 15-30 m. This is inconvenient for children to swim in, but it pleases lovers of underwater flora and fauna who watch outlandish coral fish and other wonders of the Red Sea right here under your feet.

Diving in the Red Sea

Diving in Sharm

Sharm el-Sheikh and diving are practically synonymous: the resort is known primarily as an ideal place to dive into the beauty of the Red Sea. You can snorkel and snorkel here absolutely everywhere, and dive almost everywhere: there are 16 dive sites along the coast. Plus, for the amusement of keen divers, Sharm el-Sheikh also has entire diving areas, the most famous of which are the Ras Mohammed Marine Reserve and Tiran Island. Here are just some of the underwater beauties of Charm: regular, fire and soft corals, massive porites and favites, hammerhead sharks, barracudas, anthias, napoleon wrasses, trevally and surgeonfish, manta rays, moray eels and crocodile fish. In addition, there are several interesting wrecks here: the ships “Dunraven” and “Thistlegorm” were sunk in 1876 and 1941, respectively, a Turkish ship with amphorae and another one with toilets (no joke!).

For those who want to dive right at the resort, we can recommend the areas of Sharks Bay, Nabq and Ras Umm al-Sid. In Sharks Bay, each hotel has its own dive center, where they will offer scuba diving directly from the shore or take you by boat to particularly remarkable reefs. Depth is about 20 m, visibility is also 20 m. Interesting night dives are carried out. In Nabq you can dive from a pontoon (including to a sunken ship - opposite the Calimera Royal Albatros Moderna hotel) or go to the nearest reserve of the same name, which is part of the famous Ras Mohammed. In Ras Umm al-Sid, divers will encounter excellent 20-meter visibility, depths up to 20-25 m, large corals, stingrays, barracudas and small sharks.

Sharm El Sheikh Hotels

In total, about 200 hotels are open to the services of holidaymakers in Sharm, the majority are 4 and 5 star categories. If you wish, you can also find three rubles, but their quality, as a rule, leaves much to be desired. It can be difficult to understand such an abundance of accommodation options, so the main questions that tourists should ask themselves are, firstly, what type of holiday they prefer, secondly, the quality of the beach, thirdly, how interested they are in regular trips from the hotel to looking for entertainment.

In general, the number of rooms in Sharm el-Sheikh is quite old - this is especially true in the classic tourist areas of Hadaba and Naama Bay. Sharks Bay has newer hotels, while the most modern ones are clustered in Nabq and, to a lesser extent, in Ras Umm al-Sid. Nabq was the last to be built up (and continues to do so) among the districts of Sharm, so local hotels, as a rule, have large well-groomed areas, a long beach and several swimming pools, often with slides.

The beaches of Sharm are described in detail above. In general, if a “trouble-free” entry into the sea on a real sandy beach is important to you, go to Sharm el Maya. Beaches cleared of corals (still with the danger of stepping on the remnants of them) will greet you in Naama Bay. The last few hotels in Nabq also do not have corals, but the sea here is very shallow and algae is present. In other areas of Sharm, swimming is from pontoons.

The most entertainment will greet you when leaving the hotels in Hadaba and Naama Bay. In Sharks Bay, there is a modern entertainment district, Soho, built right next to the Savoy Hotel, consisting of a square with musical fountains and an abundance of shopping centers, cafes and restaurants.

You can study the accommodation options at the resort in detail on the page “Hotels in Sharm el-Sheikh”.

Shopping

Relatively inexpensive shops and restaurants are concentrated in the Old Market area of ​​the Old Town. There you can buy various souvenirs at a relatively low price, and at the same time check out the fruit market. The most expensive shops are in the area of ​​the tourist center in Naama Bay.

What to buy: hookah (“shisha”), plates with Arabic designs, stone figurines of ancient Egyptian gods and pharaohs (15-30 EGP), papyri (low-quality 1-3 EGP, good wrinkle-resistant 10-20 EGP), oils and essences (1 ml - 3-5 EGP), jewelry in the ancient Egyptian style. In any store, on a cartouche (an oval frame used in ancient texts whenever the name of the pharaoh was mentioned) in 15 minutes the name will be written in gold or silver in ancient Egyptian hieroglyphs.

Cosmetic products deserve attention - not only those produced in Egypt, but also imported from “friendly” Arab countries: essential and massage oils and a large selection of hair care products from Dabur, natural oils from Pakistan “Hemani”, spices (it is better to buy in supermarkets or grocery stores by weight from large tubs), dates, halva and sweets. It is also worth taking a closer look at the accessories for the hammam - cotton sheets, loofah washcloths and gommage mittens.

What to try in Sharm

Gastronomic interests in Sharm el-Sheikh are based on two pillars: firstly, on dishes of general Egyptian cuisine, and secondly, on the abundance of the freshest fish and seafood from the Red Sea. From the first category, suitable for a light snack are kebabs made from minced meat “kofta” (emphasis on the “o”), a “working noon” dish called “koshari” made from rice, pasta, chickpeas and lentils with tomato sauce, rice itself Egyptian with a variety of sauces and falafel balls of beans and vegetables. For a more refined lunch, you can have creamed lentil soup “ATS” and pigeon or duck, again stuffed with rice. The meal should definitely end with dessert: hot “umm-ali” made from puff pastry, milk and pistachios, or sweets - baklava, semolina pie “basbousa” filled with syrup or sweet “vermicelli” called “kunafa”.

Do not forget that alcohol in Egypt is served only in “tourist-oriented” restaurants.

Fish and seafood are served in all possible ways of preparation: grilled, baked with coarse salt, stewed in sauce, cold and hot, separately and assorted. The menu includes squid and cuttlefish, octopus, shrimp, sea bream, sea bass, swordfish and some exotic Red Sea fish - for example, deep-sea anglerfish.

Cafes and restaurants

It is absolutely impossible to remain hungry in Sharm el-Sheikh: a lot of restaurants and cafes in the resort are ready to please tourists with Egyptian and international cuisine. You won’t have to look for a long time to find a catering establishment: upon leaving the hotel, you are almost guaranteed to run into several “competing companies”. There is a particularly large concentration of cafes and restaurants on the main street of the resort (Salam, or Peace road), in Naama Bay and Hadaba. There are a large number of establishments serving European and Asian cuisine - Italian, French, Japanese, as well as an excellent steakhouse in Naama Bay.

A full lunch for two will cost 150-200 EGP in a European restaurant and 250-300 EGP in a fish restaurant.

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Guides in Sharm el-Sheikh

Entertainment and attractions in Sharm el-Sheikh

The main attractions of Sharm el-Sheikh are the incredibly beautiful underwater world, gorgeous beaches, plus a small number of new buildings: pseudo-palaces from the Arabian Nights, dry and water amusement parks, shopping and entertainment centers.

You can get a dose of historical excursion by heading to the Coptic Church, the Papyrus Museum, the Al-Mustafa Mosque and the Tutankhamun Museum. The church is located in the Ennur district, remote from the coast, and consists of two churches - the lower, older one, in the basement, and the upper one, in the best traditions of cathedrals in some France. Here you should see the wonderful mosaics and magnificent interior paintings in an unexpectedly modern spirit, admire the fine workmanship of the Patriarch's chair and admire the lion statues in the courtyard, and also be amazed at the unusual Coptic Bible written in Arabic.

The Papyrus Museum is a smaller copy of the museum of the same name in Cairo, where you can not only admire ancient Egyptian specimens, but also learn more about the technologies for making papyrus and its types, as well as purchase a painting or inscription on this unusual material.

Al-Mustafa Mosque can only be viewed from the outside: its appearance is impressive with two 26-meter minarets, the splendor of architectural decoration and the overall elegance of the design, which refers to the classical mosques of Iran and Uzbekistan. And the Tutankhamun Museum displays copies of objects found in the tomb of the pharaoh: from a chariot to caskets and a funeral mask. The exposition is accompanied by signs in Russian.

National parks

Within Sharm el-Sheikh there is the world-famous Ras Mohammed National Park, formed by the merger of this territory with the Nabq National Park. At the same time, you can come to both national parks separately. Most tourists get to the Nabq National Park (located in the Sharma district of the same name) by boat from the sea; from the road you can only drive there with an all-wheel drive vehicle. Entrance - 5 USD plus 5 USD per car. Here you can explore not only underwater landscapes (snorkeling or diving), but also land - its famous mangroves.

Ras Mohammed (25 km from Sharm el-Sheikh) occupies the southern tip of the Sinai Peninsula. Here, in addition to fantastic marine life (barracudas, sea turtles and sea snakes), you can also find rare land inhabitants: fennec foxes, herons, birds of prey. Until 14:00-15:00 the park is full of excursion groups. Inspection of the area usually starts from the main beach, then the salt lake, mangroves, observation deck and the beach next to it. Entrance fee is 10 USD, of which 5 USD is per car.

Entertainment and clubs

Popular discos: Le Pacha (ex. Bus Stop), Hard Rock Cafe (the most interesting things here begin after one in the morning), Smash disco bar and Black House (at the Tropicana Rosetta hotel). Children's amusement park Fun Town (5 EGP per attraction), Arabian Nights amusement park, dolphinarium. Here you can also play tennis, race go-karts or play golf.

Children's entertainment in Sharm el-Sheikh is mainly concentrated on the territory of hotels - the main thing is to choose the right hotel for a holiday with the youngest tourists. Pay attention to the hotel's animation in Russian (this is not uncommon), a mini-club, child-friendly food and, of course, a convenient beach. Some hotels have children's bars and snack bars, where your child can enjoy ice cream, cotton candy and popcorn throughout the day. High-level “fives” provide children's robes and slippers.

The entertainment program for children outside the hotels is represented by a dolphinarium and a water park, the Fun Town amusement park and the Arabian Nights amusement park. Dolphina Park Dolphinarium is located in the Nabq area. Here you can not only watch a show with dolphins, but also take pictures and swim with them. The Aqua Blue Water Park is located in Ras Umm el-Sid Bay and offers adults and children a variety of moderately extreme and very simple slides, a lazy river, a pool with artificial waves and fun animation. "Fan Town" is a small amusement park with trains, carousels and horse and camel rides. The Arabian Nights amusement park and shopping complex is located in the Hadaba area. Until 16:00 you can visit it for free - look at the interior in the spirit of oriental fairy tales, go shopping and relax in cafes and hookah bars. In the evening, a light and musical performance about the history and folklore of Egypt begins with oriental dances, a show with snakes and fire, an equestrian show and magic performances. In Soho Square, you and your child will be delighted by the evening performance of musical fountains (every day, duration - 45 minutes). You can also take your child on an evening excursion to the Bedouins, during which they will perform folk dances in front of you, feed you traditional dishes and invite you to admire the myriads of mysteriously twinkling southern stars through a telescope.

October

november

December

Despite the fact that the tourist season in Sharm el-Sheikh lasts all year round, it is customary to separate two seasons, each with its own charms: a mild winter, suitable for those who cannot tolerate high temperatures, and a hot summer - the most beachy and sunbathing with noticeably baking sun. Rain in Sharm el-Sheikh is extremely rare, the air is dry and warm at any time of the year.

In summer, the thermometer sometimes reaches +40 °C. However, low air humidity and constantly blowing winds make it possible to tolerate the heat quite easily.

During the winter, the temperature at night can drop to +15 °C, so be sure to take a jacket or windbreaker with you. However, the water temperature does not drop below +20 °C even in winter.

Nabq is the windiest area of ​​Sharm el-Sheikh. In summer, it will be comfortable here for those who do not like extreme heat (you need to be careful when sunbathing: there is a danger of “overlying”, deceived by the imaginary coolness). But the winter winds in Nabq pierce to the bones, and the sea is almost always stormy, with strong currents. For a winter holiday, it is better to choose bays sheltered from the winds: Sharm el Maya, Sharks Bay, Ras Umm el Sid or Naama Bay.

Cellular communications and the Internet, but nothing about Sharma himself??

It’s hard to talk about even such a small city in a short article; I’ll try to be brief in my writing impulses and present the facts.
I'll state everything as it is)))

Sharm El Sheikh not a city where locals live and work. This is a resort built specifically for tourists to relax, and for local residents to work, so there are few Egyptian women here (the rotation method is not suitable), everything is bright and works mainly only in the evening. Sharm El Sheikh, translated as Sheikh Bay, was built about 45 years ago. Sharm is considered the most prestigious and safe resort in Egypt.

Currency in Egypt

The official currency of Egypt is the Egyptian pound; there are banknotes in denominations of 5, 10, 50, 100, 200 pounds. Smaller money is issued in coins of 1 pound, 50 piastres (kopecks) and smaller ones. There are 100 piastres in one pound.

It is more profitable to pay in stores in Egyptian pounds; when paying in dollars, they often play on the exchange rate. For every $100 you lose about 100 Egyptian pounds! With this money you can have a good meal at a local restaurant or smoke a hookah with juices and tea.

Changing money is not difficult; almost every hotel has an ATM that changes money itself, and there are many banks and exchange offices in the city.

In the menu and on price tags, the Egyptian pound is designated L.E. (Egyptian lire), since Egypt was a French colony for a long time. Not many people know that the Egyptian pound during the reign of Farouk was valued at 2 English pounds or almost $4.

When going to Egypt, you need to understand that you are visiting another world, where there is a completely different mentality and concepts.

I would really like to note the pleasant aspects of the Egyptians. The people are very friendly and responsive, but at the same time the Egyptians are very proud and touchy. It’s better to communicate with the local population confidently, but in a friendly manner, the locals will constantly try to joke, even if the joke is not very funny, smile, it won’t hurt you)) If you pass by someone pestering you on the street, the phrase “la, shukran” will suffice (no, thank you ).

In general, as in any nation, there are good people and rare assholes. The way you treat people is how they will treat you. This golden rule of ethics works always and everywhere. There is only one phrase left to add - “People love each other”))

The most important thing for relaxation is safety. , even despite recent events, is considered one of the safest cities in the world (there is practically no crime), I’m not talking about stolen swimsuits and sunglasses in the hotel))).

For Egyptians respect for him and his country is very important (respectful treatment and praise of the country will quickly help to find a common language) For example, the Egyptians themselves, when addressing each other, do not hesitate to use the words: Besha (Big Man), Erais (President, chief), Ustas (Teacher), Mishmuandis (Great Guru). Of course, I messed up the translation of the last word, I couldn’t find the right Russian))) For a second I imagined myself in a Moscow minibus, handing money to the driver and saying: “please take it, Big Man,” and taking the change: “thank you, Teacher”... Is it funny? ? And that’s how it is done here.)

Very noisy people, they rest noisily, eat, swear. It is extremely rare to see a fight in Egypt; locals, as a rule, sort things out with verbal altercations, while making emotional gestures and quickly gathering a crowd around. During religious holidays, there are a lot of visiting Arabs at the resorts from closed Muslim countries. I advise you to keep track of the holidays when going on vacation.

Very curious, we often perceive this as importunity; even an adult Egyptian can bombard you with questions. It is very difficult for the local population to travel abroad, which of course gives rise to their insatiable curiosity. I’m already used to answering where I’m from and where I know Arabic several times a day))

They talk on the phone a lot and smoke. They do this all the time, both at work and in the car, at home or in a minibus, in a bank or near a gas station... You can smoke almost everywhere in Sharm El Sheikh))

For Egyptians honor and trust are very important, contracts are often not signed here, you can buy groceries in the store and bring in the money afterwards, you pay for it after returning it, and no documents are submitted.
The issue of cleanliness on the streets is not in the first place; cola cans and cigarettes are easily thrown out of the car window. The mostly clean tourist areas of Sharm El Sheikh.

Sharm El Sheikh - weather and seasons.

Although it is generally accepted Egypt a place where it is good to relax all year round, you can still highlight the months when it is much more pleasant to do this. It is good to rest from the end of April to the end of June and from September to the end of December. The end of spring and the beginning of summer in Sinai are hot, but the heat is not yet debilitating, and autumn and the first month of winter are considered the velvet season.

The winter months in Sharm El Sheikh: from January to the end of March are unpredictable, although daytime temperatures are most often +23 +25*, cold, piercing winds can blow during the day. The days in winter are short, and the evenings are windy and the temperature drops to +13 + 17 *. When going on holiday to Egypt in winter, you need to choose an area sheltered from the wind: Sharm El Maya and the Ras Um Sid coast in the Hadaba area.

Transport in Sharm El Sheikh.

Sharm Ash Sheikh a tourist town and most of the working local population is sent home by hotel transport. There are three types of transport available in the city: taxi, hotel service and blue state minibuses.

TAXI: In Sharm El Sheikh, all taxis are official (you need a license); in every city in Egypt, taxis are of different colors. In Sharm El Sheikh taxis are blue and white, after Russia it seems that there are a lot of police in Sharm. The cars have meters that never turn on; the price must be agreed upon in advance. In the article taxi in Sharm El Sheikh you can see prices and learn how to bargain; taxis can be ordered in advance by phone or through the website taxisharm.com

MINUTES: Small blue minibuses run along the main avenue Sharm El Sheikh(Peace Road). The maximum price for a trip is 3 Egyptian pounds (half a dollar). Locals in minibuses sing, smoke, and drivers organize races to fight for customers.

In the article I described all the delights and travel routes.

Transport from the hotel: As a rule, hotels offer guests a paid or free bus to the city. There are also taxis at the hotels, through the local Lemousine Service. Hotel taxis are more expensive and comfortable: the air conditioning is always on, the driver speaks English and the ride is moderately fast.

Sharm El Sheikh - Entertainment and nightlife.

Entertainment in Sharm is aimed more at tourists than at the local population; the city wakes up late, after sunset. It is best to go out into the city in the evening after dinner; in Sharm El Sheikh everything is open until 2-3 am. During the daytime, you can visit a water park, a dolphinarium, go quad riding, snorkel or scuba dive, or go on a trip to Charm. In the evening in Sharm you can smoke a hookah, drink tea or freshly squeezed juices in one of the thousands of hookah bars in the city, dine in a restaurant, go to a night folk performance in the complex 1001 nights or visit SOHO Square. Club lovers will be able to visit famous brands such as: Pacha, Taj Mahal, Dolce Vita, Desert Party, Space Ibiza, Little Buddha, Toda Joia and Hard Rock. Read more in the article nightlife of Sharm El Sheikh. There are no large shopping centers, museums, or cinemas in Sharm.

Shopping in Sharm El Sheikh.

Sharm is not the best resort for standard shopping; as I already wrote, there are no large shopping centers with branded clothing in Sharm. To make shopping easier, I divided them into main categories and let’s try to figure out where and what is best to buy.

Souvenirs
There are thousands of souvenir shops in Egypt; in general, it is normal for Egyptians to put up several stalls with glasses or fruit on one street. It is much easier to spy on a neighbor than to invent something of your own. In the shops of Sharm El Sheikh there are mostly the same souvenirs, mostly Chinese, less often Egyptian. Souvenirs are sold everywhere, the largest selection and inexpensive prices are on the market in suuk (bazaar in Arabic). When buying souvenirs, you need to bargain and pay better in Egyptian pounds. There is a myth about real and fake oils and papyrus. As a rule, the quality is the same everywhere, but the price is different. The most expensive stores with “Real Oils” are those that offer a free tour from the operators.

Products
It is better to buy food, water, cigarettes, chips, etc. in official supermarkets with fixed prices. It will be difficult for tourists to understand the prices in local shops, since they are not written. Each area of ​​the city will have one of these stores: Metro, Ragab Sons, 24/7, Care four, these government stores have fixed prices and a good selection (only accept pounds).

Alcohol
Alcohol in Sharm El Sheikh can only be bought in specialized alcohol stores; supermarkets sell only non-alcoholic products. There are liquor stores in every area and not a single one. Also upon arrival, within 48 hours you can visit DUTY FREE at the airport, in the Old Town (Old Market), Naama Bay or Soho Square. Egyptian liquor stores sell only local alcohol. It can be noted that beer and some wines are quite good, strong alcohol does not differ in quality and strength, rum and aniseed vodka are considered the most natural.

Drugs
Since the majority of Egyptians categorically do not recognize alcohol and are prejudiced against it, hashish smoking is very common in the country. In Russia they drink beer, in Egypt they smoke hashish. The main suppliers of the drug are the desert inhabitants - the Bedouins. According to the law, drugs are subject to very severe punishment; in fact, 75% of the male population smoke and do it openly. Many tourists come to Sharm El Sheikh or Dahab for Rastafarian joys. There are practically no synthetic drugs in Sinai; those who offer them are usually charlatans. I advise you to beware of such purchases; they often sell very strong and prohibited medications, passing them off as anything.

Cloth

There is practically no place to buy normal clothes in Sharm; all goods are aimed at tourists: painted galabayas, scarves, T-shirts with Egyptian symbols. The only shopping center with boutiques of branded clothing, El Mercato, does not differ in its special selection and number of stores. Knowing the city well, of course, you can dress up, but for vacationers it’s better to dress up when returning home.

Sharm el-Sheikh(in Russian the names are also used Sharm al-Sheikh, Sharm el-Sheikh And Sharm el-Sheikh, but on geographical maps the name should be used in the form Sharm el-Sheikh) is a resort city in Egypt at the southern tip of the Sinai Peninsula on the Red Sea coast. One of the regional centers of the South Sinai governorate.

Recently, due to its convenient location, climate, rich natural world and rapid and high-quality development, it has become increasingly popular among tourists.

Geography

Translated from Arabic, Sharm el-Sheikh means “sheikh bay”. Sharm el-Sheikh is located in Naama Bay. From the southwest the city borders on the Ras Mohammed National Park, on the northeast - on the Nabq National Reserve, from the northwest it is protected from winds and bad weather by the ridge of the Sinai Mountains, and from the southeast it is washed by the Red Sea.

Not far from the coastline of the city is Tiran Island.

Mount Moses (the second highest peak of the Sinai Mountains, after Mount St. Catherine) is located 80 km from the city (as the crow flies). An hour's bus ride along the Gulf of Aqaba is the city of Dahab, two is the border city of Taba, and then the Israeli port of Eilat.

Climate

The climate is very hot. Sharm el-Sheikh has a tropical desert climate with very little annual rainfall. In January-February, night temperatures drop to +15 °C (less often - to +10 °C), and sometimes there is a rather cool wind, but during the day the bright sun shines and numerous beach visitors sunbathe and swim. In summer (June-August) the thermometer reaches +40 °C, but low air humidity (about 4%) somewhat softens the heat for comfort.

The water temperature in the sea does not fall below +20 °C, even in winter (in summer it rises to +28 °C). Rain in Sharm el-Sheikh is extremely rare, the air is dry and warm at any time of the year.

Climate of Sharm el-Sheikh
Index	Jan	Feb	Mar	Apr	May	Jun	Jul	Aug	Sep	Oct	But I	Dec	Year
Average maximum, °C	21,7	22,4	25,1	29,8	33,9	37,0	37,5	37,5	35,4	31,5	27,0	23,2	30,2
Average minimum, °C	13,3	13,7	16,1	20,1	23,8	26,5	26,7	28,0	26,5	23,4	18,9	15,0	21,0
Precipitation rate, mm	0,5	0,2	1,2	0,2	0,5	0	0	0	0,04	0,8	3,3	0,5	7,24
Water temperature, °C	22	23	24	25	26	27	28	29	28	27	26	24	26
Source: worldweather.org, Travel Portal

Structure and zoning

Peace Road - one of the streets of Sharm el-Sheikh

Historically, the city has not been subject to continuous development, and therefore is growing through the development of many different architectural “oases”. The main street of the city, Peace Road Avenue, passes through them, connecting the city spread along the seashore into a single whole.

The resort city consists of several areas built along the coast, around the main bays (coves):

• Sharm el Maya ( Sharm El Maya) is located in the southwest of the resort, and is famous for its sandy beaches, hotels and the eastern Old Market. The Old Town is located in the Sharm El Maya area.
• Hadaba Um Sid
• Hay El Nour
• Roweysat
• Tower
• Naama Bay ( Naama Bay) is the most famous tourist spot. The unofficial center of Sharm el-Sheikh, a kind of Arabian Las Vegas. Here life is in full swing almost around the clock. This place is distinguished by the presence of luxury shopping centers, casinos, sports grounds, scuba diving centers, restaurants, and nightclubs near the hotels. The beaches of Naama Bay are almost all with a sandy bottom, they are called a “work of art” by resort architects.
• Gardens Bay
• Coral Bay
• Sharks Bay ( Sharks Bay)
• Ras Nusrani (Montaza)
• Nabq Bay ( Nabq Bay) - a few kilometers northeast of Naama Bay, towards the Nabq National Nature Reserve, opposite Tiran Island. At one time, there was a rumor in construction investor circles [ source not specified 493 days] that Saudi Arabia, together with Egypt, have conceived a project to build a huge bridge - from the coast of Saudi Arabia to Egypt (via the island of Tiran). According to the geographical location, this bridge would just go out from the side of the island to the Nabq Bay area. All kinds of investors rushed to feverishly develop the area and occupy vacant plots of land - for the construction of hotels and the construction of new infrastructure. Today Nabq is an extremely developed area compared to several years ago. However Egyptian President “freezes” the “Great Bridge” construction project [source not specified 493 days], deciding to maintain a more “European” atmosphere in Sharm el-Sheikh. Really [ source not specified 493 days], the city is strikingly different from typical Egyptian cities, reminiscent of European resorts rather than Hurghada or Cairo.

View of the Sharm el-Sheikh beach from the balcony of one of the hotels. Tiran Island on the horizon

Since Sharm el-Sheikh is sandwiched between two national reserves facing the sea, the coastline that can be occupied by buildings is limited to a strip of about 30 km. Currently, almost all areas of the coast suitable for construction are built up with luxury hotels or allocated for the construction of new residential complexes. But, despite this, the city continues to grow deep into the coast, towards the mountain range.

The most famous areas of Sharm el-Sheikh are Hadaba, Old Town, Aida, Tower, Il Mercato, Delta Sharm, Hai-en-Nur, Riviera, Hai Salam, Kriss, Naama, Nabq Bay.

Many new residential areas are being built: Gold Charm, Sun Shine, Sunny Lake, Montaza, and many others.

As a rule, residential buildings in the city are built in the form of small complexes of comfortable villas, concentrated around green areas with modern infrastructure, shops, restaurants, swimming pools and gardens. Due to the growing popularity of the resort, Egyptian investment companies are not afraid to invest heavily in the city's infrastructure, and Sharm el-Sheikh is changing every year.

Transport connection

One of the airport halls

The geographical location of the city determines its transport significance for the entire Sinai Peninsula.

Sharm el-Sheikh - air gate Sinai. Ras Nazran Airport ( Ras Nasrani) is the first and largest international airport on the Sinai Peninsula. Air communications pass through it both from Sharm el-Sheikh itself and from other resorts on the peninsula - Dahab, Taba, Nuweiba. The vast majority of tourists and guests arrive and return to the peninsula by air.

Main roads

Most of Sinai's roads, with the exception of some lightly trafficked roads on the peninsula leading from its interior to the Ahmed Hamdi Tunnel, pass through Sharm el-Sheikh. All roads are maintained in good condition, well equipped and are constantly being developed. The city has a developed car and light scooter rental service, and in a few days you can independently explore Sharm el-Sheikh and its surroundings. Traffic police are usually very friendly to foreigners.

View of the mountain range from one of the city highways

Approximate travel distances and times:

• Dahab - 100 km (~1 hour drive by car)
• Monastery of St. Catherine - ~2 hours drive
• Colored Canyon - ~3 hours drive
• Nuweiba - ~2 hours drive
• Taba - ~3 hours drive
• At-Tour (administrative center of South Sinai governorate) - 90 km (~1 hour drive)
• Suez Canal Tunnel - 360 km
• Cairo - 500 km (~6-7 hours drive)
• Alexandria - ~9 hours

Luxor and Hurghada, popular among tourists, are located on the African mainland, far south of the tunnel, and travel by car to them is inconvenient due to the long and tiring road.

Tourists have a choice of transport at their disposal

Urban transport in Sharm el-Sheikh it is represented mainly by minibuses that move around the city without a schedule (however, due to the large number of them, the wait during the day usually does not exceed 1-2 minutes). The business of private taxis has developed, the total number of which far exceeds the demand, and therefore a trip to any part of the city at any time of the day or night is quite affordable.

Sea communication The city is limited to regular flights to Hurghada (approximately 2 hours on the way), as well as cruise and excursion routes, usually organized by large tourism corporations.

Domestic air traffic the city is very active. There are about 10 flights per day from Sharm el-Sheikh to Cairo. There are flights to Hurghada, Luxor and other cities.

Undersea world

Sharm El Sheikh is a good place for snorkeling. Clean water, a rich underwater world and a large number of coral reefs create good conditions for diving and snorkeling both in winter and summer. Numerous diving clubs, diving schools, yachts, and instructors are available to tourists.

For connoisseurs of the beauty of the underwater world, excursions are organized to the Ras Mohammed National Park, which is distinguished by a wide variety of corals, as well as other forms of marine flora and fauna. 100 km to the northeast (towards Israel) is the city of Dahab, popular among divers all over the world. In the Gulf of Suez there is the Thistlegorm transport ship, which sank in 1941 with military cargo on board, and excursions are made to it by divers with appropriate training and certification.

Along the entire coast, as well as in other vacant areas of the city, the construction of new hotels, residential complexes, and entertainment centers continues.

The city has a modern International Medical Center. An Orthodox church was built, as well as mosques (the new and largest opened in 2007). Also in 2007, a new terminal at Ras-Nazran International Airport opened, capable of receiving and releasing up to 50 aircraft per day. A tourist visa to enter the country is issued here at the airport.

Life in the city is built around the tourism industry. Most local residents involved in the tourism industry will be able to carry on a conversation in the main European languages. Many of them speak Russian. English is spoken by the vast majority of staff in hotels, shops and other establishments, including taxi drivers.

The nightlife of Sharm el-Sheikh is famous for its discos, nightclubs, casinos and show performances. A favorite place is the “promenade” - a walking road in Naama Bay. Here, shopping centers and numerous street cafes are open until late, offering visitors Arabic, Japanese and European cuisine, seafood, and hookah.

The attitude of the local population towards tourists is friendly. Local residents value the opportunity to work in Sharm el-Sheikh, where the standard of living is higher compared to other cities in the country. We are constantly working with staff, employers and government agencies to improve the quality of service. In the city, in addition to the usual, there is the so-called. “tourist police” (Touristiq Police) are specially trained employees whose task is to prevent any problems for city guests.

The city's attractions

The main local attractions available to tourists arriving in Sharm el-Sheikh include:

• Sinai mountains
• Ras Mohammed National Reserve
• Nabq National Reserve
• coral reefs of Tiran island
• new water park in Hadaba.
• Cleo Park in Naama Bay
• Dolphinarium (located in the Il Mercato area)
• Old town with oriental bazaar Old Market
• Naama Bay area with the Promenade and Panorama Charm,

Strategic importance

Police post

The favorable geographical location of Sharm el-Sheikh allows Egypt, if necessary, to block shipping through the Straits of Tiran, which are the only exit to the Red Sea for Jordan and Israel. In 1967, Egypt tried to put this possibility into practice, which led to an armed clash with Israel - the Six-Day War. Previously, the region was quite tense - until 1979, Egypt participated in several local wars. Currently, several military units are stationed in the city.

The modern leadership of Egypt has abandoned its militant course in the Middle East and is promoting the development of tourism. Tourism has become the second most important source of income for the country after receiving fees for the passage of ships through the Suez Canal. Revenues from the country's tourism industry have exceeded revenues from oil production and sales. The government is constantly working to achieve political stability in the region. Egypt has a 1979 peace treaty signed and is in force with Israel. Any tourist in Sharm el-Sheikh can sign up for a bus excursion to Israel (Jerusalem), where he will be allowed in without a consular visa (this does not apply to citizens of all countries in the world), and Israeli citizens, in turn, can visit the resorts of Sinai. The streets are patrolled by militarized police, responsible for order in the city and the safety of residents and tourists.

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