Beaches for Kings/Best beaches/The best beaches in Egypt

Flagship guide

The best beaches in Egypt, ranked

We have judged the Red Sea shore from Sharm el Sheikh and Dahab to Hurghada and Marsa Alam, and put real water quality ahead of the resort brochure. Here are the 14 best beaches in Egypt, ranked, each with the honest verdict and the one thing to know before you go.

Beaches ranked

Coasts judged

Year round

Warm sea

Honest

Verdicts

Book a beach club

Photo: Enzo Dettoni via Google

By the Beaches for Kings editorial team · Edited by Fredrik Filipsson and Morten Andersen

Published 8 April 2026. Last reviewed 2 May 2026

The verdict

Who it is for. Travellers picking a Red Sea base and wanting the honest read on which beach has the reef, the calm entry and the room to breathe, rather than the busiest promenade.
The pick. Ras Um Sid in Sharm el Sheikh takes the top spot for a house reef a few strokes from the sand. For wild space and a chance of turtles, Abu Dabbab near Marsa Alam runs it close.
The one thing to know. The Red Sea beach is really about the reef, not the sand. Pack a mask, pick a beach with a protected drop off, and treat Naama Bay as a night out rather than a swim.

The brief

Why these made the list

A ranking of Egyptian beaches is only honest if it judges the reef and the water over the all inclusive buffet. Almost every great Egyptian beach earns its place underwater, where a fringing reef drops away a few metres from the shore. I have weighed each shore on the snorkelling and the swim first, then the sand, the calm and the crowd, and let the real places rise above the package favourites. The result runs along Sharm el Sheikh, Hurghada and Marsa Alam, with Dahab and El Gouna alongside.

Two patterns hold across the list. The protected bays and house reefs of Sharm el Sheikh and Marsa Alam out swim the long sandy resort strips of Hurghada, and the wind that cools the afternoon can also chop up the water, so mornings are calmer. Where you want a sorted day of loungers and a reef on the doorstep, the resort beaches of Hurghada and the bays around Sharm el Sheikh do it well. Everywhere a famous name underdelivers, I say so and send you to the better water nearby.

The ranking

The best in Egypt, in order

Ranked on the reef and the swim first, then sand, calm, access and crowd, with the package favourites held to the same standard.

Photo: My Dreams via Google

Sharm el Sheikh

Ras Um Sid

The pick of the Sharm el Sheikh beaches, Ras Um Sid sits on a headland where the fringing reef comes close to the shore, so a few strokes from the sand you are over a coral wall thick with fish. It ranks first for putting the Red Sea's best feature within reach of an easy entry. A lighthouse and a row of hotels back it, and a jetty or ladder gets you past the shallow reef table without standing on the coral. Mornings are calmest, and a mask turns a swim into a proper snorkel.

House reefEasy entrySnorkel

See the destination

Photo: Ingrid van Gool via Google

Marsa Alam

Abu Dabbab

A sweep of pale sand on a protected bay south of Marsa Alam, Abu Dabbab is known for the seagrass meadows offshore that draw green turtles and the occasional dugong to graze. It ranks this high for the chance of a genuinely wild encounter over a sandy entry that suits less confident snorkellers. Sightings are never guaranteed, and the bay can fill with day trippers by late morning, so arrive early. Keep your distance from any animal and let it feed in peace.

TurtlesSeagrass baySandy entry

See the destination

Photo: Ralf Langer via Google

Hurghada

Mahmya, Giftun Island

The best beach day out of Hurghada is a boat ride away on Giftun Island, where Mahmya lays out a long arc of white sand and clear shallow water inside a marine park. It ranks here for swapping the built up mainland strip for genuinely clear water and a reef within reach. You go on a day trip with lunch laid on, which means a fleet of boats and a busy beach by midday. Book the earliest departure and walk to the quieter end of the sand.

Island dayWhite sandMarine park

See the destination

Photo: Andy Alb via Google

Hurghada

Sharm El Naga

A small bay between Hurghada and Safaga with one of the most accessible house reefs on this coast, Sharm El Naga lets you wade out and snorkel a living reef wall without a boat. It ranks well for delivering the Red Sea's underwater draw on a simple day trip. The setup is basic, a beach club with loungers and a restaurant, and it can get busy with snorkelling tours. Go on a weekday, follow the marked entry channel over the reef flat, and the coral starts close to shore.

Shore reefDay tripSnorkel

See the destination

The coral walls and desert shore of Ras Mohammed National Park

Photo: Enzo Dettoni via Google

Sharm el Sheikh

Ras Mohammed

At the southern tip of Sinai, Ras Mohammed National Park protects the most celebrated reefs in Egypt, where the desert meets coral walls that fall away into deep blue. It ranks here for world class snorkelling and diving rather than for lounging on sand. Spots like the Mangrove Channel and the coral gardens are reached on a park day trip or a boat. The currents can be strong at the reef edges, so most snorkellers stick to the sheltered bays. Bring everything, as facilities are minimal.

National parkCoral wallsDive site

See the destination

Photo: Iberotel Makadi Beach via Google

Hurghada

Makadi Bay

A horseshoe of resort lined sand south of Hurghada, Makadi Bay is the comfortable choice, with calm, shallow water and a healthy house reef at the southern end of the bay. It ranks here for combining an easy family swim with a reef you can reach from the shore. The beaches belong to the hotels but the snorkelling is the real draw, with coral and fish close in. The entry over the reef flat is best at higher water, and a day pass gets non guests onto the better stretches.

Resort bayFamily swimReef end

See the destination

Photo: The Oberoi Beach Resort, Sahl Hasheesh via Google

Hurghada

Sahl Hasheesh

A long, elegant crescent of soft sand and a tidy promenade make Sahl Hasheesh the polished end of the Hurghada coast, with calm clear water and an old town pier to stroll. It ranks for a relaxed, comfortable beach day more than for wild reef, though there is coral at the bay's edges and a sunken statue trail offshore. The water is shallow and gentle, which suits families and easy swimming. It is quieter and more spacious than central Hurghada, and the sunsets over the bay are long.

Long crescentCalm waterPromenade

See the destination

Photo: Parrotel Beach Resort via Google

Sharm el Sheikh

Nabq Bay

North of Sharm el Sheikh towards the protected mangroves of Nabq, this stretch of resort beach trades the buzz of Naama Bay for space and a wind that surfers and kiters love. It ranks here for room to breathe and a long reef offshore, with the trade off that the breeze can ruffle the afternoon water. The reef sits a swim out across a shallow lagoon, so water shoes and a calm morning help. For a quieter base with the same reef, it beats the crowded centre.

BreezyLagoon reefQuieter

See the destination

Photo: Franz Zocher via Google

Marsa Alam

Marsa Mubarak

A wide bay just north of Marsa Alam town, Marsa Mubarak is a snorkeller's favourite for the seagrass and coral that bring turtles, rays and the occasional dugong close to shore. It ranks alongside Abu Dabbab for wild bay snorkelling on a simple shore entry. It is less developed and often quieter, which is part of the appeal, and local guides run gentle snorkel trips around the bay. Encounters are a matter of luck, never a promise, so go early, swim slowly and keep a respectful distance.

SeagrassTurtlesQuiet bay

See the destination

Photo: Mohammed Anwar via Google

El Gouna

Mangroovy Beach, El Gouna

The town of El Gouna, a planned lagoon resort north of Hurghada, keeps its best sand at Mangroovy Beach, the kitesurfing hub where steady wind and flat shallow water draw boards from across Europe. It earns an editor pick for the scene and the easy swimming rather than for reef, which is thin here. The vibe is social and stylish, with beach bars and a young crowd. It is one of the best places on the coast to learn to kite, with shallow water a long way out.

KitesurfLagoon townSocial

Editor pick

Photo: Wael Dahi via Google

Soma Bay

A self contained resort peninsula south of Hurghada, Soma Bay offers a long sweep of clean sand, calm water and a respected house reef reached by a jetty at one end. It earns an editor pick for quiet, comfortable beach days and good shore snorkelling away from the crowds. It is spacious and low key, built around golf and spa hotels, so it suits a slow week more than a lively one. The reef at the jetty is the highlight, with a wall of coral and fish a short swim out.

Quiet peninsulaJetty reefCalm

Editor pick

Photo: Caption khalid via Google

Sharm el Sheikh

Naama Bay

The famous heart of Sharm el Sheikh, Naama Bay is a lively curve of hotels, bars and a busy promenade, and as a beach it is the most overrated name on this coast. It ranks here for energy and convenience rather than water, since the sand is narrow, the swimming area is roped and shallow, and the reef is worn from decades of feet. Treat it as a night out and a stroll. For an actual snorkel, drive the short way to Ras Um Sid or out to Ras Mohammed instead.

LivelyBusyWorn reef

See the destination

Photo: sunny shrief via Google

Dahab

Dahab Lagoon

Laid back Dahab gathers around a shallow turquoise lagoon where flat, warm water and dependable wind make it one of the best places in Egypt to learn to windsurf or kite. It earns an editor pick for the mellow scene and the easy water rather than for reef, which lies along the coast at the dive sites. The town is cheap, slow and friendly, a world away from the big resorts. The lagoon shallows are gentle, and the cafes along the front run on Sinai time.

LagoonWindsurfMellow

Editor pick

Photo: Hany George via Google

Dahab

Blue Hole, Dahab

A short drive north of Dahab, the Blue Hole is a deep marine sinkhole ringed by reef, and for snorkellers the appeal is the shallow coral saddle and the wall of fish along the rim. It earns an editor pick for that vivid reef edge rather than for a sandy beach, of which there is none. It is also a serious technical dive site with a notorious reputation at depth, so it is a place to respect, snorkel the rim, stay within your limits, and leave the deep arch to qualified divers. The cafes on the cliff make an easy lunch stop.

Reef rimSinkholeRespect it

Editor pick

Honest notes

The famous names we skip

Naama Bay is the name everyone knows in Sharm el Sheikh, and as a beach it is the one to skip. The sand is thin, the swimming is penned into a shallow roped zone, and the reef has been loved to death. It is a fine place for dinner and a stroll. For the water you came for, the headland reef at Ras Um Sid is minutes away, and the park reefs at Ras Mohammed are the real prize.

The wider lesson on this coast is that the beach is the reef. The long sandy resort strips of Hurghada look the part but the magic is underwater, so pick a beach with a protected house reef or a marine park nearby and pack a mask. The wind that makes the afternoons pleasant also chops the water, so the clearest snorkelling is usually in the calm of the morning.

When to go

Season, sea and crowds

The Red Sea is warm enough to swim all year, but spring and autumn give the most comfortable air and the calmest water. High summer is very hot, and winter is mild by day with cooler evenings and a chance of wind.

Egypt beach seasons at a glance
Window	Sea and weather	Crowd	Best for
March to May	Warm sea, pleasant air, light wind	Building	Best all round conditions
June to August	Hot, very warm sea, strong sun	Family peak	Long days, book shade
September to November	Warm sea, cooling air, calm	Steady	Ideal snorkelling weather
December to February	Mild days, cooler nights, breezy	Winter sun crowd	Diving and value escapes

Conditions are typical rather than guaranteed. Check local forecasts before you travel.

Questions, answered

Common questions

What is the best beach in Egypt?

For the Red Sea's best feature within easy reach, the best beach in Egypt is Ras Um Sid in Sharm el Sheikh, where a fringing reef sits a few strokes from the sand. For a wild bay with a chance of turtles, Abu Dabbab near Marsa Alam runs it close. The right answer depends on whether you want an easy house reef or a quiet bay to explore.

Which Egyptian beaches are overrated?

Naama Bay in Sharm el Sheikh is the famous name that underdelivers as a beach, with a narrow strip, a roped shallow swimming zone and a worn reef. It is better for dinner and a stroll than a swim. For real water nearby, head to Ras Um Sid on the headland or take a trip to the protected reefs of Ras Mohammed.

Are Egypt's beaches good for snorkelling?

Egypt has some of the best shore snorkelling in the world, because a living reef often begins just metres from the sand. Ras Um Sid, Sharm El Naga, Abu Dabbab and the southern end of Makadi Bay all let you reach coral from the beach. Ras Mohammed National Park has the most celebrated reefs of all, usually visited on a boat or park day trip.

When is the best time to visit beaches in Egypt?

Spring from March to May and autumn from September to November give the most comfortable air and the calmest, clearest water for snorkelling. High summer is very hot but the sea is at its warmest, and winter is a mild and popular escape with cooler evenings and a chance of wind. Mornings are usually the calmest time to be in the water.

Which Egyptian beach resort is best for families?

For calm, shallow water and an easy day, Makadi Bay and Sahl Hasheesh near Hurghada and the resort beaches of Nabq near Sharm el Sheikh are the gentlest choices, with warm shallows and food and shade close by. Many have a house reef for older children to snorkel. The deep dive sites and exposed reef edges suit confident swimmers rather than small children.

Do you need a boat to reach the best Egyptian beaches?

Some of the best do. Mahmya on Giftun Island is a day trip from Hurghada, and the celebrated reefs of Ras Mohammed are usually reached by boat or park trip. But many of the finest beaches, including Ras Um Sid, Sharm El Naga, Abu Dabbab and Marsa Mubarak, have a reef you can reach by wading or swimming straight from the shore.

Keep exploring

Related guides

Not ready to book?

Keep the good shorelines coming. Shore Notes is our occasional letter on the best beaches and the clubs worth your day, sent straight to your inbox. One field, unsubscribe any time.

Or keep exploring the journal

Reserve your day

Book a beach club in Egypt

Tell us your dates and party size and we will match you to the right Red Sea beach or day pass, from a Sharm el Sheikh house reef to a calm Hurghada bay.

We match you to the right club for the day
Daybeds, cabanas and sunbeds
Tell us the date and the party size
No booking fee to enquire

Independent and honest · 1,340 beaches ranked across 103 destinations · We answer to no resort