Hurghada or Sharm el-Sheikh – a choice that at least once faced every tourist thinking about a vacation in Egypt. The resorts are only 200 km away from each other and are quite similar. In both – well-developed infrastructure and hotels for every taste and wallet, the cost of rest while not critically different from resort to resort. At the same time, each of them has its own important nuances and differences – from weather to entertainment.
Hurghada has become a big beach vacation destination ahead of Sharm el Sheikh. The resort is more sedate and is especially popular with tourists with children. Sharm el-Sheikh has found a resonance among young people – mainly due to the busy life (including clubbing) not only in the hotels, but also in the city itself.
On the beaches of Sharm el-Sheikh will be interesting to fans of diving and underwater world – almost along the entire coastline is a coral reef. Kite and windsurfing fans will not get bored in Hurghada – it can be quite windy here.
There are also differences in the excursion component of these resorts. Luxor, for example, is more convenient to get to from Hurghada, while the Jordanian Petra or St. Catherine’s Monastery in Sinai is closer to Sharm el-Sheikh. As for Cairo, there is no special difference – the Egyptian capital is about the same distance from both resorts (about 500 km).
Let’s understand in detail the advantages and disadvantages of the main resorts of Egypt. Let’s compare Hurghada and Sharm el-Sheikh on the main parameters: weather, beaches, diving, entertainment, hotels, prices and attractions.
Hurghada: Pros and cons
Beaches are the main argument for a vacation in Hurghada. Sandy, wide, with a gentle entrance to the sea – ideal for vacation with children. You can safely walk barefoot along the coast and play in the sand.
Snorkeling – there are almost no reefs in Hurghada, but you can watch fish with your children at shallow depths where there are almost no strong currents. There are many such places in the resort.
Hotels – most of them are on the first coastline and are family oriented. There is everything you need for a vacation – from restaurants, animation and concerts to stores and water parks.
Cost – Hurghada has more hotels and they are on average cheaper than in Sharm el Sheikh. The options range from budget to premium segment. Among the most worthy are Rixos Premium Magawish 5* in Magawish, The Oberoi 5* in Sahl Hasheesh, Baron Resort Sahl Hasheesh 5*. For a more modest vacation Mercure Hurgada 4*, Bella Vista Resort Hurgada 4*, Palm Beach Resort 4* are perfect.
Sightseeing – inquisitive tourists will surely appreciate their variety in Hurghada. The most interesting monuments of history and architecture are located in the Old Town of Hurghada – colorful El Dahar. The city’s historical museum is dedicated to the Egyptian civilization – it has more than 1500 artifacts. Children and adults will love the Hurghada Aquarium with its unique collection of flora and fauna of the Red Sea. The most popular field trip is probably the trip to Luxor.
Reef diving is Hurghada’s weak point. For a bright and varied underwater world of the Red Sea is better to go to Sharm el-Sheikh. In Hurghada there are very few hotels with large coral reefs and they are concentrated mainly in the area of Safaga (50 km from Hurghada) and Soma Bay on the Abu Peninsula.
Nightlife – it’s better to party from night till morning in Sharm el Sheikh. There are practically no noisy clubs and discos in Hurghada. Outside the hotel is desert, and you can’t walk to the nearest cafes and stores.
Wind – Hurghada is not at all hot in winter. It is quite possible to sunbathe and swim during the day, but in the evening there is often a strong wind and the temperature drops significantly. Locals wear jackets and even hats.
Sharm el Sheikh:Pros and cons
Diving – as experienced divers say, Sharm el-Sheikh has no rivals in terms of sea purity and diversity of the underwater world. Hundreds of thousands of tourists from all over the world come to the resort for this reason.
The most famous areas with reefs for diving are Sharks Bay, Ras Nastrani and Hadaba. There are a number of hotels with their own “underwater gardens” (reefs) – in Hadaba it is Domina Coral Bay King’s Lake Sharm El Sheikh 5*, and in Sharks Bay – Coral Beach Tiran 4*Hotel .
Beaches – in Sharm El Sheikh they are mostly coral, but there are also sandy beaches. It depends on the bay where the hotel is located. For example, in the hotels Rixos Seagate 5*, Rixos Sharm el Sheikh 5* Steigenberger Alkazar 5* and the beaches are sandy with a gentle entrance to the sea. The Naama Bay area is ideal in terms of beaches. In addition, the main infrastructure and entertainment of the resort is concentrated here.
Entertainment – Sharm el-Sheikh is visited by families with children, and lovers of partying, and connoisseurs of informative rest. The resort is universal, young, modern. And this is its great advantage. Many hotels here, unlike in Hurghada, are located directly in the city, and outside of them can be as fun and interesting as on their territory.
Nightlife is a source of pride for Sharm el Sheikh. There are many clubs, discos, bars and restaurants in the resort – during the season it buzzes both day and night. The Pacha Sharm el Sheikh nightclub is particularly popular. Next to the club is a pedestrianized street with bars, restaurants, and stores. If you want to settle near, literally in 10 minutes walk from the club there is, for example, the hotel Fun & Sun Active Tropitel Waves 5 *.
Among the entertainment Sharm el-Sheikh has several theme parks with simple attractions and installations, where you can go with children.
Excursions – from Sharm el Sheikh it is relatively close to the holy places on the Sinai Peninsula – Mount Sinai and St. Ekateina Monastery. In Sharm el-Sheikh itself, the Naama Bay promenade and the Old City are interesting, as well as the Egyptian History Museum. Its exposition presents three historical periods: Pharaonic, Greco-Roman and Islamic.
The winter weather in Sharm el Sheikh is more pleasant than in Hurghada. The resort is covered by a mountain range, and the winds there are not so merciless. But they do exist, so if you are going to visit Sharm el Sheikh in winter, keep in mind that the calmest bays here are Naama Bay, Gardens Bay, Sharm el Maya.
Sandy beaches, or rather, their almost complete absence is one of the main disadvantages of the resort. If this point is important for you, you should settle in the Naama Bay area, where there are several sandy beaches. In general, the beaches are coral and in order to swim in the sea, you will have to go down or dive from the pontoon. On the beach itself it is recommended to walk in special shoes, which are not afraid to step on coral or sea urchin.
Choice of hotel – yes, in Sharm el-Sheikh modern hotels and all infrastructure for recreation at your fingertips, but many of them are located on the second or third coastline. While in Hurghada even budget hotels are located on the first shoreline. In Sharm el-Sheikh from a number of hotels to the sea beach you will have to walk to the beach – as a rule, it is 5-15 minutes.
