Beat the heat · Sharm El Sheikh

Sharm El Sheikh in the heat: what to see early, and where to spend midday

Feluka's guide · Sharm El Sheikh · 16 places

In July, Sharm El Sheikh averages 39.7 °C at the warmest time of day. Feluka's planner fills no full day in July, against 1 in January. Plan the open-air sights for early in the day and keep the middle of the day indoors or in the shade.

How hot does Sharm El Sheikh get, month by month?

Jan22°
Feb24°
Mar27°
Apr31°
May36°
Jun39°
Jul40°
Aug40°
Sept38°
Oct34°
Nov28°
Dec24°

Average high, °C. Hotter months are marked.

How long will you be in the sun at each place?

In the openMostly shadedIndoors
Ras Mohamed Nature Reserve240 min
El Fanar Beach150 min
Naama Bay120 min
Shark Bay120 min
SOHO Square90 min
Old Market60 min
Peace Square30 min
Al-Sahaba Mosque10 min
Mustafa Mosque10 min
The Heavenly Cathedral10 min

Minutes in the open sun during a visit, as the guide records them.

What should you see early in the day?

Ras Mohamed Nature Reserve

about 300 min

A protected national park at the southern tip of Sinai with coral reefs for diving and snorkelling, beaches and mangroves.

What to do there
  • Snorkel the protected coral reefs
  • Dive Shark Reef and Yolanda Reef
  • See the mangroves
  • Look for the open cracks left by earthquakes

Ras MohamedRas Mohamed Nature Reserve, Sharm El Sheikh 2, South Sinai Governorate 8750001Best: early morning, morning, late morningOn the map ›Something wrong?

El Fanar Beach

about 150 min

A diving and snorkelling beach on the Umm El Sid hill, in a seascape of dunes, rocks and coral reefs; admission fee.

What to do there
  • Snorkel over the coral reef
  • Dive the reef
  • Walk out along the pier

HadabaEl Fanar St., Umm El Sid Hill, Sharm El Sheikh, South Sinai Governorate 8762401Best: morning, late morning, afternoonOn the map ›Something wrong?

Naama Bay

about 120 min

The main tourist hub of Sharm El Sheikh, a bay with coral reefs ringed by cafes, restaurants, hotels and bazaars.

What to do there
  • Swim among the colourful fish
  • See the coral from a glass-bottom boat
  • Dive, sail or water-ski
  • Shop for souvenirs and sit in a cafe along the bay

Naama BayNaama Bay, Sharm El Sheikh, South Sinai GovernorateBest: morning, late morning, afternoon, golden hourOn the map ›Something wrong?

Shark Bay

about 120 min

A reef beach at the Concord hotel entrance in the Shark's Bay area; reviews mention the reef, corals, fish and diving.

What to do there
  • Snorkel over the reef
  • Dive the reef

SOHO and Shark's BayConcord Hotel entrance, Shark's Bay, Sharm El Sheikh, South Sinai Governorate 8766101Best: morning, late morning, afternoonOn the map ›Something wrong?

Where can you spend the middle of the day?

The Heavenly Cathedral

about 30 min

The largest church in Sinai, a Coptic Orthodox cathedral in Hay El Nour opened in December 2010; listed as open 24 hours.

What to do there
  • See the frescoes and murals of biblical scenes

Hay El NourV7QW+65F, Al Maahad Al Dini, Sharm El Sheikh 2, South Sinai Governorate 8761225Best: morning, late morning, afternoon, golden hourOn the map ›Something wrong?

Hours unverified: they come from its listing and may have changed.

Al-Sahaba Mosque

about 20 min

One of the city's best-known mosques, opened in March 2017 beside the Old Market; open 10 am to 10 pm every day.

Old MarketV78W+H39, Sharm El Sheikh 1, South Sinai Governorate 8761131Best: late morning, afternoon, golden hourOn the map ›Something wrong?

Hours unverified: they come from its listing and may have changed.

Mustafa Mosque

about 20 min

One of the city's best-known mosques, opened in October 2007 in Hay El Nour; listed as open 24 hours.

Hay El NourV7RX+XR4, Hay El Nour, Sharm El Sheikh 2, South Sinai Governorate 8761251Best: morning, late morning, afternoon, golden hourOn the map ›Something wrong?

Hours unverified: they come from its listing and may have changed.

Fares Seafood Restaurant - Old Market

about 80 min

A seafood restaurant in the Old Market, open 11 am to 1 am; reviews mention seafood soup, lobster, grilled shrimp and flatbread.

What to do there
  • Order the seafood soup and grilled shrimp
  • Try the lobster or a seafood platter

Old MarketOld Market, Sharm El Sheikh 1, South Sinai Governorate 8761131Best: lunch, dinnerOn the map ›Something wrong?

Hours unverified: they come from its listing and may have changed.

Fish Mart Seafood

about 80 min

A seafood restaurant in the Old Market, 4.6 stars from 2,000 reviews, open noon to 2 am; reviews mention clam chowder and fresh fish.

What to do there
  • Order the clam chowder
  • Choose fresh fish, shrimp or calamari

Old MarketOld Market, near Al-Sahaba Mosque, Sharm El Sheikh 1, South Sinai Governorate 46619Best: lunch, dinnerOn the map ›Something wrong?

Hours unverified: they come from its listing and may have changed.

El Masrien Restaurant

about 80 min

A meat and grill restaurant in the Old Market, open 11 am to 3:30 am; reviews mention shawarma, kofta, kebab and stuffed pigeon.

What to do there
  • Order grilled meats, kebab and kofta
  • Try the stuffed pigeon or the lamb shank

Old MarketCommercial Market, Sharm El Sheikh 2, South Sinai Governorate 8761121Best: lunch, dinnerOn the map ›Something wrong?

Hours unverified: they come from its listing and may have changed.

Pomodoro

about 80 min

An Italian restaurant in Naama Bay, 4.5 stars, open early morning and from 12:30 to 11:30 pm; reviews mention fettuccine and carpaccio.

What to do there
  • Order the fettuccine or the carpaccio
  • Try the seafood pasta

Naama BayMalek Al Bahrein St, Naama Bay, Sharm El Sheikh 1, South Sinai Governorate 46619Best: lunch, dinnerOn the map ›Something wrong?

Hours unverified: they come from its listing and may have changed.

What is best at golden hour?

Naama Bay

about 120 min

The main tourist hub of Sharm El Sheikh, a bay with coral reefs ringed by cafes, restaurants, hotels and bazaars.

What to do there
  • Swim among the colourful fish
  • See the coral from a glass-bottom boat
  • Dive, sail or water-ski
  • Shop for souvenirs and sit in a cafe along the bay

Naama BayNaama Bay, Sharm El Sheikh, South Sinai GovernorateBest: morning, late morning, afternoon, golden hourOn the map ›Something wrong?

Old Market

about 60 min

The modernised Old Town souk around Al-Sahaba Mosque, known for spices, perfumes, clothes and street food; open 24 hours.

What to do there
  • Bargain for souvenirs and perfumes
  • Browse spices and clothes and eat street food
  • Walk over to Al-Sahaba Mosque, which the souk surrounds

Old MarketEntrance El-Souk, Sharm El Sheikh 2, South Sinai Governorate 8761130Best: late morning, afternoon, golden hour, dinner, eveningOn the map ›Something wrong?

Hours unverified: they come from its listing and may have changed.

SOHO Square

about 90 min

A lit evening square of restaurants, lounges and entertainment; open 1 pm to 3 am every day.

What to do there
  • Watch the dancing and singing fountains
  • Skate on the ice rink
  • Take an evening walk around the square
  • Browse the bazaar and sit down for shisha

SOHO and Shark's BaySOHO Square, South Sinai Governorate 46628Best: golden hour, dinner, eveningOn the map ›Something wrong?

Hours unverified: they come from its listing and may have changed.

Farsha Cafe

about 75 min

A beachfront cafe on the Umm El Sid hill serving tea, light fare and shisha, open 11 am to 1 am; reviews mention the sunset view.

What to do there
  • Watch the sunset over the sea
  • Have a shisha by the water

HadabaUmm El Sid Hill, Sharm El Sheikh 1, South Sinai Governorate 46619Best: afternoon, golden hour, eveningOn the map ›Something wrong?

Hours unverified: they come from its listing and may have changed.

Peace Square

about 30 min

The Peace Icon monument, black granite clusters with lotus leaves, eight wings and a world globe; the square is open 24 hours.

What to do there
  • Walk the path around the fountain and monument

Peace SquareX976+GG4, Sharm El Sheikh 1, South Sinai Governorate 8761452Best: afternoon, golden hour, eveningOn the map ›Something wrong?

Hours unverified: they come from its listing and may have changed.

Santorini Cafe Restaurant

about 90 min

A Greek cafe-restaurant at El Bahr in Hadaba, open for dinner from 6 pm; reviews mention the sunset and sea view.

What to do there
  • Watch the sunset over the sea
  • Order a pizza

HadabaEl-Bahr, Hadaba, Sharm El Sheikh 1, South Sinai Governorate 8762401Best: dinner, golden hourOn the map ›Something wrong?

Hours unverified: they come from its listing and may have changed.

In short

See the 4 open-air places early in the day; spend the hot hours at the 7 indoor or shaded ones.

Every place in Sharm El Sheikh ›