Sharm El Sheikh: 2-Day Itinerary
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Two days is enough for one proper reef day plus the town itself, provided you don’t try to cram Ras Mohammed and a second boat trip into the same short trip. This covers the essentials; our 3-day itinerary adds a full extra day for the Old Market and a desert safari if you have it.
Day-by-day at a glance
| Day | Focus | Est. spend (excl. hotel) |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Arrival, Naama Bay, Old Market | ~$30-60 |
| 2 | Ras Mohammed National Park | ~$40-90 |
Day 1: Arrival and Naama Bay
Morning/Afternoon: Taxi drivers waiting outside arrivals routinely quote three to five times the fair local rate for the short run into Naama Bay. Agree a fixed price before the bags go in the trunk, or book your hotel’s own transfer instead, since Uber doesn’t operate here. Check into a Naama Bay hotel, walkable to restaurants and the beach, and use the rest of the afternoon to settle in on the sand rather than rushing into an activity on travel-day legs.
Evening: Walk the Naama Bay promenade for dinner, seafood at a bayfront restaurant is a reliable choice since most of what’s served locally comes off boats working the Gulf of Aqaba. If you’ve got the energy, a short taxi or walk to the Old Market for an evening browse works well too; bargaining is expected here, start well under the first quoted price.
Concrete tip: Fix your Ras Mohammed boat trip for tomorrow tonight, either through your hotel desk or a reviewed dive shop, rather than hoping to book same-day. Morning slots fill first.
Day 2: Ras Mohammed National Park
Full day: Ras Mohammed, about 12km southwest at the Sinai’s very tip, is Egypt’s first national park (1983) and the reason most people fly here at all. Shark Reef and Yolanda Reef are the standout dives, sheer coral walls with some of the best visibility in the northern Red Sea, and the shallower sections reward snorkelers almost as well as divers. Entry runs around $5 cash per person (verify current price with your operator), on top of whatever your boat trip charges for gear, guide and lunch. Go on an early-departure boat if you can; visibility and light are best before 10am, and boats stack up by mid-morning.
Evening: Back in Naama Bay by mid-to-late afternoon, with time to rest before a final dinner and an early night if you’ve got a morning flight.
Concrete tip: Bring reef-safe sunscreen specifically, not generic “reef-friendly” marketing. Ras Mohammed’s marine park enforces coral-protection rules, and some operators check before you get in the water.
Things to know before you go
Egypt’s currency is the Egyptian pound (EGP), heavily devalued in recent years. Cards work at hotels, cash is what you need for the market, taxis and small vendors. If your visit falls during Ramadan, expect quieter daytime dining outside resorts, though resort restaurants serve tourists largely as normal. For the fuller etiquette and visa picture, see our Sharm el-Sheikh travel tips ; our Sharm el-Sheikh guide covers the destination overall.
Two days keeps things simple: one reef day, one town-and-arrival day. If you want to add the Old Market properly, a desert safari, or a day trip further afield, our 3-day itinerary nests this exactly and adds a third day.