Two seas, very different coasts
Beaches & the Red Sea
The Red Sea coast and South Sinai offer clear water and coral reefs close to shore, from Hurghada and El Gouna to Marsa Alam, Sharm El Sheikh and Dahab. On the Mediterranean, Alexandria and the North Coast are a summer escape.
Ideas to start with
- Snorkelling from the beach
- Boat days to the Giftun islands
- Winter sun on the Red Sea
- Alexandria's corniche
Travel responsibly
- Use reef-safe sunscreen and never stand on coral.
- Follow beach flags and lifeguard advice.
Places
- Red Sea coastCoral reefs, resort towns and marine protected areas from Hurghada to the far south.
© Diego Delso · CC BY-SA 4.0 · Wikimedia Commons - Hurghada & Giftun IslandsResort coast with reef snorkelling around the protected Giftun islands.
© E v Schoonhoven · CC BY 3.0 · Wikimedia Commons - Marsa AlamThe quiet southern Red Sea, known for turtles, dolphins and Wadi el-Gemal.
© Marc Ryckaert (MJJR) · CC BY 3.0 · Wikimedia Commons - Sharm El SheikhSinai's resort and conference city, base for Ras Mohammed and the Straits of Tiran.
© Marc Ryckaert · CC BY 3.0 · Wikimedia Commons - Dahab and the Blue HoleA relaxed Gulf of Aqaba town and its famous reef sinkhole.
© Grand Parc - Bordeaux, France from France · CC BY 2.0 · Wikimedia Commons - North Coast (Mediterranean)Mediterranean beaches west of Alexandria, busiest in summer, with the El Alamein war memorials nearby.
Illustration - AlexandriaMediterranean city of the Bibliotheca Alexandrina, Qaitbay Citadel and Graeco-Roman catacombs.
© Argenberg · CC BY 2.0 · Wikimedia Commons - Montaza Palace gardensRoyal-era palace and seaside gardens on Alexandria's eastern shore.
© Murat Özsoy 1958 · CC BY-SA 4.0 · Wikimedia Commons
Combine it with another way to travel
© Argenberg · CC BY 2.0 · Wikimedia Commons Mediterranean beaches + Alexandria's history
Summer days on the North Coast with the Graeco-Roman catacombs, the Bibliotheca and Qaitbay a short drive away.
Beaches & the Red SeaHistorical & archaeologicalMuseums
- 1 North Coast (Mediterranean)
- 2 Alexandria
- 3 Catacombs of Kom el-Shoqafa
- 4 Bibliotheca Alexandrina
- 5 Montaza Palace gardens
© Berthold Werner · CC BY-SA 3.0 · Wikimedia Commons Sinai's sacred mountain + a Red Sea beach
Sunrise on Mount Sinai and Saint Catherine's Monastery, then reefs and rest in Sharm El Sheikh and Ras Mohammed.
Religious heritage & the Holy FamilyBeaches & the Red SeaDiving & snorkelling
Build this journey →
Sustainable Development Goals
- SDG 14Life below waterTarget 14.7 names tourism among the sustainable uses of marine resources; 14.2 calls for protecting marine and coastal ecosystems.
- SDG 6Clean water and sanitationTarget 6.4: use water efficiently — a real concern for hotels and resorts in a desert country.
- SDG 8Decent work and economic growthTarget 8.9: devise and implement policies to promote sustainable tourism that creates jobs and promotes local culture and products.
Sources
Editorial overview. Opening hours, prices, permits and access rules change: confirm them with the responsible authority or a licensed operator before you travel.