9 Best Beaches in EGYPT to Visit in 2023

best beaches egypt

Whenever someone’s heading towards vacation days, the hardest part is to pick a destination. If selecting a destination is a problem, what about vacationing in Egypt?

It’s obvious for most people that the first thought they get when they hear the name Egypt is the pyramids. What most people don’t know is that this North African country is also filled with beauty that has nothing to do with the pyramids.

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The country is blessed with a vast coastline that stretches from the Mediterranean to the Red Sea. With such a huge coastline, there is no shortage of world-class beaches in Egypt. Here is a list of the 8 best beaches in Egypt:

1. Na’ama Bay

When describing paradise, the definition should be linked to Naama Bay. This slice of heaven is located in Egypt’s prime beach resort town Sharm El Sheikh. Naama Bay is sandwiched between the desert of the Sinai Peninsula and the Red Sea. As a naturally occurring bay, Naama Bay boasts of white sandy beaches and deep turquoise waters of the Red Sea.

Over time Naama Bay has become the go-to beach spot for all visitors that flock to Egypt. Naama Bay is an ideal beach for both families and couples vacationing since it offers family-friendly accommodations, activities, and entertainment. One of the most iconic features of Naama Bay is the coral reefs and the spectacular dive sites of the Ras Mohammed National Park.

There are lots of activities that family activities that all can enjoy, such as diving, snorkeling, parasailing, glass boat excursions, or scuba diving. There’s no need to worry. These activities are run by professionals and are categorized to suit the level of expertise of each individual.

The scenery of Naama Bay is also something to be desired, with it being at the direct sight of the jagged Saudi Arabian mountainous coastline. Also, the resorts and eateries surrounding this beach offer the most authentic Egyptian cuisines in the entire world. Packing sunblock before visiting is essential since the sun can be pretty brutal.

2. El Gouna

Derived from an Arabic name meaning lagoon, El Gouna is located about 27 kilometers north of the town of Hurghada along Egypt’s eastern coast. El Gouna beach comprises cobbled streets and a network of small lagoons that are weaved together to make one of the world’s most sought-after beach destinations.

The main theme around this beach is a resort-style holiday with plenty of activities that will make the time spent in Egypt fly by without your knowledge. The environment around El Gouna is literally mad for you to relax and unwind. Almost every resort there is ranked as a 5-star resort.

El Gouna always experiences strong winds, making it the perfect location to enjoy extreme water sports like kite surfing, paragliding, and waterskiing. Other activities on offer include stand-up paddle boarding, horse riding, snorkeling, scuba-diving, kayaking, and desert ATV tours.

El Gouna is also famous for its 18-hole golf course. The weather in El Gouna is primarily hot and sunny for most of the year, making it possible to visit at any time.

3. Dahab Lagoon

Located on the southeast coast of the Sinai Peninsula, Dahab Lagoon is one of the most breathtaking beaches in Egypt. The beach at Dahab Lagoon is one of a kind since it is composed of a sandy and rocky shore, but this doesn’t limit the joys this beach has to offer.

Dahab Lagoon is usually very peaceful due to the low amount of traffic on the beach, making it the perfect place for people to unplug and fully enjoy their vacation. Despite the rocky shoreline Dahab Lagoon is home to some of the world’s best beach surfing spots. The wind at Dahab Lagoon is usually strong making it very conducive for wave, kite, and windsurfing.

Dahab Lagoon also offers terrific spots for scuba diving and snorkeling. Apart from the beach, Dahab Lagoon offers the chance for specialized excursions, camel and jeep rides, and ATV tours.

The central area of Dahab Lagoon is filled with restaurants and cafes built on the rocks that have covered the shoreline that offer different cuisines. One of the unique qualities of Dahab Lagoon is that it provides backpacker-friendly accommodations.

4. Soma Bay

soma bay beach egypt

Ranked as one of the top three kite surfing destinations in the world, Soma Bay is located at least 44 kilometers south of the Hurghada International Airport along the Red Sea. Soma Bay has a broad stretch of coastline that hosts about five resorts that offer luxurious and all-inclusive vacation packages.

The location of Soma Bay is so pristine that most people who have been regard Soma Bay as the best spot for relaxing without the hustle caused by being near cities. Soma Bay is all-inclusive and a perfect beach destination for families and couples alike. The resorts along Soma Bay are world-renowned for their romantic setups, making it one of the most romantic spots in the country.

Apart from offering tranquility and romance, Soma Bay also provides a variety of water sports and beach sports. You can enjoy kite surfing, paddleboarding, snorkeling, scuba diving, windsurfing, beach volleyball, soccer, and touch rugby.

The entertainment scene at Soma Bay is also top-class, and it caters to every age group and ensures everyone gets to enjoy their vacation to the fullest. Soma Bay also boasts of a magnificent marina that stretches far into the sea, providing the perfect setup for a dreamy and charming sunset walk.

5. Ras Um Sid

Located south of the Na’ama Bay and the Sinai Peninsula, Ras Um Sid is filled with soft sand and sun-soaked lounges for you to enjoy. Ras Um Sid is world-renowned for its reefs and gorgonian forests, making it one of the best beach strips in the Sharm El Sheik region.

Ras Um Sid’s depth is relatively low, thus making lots of snorkeling and diving enthusiasts flock to its shores to get the chance to catch a glimpse of the spectacular reefs that fill the area. The waters around Ras Um Sid are full of aquatic life. Thus, glass boat tours are the primary source of attraction.

Ras Um Sid also boasts of sunny and hot days all year round, making it one of the most popular beach destinations in the north of Africa. Other activities on offer at Ras Um Sid include scuba diving, snorkeling, and diving.

The Ras Um Sid beach is covered with golden sand and is backed by a cliff. The cliff at Ras Um Sid is a popular spot that offers a very serene view of the area and is also regarded as the best place to watch the sun rise and set.

6. Makadi Bay

Located at Hurghada west of the Red Sea, Makadi Bay is the only beach that has been designated explicitly for tourists with no locals living around the area. The beach is filled with pure, white, soft sand with pristine landscapes consisting of endless dunes and the background view of the majestic Sinai mountains.

Access to the sea depends on the hotels since most of the coastline is divided into hotel complexes. The sea at Makadi Bay is mostly calm, thus providing clear waters for people to enjoy glass boat tours, snorkeling, scuba diving, and swimming.

Makadi Bay is very inclusive, making it the best spot for a family vacation. Tourists can participate in other activities like visiting the pharaonic temples and tombs and beach sports like beach football and volleyball. As for entertainment, the resorts offer value package deals and world-class facilities such as water parks, nighttime entertainment, swimming pools, and kids clubs.

7. Fjord Bay

Located 15 kilometers from Taba, Fjord Bay is regarded as Egypt’s go-to spot for watersports enthusiasts. The bay is located along the Red Sea, bordering Egypt and Israel. The beach has very picturesque scenery and pristine weather conditions that have made it very popular among visitors in Egypt.

Fjord Bay waters are usually calm and crystal clear with smooth and gentle entrances, making it possible to go into the water with children, and there is also no need for special water shoes. The landscape of Fjord Bay consists of palm tree oases and colorful coral reefs.

Fjord Bay has many activities, such as extreme water sports like jet skiing, parasailing, wakeboarding, hoverboarding, kite surfing, and water surfing. Other water activities include snorkeling, scuba diving, fishing, and glass boat tours.

There is a large number of resorts that offer world-class services and accommodation for both families and couples. Fjord Bay also boasts of natural attraction sites like sand dunes and a breathtaking night sky that combines blue and pink tones creating a stunning view.

The best time to visit Fjord Bay is usually all year long but not during July and August since the heat at that time is generally unbearable.

8. Sharm El Sheikh Beach

Located south of the Sinai Peninsula at the base of Aqaba Gulf, Sharm El Sheikh beach is regarded as the crown jewel of Egypt’s beach destinations. One major fact about Sharm El Sheikh beach is that it is half artificial.

Long before, Sharm El Sheikh beach consisted of rocky surfaces, reef fragments, and large pebbles, so to turn it into a full-fledged beach, masses of sand were used to unite the fragments. Due to the introduction of sand from another location, the color of the sand at Sharm El Sheikh beach tends to differ. In some areas, the sand is bright yellow, and in other places, the sand is a bit darker.

Sharm El Sheikh beach contains deep waters. So, swimming should only occur within 10 to 15 meters of the shoreline, and children should always be under parental supervision. Despite the dangers, Sharm El Sheikh beach is ultimately the best beach destination in the country, with multiple 5-star hotels and resorts.

There are various activities that visitors can participate in when at Sharm El Sheikh beaches, such as flyboarding, jet skiing, scuba diving, free diving, yachting, reef exploring, and hoverboarding.

9. Marsa Alam

Marsa Alam Beach in Egypt

Marsa Alam, at the very south of Egypt’s sprawling Red Sea shoreline (289 kilometers south of Hurghada), had long been considered as a beach destination for divers.

While Hurghada to the north and Sharm el-Sheikh on the Sinai Peninsula were thriving diving hotspots, often appearing on top ten lists for diving around the world, Marsa Alam remained an inconspicuous location barely recognized outside the diving community.

But the resorts have come in to exploit this extensive beachfront now that the secret is out.

A vacation to Marsa Alam can now include both sunbathing in resort comfort and diving. For experienced divers, Marsa Alam is the best base to access the astounding kaleidoscope-colored reefs of the Red Sea’s far south. 

Why Visit Egypt?

When choosing a vacation spot, it’s best to pick a destination that offers a wide variety of activities, adventure, and the chance to relax. What better destination to tick all those boxes than Egypt? Regarded as one of the world’s oldest civilizations, Egypt is a country filled with beauty and wonder. From the golden sandy beaches to the Sinai mountains to the pyramids and the world’s greatest open-air museum, Luxor, there are many things you can do, see and learn in Egypt. Here is a list of other adventures Egypt has to offer:

  • Following in the footsteps of Moses
  • Desert safaris
  • Egyptian cuisine
  • Egyptian culture
  • Tombs of the pharaohs
  • Camel or horseback riding across the desert
  • White water rafting along the Nile
  • Learn about Egyptian architecture

As a country that isn’t known for its beaches, Egypt sure has some gems in its hands. It is essential that when planning for a vacation, visitors take their time to ensure everything is packed and all medical requirements are met.

Whenever in Egypt, it is highly recommended that all visitors respect the natives’ culture and observe the country’s rules. It’s a bonus that visitors at least learn some words of the language of which country they are visiting. It will enable them to have an easy time while in the country.