Hurghada or Sharm El Sheikh — which is the better choice for a holiday? Both resorts are on the Red Sea and offer all-inclusive hotels, sea trips and safaris, but the beaches, reefs, winter weather and range of excursions differ noticeably.
We compare the resorts by the main criteria so you can choose not an abstract "best place" but the destination that fits your own kind of holiday.
Short answer: Hurghada is often more convenient for a sandy beach, a gradual entry into the sea and a trip to Luxor. Sharm El Sheikh is usually stronger for house reefs, snorkeling and sheltered winter bays. But the right hotel matters more than the name of the resort.
Where the beaches are better: Hurghada or Sharm
If you want a sandy shore and the ability to enter the water without a pontoon, the choice in Hurghada is usually wider. There are many hotels with lagoons, cleared beaches and a smooth increase in depth. This format is especially convenient for small children and for tourists who are not confident swimmers.
At the same time, the beaches of Hurghada are not all the same. In some places the sea is shallow, in others there are stones or coral areas, and at some hotels you also have to walk quite far to reach deeper water. So the description of a specific beach still needs to be checked.
In Sharm El Sheikh, good sandy entries can be found in Naama Bay, Sharm El Maya and in some bays of Hadaba and Ras Um Sid. But at many hotels the coral platform starts near the shore, so swimming is allowed only from a pontoon.
Where the sea and coral reefs are better
If the main impression of your holiday should be corals, bright fish and snorkeling near the hotel, Sharm El Sheikh more often wins. The resort lies between the Ras Mohammed and Nabq protected areas, and well-known reefs run along many stretches of the coast.
Ras Um Sid, Hadaba, Sharks Bay and some beaches in other areas are especially valued. But a beautiful reef does not mean comfortable swimming: you may need a long pontoon, and the depth beyond its edge can be considerable.
In Hurghada the underwater world is also interesting, but the reef at many city hotels is more modest. For rich snorkeling, tourists more often go on sea excursions to islands and remote reefs. Trips to Giftun, diving and programs with several stops at sea are popular.
Hurghada or Sharm El Sheikh with kids
With small children, many families choose Hurghada because of the sandy entry and the large number of hotels with shallow water. In the Makadi Bay area and in the south of the resort there are large family complexes with water parks, clubs and spacious grounds.
Sharm El Sheikh also offers strong family hotels, especially with water parks and kids' entertainment. However, the beach needs to be studied more carefully: a beautiful reef and a pontoon-only entry can be inconvenient for a child.
For a toddler
- a sandy entry without corals;
- a gradual increase in depth;
- a short walk from the room;
- a heated children's pool in winter.
For a teenager
- a water park and sports grounds;
- an age-appropriate club;
- snorkeling or water activities;
- an evening program.
Where it is warmer in winter: Hurghada or Sharm
In December, January and February, tourists often choose Sharm El Sheikh. The mountains of South Sinai partly shelter certain bays from the wind, so it can be more comfortable on the beach than on the open coast.
For a winter trip, people more often consider Hadaba, Ras Um Sid, Sharm El Maya and Naama Bay. Nabq Bay is more exposed: wind and waves can affect swimming more there, and the pontoon is sometimes closed.
Hurghada is also suitable for a winter holiday, but the wind is felt more often. The shape of the beach, the orientation of the buildings and the presence of a sheltered lagoon matter a great deal. Even neighboring hotels can give completely different impressions.
We looked at the areas in more detail in the article "Where in Egypt is less windy in winter".
Where the excursions are more interesting
There is no single winner for excursions: the destinations are different.
From Hurghada
- Luxor, Karnak Temple and the Valley of the Kings;
- Giftun Islands and beach programs;
- diving and sea trips;
- desert safari;
- El Gouna and city sightseeing trips.
From Sharm El Sheikh
- Ras Mohammed and White Island;
- Tiran Island and diving;
- Colored Canyon, Salama and Dahab;
- Mount Moses and St. Catherine's Monastery;
- safari in the Sinai desert.
From Hurghada it is more logical to travel to Luxor. From Sharm it is more convenient to get to know the nature of South Sinai and the reefs of Ras Mohammed. Cairo is accessible from both resorts, but the overland trip will be long.
City, walks and atmosphere
Hurghada is a more ordinary Egyptian city, where tourist areas sit next to residential districts. There are the Marina, Sheraton, Mamsha, markets, shopping centers and areas for long-term stays. Tourists can more often see everyday city life.
Sharm El Sheikh is more clearly divided into resort zones. For walks, people choose Naama Bay, the Old Town and SOHO Square, but from a remote hotel you may need a taxi to get there. The distances between Nabq, Hadaba and Sharks Bay are quite large.
If you want to walk out of the hotel every evening, check not just the resort but the surroundings of the specific hotel. A large complex on the outskirts and a city hotel give a completely different holiday.
Prices and choice of hotels
Both resorts have budget hotels, family complexes, premium chains and Adults Only. The cost of a tour depends on the season, the city of departure, the room category and hotel occupancy, so you cannot say that one resort is always cheaper than the other.
Compare offers in the tour search for the same dates and be sure to take additional costs into account: a taxi to the center, a transfer to the beach, paid restaurants and trips outside the hotel.
Detailed options are collected in the articles "Best hotels in Hurghada", "Best hotels in Sharm El Sheikh" and the general comparison of the best hotels in Egypt.
Where to compare hotel and tour prices
Once you have chosen a resort, compare prices for the same dates. The method depends on how you are traveling.
Hotel only in Hurghada
Suitable if you have already bought tickets or are planning the trip yourself. Hurghada hotels can be filtered by price, area and reviews.
Hotel only in Sharm
Suitable if you have already bought tickets or are planning the trip yourself. Sharm El Sheikh hotels can be filtered by price, area and reviews.
Tour with flight
The search shows offers from tour operators in Moscow: dates, meals and hotel are chosen in one place.
Hurghada and Sharm El Sheikh: comparison
| Criterion | Hurghada | Sharm El Sheikh |
|---|---|---|
| Sandy beaches | A wider choice, usually | Found in some bays |
| Coral reefs | Often more interesting on a sea excursion | Many hotels with a house reef |
| Entry into the sea | More often from the shore | Often only from a pontoon |
| Small children | Many convenient sandy beaches | You need to choose the bay and hotel carefully |
| Winter | Wind is felt more often | Sheltered bays can be more comfortable |
| Main historical trip | Luxor | Mount Moses and Saint Catherine's Monastery |
| Main sea destinations | Giftun and the Red Sea reefs | Ras Mohammed and Tiran |
| City environment | More everyday city life | Separate resort zones |
What to choose for you
Hurghada or Sharm El Sheikh should be chosen not by the resort's overall rating but by how you imagine your usual day on vacation.
- Choose Hurghada, if a sandy beach, a gradual entry, a holiday with a small child or a trip to Luxor matter to you.
- Choose Sharm El Sheikh, if you dream of a house reef, snorkeling, Ras Mohammed and a more sheltered winter bay.
- Look at the specific hotel, if the main criteria are a water park, meals, entertainment, quiet or premium service — such options exist at both resorts.
So the question "Hurghada or Sharm El Sheikh — where is it better?" has no single answer. The best resort is the one whose beaches, areas and excursions match your expectations.
Frequently asked questions
Where is it warmer in winter — in Hurghada or Sharm El Sheikh?
More often it is more comfortable in the sheltered bays of Sharm El Sheikh. However, Nabq can be windy, and a separate sheltered beach in Hurghada may turn out to be more convenient than an open beach in Sharm.
Where is the sandy entry into the sea better?
In Hurghada the choice of hotels with a sandy entry is usually wider. In Sharm, such beaches are sought first of all in Sharm El Maya, Naama Bay, Ras Um Sid and some bays of Hadaba.
Where is snorkeling better?
Sharm El Sheikh more often wins thanks to its house reefs, Ras Mohammed and the Strait of Tiran. In Hurghada, people often go out by boat for the most interesting reefs.
Which resort is better for a holiday with children?
For a small child, Hurghada is often more convenient because of its sandy beaches. But family hotels with water parks and kids' clubs exist at both resorts.
Where is it more convenient to go to the pyramids from?
Cairo is accessible from both resorts by plane or overland. The overland trip is long, so compare the length of the program, the transport and the departure time.
Can you combine Hurghada and Sharm in one trip?
You can, but the resorts are on different shores of the Red Sea, and the transfer takes time. For an ordinary week-long holiday it is usually wiser to choose one resort and spend time on its excursions.
Choose excursions at your resort
Compare routes, programs and trip conditions from Hurghada and Sharm El Sheikh.
