Best Beaches in Egypt: Red Sea & Mediterranean Shores (2026)

Egypt is famous for pharaohs, but ask us where we take our own families on a long weekend and the answer is almost always the Red Sea. We run beach and snorkelling trips out of Hurghada and Sharm most weeks of the year, and we've swum, dived and lazed on just about every stretch of coast in this guide. Egypt has two very different coastlines: the warm, coral-fringed Red Sea in the east and south, and the cooler, breezier Mediterranean in the north. Below are the best beaches in Egypt for each — with honest notes on who each one suits, when to go, and how to reach it.

We've ranked these roughly from most-loved to most niche, but there's no bad choice — it comes down to whether you want reefs off the sand, a resort with everything laid on, or a quiet cove to yourself. Nearly all of the Red Sea beaches below are reachable on a half- or full-day boat trip from Hurghada or Sharm.

1. Orange Bay & Giftun Island (Hurghada)

If you see one photo of Egypt that makes you book a flight, it's probably Orange Bay — a sandbar of blinding white sand and impossibly turquoise shallows off Giftun Island, about an hour by boat from Hurghada. It's our top all-round pick: warm, calm water safe for kids, a house reef for snorkelling straight off the boat, and beach bars for a long lazy lunch. It gets busy in peak season, so go early. Both Orange Bay and the wider Giftun Islands are protected marine areas, which is exactly why the coral is still so good. Orange Bay guide Giftun Islands guide

2. Sahl Hasheesh (Hurghada)

Just south of Hurghada, Sahl Hasheesh is the coast's polished resort bay — a long, gently curving crescent of groomed sand backed by five-star hotels, a promenade and a house reef that drops off close to shore. This is the one we recommend for families and anyone who wants a proper beach-resort holiday where you barely need to leave the property. The swimming is calm, the sand is soft, and the snorkelling off the jetties is genuinely good. It's also an easy base for day trips to the islands and desert. where to stay in Hurghada

3. Mahmya Island (Hurghada)

Mahmya is an eco-beach on Giftun Island and one of the most enjoyable day trips out of Hurghada. Think a single stretch of soft sand, sun loungers under thatched shades, a fresh seafood buffet, and a reef a short swim or kayak away that's alive with parrotfish and the occasional turtle. Because it's a managed day-trip destination rather than a resort, it feels calm and uncrowded even in high season. We rate it as the best organised beach day for first-timers who want the reef without any hassle. Mahmya Island guide Mahmya snorkelling trip

4. Ras Um Sid & Naama Bay (Sharm El Sheikh)

Sharm El Sheikh's two headline beaches suit different moods. Naama Bay is the social heart — a sheltered curve of sand lined with hotels, restaurants and dive centres, with calm water that's ideal for families and first-time snorkellers. Ras Um Sid, on the cliff to the south, is quieter and has the better reef, with a coral wall dropping away just off the beach and a lighthouse landmark above. Between the two you've got Sharm's best of both worlds: easy resort swimming and world-class coral within a short taxi ride. Naama Bay guide Sharm El Sheikh day tours

5. Blue Lagoon, Dahab

Dahab is the Red Sea's laid-back alternative to the big resorts, and the Blue Lagoon is its wild jewel — a shallow, luminous turquoise lagoon backed by mountains, an hour or so north of town. It's a favourite with kitesurfers for the steady wind and flat water, and with anyone who wants a beach day that feels off the map. There are only a few simple beach camps for tea and grilled fish, so bring what you need. Dahab's in-town beaches and the nearby Blue Hole are superb for snorkelling and diving too. Blue Lagoon Dahab guide Dahab day trips

6. Marsa Alam & Abu Dabbab

For the best reefs of all, keep heading south to Marsa Alam. This is Egypt's frontier coast — fewer crowds, cleaner water, and marine life you rarely see further north. Abu Dabbab bay is the star: a calm, sandy-bottomed lagoon where you have a real chance of snorkelling with green turtles and even dugongs grazing on the seagrass. The house reefs here are pristine, which is why serious divers base themselves in Marsa Alam. It's a longer transfer from any airport, so it rewards a few days rather than a rushed day trip. scuba diving in Egypt

7. Nuweiba

On the Gulf of Aqaba between Dahab and Taba, Nuweiba is where Egyptians go to switch off completely. The beaches are long, empty and flanked by the Sinai mountains, with simple palm-shaded camps on the sand and Saudi Arabia's coast glowing across the water at sunset. There's little to do beyond swim, snorkel the quiet reefs and read — which is the point. It's the pick for barefoot, low-key travellers who find the big resorts too much, and it pairs beautifully with Coloured Canyon or Saint Catherine.

8. Sharm El Naga

Halfway between Hurghada and Safaga, Sharm El Naga is a small protected bay with one of the easiest, richest house reefs on the whole coast — coral gardens and shoals of fish just metres from a calm, sandy beach. It's a popular half-day snorkelling escape from Hurghada precisely because the reef is so accessible, making it brilliant for children and nervous first-time snorkellers who want to see something spectacular without a long swim. Facilities are basic (a restaurant and loungers), so come for the water rather than the frills. Hurghada day tours

9. North Coast (Sahel) — Mediterranean

Egypt's summer playground isn't on the Red Sea at all. The North Coast, or Sahel, stretches west of Alexandria toward Marsa Matrouh and has some of the whitest sand and most electric-blue water in the Mediterranean — think Sidi Abdel Rahman and the gated resort towns around it. The catch is timing: this is a seasonal coast that comes alive from June to September and largely shuts down the rest of the year. If you're visiting in high summer and want beaches without the Red Sea heat, the north coast Egypt beaches are the answer, with a lively, family-holiday atmosphere.

10. Alexandria Beaches

Alexandria's beaches are more city-by-the-sea than tropical escape, but they have real character. Public beaches like Stanley and Maamoura buzz with local life all summer, while a short drive west brings quieter, cleaner sand toward Agami. The water is cooler and the vibe is urban rather than resort, so pair a swim with the Bibliotheca, the Citadel and a seafood lunch on the corniche. It's the best beach in Egypt for travellers who want history and Mediterranean atmosphere over guaranteed snorkelling. Alexandria day tours

Local tip: on any Red Sea beach, use reef-safe sunscreen and never stand on the coral — the reefs here are protected. A good pair of your own snorkelling fins also beats the tired rental gear on most boats.

★ Want the Red Sea sorted for you? Our Red Sea packages bundle the best beaches, reefs and island day trips around Hurghada, Sharm and Marsa Alam — flights-in ready, no logistics on your side. See our Red Sea travel packages Red Sea travel packages

The single biggest decision is which sea. The Red Sea (Hurghada, Sharm, Marsa Alam, Dahab) has warm, calm, crystal-clear water and living coral reefs right off the sand — swimmable and divable virtually year-round, and where we'd send anyone whose priority is snorkelling, diving or reliable sunshine. The Mediterranean (Alexandria and the North Coast) is cooler, breezier and distinctly seasonal, with soft sand but no coral; it shines in high summer when the Red Sea is at its hottest. In short: pick the Red Sea for reefs and winter sun, the Mediterranean for a July or August beach break with a local holiday buzz.

For the Red Sea, the water is warm and comfortable for swimming roughly April to November, peaking in the mid-to-high 20s°C through summer, though air temperatures in Hurghada and Marsa Alam can top 40°C in July and August — great for the sea, brutal on land at midday. Spring (April–May) and autumn (September–November) are the sweet spot: warm sea, kinder air and thinner crowds. Winter is still pleasant for sunbathing and wetsuit diving, just cooler for long swims. The Mediterranean north is the reverse — really only worth it from June to September. For the full picture, see our guides to Egypt in July and August, and our overall best-time-to-visit guide. best time to visit Egypt Egypt in July Egypt in August

Whichever coast you choose, a beach break pairs perfectly with the reefs, deserts and nightlife of the resort towns — see what else there is to do in Hurghada, Sharm and Dahab beyond the sand. things to do in Hurghada things to do in Sharm El Sheikh things to do in Dahab

★ Prefer a trip built entirely around you? Tell us your dates, your favourite kind of beach and whether you dive — we'll design a private itinerary that mixes the best coast with as much (or as little) sightseeing as you like. Plan a tailor-made Egypt tour Tailor-made Egypt tour

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