[Updated December 2019]
Egypt is a destination filled with many wonders. With coastlines on the Mediterranean Sea, the River Nile and the Red Sea, Egypt beaches offer a diverse range of activities and landscapes which you can enjoy. Locate the best beaches in Egypt and get ready to have the ultimate time of your life, doing incredible things like swimming, snorkelling, or simply enjoying great food on the beachfront.
Since there are so many to discover, here’s a list of the best beaches in Egypt:
Al Nayzak in Marsa Alam
This natural pool beach is believed to have been formed after a meteor hit planet earth. It is located approximately 13 kilometres south of Marsa Alam. The locals call it the “Shooting Star”. Nestled along the Red Sea, Al Nayzak offers beautiful scenery, making it one of the best beaches in Egypt. Shaped like an eye, Al Nayzak is filled with lovely turquoise waters.

Image courtesy of @natyshur via Instagram
Ras Banas in Marsa Alam
Ras Banas is a peninsula extending into the Red Sea, located near the Egyptian-Sudanese borders. It offers a delightful adventure to divers, and a pleasant experience for swimmers who want to enjoy watching coral reefs and colourful fish through its clear waters.
Sunken City in Sahl Hasheesh
Mistakenly believed as a Sunken City dating back to the Pharaoh’s time, it has instead been man-made some years ago, and brought lots of curious snorkellers and divers to discover the underwater city. The legendary Sunken City is located mere metres away from the shore. This spellbinding Sahl Hasheesh attraction is a replica of the Temple of Horus, in Edfu. While diving or snorkelling, you’ll get to see incredible temple-like structures and columns with wonderful marine species swimming through the grooves of the structures.

Image courtesy of @sashsolovev via Instagram
El-Mahmya in Hurghada
Located on the southern shores of Giftun Island, Hurghada, this is a getaway to enjoy swimming, snorkelling, stunning sunset views, a meal or a drink from the many restaurants serving seafood and Italian food. It is paradise on earth. El-Mahmya’s waters are home to dolphins, schools of colourful fish and many more marine species. Retreat on the buttermilk sand under the delightful sun while wholeheartedly embracing one of the best beaches in Egypt.
Sharm El-Naga Bay close to Safaga
Sharm El-Naga is approximately 1 hour from Hurghada and only a few kilometres from Safaga. What’s very special about Sharm El-Naga is how the coral reefs are close to the shore, you do not need to take a boat or swim for a long distance to reach that little piece of heaven. This Red Sea destination is considered one of the best diving and snorkelling spots in the world. Be ready to spot octopuses, colourful fish, beautiful, healthy and full of life fire and fan corals while enjoying fresh crystal clear waters. You can purchase your snorkelling gear at the mall in Hurghada, if you don’t want to rent it onsite.

Image courtesy of @sh0cker via Instagram
Wadi Qulaan in Marsa Alam
Wadi Qulaan is located inside Wadi El-Gemal Protected Area in Marsa Alam, Wadi Qulaan offers an escape from touristic beaches, and a place to enjoy unspoiled nature. Apart from swimming, those seeking adventure can get around the protected area to enjoy hiking and bird watching, and discover Gabal Hamata where ibex and gazelles roam.
The Fjord in Taba
Along the coastal route from Nuweiba to Taba,15 kilometres south of Taba to be exact, lies the picture-perfect Fjord Bay. The fjord is a deep blue cove, protected on three sides by a mountain range, ideal for hiking and capturing incredible views. Fjord Bay is a favourable diving spot, offering crystal clear water, dazzling coral reefs and exceptional marine life. This diving spot is particularly famous for its bright red anemone.

Image courtesy of @xgabing via Instagram
Agiba Beach in Mersa Matruh
Located on the Mediterranean Sea’s coastline, Agiba Beach is a roughly 40-metre-long beach. Only 24 kilometres west of Mersa Matruh, Agiba Beach is only accessible via a path coming down from a clifftop. The famous Cleopatra’s Rock is metres away from this beach. Agiba is a slice of paradise on earth, with insanely turquoise waters that cannot fail to tempt you to take a dip.
Soma Bay near Hurghada
It seems that Hurghada has an endless list of beaches, bays and islands to explore. Located 45 kilometres south of Hurghada International Airport is Soma Bay, a peninsula surrounded on all sides by the sea, only accessed via a 7-kilometre private road through a single controlled entry gate. The peninsula has five resorts, many diving spots, a hub for watersports, golf courses, and features one of the largest spas and thalassotherapy (medical use of seawater as a type of therapy) centres in the region. The turquoise blue waters, sandy beaches and perfect weather conditions attract many guests all year round. Visitors to the various resorts can take in the beauty of the ocean from catamarans and glass boats.

Image courtesy of @lucabln via Instagram
Pharoah’s Island in Taba
Pharaoh’s Island is an amazing diving spot, and a place offering views over Jordan. It’s also a chance to visit Salah El-Din’s strategic fortress easily reached by boat from Taba’s coast. This is one of the best beaches in Egypt and is a must-visit for its citadel – a UNESCO World Heritage Site. Divers can explore the incredible Picasso Reef, it is an underwater mountain that leads down 24 metres. You’ll see vast table corals. Look out for the famous ‘Picasso triggerfish’.
Ras Shitan (Devil’s Head) in Nuweiba
Located at a Bedouin camp north of Nuweiba, Ras Shaitan offers a cosy getaway. Ras Shaitan is called the “Devil’s Head”, owing to its peculiar horn formation on two sides of a huge rock. Experienced divers out there, get ready for an unforgettable dive offering underwater canyons, caves, mountains, plateaus, hard corals, well -preserved landscapes, puffer fish, you name it, and most of all, anemones coming in all colours. If diving is not on the top of the list, relaxing under the sun and enjoying the mountain views are ideal too.

Image courtesy of @sayed.safar.1 via Instagram
Abu Galoum in Dahab
Make your way to the laid-back beach town, Dahab. Located inside Ras Abu Galoum Protected Area, to the north of Nabq. It’s a diving spot famous for beautiful coral reefs. It is also home to several species such as the Nubian Ibex (mountainous goat). Abu Galoum is a great place for hiking, camel rides and 4×4 safaris with stunning views of high coastal mountains. You’ll find breathtaking scenery and flora and fauna to excite your senses. You can also do an overnight stay at the remote Bedouin camp.

Image courtesy of @ayaeph via Instagram
Are you ready for your next beach holiday? With all these fun things to do, finding the best beaches in Egypt will make your holiday exhilarating. Whether you’re venturing to Sharm el-Sheikh or Aswan you will have an abundance of fun at these Egypt beaches.Do you have your own list of some of the best beaches in Egypt? Share with us in the comments below.
All information on this blog page was correct at the time of publishing and may change at any time without prior notice. Travelstart will not be held liable for loss or inconvenience resulting from the use of out-dated or incorrectly noted information.
Island of the Pharoah (Geziret Fer3on) (in Safaga), is not correct as this island is near Taba
also in this island you can find SalahEldin castle
thanks
Great as usual.. accurate choices .. keep it up !
Thank you very much @Mona, my pleasure!
Island of the Pharoah (Geziret Fer3on) in Safaga
That’s in Taba not Safaga… Very close to the fiord…
Corrected @Walid :), thank you!
Fantastic article with fantastic spots. Just two minor corrections if I may.
Pharoah’s Island is in Sinai between Nuweiba’a and Taba… Safaga in South of Hurghada … about 700Kms away by car
Tiran is wonderful, yet it is not really a beach where you can get on. It is reefs in the middle of the sea. The one in the picture is called Gordon Reef. You can go there by boat, but you’d have to stay on the boat… again: not a beach.
thank you very much for the clarification :), really appreciated!
will correct it right away 😉
great information ,but i wish you add (shataa el ghram )in matrouh also if you see it outside high season crowds you will be speechless,the most crystal clear water ever.
Matrouh is a hidden gem, it has the most amazing beaches in Egypt!
Thanks 🙂
Ras Shitan doesn’t mean devil’s head, because Shitan here is the plural of shat (beach) in the badawian language ….. so it means the head of beaches …. or the tip of beaches
I’m waiting to visite these places soon thanks allot
yes it doesn’t mean Devil’s head, but it’s known as Devil’s head 🙂
Awesome spots but we got also awesome spots at halayb & shalateen
great blog, really I like it ,,
but i have little amend ” Ras Shitan ” it’s not in arabic ( Devil’s Head ) .. it’s ” two beach’s head ”
رأس الشاطئان
u know .. in Egypt we love to make all words easy 😀
Thank u
Unrevealed beauty of Egypt !
True 🙂
Great work passainte. One minor but important correction, the sunken city in Sahl Hasheesh in Hurghada is man made, and was put in the sea in the last 5 years, as part of the Sahl Hasheesh development. I swam there shortly after it was built, and had no corals around it yet.
Hey Anna, I believe I made this change before but for some reason it wasn’t saved, thanks 🙂
And my pleasure 😉
All of them is a Must go place but the thing is i have no clue how to reach it wether driving,which transportation and where to stay and unlike hurghada and sharm they are not advertised on any travel agencies.
It would be a gr8 help if u just provided few details on the stuff i mentioned
And thanks for dedicating ur time to help people enjoy life .♡
Ohhhhhh, how sweet of you Deena <3, thanks for the lovely comment, you just made my day!
I will make my research and get back to you as soon as possible 😉