The most unforgettable resorts on Egypt’s Red Sea coast

Whether you’re looking for a week of world-class diving or you just want to get away from it all on a family beach break, Egypt’s Red Sea resorts have got you covered. From Sharm El Sheikh and Dahab on the Sinai Peninsula to Soma Bay, El Gouna and Hurghada, the beaches are endless, the coral reefs are superb, and the range of hotel amenities – from beachfront restaurants and biking trails to diving centres and spas – more than enough to keep even the most discerning holidaymaker happy. Read on to discover the best resorts on Egypt’s wonderful Red Sea coast.

For superb diving, snorkelling – and sunbathing: Sheraton Sharm Hotel, Resort, Villas & Spa

All rooms at the Sheraton Sharm Hotel, Resort, Villas & Spa enjoy Red Sea views – even on the ground floor – and there’s a fabulous oversized pool to cool off in (Photo: Marriott International)

With its kaleidoscopic coral gardens and swirling shoals of colourful fish, the Red Sea is one of the world’s best underwater destinations. Base yourself in Sharm el Sheikh, at the southern tip of Egypt’s Sinai Peninsula, where the Sheraton Sharm Hotel, Resort, Villas & Spa enjoys direct access to a gorgeous private beach and spectacular house reef. Even if you’re just snorkelling from the shore, you can spot turtles, moray eels and giant wrasse, but make sure you take a few day-trips with the hotel’s own PADI Five Star Dive Resort. The pristine waters of Ras Mohammed Nature Reserve, Egypt’s first national park, lie nearby, offering some of the finest diving in Sharm around Shark Reef and Jackfish Alley – keep an eye out for manta rays and even dugong. More experienced divers will want to tackle the SS Thistlegorm, considered one of the best wreck dives in the world. At the end of a busy day’s diving, treat yourself to a massage at the divine Sheraton Sharm Spa Center. All rooms at the resort enjoy Red Sea views – even on the ground floor – and there’s a fabulous oversized pool to cool off in. The poolside restaurant is just one of four at the resort (not counting the lively bar), which offer a wide range of cuisines from Lebanese through Tex Mex to Italian.

For family fun: Sheraton Soma Bay Resort

Sheraton Soma Bay Resort occupies a huge swathe of glorious beachfront, with stunning views of the Red Sea (Photo: Marriott International)

Occupying a huge swathe of glorious beachfront, the Sheraton Soma Bay Resort is the perfect family holiday destination. Brilliantly designed to resemble the iconic architecture of Luxor’s Karnak Temple – this is Egypt, after all – the hotel offers some of the best facilities on this stretch of the Red Sea. Spacious rooms offer a variety of combinations to suit any family, or you can opt for a beach suite, which means you get to enjoy your own outdoor living space and private pool. Children will love the wide-ranging international buffet at L’Abydos Brasserie, and the hotel’s aqua park and biking trail are sure to be hits. If they have energy to spare, the resort also offers horse-riding, tennis and volleyball, while the Red Sea itself promises sailing and water-skiing, plus superb snorkelling. Adults may indulge in a round of golf at the Gary Player-designed course, or while away an hour or two in the exquisite Thalasso Spa. Away from the beach, the Sheraton Soma Bay Resort is well located for a day-trip to Luxor, where Karnak, with its thicket of towering columns, awaits.

For a gastronomic adventure: Hurghada Marriott Beach Resort

Hurghada Marriott Beach Resort is in the heart of the action along this lively stretch of Red Sea coast (Photo: Marriott International)

The lively beach resort town of Hurghada stretches for 40km along the Red Sea. Base yourself in the heart of the action, at the Hurghada Marriott Beach Resort, for the best choice of restaurants and bars. The hotel itself has a lip-smacking variety of dining options, including the international Shorouk Restaurant and Ristorante Tuscany, the finest Italian in town. For a casual lunch with a hint of decadence, head across the wooden bridge to the hotel’s private island, where a beach BBQ is served up with a side order of spectacular Red Sea views. Away from the resort, there’s a choice of eating out in the modern Sekalla district or the Old Town area of El Dahar, home to traditional Egyptian coffee shops that can rival the historic cafés of Downtown Cairo. At the Hurghada Marina, meanwhile, you can settle down to dinner amidst a flotilla of multi million-pound yachts.

For a stunning setting: Renaissance Sharm El Sheikh Golden View Beach Resort

With its opulent lobby, sumptuous accommodation and luxurious design, Renaissance Sharm El Sheikh Golden View Beach Resort oozes style (Photo: Marriott International)

Palm trees swaying in the breeze behind a sweep of deliciously soft sand. Lovingly tended gardens cut through with tinkling waterfalls. The rocky island of Tiran breaking the horizon just offshore. The Renaissance Sharm El Sheikh Golden View Beach Resort enjoys a spectacular setting for a beachside break. Backdropped by the rust-coloured mountains of the Sinai Peninsula and overlooking a sapphire sea, this elegant all-inclusive is equally attractive on the inside, with an opulent lobby, sumptuous accommodation and public areas that ooze style. It might be hard to look beyond the serene relaxation promised by the pool, with its irresistible swim-up bar, and the unforgettable private beach, but whether you’re swimming, snorkelling or diving, there’s an underwater world of rainbow-coloured corals and sparkling fish that’s waiting just a few strokes from the hotel’s shoreline.

For lovers of architecture and design: Sheraton Miramar Resort El Gouna

Sheraton Miramar Resort El Gouna offers a stunning mix of Arabic and Nubian styles and access to the wildlife-rich waters of the Red Sea (Photo: Marriott International)

A stunning mix of Arabic and Nubian styles, the Sheraton Miramar Resort El Gouna is an architectural showstopper. If you’re looking for a Red Sea stay with the wow-factor, then this is the hotel for you. Designed by American architect Michael Graves, the resort’s award-winning rooms are set over nine islands and spread across a verdant landscape of tranquil gardens and glistening lagoons. Every one of the rooms comes with a terrace or balcony – and, if you’ve booked the two-floor Palace Suite, its own private pool – plus tempting views of the Red Sea’s wildlife-rich waters. Families will appreciate the children’s pool and playground.

For getting out on the water: Le Méridien Dahab Resort

Le Méridien Dahab Resort has a gorgeous pool and you’re only ever a short barefoot walk from the silky sands of the Sinai Peninsula (Photo: Marriott International)

Dahab is Arabic for “gold”, a nod to the honeyed beaches that run along this part of the Sinai Peninsula. At Le Méridien Dahab Resort, you’re just a short barefoot walk from its stylish rooms to the silky sands – and the bounty of activities on offer in the azure waters beyond. Boating, kayaking and water-skiing are all available from the hotel beach, as are snorkelling and diving – the renowned Blue Hole dive site, its surrounding waters rich with coral and reef fish, is a short boat-trip away, while the wind that funnels down through the Gulf of Aqaba makes this one of the best locations in the world for kitesurfing and windsurfing. Test your skills on Dahab’s shallow-water lagoons with Harry Nass Windsurf and Kite Centre, who run single lessons and longer courses, as well as trips to secluded locations that are only accessible by camel. Back on dry land, top-quality amenities include a gym, billiards, children’s activities, and an array of delectable restaurants, cafés and bars, while the hotel’s spacious accommodation offers private terraces, balconies or gardens, and breathtaking sea views.

Published: July 26, 2022

Last Updated: March 29, 2023

Article Tags:  Red Sea