Where to stay in Sharm El Sheikh? Naama Bay, Sharks Bay, Nabq Bay and Hadaba
In Sharm El Sheikh, look at a hotel's location before its star rating. From some hotels you can walk out to dinner; at others you'll spend most of the day inside the resort. The sea isn't the same everywhere either: in some places you walk in from a wide sandy beach, in others you reach the coral reef along a long jetty.
This guide compares nine hotels across Naama Bay, Sharks Bay, Ras Nasrani, Nabq Bay and Hadaba. The aim isn't to pick the best hotel but to help you find the right area for what you want from your trip.
Which area should you stay in?
Naama Bay: for walking out in the evening
Naama Bay is one of the most practical areas if you want to reach restaurants, cafés, bars and shops on foot. On this list, Novotel is right on the promenade; Stella Di Mare is further north, on higher ground.
On the list:Novotel Sharm El Sheikh Stella Di Mare Beach Hotel & Spa
Sharks Bay: resort facilities and marine life
In Sharks Bay, Four Seasons and Savoy offer different kinds of stay. Four Seasons stands out for its service and reef access; Savoy for its position next to Soho Square.
On the list:Four Seasons Resort Sharm El Sheikh Savoy Sharm El Sheikh
Ras Nasrani: a beach-and-reef stay
Baron Resort is worth considering if its own beach and access to the reef matter to you. If you want an area to explore on foot, though, the location may suit you less.
On the list:Baron Resort Sharm El Sheikh
Nabq Bay: big resorts and family holidays
Rixos Premium Seagate and Steigenberger Alcazar suit travellers looking for large sites and plenty of facilities. If you stay here, allow for the time it can take to get to Naama Bay.
On the list:Rixos Premium Seagate Steigenberger Alcazar
Hadaba: reefs and sloping ground
Renaissance Golden View and SUNRISE Montemare are two options that stand out for reef access. Both are built on sloping ground, though, so stairs and getting around the site become important.
On the list:Renaissance Sharm El Sheikh Golden View Beach Resort SUNRISE Montemare Resort
The 9 hotels in this guide
Pick your dates on any hotel to see the live price. Hotel payment goes to our hotel booking partner.
- Curator's verdict
A sensible base for exploring Sharm. It suits people who plan to get out and about more than those who want to spend their days at the hotel.
- Who it suits:
- First-time visitors to Sharm, couples, and anyone who wants to spend their evenings outside the hotel.
- Good to know:
- If your priority is quiet, plenty of private space or a stay you rarely leave, look at other options too.
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Novotel sits on Naama Bay's promenade. Step out of the hotel and restaurants, cafés, bars and shops are all within walking distance. If you don't want to arrange transport every evening, that location is a real advantage.
The trade-off is that you're staying on a busy stretch of seafront rather than in a spacious, secluded resort.
- walkablecoupleswellnessbeachfrontCurator's verdict
Worth considering if you want to be close to Naama Bay's buzz but prefer a calmer setting at the hotel.
- Who it suits:
- Couples who want to be near Naama Bay without staying right on the promenade.
- Good to know:
- Be clear about what you want from the beach before you book. If walking on sand and wading in from the shore matter to you, compare this hotel's sea access carefully.
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Stella Di Mare sits on higher ground on the quieter north side of the bay. Naama Bay's restaurants and nightlife are within reach, but you don't step onto the promenade the moment you leave, as you do at Novotel.
Sea access is the other thing to weigh up. Rather than walking into the sea from a wide, shallow beach, expect to reach the reef from a jetty.
- luxurycouplesfamilieshouse reefCurator's verdict
A strong choice if you want comfort, service and a reef in one place. But weigh the sloping site against your children's ages and how easily everyone gets around.
- Who it suits:
- Couples and families with older children who care about service, restaurant choice and marine life.
- Good to know:
- The beach is not a wide stretch of sand. Restaurant prices, and whether meals are included, depend on your rate, so check them when you book.
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Four Seasons is built on rocky ground in Sharks Bay, with a funicular linking the rooms to the areas at sea level. Alongside a small beach, it has two jetties out to its own house reef.
Choose it for the service and the underwater life rather than for a wide sandy beach.
- soho squarebeachfronthouse reefsnorkelingCurator's verdict
A good alternative for families who want to spend their holiday by the pool and using the resort's facilities, with evenings around Soho Square.
- Who it suits:
- Families who like big resorts, plenty of pool space and restaurants just outside the hotel.
- Good to know:
- Check the beach and sea access, the room category you've chosen and the meal terms of your booking separately.
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Savoy is in Sharks Bay, right next to Soho Square. Restaurants, shops and evening entertainment are within walking distance, so you're not limited to the hotel's own restaurants at night.
A big resort's space and facilities can be an advantage, but compared with smaller, quieter hotels, expect livelier shared areas.
- familiesbeachfronthouse reefsnorkelingCurator's verdict
Makes most sense if you'll spend much of the day in the sea and around the hotel. If you want to go out every evening, the location may work against you.
- Who it suits:
- Families who care about swimming in the sea and exploring with a snorkel.
- Good to know:
- Don't expect a large restaurant and nightlife area to explore on foot around the hotel. You may need to arrange transport to get to Naama Bay.
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Baron Resort is in Ras Nasrani, between Sharks Bay and Nabq Bay. Its standout features are a sandy beach about 600 metres long and a pontoon out to the reef. The view of Tiran Island is one of the area's defining sights too.
The facilities for children and the separate pool options are worth a look if you're travelling as a family.
- familiesbeachfronthouse reefsnorkelingCurator's verdict
A strong contender for families who want their children to find something different to do all day. Less suited to anyone after a smaller hotel and quiet surroundings.
- Who it suits:
- Families who want a holiday full of things to do: an aqua park, plenty of restaurants and activities for children.
- Good to know:
- Nabq Bay is a long way from Naama Bay. If you plan to explore other parts of Sharm rather than stay around the hotel, factor in the travel times.
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Rixos Premium Seagate is a resort spread over a large site in Nabq Bay. With its aqua park, choice of restaurants and long jetty out to the reef, it suits people who want to spend most of the holiday on site. For Turkish guests, the Lalezar restaurant and the hammam stand out too.
At a resort this size, you can plan your days around different pools, restaurants and activities.
- familiesdesignbeachfrontquietCurator's verdict
Worth considering if you value architecture, generous shared spaces and on-site facilities. If you want to swim straight off the shore, look closely at the beach conditions first.
- Who it suits:
- Families and couples who want a big resort, time by the pools and a holiday spent mostly on site.
- Good to know:
- In Nabq Bay there can be times when the sea turns shallow and the water recedes. If you want to snorkel on the reef, check the jetty access and sea conditions in advance.
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Steigenberger Alcazar is a large resort at the northern end of Nabq Bay. Arches and high ceilings define its architecture, and some room categories have terraces with direct access to the pool.
For families, rooms with a separate sitting area and the children's pools can be real advantages.
- house reefsnorkelingfamiliesbeachfrontCurator's verdict
A strong contender if the sea and the reef are at the heart of your trip. If you need step-free access or want to walk out every evening, compare other hotels.
- Who it suits:
- Travellers who want to snorkel, dive and explore the Red Sea's underwater life.
- Good to know:
- The terraced layout can mean taking stairs to get from your room to the pool or the sea. You'll also need to arrange transport for an evening in Naama Bay.
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Renaissance Golden View is built on a slope in Ras Um Sid, in the south of Sharm El Sheikh. The hotel's jetty takes you out to its own reef, and that is the location's big draw if you want to explore the shore reefs in this area.
- familiescouplessnorkelinghouse reefCurator's verdict
Worth considering if you want to divide your time between the reef, the pools and the spa. If you're looking for a fully adults-only, completely quiet setting, be clear about that expectation before you book.
- Who it suits:
- Couples and families who want reef access, pools, a spa and family facilities in one place.
- Good to know:
- The terraced layout and getting between different areas can matter for guests with limited mobility. When choosing a room, check where it is and how you reach the sea.
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SUNRISE Montemare is set on the sloping ground of Um El Sid, in Hadaba. It has a private beach, sea access from a jetty, several pools and a kids' club. Posh Club rooms and suites are there too if you want a different kind of stay.
The hotel's official site says the kids' club is for ages 4–12, so it isn't accurate to describe it as an adults-only hotel.
Prices and availability are checked live before booking.
Questions before you book
Where should first-time visitors to Sharm El Sheikh stay?
If you want to walk to restaurants and shops in the evening, Naama Bay is a good starting point. If you plan to spend most of your holiday at the hotel, consider the resorts in Sharks Bay or Nabq Bay too.
Which area is best for snorkelling?
Hadaba and Ras Um Sid stand out for their shore and house reefs. Sharks Bay and Ras Nasrani also have hotels where you reach the reef from a jetty or pontoon. Sea entry, currents and access hours can vary from hotel to hotel, though.
Is Nabq Bay too far out?
It's further away than Naama Bay. The big resorts here work well if you want to spend most of your holiday on site. If you plan to visit other areas often, factor in the travel time and cost.
Can you walk between the different areas of Sharm El Sheikh?
Don't assume there's a comfortable seafront walking route linking them. Naama Bay is easy to explore on foot, but between the other areas it's usually better to plan on going by car or taxi.
Are meals included in the hotel price?
It depends on the rate and room you book. Meal plan varies by rate. When you book, check which meals (breakfast, lunch, dinner) and drinks are covered, and on what terms.
Which is the best hotel in Sharm El Sheikh?
There is no single best; it depends on how you want to spend your days and evenings. For evenings on foot, Novotel in Naama Bay, a 15-minute walk from the promenade. For service and a house reef, Four Seasons in Sharks Bay; for families who want an aqua park, Rixos Premium Seagate in Nabq Bay. For reef-first trips, Renaissance Golden View or SUNRISE Montemare at the southern end, in Ras Um Sid and Hadaba.
Is Sharm El Sheikh safe?
The UK Foreign Office (FCDO), in advice last updated on 4 August 2026 and still current on 16 October 2026, calls travel to the Red Sea tourist areas of southern Sinai 'generally low risk'. The same advice says terrorists are likely to try to carry out attacks in Egypt, including in places visited by foreign nationals, and warns of regional tensions. It advises against all travel to North Sinai, and against all but essential travel north of the St Catherine–Nuweiba road except the coasts. Read the current FCDO and T.C. Dışişleri pages before you travel.
Can you visit Cairo from Sharm El Sheikh?
Yes, most easily by air: as of October 2026, EgyptAir, Air Cairo and Nile Air fly nonstop from Sharm to Cairo several times a day. A road trip is possible, but the FCDO says 4x4 vehicles crossing at Suez need a permit from the Ministry of Interior. You need an Egyptian visa for Cairo, because the free Sinai stamp covers only Sharm, Dahab, Nuweiba, Taba and St Catherine. Buy it at Sharm airport before passport control (USD 30 since 1 March 2026): once you have entered on the free stamp, it is very hard to get one. Day trips are separate from your hotel booking.