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Sharm El Sheikh on a budget: how to do it well
Short answer
Yes, with care: the reefs off many beaches are free or cheap to snorkel, and local food in Old Sharm is inexpensive. A realistic minimum is about EGP 3,050 a day per person sharing a room — around EGP 1,500 for a bed, EGP 600 for food, EGP 800 for sights and boat trips averaged over the stay, and EGP 150 for transport.
A realistic daily budget
| Budget | Mid-range | Comfort | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Bed (per person, sharing) | EGP1,500 | EGP3,500 | EGP9,000 |
| Food & drink | EGP600 | EGP1,500 | EGP3,500 |
| Sights & tickets | EGP800 | EGP2,500 | EGP5,000 |
| Local transport | EGP150 | EGP500 | EGP1,500 |
| Per person, per day | EGP3,050 | EGP8,000 | EGP19,000 |
Approximate 2026 prices, two people sharing a room. From our Sharm El Sheikh day-cost table.
Free things to do
- Snorkelling on your hotel's house reef, if it has one
- Naama Bay beach and promenade (public sections)
- The Al Sahaba Mosque in Old Sharm, lit at night (outside view)
- Walking the Old Market
- SOHO Square's fountains and public areas
- Watching the sunset over the mountains from the coast
Cheap eats
- Koshari in the Old Market — about EGP 100–200
- Ful and taameya sandwiches — about EGP 100–250 for a filling meal
- Grilled kofta in a local restaurant — usually a few hundred pounds
- Molokhia with rice — a cheap local dish
- Bedouin tea with sage — a few pounds
Where to sleep for less
Budget travellers stay in Hadaba and around the Old Market, where simpler hotels and apartments cost about EGP 2,000–3,500 a night, close to Ras Um Sid and local restaurants. Last-minute all-inclusive deals can also be good value.
Getting around cheaply
Agree taxi fares before getting in; short rides cost about EGP 150–400. Microbuses along Peace Road are cheapest. The airport is about 15 minutes from Naama Bay. Many visitors get a free Sinai-only stamp for stays of up to 15 days; check if it applies to your passport.
A sample budget day
- Morning: snorkel at Ras Um Sid (entry roughly EGP 300–700)
- Lunch: ful and taameya (about EGP 150)
- Afternoon: free swim at Naama Bay
- Evening: koshari or grilled fish in the Old Market (about EGP 450) and a taxi (about EGP 150)
- Total: about EGP 3,050 including a shared room (about EGP 1,500)
More ways to save
- Travel outside European school holidays for lower package prices.
- Pick one boat day and snorkel from the shore on the others.
- Use the Sinai-only stamp if you stay in South Sinai and it applies to your passport.
- Buy water and snacks in supermarkets, not hotel shops.
- Book dive packages of several days for a lower price per dive.
- Skip expensive hotel bars; drink tea and fresh juices in local cafés.
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Common questions
Can you visit Sharm El Sheikh on a budget?
Yes. Stay in Hadaba or Old Sharm, snorkel from the shore and eat local food. Plan on about EGP 3,050 a day.
Do I need a visa for Sharm El Sheikh?
Many nationalities get a free Sinai-only stamp for up to 15 days. For Cairo or Luxor, buy the regular visa. Check the rules for your passport.
Is snorkelling free in Sharm?
From many hotel house reefs, yes. Public reef beaches such as Ras Um Sid charge an entry fee.