The Red Sea beach resorts of Egypt have something to offer everyone and are deservedly popular with sun-seekers and divers. The area has clear blue water, beautiful beaches and amazing aquatic life. Add that to the year-round sunshine, an increasing number of flights from all over Europe and great value accommodation, and you can quickly see why the Red Sea is growing in popularity for a beach holiday.

This is a truly year round destination, with warm, dry winters and hot (a bit too hot for some!) summers. Rain is very rare in the Red Sea resorts. Summer (May – September) is hot with a daytime temperature between 38 and 41 Celsius and warm nights. Winter (October – April) is cooler but warm enough for lovely winter sunshine, with daytime temperatures between 23 and 29 Celsius.

There are a number of resorts on the Red Sea coast that cater for all budgets and tastes.

The two biggest and most popular resorts are Sharm El Sheikh and Hurghada. Sharm El Sheikh is the number one beach resort on the Red Sea and offers great beaches with watersports, a wide range of hotel accommodation, busy nightlife and superb diving.

Hurghada offers great windsurfing, a vibrant nightlife, lovely beaches and a huge selection of hotels for all budgets.

Dahab, 50 miles up the coast from Sharm el Sheikh, has a laid back hippy-chic vibe and attracts holidaymakers looking for a less busy resort with great diving and superb windsurfing.

El Gouna, a new purpose built resort around 20 miles from Hurghada, is based on a network of canals and bridges – hence the title ‘little Venice of the Red Sea’. El Gouna has a lively marina and lovely long beaches with kid-friendly shallow waters.

Taba is another new, purpose built resort with a good selection of luxury hotels. Its close proximity to the borders with Jordan and Saudi Arabia make this a good place for day trips to Wadi Rum and Petra in Jordan.

Travel information

Vaccinations: No compulsory vaccinations are needed but it’s always a good idea to check with your doctor before you travel.

Visas: You will need a visa to enter Egypt, which you can buy on arrival at the airport. It costs around $15 but the price changes frequently. US dollars, Euros and British pounds are accepted and it’s a good idea to have some change with you so that you have the correct money to hand.

Time: Egypt is 2 hours ahead of GMT. Currency: Egyptian pounds, often shortened to LE.