Sharm El Sheikh: Top 10 unique places to visit in the resort

Soho Square with its singing fountain

Soho Square is the place where Sharm el Sheikh's life is buzzing. It is a European-style promenade with restaurants and bars. There are no old Arab-style buildings here, only modern architecture with lots of shining signs and garlands.

During the day hundreds of residents and guests of the city walk around here, look in the colorful stores and cafes. In the evening the square is illuminated with neon and even more crowded with people.

The main decoration of the square is the singing fountain. The light and music show usually takes place at 20:00 and 21:00, but the schedule may change during the low season.

1001 Night Entertainment Complex

The complex is a vast area with an amazing oriental style palace, musical fountains, Egyptian sculptures and many stores. Like Soho Square, visiting the complex during the day and in the evening are two different stories. In the light of day you can easily and leisurely look at all the architectural and design details, walk around the palace for free, and buy souvenirs if you wish.

The second time you go there is in the evening. Evening visit will require payment, and for good reason: here you can see fascinating theatrical performances about the life of the East and its fairy tales.

Coptic Church

Diversity and a surprising mix has also touched the architecture of religious buildings. The Coptic Church in the neighborhood of Hay el Nur, near the Old City, was built in 2010. Externally, this monumental structure looks restrained and even strict. But the interior decoration of the temple is amazing: there are stained glass windows, wooden carvings, and a lot of written icons and gold.

This unusual Orthodox temple rises above other buildings of the district, it has both Catholic traditions and elements of local color. The temple is popular not only for its external beauty, but also for its very friendly attitude towards tourists.

El Mustafa Mosque

Visiting a new country first of all implies delving into its centuries-old culture, history and religion. If you agree with this, then a visit to at least one mosque in a country whose immediate majority of inhabitants are Muslim is a must.

El-Mustafa Mosque, although not an ancient shrine, is without exaggeration the most beautiful mosque in Sharm el-Sheikh. The mosque is active and it is not advisable to visit it while performing namaz. In general, as in any active temple, here you need to observe the dress code and respect other people's traditions.

All buses with sightseeing tours in Sharm come here, but it is worth visiting this place separately to pay more attention to the architecture and decoration of the marble mosque. Inside, the space is divided into two rooms — for men and women. The mosque is especially attractive after sunset, when the gold and veins of the marble win out beautifully on its walls.

Old Market

The city of Sharm El Sheikh is relatively young, so there are no truly ancient monuments to be found here. The vibrant market, which has become a favorite among travelers, is stylized to resemble an old bazaar. However, the energetic vendors and carefully chosen theme make it genuinely fascinating. Stalls filled with crates of fruit, heaps of spices, various essential oils, and camel wool products are among the best-selling goods. Of course, you will also find towels, beach slippers, sunglasses, panama hats, and numerous souvenirs, though these are less intriguing. Vendors are willing to bargain, as haggling is considered an essential ritual before making a purchase.

Tutankhamun Museum

The Tutankhamun Tomb Museum opened in 2014 and became the first national museum in Sharm El Sheikh. It houses around 150 exhibits. The halls display replicas of artifacts from the tomb that are virtually indistinguishable from the originals. However, since these are replicas, visitors are allowed to touch them — a rare opportunity in museums — and to take photographs. A guided tour lasts approximately an hour and a half, during which the guide shares many fascinating facts, even for those who believed they were already well acquainted with the history of the pharaohs and their pyramids.

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Ras Mohammed Reserve

Ras Mohammed National Reserve, located 25 kilometers from Sharm el Sheikh, — the pride not only of this region, but of all Egypt. The reserve is considered one of the most picturesque places on the Red Sea, and its southernmost part is one of the world's top ten beaches for scuba diving. Under the water here lies a huge coral wall of several reefs with a variety of inhabitants. Among them here you can see dugongs.

However, even if you are new to diving or you are not interested in diving, you should visit the reserve. First of all, the very entrance to the territory through the Allah's Gate is striking. This monumental construction of stone blocks reminds of an ancient Egyptian building. There is also a camping site for those who want to spend the night in the reserve.

Tiran Island

This is the most popular destination for boat trips and diving near Sharm. The island is part of the Ras Mohammed Nature Reserve, which we have already told you about. Rare species of birds nest here, as well as turtles hatching. It is dangerous to land on the island — a UN military facility is located here. And it is not so easy to moor to the island because of shipwrecks and reefs approaching the shore. So willing travelers arrange sightseeing tours with diving into the water.

Near the island there are 4 main reefs, which are named after their discoverers: Jackson, Gordon, Woodhouse and Thomas. Jackson and Gordon are on every list of the best dive sites in the world.

Albatross Water Park

Who knows, but lovers of water procedures have a lot to do in Sharm el-Sheikh. If you want to diversify the sea program, but do not want to lose the "bathing" day, go to the water park. Albatross is located near the five-star hotel of the same name, but everyone can buy an entrance ticket and enter there.

There will be 9 pools, more than 30 slides of different kinds, a separate children's zone and several cafes at your disposal. Among the slides there are both classic and peculiar, for example, resembling the descent down the mountain river. The water park meets European standards, and there will be entertainment not only for children, but also for demanding adults.

Navamis

One of the few ancient sights near Sharm el-Sheikh. This is a set of tombs built of flat stone on the principle of a well. They are located in the Sinai desert. The most notable tombs can be seen on the way to St. Catherine's temple. The diameter of each tomb is from 3 to 6 meters, and the height of the walls is 2.5 meters.

The entrance to the tomb always faces west to catch the light of the setting sun. Inside the tombs were remains and utensils, many of which are now displayed in museums or continue to be studied. The tombs are estimated to be 6,000 years old.