Christmas and New Year in Sharm El Sheikh 2026: Where to Stay
Sharm El Sheikh over Christmas and New Year: Naama Bay, Sharks Bay or Nabq, Ras Mohammed and Tiran snorkelling, Dahab as a calmer option, and cool winter evenings.
Sharm El Sheikh in winter: sun by day, cool by night
Sharm El Sheikh, at the southern tip of Egypt’s Sinai Peninsula, is one of the closest places to Europe with reliable winter sunshine, which makes it a popular choice for Christmas and New Year. Late December and early January are among the busiest weeks of the winter, so book flights and hotels well ahead.
Daytime temperatures are usually pleasant for the beach, but winter evenings are cool, and nights in the desert and on boat decks can feel cold. The Red Sea stays swimmable, though many snorkellers are glad of a thin wetsuit or rash vest for longer sessions. Pack a warm jacket, long trousers and closed shoes for evenings and excursions.
Naama Bay, Sharks Bay or Nabq Bay
- Naama Bay: the centre
- A sheltered bay with a pedestrian promenade, restaurants, bars and shops. Best if you want to walk out in the evening and feel the festive atmosphere on New Year’s Eve. About 15 minutes from the airport.
- Sharks Bay: reefs and short transfers
- The closest resort area to the airport, about 10 minutes away. Many hotels have their own house reef with jetties leading out to deeper water, which is ideal for snorkelling straight from the hotel.
- Nabq Bay: space and big resorts
- North of the airport, about 15 minutes away, with large modern resorts, long sandy shores and the Nabq protected area nearby. Shallow reef flats in places, so check how each hotel accesses the water. Popular with families.
Christmas and New Year in the resorts
Most celebrations take place inside the hotels. Many resorts organise a Christmas Eve dinner and a gala evening on 31 December with music and entertainment; at some hotels the New Year’s Eve dinner is compulsory and charged as a supplement, so read your booking conditions before you travel. Naama Bay and the Soho Square area are the busiest places to go out on New Year’s Eve.
Egypt also has its own Christmas: Coptic Orthodox Christians celebrate on 7 January, a public holiday in Egypt. For travellers celebrating Orthodox Christmas, this makes early January a natural time for a second festive dinner.
Ras Mohammed, Tiran and a day in Dahab
Ras Mohammed National Park at the southern tip of Sinai and the reefs of the Strait of Tiran are the classic snorkelling and diving trips. Boat trips leave from the marinas around Sharm in the morning. Winter seas can be choppier and the wind on deck is cool, so bring a windproof layer and a towel.
Dahab, about 1 hour 15 minutes from Sharm El Sheikh Airport, is a calmer alternative: a relaxed seafront, small hotels and camps, shore snorkelling at sites like the Lighthouse reef, and windsurfing and kitesurfing. The road crosses the mountains with security checkpoints, so always carry your passport. Some visitors stay a few nights in Sharm for the festivities and spend the rest of the trip in Dahab.
Getting from the airport to your hotel
Sharm El Sheikh International Airport (SSH) is close to all the main resort areas: about 10 minutes to Sharks Bay, about 15 minutes to Naama Bay and about 15 minutes to Nabq Bay. Dahab takes about 1 hour 15 minutes.
Many winter charter flights land in the evening or at night. With a private transfer booked in advance, for example through HotelTaxi, the driver meets you in arrivals with a name sign and drives you straight to your hotel. If you bring diving equipment, declare it when booking so a vehicle with enough space is sent.
Checklist for a festive week in Sharm
- Read the gala rules
- Check whether your hotel charges a compulsory dinner for 24 or 31 December.
- Pack for cool evenings
- A warm jacket, long trousers and a windproof layer for boat days.
- Keep your passport handy
- You need it at road checkpoints on excursions such as Dahab.
- Book the return early
- Arrange your airport transfer for the first days of January in advance, when many guests leave at once.
Frequently asked questions
Is it warm enough to swim in Sharm El Sheikh at Christmas?
Yes, most visitors swim and snorkel in December and January. The water is cooler than in summer, so a thin wetsuit or rash vest helps for long snorkelling sessions.
Which area is closest to Sharm El Sheikh Airport?
Sharks Bay, at about 10 minutes. Naama Bay and Nabq Bay are about 15 minutes away.
How long does it take to get from Sharm airport to Dahab?
About 1 hour 15 minutes by road through the mountains. Carry your passport for the checkpoints.
Where is New Year’s Eve busiest in Sharm?
Naama Bay and the Soho Square area. Many guests also stay at their hotel’s gala evening.