Naama Bay

What is Naama Bay like?

Naama Bay is Sharm's most walkable area: a horseshoe of sand backed by low-rise hotels, with a pedestrian promenade running behind the beach and a busy grid of restaurants and shops inland. It grew from a handful of dive camps in the 1970s and 1980s into the town's first resort strip, so it has a more lived-in, mixed feel than the large self-contained resorts at Nabq or Sharks Bay.

By day the bay is about sunbeds, glass-bottom boats and dive briefings; after dark the promenade fills with people eating out, smoking shisha and shopping. Our where to stay in Sharm el-Sheikh guide compares it with the other districts.

The hills behind the bay block some of the wind, so the water is often calmer here than on the more exposed northern coast, which is one reason the early dive operators chose it.

The beach and the water

Naama has one of Sharm's few naturally sandy beaches, with a gentle slope into calm water, but the middle of the bay is sand rather than coral. That makes it good for paddling and swimming and less exciting for snorkelling than the hotels on the reef-fringed coast to the north.

• Hotel sectors: each hotel has its own stretch with loungers and umbrellas. Non-guests can usually buy a day pass to a hotel or beach club; ask at reception.
• The reefs at the edges: Near Garden sits off the northern headland, while Tower and Pinky Wall lie to the south towards Sharm el-Maya. They are reached on foot from some hotels, or by short boat rides.
• Water sports: pedal boats, kayaks, glass-bottom boats and introductory dives operate from the bay's jetties.

Eating out and evenings

The promenade and the streets behind it hold the biggest concentration of restaurants, cafes and bars in Sharm, from Egyptian grills and seafood to international chains. Prices are higher than in Dahab or the Old Market but you have plenty of choice within a few minutes' walk.

Evenings are lively rather than wild for most visitors: dinner, a shisha cafe, shopping for spices and cotton, perhaps a show. There are clubs and late bars, and some can be loud into the early hours, so light sleepers should choose a hotel set back from the promenade or a room facing the garden. Alcohol is served in hotels and licensed venues; our guide to alcohol in Egypt explains the rules. Venues open and close often, so ask locally for what is current.

Is Naama Bay good for families?

Yes, with a little planning: the sandy, sheltered beach and easy walks to restaurants suit families well, but choose a hotel away from the noisiest bars. Children can wade in safely on calm days, and older children can try a glass-bottom boat or a supervised Bubblemaker-style introduction to diving at many dive centres.

For teenagers, the promenade gives a little independence in a compact, busy area, and dive centres run junior courses from about 10 years old. The bay's small, older hotels have less in the way of kids' clubs and big pools than the newer resorts in Nabq or Sharks Bay, so families wanting an all-day resort may be happier there and visit Naama for an evening. See our Egypt with kids guide for more on pacing.

Getting there and around

Naama Bay is about 15 minutes by car from Sharm el-Sheikh International Airport and about 10 minutes from the Old Market. Most hotels in Naama are within walking distance of the promenade; from outlying resorts, use a hotel shuttle, a pre-arranged driver or a metered taxi with the fare agreed in advance.

Day boats to Ras Mohammed and the Straits of Tiran usually leave from the marinas south of the bay, with hotel pick-ups included. The Old Market area, with the Al-Sahaba Mosque and its spice and souvenir stalls, makes a good evening outing.

When to go and practical tips

March to May and October to November are ideal, with warm sea and air temperatures in the high 20s to low 30s. July and August are very hot, often 38–40°C, though the sea breeze helps; December to February brings pleasant days of about 21–24°C and cooler evenings.

• Agree prices for boat trips and excursions before paying, or book through your hotel or our team.
• Swimwear is fine on the beach but cover up on the promenade and in the Old Market.
• Bring reef shoes if you plan to snorkel off the headlands.
• Check Smartraveller or SafeTravel for current advice on South Sinai.