Is Sharm El Sheikh safe? What to really know before you go

Escursioni Sharm answers the question travellers ask most before booking: is it safe to go to Sharm El Sheikh? An honest answer requires separating perception from the reality on the ground — and keeping up to date with official sources, because the regional situation can change.

The real situation in Sharm

Sharm El Sheikh is a resort town in a particular position: the southern tip of Sinai, far from the northern areas of the peninsula that the news associates with instability. The town has lived off tourism for forty years and its economy depends on visitor safety: that is why the whole area is guarded with checkpoints at the town entrances, metal detectors at resorts and harbours, and a capillary tourist police presence. The numbers confirm it: Sharm airport handled 6.83 million passengers in 2024 (+14% on 2023) and hotel occupancy in South Sinai exceeded 90% in the second half of 2025.

International tourism never stopped

Sharm is historically one of the favourite Red Sea destinations for British, Italian and European travellers, with direct flights from dozens of UK and European airports. Millions of international tourists visit Sharm every year without problems: that is a fact, not an opinion. British and European travellers have remained loyal to this destination for four decades.

What the official sources say

The reference for every traveller is their government's official travel advice — for British travellers the UK FCDO travel advice for Egypt, for others their own foreign ministry's advisories — and, before departure, registering your trip with your embassy where that service exists. Official assessments have always distinguished between the tourist areas of the Red Sea and South Sinai and the rest of the peninsula: read the up-to-date advice before travelling and follow current guidance, which prevails over any article — including this one.

The geopolitical factor, in plain terms

The Middle East goes through recurring phases of tension and Sharm is not immune at the level of perception: during the acute periods of 2026 occupancy dipped, then recovered. The historical pattern of recent years has been one of rapid shocks and equally rapid recoveries, with the Gulf of Aqaba area proving less affected by crises than other zones. The practical rule: before booking flights and tours, check the latest official advisories; if they are within the norm, go with peace of mind.

Practical common-sense tips

• Travel on excursions organised by verified operators: trips in the Sinai follow authorised itineraries with checkpoint controls.
• Avoid the North Sinai areas, consistently advised against by official sources and far from tourist itineraries.
• Always carry your passport (or a copy) on transfers: road checkpoints are the norm.
• Respect local customs: appropriate clothing in souks and religious sites, no photos of military installations.
• Take out travel insurance with medical and cancellation cover.
• For the sea: reef shoes, attention to currents at flagged spots and never touch the corals.

Safety at sea and in the desert

Most minor holiday incidents in Sharm have nothing to do with crime and everything to do with sun and sea. In the water: wear reef shoes, do not touch the corals (they cut, and they get damaged), follow the flags and the briefings on currents, and when snorkelling in open water always stay with the group. In the sun: Sinai's radiation is strong even in winter — high-factor sunscreen, reapplied after every swim, and plenty of water. In the desert: follow the trails and the guides, no solo quad ventures, and in winter remember that night-time temperatures plummet. For diving, the standard safety rules apply, starting with the interval before your flight home.

In short

Sharm El Sheikh is a mature, protected tourist destination visited by millions of Europeans every year. The usual common sense of any trip — official sources, insurance, verified operators — is more than enough here. For excursions, our role is exactly this: letting you talk only to verified local operators. And if before leaving you want an up-to-date view on a specific area or excursion, write to us: we answer with what we know, with no commercial filter.

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