Hurghada vs Sharm el Sheikh — The Complete Honest Comparison
Hurghada and Sharm el Sheikh are Egypt's two major Red Sea resort destinations — but they are fundamentally different places with different strengths. This guide gives you the information to choose correctly.
The Fundamental Difference
Hurghada is on the Egyptian mainland — the Western coast of the Red Sea. Sharm el Sheikh is on the Sinai Peninsula — the Eastern coast. This geographic difference has significant implications: Hurghada is more connected to the rest of Egypt (Luxor day trips are practical, Cairo is 6 hours), while Sharm is more isolated but has a different marine environment (arguably the world's best reef diving).
Diving Comparison
Sharm el Sheikh: widely considered to have the best shore diving in the world — the Ras Mohammed National Park, the Blue Hole (Dahab, nearby), and Thomas Reef are world-famous. The reef quality immediately offshore is exceptional. Hurghada: excellent but more dependent on boat trips to reach the best sites. However, Hurghada's proximity to the SS Thistlegorm wreck (the world's most famous wreck dive) is a significant advantage for wreck-diving enthusiasts. Verdict: Sharm for shore/reef diving; Hurghada for wreck diving.
UK Flight Access
Since the 2015 bombing of the Russian airline over Sinai, UK flights to Sharm el Sheikh have been suspended — no direct UK flights operate to Sharm as of 2025. UK visitors to Sharm must route via Cairo or other hubs — significantly increasing journey time and cost. Hurghada maintains full UK direct flight service (easyJet, TUI, Jet2 from multiple airports). This is the single most important practical difference for UK visitors: Hurghada is accessible, Sharm is not direct from the UK.
Families and Facilities
Hurghada: larger city with more hotel variety, better infrastructure for families including multiple large aqua parks, better variety of excursions, and direct flights. Sharm: more compact tourist zone, excellent snorkelling directly from the beach in many areas, good hotel infrastructure but less variety of city-based activities. For UK families: the direct flight advantage makes Hurghada the practical default.
Budget and Value
Both destinations offer similar value at the equivalent quality level. Hurghada's direct flight access means flight costs are typically lower for UK visitors — the need for connections to Sharm adds cost and time. For UK visitors, Hurghada is definitively more accessible and often cheaper in total trip cost despite broadly similar hotel pricing.
Frequently Asked Questions
Should I choose Hurghada or Sharm el Sheikh?+
Are there direct flights from the UK to Sharm el Sheikh?+
Planning to Visit Hurghada? Consider Owning
Apartments from £15,000. Freehold, 0% interest payment plans. Stop paying hotel prices every trip.
Flying to Hurghada regularly?
Many repeat visitors buy their own apartment — cheaper than hotels and earns rental income. Studios from £15,000 with 0% interest payment plans.
Read the complete buying guide →