Free Photo Spots in Sharm El Sheikh

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Sharm El Sheikh photo spots that cost nothing to shoot

Sharm’s best-known shots are underwater and come with a boat-trip price tag, but a handful of genuinely good land-based spots cost nothing at all. Here are 6, plus what an underwater shot actually adds to the bill.

  1. The Ras Um Sid lighthouse at sunset, free. A clifftop landmark south of Naama Bay with sea views in both directions, the light works best in the hour before sunset.
  2. The Naama Bay promenade at night, free. Neon-lit storefronts and the seafront in one frame, good for long-exposure shots of light trails if you’re carrying a tripod.
  3. The Old Market’s stalls and alleys, free. Spices, fabrics, and souvenirs stacked in narrow lanes, best in the early evening once stalls reopen after the midday break and the light softens.
  4. Al-Sahaba Mosque’s Ottoman-style architecture, free to photograph from outside. Ask before shooting inside during a tour, and dress modestly regardless.
  5. The desert at golden hour, free from a resort viewpoint or safari stop. Sand dunes and rock formations catch dramatic side-light in the hour after sunrise or before sunset, a quad-bike or jeep safari usually pauses somewhere with a clear horizon.
  6. The Naama Bay corniche by day, free. Turquoise water against the promenade’s palm-lined walkway, a straightforward daytime shot that needs no special timing.

What does an underwater photo actually cost?

More than the land shots above, since it means a dive or snorkel trip plus gear. A Ras Mohammed or house-reef snorkel trip is the cheapest way in, a mask and a waterproof point-and-shoot or phone housing is enough for reef-top shots; a proper coral-wall or wreck photo at the Thistlegorm or Yolanda Reef needs a certified dive and, ideally, a housing with strobes, budget the boat trip’s normal cost on top of your own gear (verify current operator pricing in the day trips guide ).

Best light for the Old Market shot

Early evening, once stalls reopen from the midday break and the crowds thicken, gives both good light and genuine street-life activity. Midday leaves many stalls shuttered and the light flat overhead.

Getting between these spots

Ras Um Sid, Naama Bay, and the Old Market are all a short, cheap taxi ride apart, agree the fare before you get in since meters aren’t reliable. For the fuller list of free things nearby, see our best free finds guide , and check current EGP taxi fares in our travel tips before you head out for an evening shoot.