Where to Walk in Sharm el-Sheikh

October 31, 2026

Advisory, October 2026. The FCDO rates the southern Sinai Red Sea resorts as generally low risk, yet it advises against all travel to North Sinai and against all but essential travel to northern parts of South Sinai away from the coast. Mount Sinai and Colored Canyon are inland, so read the FCDO page for Egypt and go with an organised operator.

Sharm el-Sheikh is built for cars and boats. Its bays stretch for many kilometres, the traffic is quick and the heat is high, so walking tours are not part of the offer. What follows are the places where a stroll works, plus the inland hikes that people sometimes mistake for walking tours. Use a taxi between areas and agree the fare first.

Naama Bay promenade

This is the best place for a stroll. The promenade runs about 1.3 km along the beach and is lit after dark. Cafes, shops and dive centres line it. At the glass-bottom boat jetty near Al-Bostan beach you can watch the boats go out, and the Near and Far Gardens reef lies just offshore.

Around the Old Market

The Old Market, in Sharm el-Maya, is about ten minutes by car from Naama Bay. The alleys near Al-Sahaba Mosque are filled with spice and perfume stalls and fish cafes. Haggling is part of the fun, and it helps to ignore touts unless you want to buy. Should you visit the mosque, come outside prayer times, remove shoes in the prayer areas and cover up.

Soho Square at night

North Sharm, near the airport, has Soho Square, a pedestrian plaza that comes alive in the evening. It offers an ice rink, bowling, a dancing-fountain show and the Culturama cinema show. Strolling is free, and attractions are paid separately.

Hikes that are really excursions

Two walks have names you may spot on tour lists. Mount Sinai is a pilgrimage climb by the Camel Path or the 3,750 Steps of Repentance. It takes three to four hours to the top, starts before dawn, needs a licensed Bedouin guide and sits roughly 220 to 230 km from Sharm. Colored Canyon, near Nuweiba, has a short guided scramble inside a jeep day of 8 to 12 hours. Each is part of a long outing, so neither counts as a walking tour.

Staying comfortable on foot

Walk before 10 am or after sunset.
Carry bottled water, because the tap water is not drinkable.
Wear a hat, sunscreen and closed shoes.
If you wade into the sea, do not stand on coral, which Egyptian law forbids.
Women travelling alone should take extra care at night and in taxis.

For a local guide, browse Viator . The Wikivoyage Sharm el-Sheikh guide maps the bays.