Where to Find Egypt’s Most Beautiful Beaches
Egypt is famous for pharaohs, pyramids, and ancient temples, but many travelers are surprised to learn it is also home to some of the most beautiful beaches in the region. Stretching along both the Red Sea and the Mediterranean, Egypt’s coastline offers everything from luxurious resort bays to wild, untouched coves and serene lagoons, making it ideal for beach lovers, divers, and families alike.
When planning a beach-focused trip to Egypt, it helps to understand how the coastline is divided into distinct regions, each with its own character and style. The main areas to consider are the Red Sea Riviera around Hurghada and Marsa Alam, the Sinai Peninsula around Sharm El Sheikh and Dahab, and the Mediterranean coast from Alexandria to Marsa Matrouh. Within each of these zones, there are standout spots that consistently rank among Egypt’s most beautiful beaches for their water color, sand quality, scenery, and overall atmosphere.
Red Sea Riviera: Hurghada, El Gouna & Soma Bay
The Red Sea coast around Hurghada is one of the most popular choices for visitors looking for a classic beach holiday with plenty of facilities and all‑inclusive resorts. Here the sea is famously clear, the reefs lie close to shore, and the sandy beaches are backed by modern hotels, promenades, and marinas where you can easily arrange snorkeling, diving, boat trips, and water sports.
Just north of Hurghada lies El Gouna, a purpose-built lagoon town known for its carefully designed beaches, island-style resorts, and network of canals. Zeytuna Beach, reached by boat or jetty from town, is often highlighted for its soft sand and calm turquoise waters, while Mangroovy Beach is a favorite for kitesurfing thanks to its consistent winds and shallow bay. Further down the coast, Soma Bay and Makadi Bay combine wide sandy beaches, house reefs, and tranquil atmospheres, making them ideal for couples and travelers who want a quieter, more upmarket Red Sea experience.
Marsa Alam: Wild Beauty and Pristine Reefs
For those who prefer a more natural and less crowded setting, Marsa Alam on the southern Red Sea coast has developed a reputation as one of Egypt’s most beautiful and unspoiled beach areas. Here the shoreline feels wilder, often framed by desert cliffs, and the sea is renowned for its healthy coral reefs and regular encounters with turtles, dolphins, and even dugongs in offshore seagrass meadows.
Within this region, Sharm El Luli, also known as Ras Hankorab, is frequently listed among Egypt’s most stunning beaches. It features powdery white sand and strikingly clear, shallow water that gradually deepens over coral gardens, creating perfect conditions for relaxed swimming and easy snorkeling straight from the shore. Another notable site is Al Nayzak, a naturally formed rock pool by the sea where deep blue water fills a horseshoe-shaped basin, offering a photogenic mix of rugged rock formations and transparent water that appeals to adventurous swimmers.
Sinai Peninsula: Sharm El Sheikh & Ras Mohammed
At the southern tip of the Sinai Peninsula, Sharm El Sheikh has long been one of Egypt’s signature beach destinations, attracting everyone from families and first-time visitors to serious divers. Its coastline is dotted with sandy bays and rocky headlands, with the dramatic backdrop of the Sinai mountains and year-round sunshine that keeps the sea warm enough for swimming in every season.
Within Sharm, Naama Bay is the energetic heart of the resort, offering a wide sandy beach, a pedestrian promenade, and easy access to restaurants, shops, and nightlife. Travelers seeking quieter surroundings often favor Sharks Bay or Ras Um Sid, where smaller coves and rich fringing reefs create excellent conditions for snorkeling directly from the beach. Just outside Sharm, Ras Mohammed National Park shelters some of the Red Sea’s most pristine coral and includes hidden stretches of sand and crystal-clear lagoons that feel far removed from the resort atmosphere without requiring long travel times.
Dahab & the Gulf of Aqaba
Further north on the Gulf of Aqaba, the relaxed town of Dahab offers a completely different beach experience compared with Sharm El Sheikh. Instead of large all-inclusive resorts, Dahab is known for its bohemian vibe, smaller guesthouses, and a waterfront lined with cafés where travelers sit just steps from the water, looking out toward the mountains of Saudi Arabia across the gulf.
The beaches around Dahab tend to combine stretches of sand and pebbles, with many areas leading directly to coral reefs only a few fin kicks from shore. The Dahab Lagoon, a gently curved bay with shallow turquoise water and a sandy bottom, is particularly attractive for those who want a more classic beach feel while still being close to kite-surfing schools and diving centers. For more dramatic scenery, nearby spots along the coast offer rugged shorelines and deep blue water ideal for freediving, making Dahab especially appealing to adventurous travelers and water sports enthusiasts.
Mediterranean Coast: Alexandria to Marsa Matrouh
On Egypt’s northern side, the Mediterranean coast provides a different style of beach experience, with cooler summer breezes and softer light compared with the Red Sea. In and around Alexandria, beaches such as Montaza offer sheltered swimming areas, long promenades, and the unique combination of sea views with historic palace gardens and architecture.
Farther west, the area around Marsa Matrouh is frequently praised for its almost Caribbean-like colors, with turquoise water and fine white sand. Agiba Beach, whose name means “miracle,” is one of the region’s most iconic spots: a small cove framed by cliffs, where steps or paths lead down from the rocks to a tiny sandy shore and intensely blue water. Nearby, Cleopatra’s Beach combines a sheltered lagoon, rock formations, and calm, clear water, offering a romantic setting that is especially beautiful at sunset when the surrounding cliffs glow with warm tones.
How to Choose the Right Beach Area
With so many beautiful beaches spread along Egypt’s coasts, choosing where to go depends on what kind of holiday experience is most important to you. Travelers who want easy resort comfort, plenty of excursions, and well-developed tourist infrastructure often gravitate to the Red Sea Riviera around Hurghada, El Gouna, or Sharm El Sheikh.
Those seeking quieter, more natural surroundings and exceptional snorkeling from undeveloped or lightly developed shores typically choose Marsa Alam or sections of the Sinai coastline beyond the main resort strips. Meanwhile, visitors who love dramatic Mediterranean cliffs, cooler air in the summer, and a slightly more local feel will likely prefer the beaches around Marsa Matrouh and the North Coast. By matching the region to your interests—whether that is luxury relaxation, underwater exploration, or scenic solitude—you can be confident of finding many of Egypt’s most beautiful beaches in the area that best fits your style.
