Egypt’s Most Attractive Summer Destinations

Updated On: April 16, 2024 by   Ciaran Connolly

While there are a lot of places to visit in Egypt for those interested in history, the country is also known for its stunning beaches as it overlooks both the Mediterranean and the Red Sea. Egypt has numerous resort towns and beaches on both coasts for everyone to enjoy throughout the summer months.

Here are some of the best summer destinations in Egypt.

Alexandria

One of Egypt’s former capitals, Alexandria is one of the oldest cities in the country, and yet it still maintains its lustre and attracts many tourists throughout the year. Its 14-km-long coast includes a lot of beaches for locals and visitors alike, some of which are free to enter.

There are plenty of beaches all over Alexandria, ranging in price, but they are all affordable and budget-friendly. Now, you can also book your beach entry, umbrella, and chairs online through the city’s online portal.

Alexandria is, without a doubt, one of the most popular destinations in Egypt.

Relaxing by the beach in Alexandria is a must for anyone visiting the city to experience Alexandria at its best and take a breath after all the activities you’ve done across the city so far.

We recommend Stanly Beach for its clear and sparkling water and the many restaurants nearby that provide beachgoers with delicious meals. After that, you can walk up to Stanly Bridge and enjoy the amazing view of the sea and the city of Alexandria from above. The Bridge was modelled after the Montaza Palace, a grand feat of architecture in and of itself.

One of the well-known activities in Alexandria is going on underwater excursions to explore the submerged museums lying at the bottom of the Mediterranean. A noteworthy site is the Cleopatra Palace which was once part of the ancient city of Alexandria. Northeast of the city, in the bay of Aboukir, you’ll find the port city of Heracleion-Thonis. You will be accompanied by a professional diver on your trip underwater. 

Aboukir itself has a long and rich history. In 1798, the Battle of the Nile was fought in Abukir, where the British fleet led by Nelson defeated the French fleet. In 1799, Napoleon defeated the Turkish army there as well, and in 1801, Sir Ralph Abercromby defeated the French army, forcing them out of Egypt.

Not only is the area known for the significant events that it witnessed, but it also offers some of Egypt’s finest seafood, with a multitude of seafood restaurants that locals and tourists flock to.

No Egyptian vacation is complete without a visit.

Marsa Matrouh

One of the most beautiful spots in Egypt is Taba city that is known for its vast natural landscapes, ancient history, and charming atmosphere, especially in the summer when visitors can enjoy its beaches and long mountain ranges.

Pharaoh’s Island is one of the beautiful attractions in Taba. Located about 8 km away from the city, it gained its name from its long history, dating back to the reign of the Pharaonic King Ramses II. It is also named the citadel of Saladin due to the citadel that he built on the island in 1170 using granite to secure the country from the dangers of external invasions. The citadel was built on two prominent towers on the island, surrounded by walls and towers for protection. Inside, it includes defence facilities, a weapons manufacturing workshop, a military meeting room, welding rooms, a baking oven, a steam room, water tanks, and a mosque.

Nowadays, the island is visited by many tourists from all over the world because of its beautiful views and it is also a perfect place for diving, where you will find lovely coral reefs. The castle was added by UNESCO to the list of World Heritage Cities in 2003 due to its cultural universal value.

It’s the perfect destination for any Egyptian adventure.

Fjord Bay is located 15 km away from Taba City. It is a magnificent spot for divers as it contains colourful coral reefs and many types of fish. It is visited by thousands of tourists who love to dive, relax and enjoy the picturesque nature. It is well known for its waters where you can dive there up to 24 meters deep and then get through 12 meters of coral reefs and then you will find the wonderful marine life, including glassfish and silverfish.

Sharm El Sheikh

Giftun Island is in the Red Sea, close to Sharm El Sheikh and Hurghada. Many people come from nearby resort towns for a day trip to go snorkelling, diving, and sunbathing on the island’s beautiful beach. The day trip usually takes 9 hours from 9:00 am to 5:00 pm as tourists and visitors arrive via yachts that dock by the island as they jump out into the sparkling waters for a chance to explore the coral reefs and swim among the colourful fish and friendly dolphins. Most trips also offer lunch, all the snorkel equipment is provided for the group, and you are accompanied by certified scuba divers.

The area contains over 190 types of coral reefs and more than 790 different species of fish. 

Gifton Island attracts about 187,512 tourists annually. The island is surrounded by 14 of the best diving spots in Hurghada and several small islands: El Gifton El Kabeer, El Gifton El Sagheer, and Abu Monqar Island. 

This is guaranteed to be an unforgettable experience. It is also suitable for both adults and children as you will be accompanied by certified guides to help you throughout the day.

North Coast

Extending along the Egyptian coast overlooking the Mediterranean Sea, the North Coast encompasses major cities, like Alexandria and Marsa Matrouh, along with smaller compounds and resort towns usually inhabited in the summer vacation by locals and tourists escaping the summer heat and enjoying their time on the beautiful beaches.

Other than the lounging by the mesmerizing beaches, tourists can enjoy a long list of activities, from parasailing to water skiing and waterboarding, among many others.

Among the most well-known summer destinations on the North Coast are Marassi, Hacienda Bay, New Alamein, Porto Marina, and many more.

El Gouna

Located just north of Hurghada, another beautiful city on the Red Sea, El Gouna blossomed into a vibrant city in and of itself. The city of Gouna has numerous high-end apartments for rent as well as hotels, both affordable and luxurious, overlooking its beaches and lakes. El Gouna has a wide range of activities, including water sports, attracting tourists from all over the world.

Dahab

Dahab was given its name, which means Gold because at sunset the color of the water becomes golden, and some say that it was named after its yellow sand, which resembles the color of gold. It lies on the coast of the Red Sea, around 100 km away from Sharm El Sheikh, and today is one of the top summer destinations in Egypt.

Dahab is known for its fantastic diving spots, the most famous of which is the Blue Hole; a diving area 130 meters deep with an entrance that is 6 meters wide. The Blue Hole is considered one of the best diving locations in the Red Sea and in the world where you can discover the submerged world and marvel at the rare and beautiful coral reefs.

Another beautiful location in Dahab is Laguna Island which is characterized by the merging of the different colours of nature with each other from the golden yellow sand, blue water of Laguna Beach, and the clear sky of Dahab. The water there has an abundance of colourful fish and coral reefs, and there are many diving training centres which train tourists on how to dive safely while enjoying their time. You can also have a delicious meal at one of its nice restaurants and cafes.

You can also visit the Lighthouse Reef, a well-known diving site in Dahab. It is also a perfect place to learn diving and it has one of the easiest entries and exits as it is always sheltered from the wind. When you dive in the Lighthouse Reef you can observe the seahorses and Pegasus sea moths and you will also see beautiful and colourful reefs. You’ll find a reef wall that you can follow and cruise over. You will see some scorpion and crocodile fish and at night you will see anemone crabs, nudibranchs, octopus, and moray eels.

Sahl Hashish

Sahl Hashish is a famous and attractive spot located on the coast of the Red Sea about 25 km south of Hurghada, Egypt. This summer destination is a small town with 6 major tourist resorts and more than 14 hotels. Like many cities located on the Red Sea, Sahl Hashish is famous for diving and snorkeling, where you can find the coral reefs about one kilometre away and you can reach them after a 5 to 10-minute boat trip. You will enjoy diving in the Red Sea and exploring beautiful nature at a depth of 20 meters. 

The beaches in Sahl Hashish are amazing and quite popular with tourists. The city contains many beautiful beaches on the Red Sea, with clear waters and beautiful golden sandy landscapes. Some of these beaches also offer fitness equipment that is available for everyone who wants to exercise and also for tourists who want to practice and learn to dive among the coral reefs below the sea. You will find many diving centers on all of the beaches in Sahl Hashish to help you dive to discover the beauty of the world under the sea.

Marsa Alam

Dubbed ‘the Maldives of Egypt’ due to its beautiful beaches and sparkling waters, Marsa Alam used to be a small fishing village, located on the Red Sea, just 280 km from Hurghada. Now, Marsa Alam is a famous resort town in Egypt, with beautiful beaches and multiple resorts. It’s one of the best loved summer destinations in the country.

Taking a submarine trip in Marsa Alam is a very enjoyable activity, as you ride an air-conditioned submarine fitted with 20 panoramic windows for an excellent underwater view of the coral reefs and tropical fish. You can take as many pictures and videos as you want of the magical underwater world as a souvenir.  

You can head also to Sharm el Lulli Beach; a beautiful beach inside Wadi El Gemal Reserve with has sparkling clear waters and shining white sand. The area is a famous place for diving where you can swim among the sea turtles.

Qula’an is also one of the best beaches in the city where you can see the wonderful nature around you unencumbered by any man-made structures and it is distinguished by its clear water, soft sand, and mangrove trees. Tourists go there a lot just to enjoy the beauty of nature and do many activities, like snorkelling and diving, besides that, they also enjoy the moderate temperature and the brightness of the sun as well as the mangrove trees located within the seawater in the Qula’an area that attract hundreds of tourists and Egyptians every day. It is a perfect place to spend a day with friends and family and have a great time.  

One of Egypt’s most popular summer destinations, Marsa Alam is also a great place to swim with dolphins and have the time of your life. Tours usually start from the marina and head out to Dolphin House, a reef that is home to many spinner dolphins who interact happily with the snorkelers.

There is so much to see and do in Egypt’s many summer destinations, with so many cities and resorts overlooking the Mediterranean and the Red Sea, you’re guaranteed to have a wide variety of options if you choose to visit Egypt in the summer. Whether you’re looking for a relaxing vacation by the sea or a wild water adventure, Egypt has you covered.

You can choose the older well-established cities like Sharm El Sheikh and Taba for the more relaxing vacations, or head for the newer cities, like Gouna, to find out all that it has to offer in terms of water sports, safaris, night-time excursions and so much more. You can enjoy your trip with your family or friends and customise it to suit exactly what you’re looking for.

So, what are you waiting for? Book your next trip now, or check out our perfect Egyptian itinerary.