Driving in Sharm El Sheikh: what to expect from traffic and roads
Short answer: in Sharm El Sheikh you drive on the right, and from the airport you reach most hotels in a quarter of an hour to about half an hour. Driving in Sharm still takes attention: speed bumps are frequent and often unmarked, and after dark the UK Foreign Office advises against driving outside main cities and resorts. This guide covers getting around Sharm and its surroundings. Checkpoints, fuel and the rules of the Sinai roads are in the separate driving rules guide, and the documents you need to rent are in the documents guide. Information checked on 15 October 2026; check the current rules before you travel.
Right-hand traffic and what to expect on the road
Egypt drives on the right, so there is nothing to relearn about the side of the road. The difference is the driving style. The UK Foreign Office (FCDO) writes that accidents are common because of variable road conditions, dangerous driving and poor traffic law enforcement. That warning covers the whole country, while for the Red Sea tourist areas of southern Sinai, Sharm El Sheikh included, the same FCDO speaks of generally low risk.
One traveller who rented a car in Egypt reports that speed bumps are very frequent and almost never signposted, and that road lighting exists only near the big cities. That is one person's account, not an official source, but the advice is practical: brake early and look far ahead. Leave more space than usual. The posted sign rules, so where a limit is shown, do not rely on numbers read in guides.
Since May 2024 the Public Prosecutor has told prosecutors to prioritise speeding cases, and extreme speeding can lead to criminal charges, not just a fine. Travellers also mention speed cameras on some roads and fines that the rental company bills to the driver afterwards.
Distances between the areas of Sharm El Sheikh
The figures below are road estimates without traffic and without checkpoint delays. They are computed from OpenStreetMap data, not an official table, so real journeys are usually longer.
From the airport to Naama Bay is about 11 to 14 km and 15 to 20 minutes, to Nabq Bay about 8 km and 10 to 15 minutes, to Sharks Bay about 11 km and 15 minutes, to Al Montazah about 13 km and 15 to 20 minutes, to the Old Market about 20 km and 20 to 25 minutes, and to Hadaba or Ras Um Sid about 23 to 25 km and 25 to 30 minutes.
From Naama Bay it is about 9 km to the Old Market, about 11 km to Sharks Bay and Hadaba, about 12 to 13 km to Ras Um Sid and Al Montazah, and about 18 km to Nabq Bay. If you sleep in Nabq and want dinner in Naama Bay, plan on roughly twenty minutes each way. For longer legs such as Dahab, see the Dahab day trip guide.
Parking, hotel gates and driving at night
We found no reliable, sourced description of parking rules in Sharm El Sheikh, so we do not present any as fact. Ask your hotel where to leave the car, whether parking is free, and whether there are formalities at the entrance. The same goes for gates and barriers at hotel complexes: there is no single rule, and the easy answer is to ask reception before you arrive.
Night driving is a separate matter. The FCDO advises not to drive outside main cities and resorts at night. There is no legal ban for tourists and it is advice only, but it has reasons: poor lighting, unmarked bumps and the main beams of oncoming vehicles. A sensible plan is to drive longer legs, for example towards Dahab, in daylight, and in the evening stay on familiar, well-lit streets inside Sharm.
Seat belts, child seats, speed and alcohol
The FCDO states that drivers and front-seat passengers must wear seat belts. The Austrian motoring club OeAMTC says children up to seven years old must not sit in the front seat. According to our local partner companies in Sharm (October 2026), child seats are provided by the rental companies. Cars that have one show Child seat on request on the offer card: choose such a car and mention the child's age in your request. Ordinary street taxis do not provide one.
Speed limits are reported differently. The OeAMTC and ACE clubs give 30 km per hour in built-up areas and 60 outside, but they swap 90 and 100 between expressways and motorways. Wikipedia gives 60 in towns and 90 to 120 on faster roads. As of 15 October 2026 there is no single reliable number, so the posted sign rules. On alcohol, both clubs quote zero tolerance, and the FCDO calls driving under the influence a serious offence that can bring a fine and imprisonment. Treat the limit as zero.
When to choose a driver instead of driving yourself
Driving yourself is a good choice if you want to set your own route and hours and you move around by day, within Sharm and towards Dahab. A driver makes more sense if you land late at night, do not want to add post-flight tiredness to unfamiliar traffic, have evenings out planned, or simply do not want to deal with checkpoints and parking.
On a transfer or a car with driver, the driver is part of the booking. The price is per vehicle, and the current lowest price is shown on the relevant page. If you want to combine both, for example an airport transfer and a car for a few days, compare the options in the car versus taxi versus transfer guide. Route details and pickup time are confirmed in your request.