How to get to Sharm El Sheikh: flights, the closest airport and routes by road
Short answer: the easiest way to get to Sharm El Sheikh is to fly, because the city has its own airport, SSH, about 11 to 14 km from Naama Bay. By road from Cairo it takes about 6 to 7 hours, while Hurghada is far away, about 750 km, and a ferry is not confirmed. This guide puts every way of getting there on one page, with distances and notes on entry. We flag what changes: check flight schedules and connections with the carrier right before you buy. We quote no Charm Rental prices, the current prices are on the offer pages.
By air: Sharm El Sheikh airport (SSH)
The closest airport to Sharm El Sheikh is Sharm El Sheikh International (code SSH), on the same side of the bay as the hotels, about 11 to 14 km from Naama Bay and about 8 km from Nabq. The airports at Hurghada or Cairo are hundreds of kilometres further and make no sense if you are going on holiday to Sharm.
The airport's destination list (Wikipedia, 2026) shows that from the UK flights are operated by easyJet (from Belfast, Birmingham, Bristol, Edinburgh, Glasgow, Liverpool, London, Manchester and Newcastle), TUI Airways, Jet2.com and British Airways from Gatwick. Other markets have for example Wizz Air, Neos, Aeroflot or Enter Air. Schedules change from season to season, so check the current schedule with the airline or your tour operator.
By road from Cairo
From Cairo to Sharm El Sheikh it is about 500 km. By an OpenStreetMap estimate without traffic that is about 6 to 7 hours by car including the tunnel and checkpoints, so plan for more in practice. By bus, Ask Aladdin gives about 6 to 8.5 hours, with Go Bus, Super Jet, Blue Bus and East Delta. Ticket prices are not confirmed, so check them in the operator's app. Details are in our guide to buses from Sharm.
If you prefer something private, you can book a car with a driver for the whole way or rent a car. On the Sinai road expect checkpoints, so keep your passport with you. For most tourists a long driving day from Cairo is tiring, so consider a domestic flight or a stop along the way.
From Hurghada, Dahab, Nuweiba, Taba and Eilat
From Hurghada: we did not confirm that a ferry runs to Sharm. Direct Ferries says no ferries are currently running. By land it is about 750 km via Suez and about 9 to 10 hours, and Hurghada is outside Sinai. Details are in our guide to the Sharm Hurghada ferry.
From places in Sinai you arrive along the coast road, by estimates without traffic: from Dahab about 90 to 95 km (about 1 hour 15 minutes to 1 hour 30 minutes), from Nuweiba about 150 km (about 2 hours), from Taba about 220 km (about 2 hours 45 minutes to 3 hours 15 minutes) and from St Catherine about 205 km (about 2 hours 45 minutes to 3 hours 30 minutes). Taba can also be reached from Eilat through the land crossing. According to the FCDO it is open, but borders could close at short notice and charges have changed suddenly. Check just before you go. Ferries from Nuweiba and Taba Heights sail to Aqaba in Jordan.
Entry rules in brief
According to the UK Foreign Office (FCDO), if you arrive by air at Sharm El Sheikh and stay under 15 days at the resorts of Sharm, Dahab, Nuweiba or Taba, you do not need a visa and receive a free entry stamp at the airport. If you plan to travel outside the resorts or stay longer, you need a visa. At the airport there are kiosks before immigration where you can buy a visa for 30 US dollars, cash only. Your passport should be valid for at least 6 months.
According to the experience of our local partner companies in Sharm (October 2026), Russian and Ukrainian citizens receive the Sinai stamp for about one month, 28 to 30 days. Check the current rules before you travel. The full picture is in our guide to entry rules and the Sinai visa and in our documents guide.
From the airport to your hotel
From the airport it is about 11 to 14 km and about 15 to 20 minutes by road to Naama Bay, about 8 km and about 10 to 15 minutes to Nabq, about 20 km and about 20 to 25 minutes to the Old Market, and about 23 to 25 km and about 25 to 30 minutes to Hadaba and Ras Um Sid. These are estimates without traffic.
The options are a transfer booked in advance, a taxi with a price agreed before you ride, an app, or a rental car picked up at the airport. The comparison of everything is in our guide to the airport to hotel transfer: all options. Current prices for transfers and cars are on the offer pages. On the booking form you can add your flight number. For extras, ask when you send the request.