Sharm El Sheikh to Alexandria and back: the 720 km drive

Sharm El Sheikh to Alexandria by road: distance and time

We measured the drive with the OSRM routing engine on OpenStreetMap data on 16 October 2026. From Sharm El Sheikh airport to the centre of Alexandria it came to about 724 km and 7 h 56 min with an empty road; from Naama Bay about 713 km; and to Borg El Arab airport (HBE), which lies outside the city, about 719 km and 8 h. Treat 710–725 km as the working range.

That figure assumes no traffic, no checkpoints and no stops, which is not how this route behaves. Police and military checkpoints, the approach to the Suez tunnel, the ring road around Cairo and ordinary breaks for fuel and food push a real trip to eight or nine hours, sometimes longer. Because Alexandria is so far, a driver and passengers normally agree the departure time and the stops in advance rather than improvising.

Which way the road goes: Gulf of Suez, tunnel, then Cairo

Seen on a map, the way from Sharm to Alexandria is a long arc to the north and west. The car leaves Sharm northwards through South Sinai, follows the Gulf of Suez coast, and goes under the Suez Canal through the Ahmed Hamdi Tunnel near the city of Suez. On the mainland side it continues towards the Cairo area.

From there the last leg follows one of the two roads that Wikivoyage describes between Cairo and Alexandria: the Desert Road, called less crowded and faster, with cafes every few kilometres, or the Agriculture Road, which is busier and passes through Tanta. Wikivoyage gives about three hours for either one, counted from Cairo itself. Which of them a driver picks depends on traffic on the day, so we do not promise either; if you have a preference, say so in your message.

Alexandria to Sharm El Sheikh: planning the way back

If you start in Alexandria, the same 710–725 km runs in the opposite direction, through the Ahmed Hamdi Tunnel and then down the Gulf of Suez coast. Wikivoyage's Sharm guide notes that passengers on the Cairo route must show identification at several checkpoints, so keep your passport or ID in your hand luggage, not in the boot.

The practical issue is the clock. A departure at midday from Alexandria means arriving in Sharm well after dark, and UK government advice (FCDO) says not to drive outside main cities and resorts at night and warns that accidents are common because of road conditions and dangerous driving. We would rather you started early in the morning, whichever direction you travel, and booked a hotel night if your plans are tight.

Where in Alexandria: Corniche, Montazah, Borg El Arab

Alexandria is a long city stretched along the Corniche, the seafront road. The downtown and Latin Quarter area has Raml Station and the Graeco-Roman Museum; Anfushi and Ras el-Tin hold the Citadel of Qaitbay; Shatby has the Bibliotheca Alexandrina; and Montazah, in the east, has the Montaza Palace gardens and beaches. Further east along the Corniche lie San Stefano, Rushdy, Mandarah and Aboukir.

When you write to us, name the hotel, the neighbourhood or the station. The centre is about 724 km from Sharm airport on our measurement, and a hotel on the far eastern side will add a little to that. Borg El Arab airport is about 45 km southwest of downtown according to Wikivoyage, which says there is no public transport from it and that a taxi into the centre takes 60 to 90 minutes, so a flight arriving there and a car waiting is a different trip from a drive to a hotel.

Visa: the Sinai-only stamp does not cover Alexandria

Alexandria is on the Mediterranean mainland, well outside the Sinai resort zone. UK government advice (FCDO, checked October 2026) says travellers who arrive by air at Sharm El Sheikh and stay under 15 days at resorts in Sharm El Sheikh, Dahab, Nuweiba or Taba do not need a visa and receive a free entry permission stamp. Anyone who plans to travel outside those resorts, or stay longer than 15 days, must get a visa. FCDO says a visa can be bought on arrival at approved airport kiosks, or a tourist e-visa applied for online in advance.

Alexandria is not one of the four resorts, so a Sinai stamp alone does not cover this journey. Sort the visa before you leave Sharm, and remember the FCDO warning that police check ID regularly and may detain people who cannot show their passport and visa. Which nationalities qualify for the stamp is not clear in every source (checked October 2026 — check before you travel).

Bus, plane or a private car with a driver

Go Bus and Super Jet both list Alexandria and Sharm among their cities; Super Jet names Moharam Bek and Miami as its Alexandria stations and Rowaysat in Sharm, and Go Bus shows a Sharm station and a pick-up at Nabq. We could not read an official timetable that proves a direct Sharm to Alexandria service, though some booking aggregators list one, and the land route passes Suez and the Cairo area, so a change is possible. Open the operator's app for the current timetable, and confirm which Sharm terminal the bus leaves from. We do not quote bus fares or times.

By air, a few listing sites show a direct flight between Sharm and Alexandria that may run only on some days or in some seasons; we could not confirm it on an airline's own page, so check the airline's current schedule.

A private car with a driver suits families, groups with a lot of luggage and anyone who wants one door-to-door ride. Where a price exists on our site it is for the whole vehicle, and sending a request is free.

Limousine, a private tour or Borg El Arab airport: which plan fits

A search for a limousine from Sharm to Alexandria usually means one thing: a private car that takes the whole group from door to door. That is what a driver arranged through us would be, and when a car is available the price is set for the vehicle, not per person. It is not sightseeing, though. With eight to nine hours of road each way, a visit to Alexandria from Sharm needs at least one night in the city; if you want a guided trip with a driver rather than a one-way ride, the site has a separate private tour page.

Borg El Arab airport, about 719 km from Sharm on our measurement, changes the picture for travellers flying in or out of Alexandria. If you land there and are heading for Sharm, a car can wait at the terminal, which matters because Wikivoyage reports no public transport from that airport. Uber lists Alexandria among its Egyptian cities but does not work in Sharm El Sheikh, so an app ride is no answer for the full distance. Send the direction, date, passengers and luggage on WhatsApp, and name the hotel or the airport.

Transfer terms: name sign, waiting, night price, cancellation

These are the standard terms of our transfer partners (November 2026). The company confirms the details for your trip when it accepts the request.

Name sign: on request, the driver meets you with a sign showing your name. Ask for it when you book.

Free waiting: up to 30 minutes.

Night price: the same as the day price, with no night surcharge.

Cancellation: free. Nothing is paid in advance, so just tell the company at least 24 hours before the pickup time.