Egypt, a land celebrated for its ancient monuments and rich history, also boasts stunning coastlines along the Mediterranean and Red Seas. With around 360 days of sunshine a year and inviting water temperatures, Egypt's beaches can rival many world-famous destinations.
The nearest seaside to Cairo is Ain Sukhna, around an hour and a half away. It is a string of holiday resorts and private villas, and a smattering of cafes and shops stretching about 60km along the Gulf of Suez, that first developed as a place where rich Egyptians built their holiday homes. Unlike package favourites such as Sharm el-Sheikh and Dahab, it caters almost exclusively for Cairenes taking a breather from the city heat.
After the noisy, grid-locked capital, the peace and isolation of Ain Sukhna was like a long, cold drink of water. When I strolled along the beach shortly after I arrived, the loudest sound was a sun umbrella flapping in the wind. Families played in the sand, and there were one or two weathered sunbathers. Offshore a pod of dolphins dipped past, and under the water, pink coral and blue fish made a paradise for snorkelling - this is the Red Sea after all.
Controversially, though, at the pool, there was a sign telling female guests who wear the veil that they must strip down to a costume to swim. Beyond the hotel gates and the beaches lies the Gulf of Suez.
Here are some of the best beaches near Cairo that offer a perfect escape from the city:
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Egypt is bordered by the Mediterranean Sea to the north and the Red Sea to the east, plus two gulfs. When you add those two facts together, you equate for pretty ideal beaches.
Disclaimer: we’re obviously not including all famous Egyptian beaches, we included the ones that we think offer the most when it comes to color and quality of water, soft white sand, picturesque views and overall beach experience.
Here are my top picks for the best North Coast Egypt beaches:
North Coast: The "Maldives of Egypt"
Often called the “Maldives of Egypt,” the North Coast has the bright turquoise waters and white sand that many don’t expect to find in the land of mosques and pyramids.
Egypt’s North Coast, called Sahel el Shamali in Arabic (Sahel for short), stretches out for hundreds of kilometers on Egypt’s Mediterranean coast and has arguably some of the most pristine white sand beaches in the region. It’s currently comprised mainly of private residential beach compounds with a few sporadic hotels, so it’s mainly the summer playground of moneyed locals. Recently though more tourism development has taken root, so those who don’t own beach homes can still enjoy Egypt’s (hands down) best summer beaches.
Read also: Mombasa: Sun, Sand, Serenity
The North Coast has lots of gorgeous beaches where you can enjoy an effortless summer getaway - whether you’re looking for nightlife, a family vacation or a quiet getaway. And that also means exclusive parties, high-end boutiques and the see-and-be-seen crowd flocking in.
Best time to go: June through September
How to get there: Car or bus
1. Almaza Bay
Location: 50 minutes from Marsa Matruh International Airport.
With its bright turquoise waters, 5-star resorts and elegant restaurants, Almaza Bay is the perfect spot for a quiet upscale getaway in the sand. Almaza Bay has those crystal clear waters that have earned the North Coast the nickname “the Maldives of Egypt.” Spend an afternoon kayaking or kitesurfing on the white sandy beaches before you tuck into a decadent dinner with cocktails at Sachi by the Sea. Almaza is a top choice for luxury on Egypt’s Mediterranean. This award-winning restaurant has been named one of the best in the Middle East.
Read also: Discover Lagos Beaches
Don’t miss the live music events in the high season.
2. Marassi Address Beach Resort Marassi
Location: 1.5 hours from Al Alamein Airport.
Marassi is a hugely popular resort community that boasts luxurious hotels, summer homes, crystal-clear beaches and an 18-hole golf course. It’s also less than an hour from El Alamein, the site of a significant World War II battle that now houses a fascinating museum. Marassi has striking turquoise waters, laid-back beaches and some of the North Coast’s most stunning hotels.
Best hotels
- Al Alamein Hotel
- Address Marassi Golf Resort for spacious rooms overlooking the golfing greens.
- Al Alamein Hotel for ultra-modern luxury right on the beach.
Best restaurants
- IzakayaReif for upscale Japanese indulgence.
- Izakaya for Japanese-Peruvian fusion in a sumptuous setting.
Don’t miss the live music and parties in the high season.
3. Caesar Bay
Location: 1 hour from Marsa Maruh International Airport.
Caesar Bay has gorgeous beaches, chic eateries and unique views of a nearby island. It’s also near El Alamein, the site of a significant World War II battle that now houses a museum. From beach bars with palm leaf umbrellas to white sands and vivid blue waters, Caesar Bay is a great destination to unwind on the beach with a paperback and a pina colada.
Best hotels:
- Caesar Bay Resort
- Caesar Bay Resort has a beautiful beach with great views of a nearby island.
Best restaurants:
- Great Italian at the resort’s restaurant.
4. Ghazala Bay Rixos Alamein
Location: 1.5 hours to Marsa Matrouh International Airport, 1.5 hours from Borg El Arab International Airport.
Ghazala is one of the most beautiful bays on the North Coast with pristine shorelines, breathtaking hotels and chic eateries. Ghazala Bay is in a bustling part of sahel with lots of great resorts and restaurants to choose from - all walking distance from some of the coast’s most crystal blue beaches. You’re spoiled for choice on this part of the coast with lots of beaches and other resorts nearby.
Best hotels:
- Rixos Alamein for spacious sea view rooms and great restaurants.
Best restaurants:
- White & Blue
- White & Blue for incredible seafood in a cozy beachside atmosphere.
- Gigi Plage for cocktails on the beach.
5. Agiba Beach
Only 24 km west from Marsa Matrouh lies Agiba Beach - the only North Coast Beach on this list. About 2 km from the hilltop lies a coast of accessible yet almost secret beach which is known as Agiba Beach. Agiba translates to “miracle” in Arabic, and when you go you will understand why. The magnificent cove that’s only accessed from a small path leading down from a cliff top provides a one-of-a-kind view.
Other Notable Beach Destinations in Egypt
1. Soma Bay
Because it’s surrounded by the sea on three sides, Soma Bay is famous for its water sports, especially kitesurfing and windsurfing due to the ideal wind conditions. Soma Bay is home to only 5 beach resorts, so it’s a good place to go if you want to avoid the crowds found in other popular Red Sea Riviera destinations (Hurghada, Sharm el Sheikh, etc). It’s home to some of the most highly ranked beach resorts in the country, such as Oberoi Sahl Hasheesh and Baron Palace.
2. Giftun Islands (Mahmya on Big Giftun)
Location: Red Sea off of Hurghada
Best time to go: April through to November
How to get there: by boat from Hurghada or El Gouna, which are reached by car/bus/plane
Off the coast of Hurghada are the two Giftun Islands in the Red Sea: Giftun El Kabeer (Big Giftun) and Giftun el Sagheer (Little Giftun). While both are surrounded by equally dazzling clear azure water, Big Giftun is the one where the real action is at because it’s home to beach havens Mahmya and Orange Bay. Mahmya on Big Giftun These daytime destinations offer beach restaurants, bars and water activities as well as bathrooms and showers for those who’ve spent a long day diving or snorkeling and want to kick back and relax.
For more tropical islands in Egypt, head here.
3. Wadi El Gemal National Park (Sharm el Luli)
Location: Red Sea coast south of Marsa Alam
Best time to go: year-round, but it gets a tiny bit chilly in winter and very hot in summer
How to get there: drive down from Marsa Alam, which is best reached by plane
Wadi el Gemal (Valley of the Camels) is an Egyptian national park that encompasses both desert and sea. The biodiversity of its large mammals, reptiles, birds, plants and untouched marine life make it unlike anywhere else in Egypt -- and its coastal area alone is home to 450 species of coral and over 1,200 species of fish. One of the most beautiful beaches in Wadi Gemal is Sharm el Luli (also known as Ras Hankoreb).
For a small entrance fee, you can spend the day on the coastal beaches of the park, with the comfort of a local guide nearby (the park is massive!). Most visitors spend the night in nearby lodges or in Marsa Alam, and then enjoy the day on the untouched beaches of the national park.
4. Marsa Matrouh
Location: Mediterranean Sea coast, 240 km west of Alexandria
Best time to go: June through September
How to get there: car/bus from Cairo or Alexandria
Marsa Matrouh is a small port city to the west of the North Coast we talked about above. Unlike the North Coast, Marsa Matrouh is an actual coastal city with year-round inhabitants and not just seasonal private residences. If you want to experience Egypt’s Mediterranean Sea but don’t want to deal with exclusive compounds or ridiculously high hotel prices, Marsa Matrouh offers equally beautiful beaches, albeit in a more crowded and less chi-chi atmosphere.
Local tip: if you’re in Marsa Matrouh, it might be a good idea to also spend a few days in Siwa Oasis to the south. It’s about a 4.5 hour car trip, which sounds like a lot, but imagine tacking on the extra 5 hours it would take to get from Cairo to Marsa Matrouh, PLUS the 4.5 hours from there to Siwa (via Marsa Matrouh is the safest and easiest route to Siwa).
5. Ras Um Sid
Location: Sharm el Sheikh
Best time to go: spring and fall (summer too if you can handle the heat)
How to get there: fly to Sharm el Sheikh (or drive, but we prefer to fly)
While all of Sharm el Sheikh is a resort beach-goer’s dream, the beach at Ras Um Sid takes the cake in our personal opinion. While it's home to several hotels, you can also access the beach via entrance ticket. Besides having umbrellas, sunbeds, a restaurant, bar, shisha and spectacular views, it’s also one of the best beaches in Egypt for snorkeling -- swimmers sometimes see more marine life than divers do! For the best diving destinations in Egypt, head here.
6. Qulaan Islands
Location: in the Red Sea off of Wadi El Gemal National Park
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