Most settlements in the Sinai are on the coast of the peninsula. The long coral reef along the coast of the Gulf of Aqaba is the biggest tourist attraction and the resort towns of Sharm el Sheikh, Dahab, Nuweiba and Taba are the main Sinai holiday destinations. There are smaller towns along the coast of the Gulf of Suez of which El Tor is important for those intending to extend their visa. The Mediterranean coast on the north and its main city, El Arish, are rarely visited. In the center the town of St. Catherine is on the main tourist path.
 Sharm el SheikhSharm el Sheikh is a sprawling resort city at the tip of the peninsula and most visitors to Sinai arrive through its airport. Mostly noted for water sports and the wide selection of high-end hotels, the city now stretches over 20 kilometers from the port in the south to the Nabq Protectorate fence in the north. >> more |
 DahabLivelier and more developed than Nuweiba or Taba, Dahab is the second resort city of South Sinai, but on a more human-scale and with more character than Sharm el Sheikh. Apart from excellent diving and other types of water sports it offers a few hikes, most notably in Wadi el Beda and Wadi Gnai. >> more |
 NuweibaNuweiba is a major port city, connecting Egypt to Jordan at their port of Aqaba. The city is spread out with four major hubs: the Muzeina, Port (Mina), Center and Tarabin areas. The coast to the resort town of Taba in the north is lined with simple beach camps and it is a pleasantly undeveloped sea shore. >> more |
 TabaTaba is the main border crossing between Egypt and Israel and the only one open to foreigners. There are a number of high-end hotels and also many simple beach camps along the road to Nuweiba. Off the coast from Taba is Pharaoh Island with an old fort. Located just south of Taba is a protected area on 3590 sq. km. >> more |
 St. CatherineThe town of St. Katherine is famous for the Monastery of St. Katherine, built on the believed site of the Burning Bush at the foot of Mt. Sinai (Jebel Musa). This is the only site most people visit in the Sinai interior, so it can get crowded. The best way to avoid the crowds, at least on Mt. Sinai, is to go for the sunset instead of the sunrise and descend to town before total darkness sets in. Mt. Katherina is the highest mountain of Egypt, accessible via Wadi Arbain, and there are many other treks in the region. >> more |
 Wadi FeiranWadi Feiran is mostly visited for its Orthodox Convent. The functioning, newer complex is in a beautiful garden along the main road, located right next to some older ruins. Opposite is Jebel Tahouna, with some hermit caves at its base and the ruins of a church on top, marking the spot from where Moses is believed to watch the fight with the Amelekites below. The view from here is dominated by the towering mass of Jebel Serbal, possibly the most beautiful mountain in the Sinai – it was believed in early ages to be the true Mt. Sinai. >> more |
 Abu Zenima and Serabit el KhademAbu Zenima is a very little town on the coast along the main Cairo-Sharm road with a few shops, cafés, restaurants and basic accommodation. It is worth a mention only since the road to Serabit el Khadem branches off from here. Serabit el Khadim is a small settlement in the desert next to the most important Pharaonic ruins in the Sinai. The route from Abu Zenima is the shortest and easiest way from the coast, although apart from some small stretches it is not paved. >> more |
 Ras SudrRas Sudr is popular with Egyptians and ex-pats from Cairo as a Red Sea get-away destination. There are many fenced-off holiday villages along the coast before and after Ras Sudr with privately owned apartments, and also some luxury resorts. Ras Sudr is rarely visited by foreigners. >> more |
 El TorAlthough it is the capital of the Governorate of South Sinai, El Tor is quite small with a central market and a few shopping streets around it. Foreigners usually visit it only to extend their visa, but the town does have some charm and a couple of sights. The old town at the port consists of a few neglected and fenced off buildings and another few in better conditions. They are beautiful but need some effort to be saved. There is also a hot spring in El Tor, known as Hamam Musa. >> more |
 El ArishThe capital of the Governorate of North Sinai, El-Arish is a pleasant seaside town with fine beaches, but because of its proximity to Rafa and Gaza (Palestinian territories) and problems associated with it, it is not a main tourist destination. It is still popular with some Egyptian families. Nearby Lake Bardawil is of interest for birdwatchers. >> more |
