7 Affordable Beach Destinations in Egypt for a Winter Sun Escape

Egypt is one of the best winter sun destinations within easy reach of Europe, offering warm temperatures, long hours of sunshine, and some of the most affordable beach holidays available. From Red Sea resorts like Hurghada and Sharm El Sheikh to quieter Mediterranean escapes, there are plenty of places to enjoy a cheap winter getaway without compromising on quality.

If there’s one thing Egypt isn’t short of, it’s sand. I’ve spent many – happy – days in desert destinations including the Siwa Oasis.

But I’ve also spent a huge amount of time in and on the affordable beach destinations in Egypt, from the Red Sea shores of Hurghada at one end of the country to the beaches of the Mediterranean in Alexandria and Marsa Matrouh at the other.

What keeps me going back to Egypt’s beaches? It’s the mix of near-guaranteed sunbathing weather, the ludicrously-good prices and the ease of holidaying in the country’s coastal hotspots.

Here I highlight my favourite destinations in Egypt for an affordable winter sun escape.

Why choose affordable beach destinations in Egypt over other destinations?

When much of the northern hemisphere is shivering in coats and blanketed by a seemingly endless sky of grey, Egypt is experiencing a very different climate.

Even in February, its shores see average daytimes temperatures hitting 20°C and highs of around 25°C – and that’s pretty much the coldest it gets at any time of year!

In the same month you’ll see almost no rain – 0.02mm if you’re being scientific about it – and a delightful 10 hours of sunshine per day, compared to London’s 4 hours.

Perhaps more importantly in the current economic climate, Egypt is very kind on the wallet, especially when compared to other traditional winter beach destinations like the Caribbean.

There are often some excellent deals on flights to Egypt, with a flight time that sits around five hours rather than nine for the Caribbean islands.

Even in El Gouna, one of Egypt’s highest-end beach resorts, you can enjoy a week’s stay for around £600 including return flights, bed and breakfast. A full day tour with dinner will set you back around £40 here.

Quick Comparison of the Best Beach Destinations in Egypt

If you’re short on time, here’s a quick breakdown of the best affordable beach destinations in Egypt based on your travel style:

• Best for first-time visitors: Sharm El Sheikh • Best for families: Hurghada • Best for affordable luxury: El Gouna • Best for diving and water sports: Dahab • Best for quiet, local vibes: Marsa Matrouh • Best for city + beach mix: Alexandria • Best for wildlife and warmest weather: Marsa

My pick of the best affordable beach destinations in Egypt for a winter sun escape

1. Sharm El Sheikh

• Best for: Water sports
• Getting there: fly direct to Sharm El Sheikh international airport
• Pros: no need for a visa

Probably the best-known name in Egyptian beach escapes, Sharm El Sheikh lies on the eastern shores of the Red Sea in the Sinai Peninsula.

Within easy reach of historic attractions such as Saint Catherine’s – the world’s oldest continually-inhabited Christian monastery (check out tours here) – should you be looking for distractions beyond the beach, Sharm (as it’s invariably known) started out life as a small fishing village.

Today, the town welcomes in tens of millions of visitors every year, keen to combine time on the soft, clean sands of beaches like Naama Bay and Shark’s Bay with top-notch water sports.

The Red Sea’s coral reefs are only a short distance away, meaning both snorkelling and scuba diving trips are popular. Slip your head beneath the waves and you’ll be able to see somewhere in the region of 250 different types of coral and 1,000 fish species – many the colourful tropical fish you’ll know from Finding Nemo.

Children are well-catered for with the presence of Pickalbatros Aqua Blue Resort, while grown ups will undoubtedly be satisfied with the long list of international hotel chains that have set up shop in Sharm including Doubletree, Novotel and Four Seasons. Find the best deals for these hotels and more below.

2. Hurghada

• Best for: family getaways
• Getting there: fly direct to Hurghada international airport
• Pros: Close to other Egyptian attractions

Just 50 miles or so from Sharm El Sheikh in a straight line, Hurghada sits on the western side of the Red Sea within easy reach of tours of the Nile Valley.

Developing out of a small fishing village like Sharm did, Hurghada is now larger and more cosmopolitan, which from what I could see makes it a firm favourite with families.

Occupying a coastline of around 25 miles in total length, you won’t be shy of a spot to place a sun lounger or for the kids to mess about with a bucket and spade.

The beaches here are a mix of free to access public beaches and private stretches of sand, so if you’re looking for a more tranquil beach escape there’s plenty of possibilities. It’s very likely your hotel will offer free private beach access as part of your stay. If you’re looking for a reliable, high-quality stay, resorts like Sunrise Royal Makadi Resort offer fantastic all-inclusive value, while smaller spots like The Kaktus provide a more laid-back, budget-friendly base.

For a little atmosphere, look no further than Old Vic Beach, combining attractive sands with windsurfing that’s within reach of several bars and restaurants. While for child-friendly shallow waters, Makadi Bay would be the better option in my mind.

3. Marsa Matrouh

• Best for: local vibes
• Getting there: fly to Marsa Matrouh airport or bus it from Cairo or Alexandria
• Pros: limited numbers of international tourists make it this far west

Also spelt Marsa Matruh and Mersa Matrouh, this beach destination lies a few hours’ drive of the city of Alexandria on Egypt’s Mediterranean Sea coast rather than the Red Sea.

But that doesn’t mean the waves striking the pale sands of Marsa Matrouh are troublesome, thanks to the existence of natural fingers of land that stretch across both of Marsa’s main bays.

Northwest of the city centre is the largest, El-Gharam Bay, whose protected shores are home to Cleopatra Beach, where the waters sparkle a sapphire blue.

Opposite, and to the east, are the inner and outer waters of Rommel Bay (yes, named after the Nazi Field Marshall Erwin Rommel who was based here for some time during World War Two).

In my view any of the beaches here are excellent for general R&R, be that Marsa Matrouh General Beach, Rommel Beach or Fayrouz Beach.

Marmarica Boutique Cabanas is the standout choice for a more luxurious, design-led stay, while Hostmark Blue Beach Hotel offers a simple, affordable base right by the sea.

4. El Gouna

• Best for: affordable luxury
• Getting there: fly to Hurghada international airport
• Pros: its exclusivity means only those with a pass can enter

One of the newest of Egypt’s beach resorts, El Gouna was created out of coastal desert in the 1990s.

Looking like a succession of small islands surrounded by shallow lagoons of perfectly-clear water from above, it sits just 12 miles north of Hurghada, making it easy to access even if you can’t afford to charter a jet to El Gouna’s private airport.

Its low-lying buildings, including hotels like Casa Cook and the Sheraton are intended to suggest local Egyptian architecture, and sit along a total of six miles of coast.

As a private resort, only those with bookings are allowed to enter, making it incredibly safe, while its higher end ethos gives it the most relaxed air of any of Egypt’s beach getaway destinations in my view.

Whether you come to lounge on the beach, enjoy the world class food or try your luck on a jet ski, El Gouna certainly ticks all the boxes. And you’ll be doing your bit for the environment too, with water and waste recycling high on the agenda of El Gouna’s management company.

5. Dahab

• Best for: scuba diving and windsurfing
• Getting there: fly to Sharm El Sheikh international airport
• Pros: famed dive sites

Back on the Sinai Peninsula, Dahab is located around 50 miles north of Sharm El Sheikh in the Gulf of Aqaba, one of the top scuba diving destinations in the region.

In fact, Dahab has been called the diving capital of Southern Sinai because of its unique dive sites, which range from reefs to sunken ships. It’s also highly regarded within the windsurfing community.

In truth, Dahab’s beaches aren’t as impressive as those you’ll find elsewhere in Egypt – the sand coarser and less attractively coloured. But as I’ve already pointed out, that’s probably not why you’ve opted for Dahab in any case.

There are more than a dozen beach dives alone, meaning you get to the site directly from the beach without a boat trip in between, and some really famous sites including the Blue Hole, where seasoned divers pass through a narrow channel known as The Bells to an underwater cavern complete with overhanging corals.

But newbie divers are also very welcome in Dahab, with a variety of diving schools to choose from a short hop from hotels such as The Bedouin Moon and the intriguingly-named Penguin Village.

6. Alexandria

• Best for: urban beaches
• Getting there: fly to Alexandria international airport or Cairo
• Pros: great for hitting the beach after a morning of exploring

You might be surprised to find Egypt’s second-biggest city of Alexandria on my list of the country’s top beach escapes. However, there’s method in my apparent madness.

Located on Egypt’s Mediterranean coast, Alexandria stretches along roughly 20 miles of shoreline, in which distance you’ll find somewhere in the region of 35 specific beaches.

Popular with local residents as well as international visitors to Egypt, there’s a mix of public, pay-for and tourist orientated stretches of sand.

Of the latter, Al Mandara Beach has golden sand that slopes gently into the waters of the Med, and is pretty easy to reach as the road runs just behind.

About the same distance away from downtown Alexandria, and sat between major hotels such as the Sheraton Montazah Hotel, Rixos Montaza (Nariman Hotel) and Hilton Alexandria Corniche, El Beau Rivage has a range of amenities including all-important lifeguards, chairs and parasol rentals.

7. Marsa Alam

• Best for: wildlife
• Getting there: fly to Marsa Alam international airport
• Pros: best temperatures in the country

Lying directly east of Edfu Temple on the Red Sea, Marsa Alam is the southernmost resort on what’s sometimes called Egypt’s Red Sea Riviera, meaning it sees the warmest temperatures of any Egyptian winter beach escape.

Known locally as the ‘Egyptian Maldives,’ travellers arriving into Marsa Alam for the first time can expect near-white sands of incredible softness and waters the sort of blue that make you wonder if there’s an Instagram filter on.

Small enough to feel part of the community, with around 12,000 inhabitants, the beach to head for is Abu Dabbab Bay Beach, whose shallows regularly welcome turtle, dolphin, octopus and the incredible-looking De Beaufort’s flathead fish.

Meanwhile, the 7,500km² Wadi El Gemal National Park protects beautiful coral reefs, arid areas home to semi-feral camels, gazelle and sunset falcons, plus important areas of mangrove where dugong can often be found.

There’s also no shortage of great places to stay, from the highly-rated adult-only Steigenberger Resort Alaya to Dream Lagoon Resort with its very own family-friendly aqua park.

Flights & Getting to Egypt

Reaching Egypt’s top beach destinations is straightforward, with direct flights available to Sharm El Sheikh, Hurghada, Marsa Alam, and Alexandria from most major European cities. Frequent deals are available, it’s often one of the most affordable winter sun options. Use the flight search tool below to compare prices and secure the best deal for your dates.

Frequently Asked Questions:

Is Egypt a good destination for winter sun?

Yes, Egypt is one of the best winter sun destinations near Europe, with temperatures around 20–25°C even in January and February. It also has very little rain and plenty of sunshine

What is the cheapest beach destination in Egypt?

Hurghada and Sharm El Sheikh are usually the cheapest options, with affordable flights and a wide range of budget-friendly hotels and all-inclusive resorts.

Which part of Egypt has the best beaches?

The Red Sea coast has the best beaches, especially in Sharm El Sheikh, Hurghada, and Marsa Alam, known for clear water and coral reefs.

Is Sharm El Sheikh or Hurghada better?

Sharm El Sheikh is better for snorkelling and first-time visitors, while Hurghada is more suited to families and offers a wider range of resorts.

Do you need a visa to visit Egypt?

Most travellers need a visa, which can be obtained online or on arrival. Sharm El Sheikh can be visa-free for short stays in the Sinai Peninsula.

When is the best time to visit Egypt for beaches?

The best time is October to April, when the weather is warm and comfortable without the intense summer heat.

Planning more of your Egypt Trip? You should also read:

15 Best Things Couples Can Do in Egypt for Romance and Adventure

Grand Egyptian Museum Guide: What to Expect, How to Get There & 6 Top Tips

Our guide to the top 10 places to visit in Egypt.