Sharm el-Sheikh Airport Guide: Terminals, Visa and Transfers

Sharm el-Sheikh International Airport (code SSH) is the gateway to Egypt’s South Sinai coast and the third-busiest airport in Egypt, after Cairo and Hurghada. It sits north-east of the resort, roughly 10 km from Naama Bay as the crow flies, so most hotels are a short drive away. This guide covers what happens when you land: the two terminals, the visa or Sinai entry stamp, the duty free, how to get to Naama Bay, the Old Market and the hotel areas by transfer or taxi, and what to know before your flight home.

Planning a trip? See our complete Sharm el-Sheikh guide, the Egypt travel guide and our Egypt visa guide.

Sharm el-Sheikh Airport at a glance

Terminal 1 and Terminal 2

Sharm el-Sheikh airport has two passenger terminals, and most international flights use Terminal 1.

• Terminal 1 opened on May 23, 2007. It is the larger, newer building, with 40 check-in counters and both international and domestic gates. Most airlines moved here after it opened.
• Terminal 2 is the airport’s original building, modernized in 2004. Today it is used mainly for domestic flights, and you’ll recognize it by its white, tent-like roof.
• A third terminal was proposed in 2008, but construction had not started as of 2016.

Airlines can change terminals from one season to the next, so check your booking or your airline’s app before you leave for the airport. UK carriers that have flown to Sharm include easyJet, Jet2.com, TUI Airways and British Airways, alongside EgyptAir and many charter and seasonal airlines. Routes change often, so check what operates from your nearest airport.

Arriving: visa, Sinai stamp and passport control

When you land, you have three ways to enter Egypt: an e-visa bought before you fly, a visa on arrival, or a Sinai-only entry stamp if you are staying in the South Sinai resorts for less than 15 days.

The Sinai-only entry stamp

According to the UK Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office (FCDO), if you arrive by air and stay less than 15 days at the resorts of Sharm el-Sheikh, Dahab, Nuweiba or Taba, you do not need a visa. You receive an entry permission stamp at Sharm el-Sheikh airport instead.

• It is for the resorts only. If you plan to travel outside them, or stay longer than 15 days, you must get a visa.
• Day trips: places such as St Catherine and Mount Sinai, Cairo and Luxor are outside the four resorts named. If your plans include anything like this, get a full visa.
• Nationality matters. The stamp is described for UK, US and EU citizens; other nationalities should confirm their eligibility with an Egyptian consulate before traveling.

E-visa or visa on arrival

• E-visa: apply on the official Egyptian portal, visa2egypt.gov.eg. The FCDO says getting an e-visa in advance can help prevent delays. Tourist e-visas are valid for up to three months.
• Visa on arrival: the FCDO confirms you can get a visa at Sharm el-Sheikh airport. Visas on arrival are valid for up to 30 days; at approved airports they are sold at kiosks before the immigration counters. Payment methods differ between airports, so check how to pay before you travel.
• Passport: it must be valid for at least six months after the date you arrive, with at least one blank page.

For the full details, read our Egypt visa guide, and always check the FCDO entry requirements before you travel, as the rules can change.

Airport transfers in Sharm el-Sheikh

The simplest way to reach your hotel is a transfer arranged in advance, either through your hotel, your tour operator or a private transfer company. Taxis are the main alternative.

• Package holiday transfers: if you booked a package, check whether a transfer is included and where the operator’s representative will meet you. Transfer coaches and minibuses park in front of the terminal.
• Hotel transfers: many hotels can arrange a pickup. Ask when you book and send them your flight number so the driver can track delays.
• Pre-booked private transfers: useful for late arrivals, families with lots of luggage, or if you’re staying in Dahab or further along the coast. Confirm the meeting point, the driver’s name and a contact number before you fly.
• Taxis: in Sharm, taxis and buses are numbered. Agree on the fare and the destination before you get in, and keep your hotel’s name and address handy.

The FCDO advises women traveling alone to be cautious in taxis, especially at night, and to share their driver details, trip and live location with a friend. It also advises against driving outside main cities and resorts at night, which is worth remembering if you land late and are heading beyond Sharm.

Getting to Naama Bay, the Old Market and the hotel areas

Sharm’s hotel areas are spread along the coast south-west of the airport, so the drive depends on where you stay: Naama Bay is closer, and the Old Market is further.

• Naama Bay: the center of Sharm and its main hub for tourists, with the promenade, restaurants and nightlife. It lies roughly 10 km south-west of the airport as the crow flies.
• The Old Market (Sharm El Maya): the Old Market area sits at the southern tip of the modern city, so it is further from the airport than Naama Bay.
• Nabq and Ras Nusrani: two of the five centers that make up Sharm, along with Naama Bay, Umm Sid and Sharm El Maya.
• Hadaba, Shark’s Bay and Montazah: part of the wider metropolitan area around Naama Bay.

Journey times depend on where exactly your hotel is and on traffic, so ask your hotel or transfer company how long to allow, especially on the way back for your flight. For where to stay and what to do once you arrive, see our things to do in Sharm el-Sheikh guide.

Duty free, shops and cafés

Sharm el-Sheikh airport has duty free shopping for departing passengers, and Egypt’s airport authority has also tendered duty free space in the arrivals hall.

• Departures: when the Terminal 2 concession was awarded in 2014, its departure shops were planned to sell spirits, wine, tobacco, confectionery and Egyptian products. The terminals also have cafés.
• Arrivals: an arrivals duty free shop has operated at the airport in the past. What is open on your day, and who runs it, can change, so don’t count on it.
• Allowances: customs allowances apply in both Egypt and the UK. Check the current limits before you buy, rather than relying on shop staff.

Departure tips

Leave plenty of time for the road, the security checks and check-in, and follow your airline’s own deadlines.

• Check your terminal and your airline’s check-in and bag-drop deadlines. They vary by airline, so don’t assume they match your outbound flight.
• Confirm your transfer back the day before, whether it is a package transfer, a hotel pickup or a private driver.
• Keep your passport with you. Police in Egypt check ID regularly, and the FCDO suggests keeping copies of your passport, visa and flight ticket separately.
• Drones: you can’t bring a drone into Egypt without prior permission from the Egyptian Ministry of Defense. Leave it at home.
• Photography: it is illegal to take photos of, or near, military property in Egypt. Be careful where you point your camera around airports and checkpoints.
• Before you fly: read the latest FCDO travel advice for Egypt and our guide to whether Egypt is safe to visit.

Travel with a local guide

Once you’ve landed, Simsem’s local hosts can take you beyond the beach. The Mount Sinai climb leaves from Sharm; the Blue Hole and White Canyon trips start in Dahab, up the coast. Remember that trips outside the resorts may need a full visa rather than the Sinai stamp.

Meet every host on our local guides in Egypt page, or read about things to do in Dahab and the Mount Sinai sunrise climb.

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