1 Week in Egypt

I recently spent 1 week in Egypt, and it was such a memorable experience. This was my first time visiting the country, and I was genuinely impressed by how much it had to offer. I spent five days in Sharm-El-Sheikh and one day in Cairo. Although they’re both in Egypt, they felt like two completely different worlds!

One of the things I found fascinating is that Egypt spans two continents: part of it lies in Africa, and part in the Middle East. As a result, the Egyptian people are incredibly diverse in terms of appearance, with different skin tones and features. I actually blended in quite easily and was often mistaken for a local, with people speaking Arabic to me by default. The weather in late February was ideal. It was sunny and averaged at around 25°C on most days.

Here’s a look at how I spent 1 week in Egypt, along with some helpful tips and honest reflections.

🌴 Sunrise Remal Resort – Sharm-El-Sheikh

I stayed at Sunrise Remal Resort during my time in Sharm-El-Sheikh. It’s an all-inclusive hotel that I found to be great value for money — I paid around £350 for 7 nights. The resort has a private beach about five minutes away (with a shuttle service). There are multiple restaurants, shops, and daily entertainment. The staff were warm and welcoming; many of them knew me by name within a couple of days, which made it feel homely.

The only downside is the location. While it’s near the sea, it’s not in the city centre, so getting to restaurants or shopping areas usually required a 15-minute taxi ride. Most of the guests seemed to be from Russia, but this didn’t affect my experience as everyone was respectful and friendly.

Top Tip: If you tip a few of the staff early in your stay, the level of service becomes absolutely exceptional.

🐚 A Few Thoughts on the Beach

The resort’s private beach was nice enough, and I never struggled to find a sunbed. Staff would occasionally bring complimentary cocktails to everyone relaxing on the deckchairs, which was a lovely surprise. There are two bars and a beachfront restaurant that typically offers a choice of hotdog and fries, burger and fries, or pizza for lunch.

I’ll be honest in saying that the beach isn’t beautiful and the water isn’t blue either. I did notice that this whole strip was full of private hotel beaches and do wonder if there are enough beaches in Sharm-El-Sheikh for the local Egyptians to access. Many beach destinations worldwide have this problem, and I think it’s really unfair.

Top Tip: Naama Bay is the main public beach hotspot in Sharm.

🍰 Sampling Local Desserts

The resort offered a variety of food each evening, and one night I made it a point to try some traditional Egyptian desserts. Some of these are also found in other Middle Eastern and South Asian countries. In the picture above we can see kunafah, halwa, basbousa, and i’m not sure what the cone-shaped one is :(.

🐫 Visiting the Pyramids of Giza

During my 1 week in Egypt, I took a 24-hour tour to Cairo to see the famous Pyramids of Giza. I was hesitant at first because I wasn’t sure if it was worth the journey. One of my friends convinced me by saying, “Just go…it’s a once in a lifetime opportunity, and you don’t know when or if you will visit Egypt again.” She was right, and I’m glad that she said that. While I wasn’t blown away by the physical appearance of the pyramids themselves, the historical significance and the mystery behind them made it a worthwhile visit, and they are considered to be one of the seven wonders of the world.

Top Tip: I highly recommend booking a tour guide, because it helps to avoid constant interruptions from sellers, scammers, and touts.

🚤 Cruising the Nile

While in Cairo, I also went on a short Nile River cruise. The photo I took unfortunately captured a lot of reflections on the glass, but the experience itself was peaceful and scenic. There’s an old Egyptian legend that says once you drink from the Nile, you’re destined to return. Judging by the water’s appearance, I didn’t test the theory! But I definitely plan to return to Egypt!

📜 Egypt Papyrus Institute

This stop was part of the same Cairo tour. The Egypt Papyrus Institute in Giza give a demonstration of how authentic papyrus is made. They also explained how to spot fake papyrus, which is usually made with banana leaves. Some of the art even glows in the dark, which was really impressive! I didn’t purchase anything, but it’s worth a visit if you’re interested in local craftsmanship.

Top tip: don’t buy papyrus in any market, because there is a high chance it won’t be authentic. It’s better to visit government-approved papyrus factories and shops.

I had to take a photo because this is the first time i’ve seen shawarma served with crisps! In England it’s usually served with chips.

🏍️ Adventures – Quad Biking & Camel Rides

Another highlight of my 1 week in Egypt was a tour in Sharm-El-Sheikh that included quad biking, camel riding, and dinner with live entertainment in a traditional-style tent. The quad biking was really fun, it was my first time trying this, and I loved every second of it!

I had some reservations about camel rides due to poor treatment I’d witnessed in Morocco, but in Egypt, the camels I encountered appeared well cared for. I ended up riding camels on two occasions and thankfully didn’t see any mistreatment. The evening entertainment featured belly dancing and Tannoura performances. My only downside to this tour is they never gave us the mint tea that was advertised. But overall the tour was great value for money; it was ridiculously cheap.

🕌 Al-Sahaba Mosque

This is a key attraction in Sharm-el-Sheikh, and I can see why. The mosque is beautiful, and I went at the right time of day to see the contrast between daytime and night time. I didn’t go inside because I was on a tour and only had 1 hour of free time. I had a feeling the queue would be long, as female tourists needed to put on an abaya (religious dress) and headscarf, which was provided by the mosque.

🛍️Old Market

The Old Market is where many people go for souvenirs, but I found it to be quite overpriced. There are plenty of lovely items and shops to browse through, but I’d recommend actually shopping in Naama Bay at the “Fix Price Market,” where there’s no need to haggle. I got a dress there for £3, while a similar one in the Old Market was priced at £20!

Cairo vs. Sharm—My Take

I know Cairo often gets a bad reputation, but I actually preferred it to Sharm-El-Sheikh. Sharm is a purpose-built city focused on tourism. While it’s beautiful and convenient, it doesn’t offer much insight into real Egyptian culture. It reminded me a little of Dubai, westernised and designed specifically for foreign visitors. Most of the workers in Sharm are from other parts of Egypt, and they went there specifically to work in the tourism sector and send money home.

Cairo, in contrast, felt much more authentic. The streets were bustling and chaotic (in the best way), with market stalls, street food vendors, and signs written only in Arabic. It had a raw energy that I absolutely loved it.

When I return for another trip to Egypt, I will definitely spend more time exploring Cairo and perhaps head down south to discover even more of what the country has to offer. Luxor and Aswan are two other major destinations in the country for history and tourism.

If you want to hear more about Egypt, read my post about things to know before visiting Egypt.