Sharm El Sheikh

Africa > Egypt > Sharm El Sheikh (SSH)

The Car or no Car advice for  Sharm El Sheikh can be broken down into three similar questions - do you need a car in Sharm El Sheikh ;  is it worth it (based on costs), and ultimately - should you rent one? (a balance of the two).

🚆 🚌⛴️ Do we need to rent a car in Sharm El Sheikh ?

These scores are based on the quality of public transport and other travel options. If these are good enough to see the main points of interest, then you don’t need to rent a car.

🇪🇬 Mode

Score
🚆 Non-car score non-car score 3

💰💶💳 Is it worth hiring a car in Sharm El Sheikh?

These scores reflect the practical factors that affect whether renting a car is convenient, good value, and stress-free.

🇪🇬 Factor

Score
🚗 Car Score car rental availability score 6
🚗Do we need a car in Sharm El Sheikh? Is it worth it? Should we rent one? | Comment
Sharm El Sheikh is a destination where the car-or-no-car question is shaped less by urban transport and more by the nature of the resort itself. It isn’t a traditional city with a walkable centre or a public transport network designed for visitors. So, should you rent a car in Sharm El Sheikh? For most travellers, the answer is no — and very comfortably so.

📍 Getting Around Sharm El Sheikh — the Reality

Sharm El Sheikh is spread out and resort-based.

  • Hotels and resorts are arranged along long coastal strips

  • Distances between areas are significant

  • There is no true city centre in the European sense

  • Movement is designed around taxis and hotel transfers

This isn’t a place where you casually hop on a bus or tram.

🚕 Taxis and Transfers Do the Job

For visitors, taxis and organised transfers cover almost all needs.

  • Hotels routinely arrange airport transfers

  • Taxis are plentiful and inexpensive by international standards

  • Journeys are short and direct

For resort-to-resort or hotel-to-beach movement, this system works efficiently.

🚶‍♂️ Walking Is Limited to Resorts

Walking works within individual resorts or promenades.

  • Resort complexes are self-contained

  • Pedestrian infrastructure between areas is limited

  • Heat discourages longer walks

Exploring on foot beyond your immediate area is rarely practical.

🚗 Why Renting a Car Rarely Makes Sense

For most visitors, a rental car adds complexity without much benefit.

  • Driving offers little time advantage

  • Parking is not always straightforward

  • Navigation can be unfamiliar

  • Security checkpoints and local driving norms can be stressful

Very few travellers gain value from having their own car.

🏜️ When a Car Might Be Considered

There are limited scenarios where renting a car could make sense:

  • Independent exploration beyond resort areas

  • Visiting more remote desert locations

  • Travelling on a tight, self-managed schedule

Even then, many travellers prefer guided tours or private drivers.

Conclusion: should you rent a car in Sharm El Sheikh?

No — in almost all cases.

Sharm El Sheikh is designed around resorts, transfers, and taxis, not self-drive exploration. Renting a car rarely improves the experience and often complicates it.

💡 Rule of thumb:
Transfer in, taxi locally, relax — skip the rental car. 🚕🌴

🚗Do we need a car in Sharm El Sheikh? Is it worth it? Should we? Destinations | Comment

🚗 ✅ ❌ Summary Table

This summary score brings how much you really need a car, whether it’s worth it, driver options, local driving rules, and an overall recommendation.

🇪🇬 Factor

Score
🚗Should You Rent a Car in Sharm El Sheikh?
 overall should you rent a car score 8
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