Sharm El Sheikh Airport
Arriving at any unfamiliar airport can be a slightly daunting experience and Sharm El Sheikh Airport can be particularly hectic and confusing.
Immigration Card
Unless you are an Egyptian citizen, you’ll be required to complete an immigration card on board your aircraft as it nears its destinations. If you have a pen to hand its advisable fill this out while still on the plane to save time once in the terminal building.
Simply note down the requested information of name, passport details, address in Egypt (hotel name and location will do e.g. Sinai Hotel, Sharm El Sheikh), reason for your stay and flight number.
Once inside the main terminal building the fun really begins.
Visas
You’ll come to a row of desks and travel agents each one representing various hotels, resorts and tour operators. They will motion loudly for you to obtain your Egyptian visa at their desk.
This is in fact a bit of a con.
If you walk a few more metres into the building you’ll arrive at the ‘official’ visa counter selling exactly the same visas a lot more quietly and for a few pounds less.
If you only intend to stay in the Sinai peninsular for the duration of your tip you can pick up a ‘Sinai only’ stamp at immigration and skip this entire process.
Be advised however, that if at a later stage you decide to make a day trip to the pyramids or undertake any other excursion outside of Sinai it will be too late to do so.
If some destinations within Sinai such as Ras Mohammed National Park are off limits. Read full guide to Egyptian Visas
If you purchase the full Egyptian visa, you will handed a rectangular visa ‘sticker’ in exchange for your cash. Fix this yourself into a suitable space within your passport and present at the immigration counter along with your pre-filled immigration card.
The official will stamp both, wave you through and probably not say,
“Welcome to Egypt!”
Transport to Sharm El Sheikh
Once past immigration proceed directly to baggage reclaim and then out into the main airport building.
You’ll be met by a multitude of hotel reps as well as minibus drivers offering links to Dahab and Nuweiba.
If you have nothing booked you can pick up a limousine here at the door to take you into Naama Bay, Sharm El Maya or Shark Bay. Prices are clearly shown on a large sign in English.
Alternatively you can try your luck negotiating with the drivers outside. If you’re not on a super tight budget and prefer a more hassle free experience I’d advise you to pre book a collection with your hotel.
Money Exchange
Be advised that the only facilities here to change or withdraw money are prior to passing through immigration where there is a bank and several ATMs. Drivers outside will accept Euros and Dollar for rides into town but will most probably round everything up!
