Zeytouna Beach, Hurghada, Red Sea, Egypt

Zeytouna Beach

Golden sand, calm turquoise water, family fun on the Red Sea

Artificial peninsulaCalm enclosed waterBeach club infrastructureCentral marina locationFamily-oriented
FamilySandSafe

About

Sharm El Zeytouna sits on an artificial peninsula jutting into Hurghada's marina zone, giving it something most Red Sea beaches can't offer: water that stays genuinely calm on all sides. The golden sand stretches roughly 400 metres, and the turquoise shallows are shallow enough for kids to wade without a second thought. It's a beach club setup — sunbeds, umbrellas, and infrastructure are all in place — so you're not roughing it. The central marina location means the city is right there, but the enclosed water keeps the energy relaxed and the swimming safe.

How to get there

From Hurghada city centre, drive in about 15 minutes or take a bus in around 30 minutes. Once at the mainland entrance, a shuttle boat ferries you across to the peninsula daily — street parking is available near that departure point. An entry fee applies and covers beach access, sunbeds, and umbrellas, with partial credit toward food and drinks; guests of affiliated resorts may have the fee waived. No entry fee, no beach — factor that into your day.

Who it's for

For couples

The calm, enclosed turquoise water and beach club setup make it an easy, low-effort day out — rent a sunbed, order drinks, and let the afternoon disappear. Evenings extend naturally into Hurghada Marina, just 0.5 kilometres away.

For families

Safe swimming, shallow turquoise water, and full beach club infrastructure — sunbeds, umbrellas, food and drink on site — mean parents can actually relax. The 400-metre stretch of golden sand gives kids plenty of room to run without wandering far.

Our take

Feet in the sand, eyes on the screen

Sharm El Zeytouna is a well-organised, family-oriented beach club that delivers exactly what it promises: calm turquoise water, golden sand, and a comfortable setup within easy reach of Hurghada's centre. It's not a wild or remote experience — this is a managed, paid-access beach with infrastructure, and that's precisely its strength for families and anyone who wants a fuss-free day on the water. The artificial peninsula is genuinely unusual and gives the beach a character that flat resort strips don't have. That said, be honest with yourself about timing: July and August combine extreme heat with very packed conditions, and that combination drains the fun fast. Come in June or September, arrive early, and you'll find the golden sand and turquoise shallows at their best. Skip in August.— The wmb team

What to do

Hurghada Marina is a five-minute walk away and rated 4.6 out of 5 — it's the natural next stop for an evening stroll, with restaurants, shops, and day-trip boat departures to places like Giftun Island National Park, a protected marine reserve about 15 kilometres offshore. If you want something cultural, Hurghada Museum opened in 2020 and displays ancient Egyptian artefacts just 2 kilometres away. Mosque El Mina El Kabeer, rated 4.7 out of 5, is under a kilometre from the beach and worth a look.

Instagram spots

Stand at the tip of the artificial peninsula and shoot back along the golden sand with the turquoise water framing both sides — it's the most distinctive composition on this beach.

The marina-facing side at golden hour gives you warm light on the water with Hurghada's skyline softly behind. Early morning, before the sunbeds are occupied, the clean stretch of golden sand and glassy turquoise shallows photograph beautifully with minimal distractions.

Where to eat

Just outside the beach zone, Felucca is the closest option at 0.3 kilometres. Within 0.4 kilometres you'll find Olie's, Stone, Englishbar, and WokWok — enough variety that you won't eat the same meal twice in a long weekend. The beach club itself offers partial food and drink credit as part of the entry fee, so you're not forced to leave for lunch.

Where to stay

Golden Rose Hotel is the closest at 0.2 kilometres — convenient if you want to roll out of bed and onto the sand. The Boutique Hotel New Marina at 0.4 kilometres and Golf Hotel at 0.5 kilometres are solid mid-range options with easy access to both the beach and the marina strip. Biba Hotel and Seagull, both around 0.6 kilometres away, round out the choices if those are full.

Photography

The artificial peninsula gives you a rare angle — shoot back toward the Hurghada skyline with the turquoise enclosed water in the foreground for a shot that doesn't look like every other Red Sea beach photo. Early morning light on the golden sand before the sunbeds fill up is your best window; by midday the beach is busy and the harsh sun flattens everything.

Good to know

Modest swimwear is expected once you step out of the water, so pack a cover-up. The entry fee is non-negotiable for non-resort guests, so arrive with cash or card ready. Dogs are not permitted on the beach. Egyptian national holidays and summer weekends push visitor numbers to uncomfortable levels — if you're visiting in July or August, expect extreme heat on top of a very packed beach; September or June are noticeably more pleasant.

Map

Nearby places

Felucca

0.3 km

Olie's

0.4 km

Stone

0.4 km

Englishbar

0.4 km

WokWok

0.4 km

Things to see around Hurghada

Cultural

Hurghada Marina

500 m

Modern marina with restaurants, shops and day-trip boat departures.

Museum

Hurghada Museum

2.0 km

Museum opened 2020 displaying ancient Egyptian artefacts.

Nature

Giftun Island National Park

15 km

Protected marine national park accessible by day-trip boat.

Frequently asked

Yes, swimming is safe. The beach sits in an artificially enclosed area that keeps the water calm and shallow — ideal for families and non-confident swimmers. There are no significant currents to worry about inside the enclosed zone.
By car it's about 15 minutes; by bus around 30 minutes. Both routes bring you to the mainland entrance, where a daily shuttle boat takes you across to the peninsula. Street parking is available near the shuttle boat departure point.
Avoid July and August. Extreme heat combines with very packed conditions on Egyptian national holidays and summer weekends, making the experience uncomfortable. June and September offer much better conditions with the same calm turquoise water.
No. Dogs are not permitted on the beach. This is a beach club with specific rules, and that's one of them.
Yes, an entry fee is required for non-resort guests. It covers beach access, sunbeds, and umbrellas, and includes partial credit toward food and drinks on site. Guests of affiliated resorts may have the fee waived — check with your hotel before you go.
Felucca is the closest at 0.3 kilometres. Within 0.4 kilometres you'll find Olie's, Stone, Englishbar, and WokWok. The beach club itself also offers food and drink with partial credit included in the entry fee.
The access route to the beach club entrance is paved, making the approach manageable. Beyond the entrance, the surface is sandy, which can be harder to navigate. The shuttle boat from the mainland is part of the daily access route.

The information on this page is provided for guidance only and may evolve. Access conditions, safety and infrastructure can change without notice. Always check official sources before traveling.

Nearest beaches

Reviews of this beach

0 reviews
  1. No reviews yet, what a shame — leave yours and share your experience.

Leave a review

We store only: rating, review text, your chosen display name (or "Anonymous"), language and date. No email, no cookies. Your IP address is used briefly (60s) for anti-spam rate limiting and never persisted with your review. Reviews are moderated before publication. Request deletion or contact us.

Photo credits

Sources and licenses for the photos shown above.