Town in South Sinai, Egypt
Dahab
Egypt's laid-back dive and freediving town on the Gulf of Aqaba, with cheap rooms, a long-stay nomad crowd and Sinai mountain views. Small and quiet in the evening; the Blue Hole is dangerous.
At a glance
- Safety4/5Safe with normal careDetails
- Monthly budget$536–861Comfortable, one person · E£28,000–45,000Details
- Value for money94/100Better value than 93% of places we coverDetails
- Best time to goMar–May, Oct–NovWarmest: Aug, 42°CDetails
- Internet99 MbpsFixed broadband, Egypt medianDetails
- Tap waterNo, drink bottledTap water is desalinated and tastes salty; drink bottled or filtered water.Details
- LGBTQ+2/5HostileDetails
- Solo travel5/5English: common in tourist areasDetails
- Doctor's visit$8–23Private clinic, without insuranceDetails
- Getting aroundTaxiWalkable centerDetails
- Cash or cardMostly cashCards in some hotels, dive centres and restaurants; cash for taxis, bazaars, cafés and tips.Details
Where to stay in Dahab
Areas visitors base themselves in.
| Area | Good for |
|---|---|
| Masbat | Backpackers and nomads: hostels, cafés, dive shops on the seafront |
| Assala | Waterfront strip with restaurants, bazaars and busy evenings |
| Lighthouse | Quieter long stays, cafés and yoga studios near the lagoon |
| Mashraba | Budget rooms and local life, away from the beach |
Apps that work in Dahab
No ride-hailing apps work here; see the taxi note below.
- Maps: Google Maps
- Messaging: WhatsApp
- Go Bus: Intercity and Red Sea bus tickets
- Taxis: No reliable ride apps; taxis and pickups set the price by negotiation. Guesthouses can arrange fixed-price transfers to Sharm airport.
Cash, cards and tipping
What to carry and how to pay. Money in Egypt.
- Mostly cash Cards in some hotels, dive centres and restaurants; cash for taxis, bazaars, cafés and tips. ATMs are limited, so keep a reserve.
- Currency: Pound (EGP). US$1 ≈ E£52.28 on 03 Oct 2026.
- ATMs: Common in cities and resorts; use machines at bank branches. ATMs at the Taba border often run dry.
- Tipping: Baksheesh is part of daily life: about 10% on top of restaurant service charges, small notes for guards, toilet attendants and guides.
- Paying by phone: Apple Pay and Google Pay work at contactless terminals; InstaPay needs an Egyptian bank account.
Before you go
Visa and entry
- Get an e-visa at visa2egypt.gov.eg at least 7 days ahead, or buy a visa on arrival at airport bank kiosks for US$30 cash.
- Since 1 August 2026 Cairo airport also sells digital visas on arrival by card (US$36) via kiosks or visaonarrival.gov.eg.
- Flying into Sharm el-Sheikh for under 15 days in South Sinai resorts? A free entry stamp replaces the visa.
Emergency numbers
Police 122 · Ambulance 123 · Fire 180 · Tourist police 126
Plugs
Type C, F · 220 V, 50 Hz. Do I need an adapter?
SIM and eSIM
Vodafone, Orange and e& booths in Cairo airport arrivals and shops everywhere; passport required. Data is cheap. Long stays may require registering a foreign phone. eSIMs work for visitors.
More places in Egypt
Going to Dahab solo?
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Sources
Prices are SoloSquare estimates; climate, air, safety and visa figures come from the sources listed. Compiled and reviewed by SoloSquare. How we compile and score this. Spotted something out of date? Tell us.