Town in Red Sea, Egypt
Marsa Alam
Quiet southern Red Sea coast of resorts and dive camps, known for dugongs, turtles and easy house reefs. Remote, with few shops and long transfers; good for diving, poor for independent budget travel.
At a glance
- Safety4/5Safe with normal careDetails
- Monthly budget$669–1,150Comfortable, one person · E£35,000–60,000Details
- Value for money84/100Better value than 83% of places we coverDetails
- Best time to goMar–May, Oct–NovWarmest: Aug, 36°CDetails
- Internet99 MbpsFixed broadband, Egypt medianDetails
- Tap waterNo, drink bottledTap water is desalinated and salty; drink bottled or filtered water.Details
- LGBTQ+2/5HostileDetails
- Solo travel3/5English: common in tourist areasDetails
- Doctor's visit$8–23Private clinic, without insuranceDetails
- Getting aroundHotel transferYou'll need transportDetails
- Cash or cardMixed: cards and cashCards in resorts and dive centres; cash for taxis, local eateries, small shops and tips.Details
Where to stay in Marsa Alam
Areas visitors base themselves in.
| Area | Good for |
|---|---|
| Marsa Alam town | Cheap local food and supermarkets; basic stays |
| Port Ghalib | Marina, resorts and restaurants near the airport |
| Abu Dabbab area | Resorts and dive camps near the dugong bay |
Apps that work in Marsa Alam
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 ride apps; taxis set fares by negotiation. Hotels and dive centres usually arrange transfers.
Cash, cards and tipping
What to carry and how to pay. Money in Egypt.
- Mixed: cards and cash Cards in resorts and dive centres; cash for taxis, local eateries, small shops and tips. ATMs are few.
- 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
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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.