El Fanar
4.5
12:00 AM - 11:59 PM
Monday
12:00 AM - 11:59 PM
Tuesday
12:00 AM - 11:59 PM
Wednesday
12:00 AM - 11:59 PM
Thursday
12:00 AM - 11:59 PM
Friday
12:00 AM - 11:59 PM
Saturday
12:00 AM - 11:59 PM
Sunday
12:00 AM - 11:59 PM
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730 reviews
Excellent
482
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39
Poor
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Terrible
24
Verner Obel
Frederiksberg, Denmark23 contributions
Dec 2023 • Couples
This review is very similar to a review from 5 years ago. I have visited the place many times over the last 15 years, but all the time it has gotten worse and worse as far as the place not being maintained and the eating places being both expensive and bad there. Everything is very neglected and dingy. Price for entry is EGP 150 = twice as much as before 5 years ago, and then a loan towel was also included. The place needs a loving hand, thus also a few steps, so that you can get into the water in several places. There is far too much focus on the egyptian staff on the site to make some quickly earned money without having to provide neither proper service nor ensuring that the site is maintained. The range of beautiful corals and fish has been greatly reduced since I started coming here 15 years ago.
Another significant minus of the place here is the amount of Russian tourists, who with their loud behavior and lack of respect for the fact that you are not allowed to just wade around on the corals, help to destroy the place in record time. However, it is still a beautiful snorkelling spot above average, where you can swim out into the deep from shallow water with good visibility.
Another significant minus of the place here is the amount of Russian tourists, who with their loud behavior and lack of respect for the fact that you are not allowed to just wade around on the corals, help to destroy the place in record time. However, it is still a beautiful snorkelling spot above average, where you can swim out into the deep from shallow water with good visibility.
Written 28 December 2023
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
sonia231
Canton of Zurich, Switzerland27 contributions
Nov 2020
El Fanar Beach, Sharm el Sheikh since 1992. Great beach and restaurants, and oriental bar-caffe for entire day.
Kind, polite and helpful beach management and team-- you will feel respected, and at home here.
Don't miss the sunset!
and don't miss swimming, snorkelling or diving off the wonderful jetty.
Lifeguard on duty (the best in all of Sharm El Sheikh!
Don't miss the Pizza at Mauro's Nausicaa restaurant!
If you wish for an Introductory dive contact Red Sea Marine at the Amir Sina Hotel.
Kind, polite and helpful beach management and team-- you will feel respected, and at home here.
Don't miss the sunset!
and don't miss swimming, snorkelling or diving off the wonderful jetty.
Lifeguard on duty (the best in all of Sharm El Sheikh!
Don't miss the Pizza at Mauro's Nausicaa restaurant!
If you wish for an Introductory dive contact Red Sea Marine at the Amir Sina Hotel.
Written 17 January 2021
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
ExplorerSaru
Istanbul, Türkiye162 contributions
Sept 2020
There's no real beach but there is a jetty with thousands of fish and coral around.
We discovered this place because the company i was diving suggested it as a dive-site. We then went there a further 3 times after the dive.
The sunbeds are not crowded and are set on the slope to the water.
The food was satisfying and the beer was very cold :) The staff were very friendly and helpful. In the evening they've got some lighting and put some tables by the waters edge.
Its a good spot
We discovered this place because the company i was diving suggested it as a dive-site. We then went there a further 3 times after the dive.
The sunbeds are not crowded and are set on the slope to the water.
The food was satisfying and the beer was very cold :) The staff were very friendly and helpful. In the evening they've got some lighting and put some tables by the waters edge.
Its a good spot
Written 28 September 2020
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Jonesy6671
Leeds, UK58 contributions
Whenever I go to Sharm El Sheikh, Naama Bay, I always take a cab to El
Fanar in Ras Umm Sid (only cost about £1.50 in a cab & the cabs are
readily available,
you'll here "Taxi! Taxi! being shouted everywhere almost! They'll even
reverse up a dual carriageway to pick you up!)
So, El Fanar is a restaurant, sunbathing & Snorkelling all rolled into
one! If you want to get away from the hustle & bustle of Naama Bay,
this the perfect place. Its built into the side of a clay like cliff with
beautiful views. There's free sun loungers dotted up the side of this
cliff & its only a short walk down to the reef - please dont walk on the
coral though, its a living thing & very delicate. You'll need your fins
& alot of arm power to get you to the end of the drop off but my gosh,
its worth it! The visibility is fantastic, about 25 metres down! If you
can hold your breath to free dive, then its just amazing!! I saw the
most beautiful fish, Rays, barracuda.... you have to be careful though
because the current can be quite strong!
After the snorkelling, we had a gorgeous lunch, overlooking the sea,
but you can sit inside where they have air con - typical Egyptian menu
mixed with an Italian twist & delicious seafood!
but the quality of the food is hard to beat in Sharm! even the wine
menu was reasonably priced! the wine can be a bit sharp in Egypt but the
rose was really enjoyable!
HIGHLY recommended is the sunset, glass of wine in hand, after a day
beside the ocean, the sounds & smells of the food mixed in.... just
fabulous!
Fanar in Ras Umm Sid (only cost about £1.50 in a cab & the cabs are
readily available,
you'll here "Taxi! Taxi! being shouted everywhere almost! They'll even
reverse up a dual carriageway to pick you up!)
So, El Fanar is a restaurant, sunbathing & Snorkelling all rolled into
one! If you want to get away from the hustle & bustle of Naama Bay,
this the perfect place. Its built into the side of a clay like cliff with
beautiful views. There's free sun loungers dotted up the side of this
cliff & its only a short walk down to the reef - please dont walk on the
coral though, its a living thing & very delicate. You'll need your fins
& alot of arm power to get you to the end of the drop off but my gosh,
its worth it! The visibility is fantastic, about 25 metres down! If you
can hold your breath to free dive, then its just amazing!! I saw the
most beautiful fish, Rays, barracuda.... you have to be careful though
because the current can be quite strong!
After the snorkelling, we had a gorgeous lunch, overlooking the sea,
but you can sit inside where they have air con - typical Egyptian menu
mixed with an Italian twist & delicious seafood!
but the quality of the food is hard to beat in Sharm! even the wine
menu was reasonably priced! the wine can be a bit sharp in Egypt but the
rose was really enjoyable!
HIGHLY recommended is the sunset, glass of wine in hand, after a day
beside the ocean, the sounds & smells of the food mixed in.... just
fabulous!
Written 24 March 2007
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Miki
Bucharest, Romania10,496 contributions
Jun 2012 • Couples
The main reason why we decided to come to El Fanar beach is snorkeling of course. We stayed very close to El Fanar in Renaissance Golden Beach Hotel which has also pretty good snorkeling off the beach but we decided to try another beach to see more underwater fauna diversity. And we were not dissapointed. Thousands of fish with different shapes and colours are passing by El Fanar area: trigger fish, napoleon, butterfly, puffer, angelfish, parrots, clown fish, surgeon and many more. It was one of the best snorkeling sessions we had over the years in Sharm and we will come back. You can take also lunch here if you want to spend a full day in The Red Sea. Entrance fee is 60 LE and includes towel, fruits and a bottle of water.
Written 5 May 2013
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
luckilucki
Colchester, UK648 contributions
Jan 2015 • Couples
Have visited this beach many many times during our years going to Sharm. The beach is still 60LE per person to gain entry and this includes a towel. They no longer give you a free bottle of water but we are prepared to pay for what we find one of the best reefs for snorkelling in Hadaba.
What is not acceptable is the amount of tourists who think it's ok to walk on the coral. Everyday there are people that just cause they are wearing 'coral shoes' think it's ok to try and walk over the coral to the reef. These people also think it's ok when they need a rest from swimming along the reef to then stand on it. The beautiful coral reefs are one of the main attractions in Sharm.....you destroy them by walking on them and what will be left. The beach needs someone stopping people from doing this as once it's gone it's gone. In my opinion access to the reef should only be via the jetty and not from the steps off the beach and this will help stop the ignorant idiots destroying this beautiful reef. It's taken hundreds of years to grow and for every bit broken by someone's feet will take years and years to repair itself. So if you are thinking of visiting, please STAY OFF the coral !
What is not acceptable is the amount of tourists who think it's ok to walk on the coral. Everyday there are people that just cause they are wearing 'coral shoes' think it's ok to try and walk over the coral to the reef. These people also think it's ok when they need a rest from swimming along the reef to then stand on it. The beautiful coral reefs are one of the main attractions in Sharm.....you destroy them by walking on them and what will be left. The beach needs someone stopping people from doing this as once it's gone it's gone. In my opinion access to the reef should only be via the jetty and not from the steps off the beach and this will help stop the ignorant idiots destroying this beautiful reef. It's taken hundreds of years to grow and for every bit broken by someone's feet will take years and years to repair itself. So if you are thinking of visiting, please STAY OFF the coral !
Written 5 January 2015
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
luckilucki
Colchester, UK648 contributions
Aug 2014 • Couples
Visited El Fanar many times over the years but apart from the superb snorkelling, the beach facilities have gone down hill. Entry price is 60LE per person and in the past this has included a bottle of water each, a fluffy towel and sometimes a skewer of fruit. Now there is no bottle of water and the towels are tatty and worn out and the sunbeds need replacing. The showers ( a must to rinse your snorkelling / diving gear off ) have been reduced to a trickle as they are all broken and the toilets are dirty.
The restaurant is still ok and the food is still nice.
Lots of people visiting this beach that have no respect for the coral reef. People trying to walk on the coral in the shallows and also on the reef. Wearing 'coral' shoes does not give you the right to walk on it or stand on it in the deep water.
Not happy seeing dive instructors from the beach taking people down for try dives etc and picking up bits of coral and giving it to their pupils. Take nothing from the sea, you are just there to look !
The restaurant is still ok and the food is still nice.
Lots of people visiting this beach that have no respect for the coral reef. People trying to walk on the coral in the shallows and also on the reef. Wearing 'coral' shoes does not give you the right to walk on it or stand on it in the deep water.
Not happy seeing dive instructors from the beach taking people down for try dives etc and picking up bits of coral and giving it to their pupils. Take nothing from the sea, you are just there to look !
Written 7 September 2014
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Janet W
Brussels, Belgium302 contributions
Apr 2019 • Solo
Every time I come to Sharm, I love hanging out at this place. It’s the private beach, down at the very bottom of the road near the statue, not the public one a bit up the road, which is much more crowded and noisy. When you pay the entrance (60EP for residents, 100 EP for tourists in 2019) you receive a large towel to use plus a small bottle of cold water. There are lounge chairs by the sea and umbrellas for those who want more shade. I always feel it’s safe to leave my belongings unattended.
A long pier goes out to where the shore coral ends, so you can start snorkeling here. It’s absolutely gorgeous! The transparent water, lovely corals, and an amazing array of colorful fish make this one of the best places I’ve ever done snorkeling. Dive centers also use this site. I haven’t seen any place here to rent fins, snorkel, or mask, so better bring these with you. There’s a nice restaurant above where you can get tasty salads, pizzas, sandwiches, etc. They have WiFi but not always a good signal.
Of course you can take a taxi here but it’s possible to get here more cheaply by using the blue “microbuses”. From Naama Bay hop on any microbus to the Old Market (only 2EP) then change to one to Hadaba (another 2EP), or often you can get one the whole way for 4EP. Drivers often don’t give back change so if possible try to have small denomination bills or coins. Once all the passengers get off, you can offer the driver an extra 10EP per person to take you to Al Fanar Beach, and they usually accept. At current writing, the exchange rate is a bit less than 20EP for 1 euro. On the way back, you’ll probably have to take a taxi at least back to the Hadaba gas/petrol station, from where you can get the microbus back to the Old Market, Naama Bay, or further.
It’s a nice place to spend the day and watch the sunset. Open evenings, too. Have fun here!
A long pier goes out to where the shore coral ends, so you can start snorkeling here. It’s absolutely gorgeous! The transparent water, lovely corals, and an amazing array of colorful fish make this one of the best places I’ve ever done snorkeling. Dive centers also use this site. I haven’t seen any place here to rent fins, snorkel, or mask, so better bring these with you. There’s a nice restaurant above where you can get tasty salads, pizzas, sandwiches, etc. They have WiFi but not always a good signal.
Of course you can take a taxi here but it’s possible to get here more cheaply by using the blue “microbuses”. From Naama Bay hop on any microbus to the Old Market (only 2EP) then change to one to Hadaba (another 2EP), or often you can get one the whole way for 4EP. Drivers often don’t give back change so if possible try to have small denomination bills or coins. Once all the passengers get off, you can offer the driver an extra 10EP per person to take you to Al Fanar Beach, and they usually accept. At current writing, the exchange rate is a bit less than 20EP for 1 euro. On the way back, you’ll probably have to take a taxi at least back to the Hadaba gas/petrol station, from where you can get the microbus back to the Old Market, Naama Bay, or further.
It’s a nice place to spend the day and watch the sunset. Open evenings, too. Have fun here!
Written 22 April 2019
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Gina M
London, UK117 contributions
Aug 2019
It was quite a drive from the centre of Sharma, but so worth it. The snorkelling was unbelievable, the sights under the sea incredible, I especially enjoyed snorkelling in the barrier reef. The beds were comfortable, and the lunch was good. Nice showers, toilets could do with an upgrade. there is also a little shop where we bought our snorkelling mask at a reasonable price.
Written 26 August 2019
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Aliona’s Trips
106 contributions
Mar 2019
El Fanar - perfect public beach for the sunbath and snorkling.
The cost in march 2019 was 100 egyptian pounds. It included the towel, small bottle of water and of course the lounger.
The beach is clean, not crowded, not windy, very beautiful sea life.
Totally recommend.
The cost in march 2019 was 100 egyptian pounds. It included the towel, small bottle of water and of course the lounger.
The beach is clean, not crowded, not windy, very beautiful sea life.
Totally recommend.
Written 27 March 2019
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
a che hotel/contatto serve chiedere per entrare con hotel non convenzionato?
Written 27 December 2019
5 euro ingresso compreso di lettino ombrellone e asciugamano
Written 7 January 2020
Purtroppo non glielo saprei indicare, eravamo tutti adulti
Written 18 December 2019
Some reviews say there are no toilets? What is the verdict on that?
Written 25 August 2018
This is the private beach you have to pay I think it was about £65 Egypt and the toilets are up on top across from the showers and the restaurant
Written 28 August 2018
Ciao! Ma si può stare in spiaggia senza prendere ombrellone e sdraio?
Written 22 October 2017
Ciao, dove sono stata io no. Ma costa talmente poco che ne vale la pena. Solo due Euro a testa per tutto il giorno
Written 22 October 2017
No, il przzo del biglietto comprende ombrellone, sdraio e una bottiglietta d'acqua... ma comunque, secondo il mio modesto parere, a Sharm è impensabile stare tutto il giorno sotto il sole. Il sole è molto più forte che in Italia, senza ombrellone ti sentiresti male e ti ustioneresti.
Written 20 December 2017
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