Traditions and culture in Sharm el-Sheikh

The city has only recently emerged from its roots as a quiet fishing village, being transformed into a major port and naval base for the Egyptian navy.

It has been the subject of considerable conflict in the past 50 years, passing between Israeli and Egyptian control during the Sinai conflict of 1956 and the Six-Day War of 1967.

The Israelis relinquished their control when the Sinai peninsula was returned to Egypt in 1982 and an Israel settlement that developed there during the 70s was evacuated without protest.

In more recent times, the city has been incorporated into the hierarchical planning approach adopted for the Gulf of Aqaba and is now one of four distinct cities in the region.

Investors have ploughed a considerable amount of money into Sharm el-Sheikh for building projects, although local laws state that buildings must not be above a certain height in order to protect the city's innate beauty.

Things to do in Sharm el-Sheikh

Any holiday guide of the city will undoubtedly point to its emergence as a favourite venue for water sports, particular with backpackers keen to take a short holiday there.

Spectacular coral reefs and an abundance of marine life mean that the scuba diving and snorkelling opportunities in Sharm el-Sheikh are now widely considered to be among the best in the world.

Indeed, there are around 250 different coral reefs and over 1,000 species of fish in that section of the Red Sea, while the natural, sandy beaches are sure to bring in holidaymakers all year round.

Tourism in the city has exploded in the past few years and with the total number of resorts increasing from three in 1992 to 91 in 2000, it is clear that finding a good value hotel should not be too taxing.

In addition, a state of the art congress centre, which has played host to a number of peace conferences in recent years, can also be seen by visitors.

The nightlife has also been improving rapidly, with the Little Buddha claiming to have the longest stretch of bar in the Middle East and venues such as the Camel Bar, the Tavern and the Mexican rising to prominence.

Weather in Sharm el-Sheikh

The average temperature in the city ranges from 15C to 35C during the winter months (November to March), while the summer months generally see temperatures of 20C to 45C.

Anyone looking for a swim in the Red Sea while on their holiday will also be pleased to know that its temperature tends to range from 21C to 28C.

Destination checklist for Sharm el-Sheikh

Sharm el-Sheikh has a population of around 35,000.

The city is two hours ahead of GMT/UTC time.

The official currency is the Egyptian pound.

Arabic is the official language spoken.

The city's international dialling code is +20.