Egypt hotels · Dahab
Dahab Hotels
Where to stay in Dahab – a dive and kite town on the Gulf of Aqaba, 80 kilometers north of Sharm, with the Blue Hole on the reef, a promenade of cushion restaurants above the water, and Mount Sinai an hour up the desert road.
- Type
- Dive and kite town
- Star range
- 2-star to 4-star
- Nights
- 5–10 typical
- The Blue Hole
- 10 min north
- To Mount Sinai
- 1 hour by road
- Airport
- Sharm (SSH) or Cairo
The decision
Where to stay in Dahab
Dahab is a small town on the Gulf of Aqaba with a character unlike anywhere else on the Egyptian coast. The promenade – a string of cushion-restaurants built low to the water – is where most of the social life happens, and the dive schools are close enough together that you can walk between them in ten minutes. It runs quieter and cheaper than Sharm, and divers and free-divers tend to stay longer.
Assalah and the promenade
First-timers and those who want to be in the center
The main tourist district along the beach – dive shops, restaurants on the water and the oldest guesthouses in town. The most activity, the most sociable, the least quiet.
Mashraba
Those who want the character without the noise
The central street running behind the promenade – quieter guesthouses, cheaper cafes and a more residential feel while still walking distance from the reef.
The Laguna
Kite surfers and windsurfers
The flat-water bay at the southern end of the promenade – the consistent north wind makes it one of the better kite spots in Sinai. Small, focused hotels and camps cluster here.
North of the promenade
Divers who want the Blue Hole close and the town at a distance
Scattered Bedouin camps and small dive lodges north of Assalah, quieter than the promenade, closer to the Blue Hole and Eel Garden. The most remote option in Dahab.
What the stars mean here
Star ratings in Dahab
Dahab runs on guesthouses, dive packages and simple hotels. Here is what each level means.
The Dahab standard: simple rooms, usually with a dive-school package included, right on or one street back from the promenade. Basic comfort, excellent reef access, and the social life just outside the door.
A step up in hot-water reliability and room size, usually with a small pool and a breakfast terrace. Still close to the promenade, still dive-focused.
The handful of larger hotels away from the promenade – better facilities and quieter rooms, though away from the Dahab atmosphere that most guests come for. Good for those who want the location without the guesthouse.
From the collection
Hotels we book in Dahab
A sample of the Dahab hotels and dive camps we book. Tell us your dates and whether you're here to dive, kite or take it slow, and we'll match it.
Tropitel Dahab Oasis Hotel
Tropitel Dahab Oasis is a mid-priced choice on Blue Hole Road, with sea-view rooms that have balconies. That makes it a good pick for travelers who want a Dahab base with a view of the sea, rather than paying more for a higher-priced hotel. Room choices include sea-view and garden-view standards, plus an economy double room. The largest room sleeps four, though there are no family-size room types. The hotel is a 4-star option in Dahab.
The Bedouin Moon Hotel Dahab
The Bedouin Moon Hotel Dahab is a good-value pick on Blue Hole Road in Asalla. It has sea-view room types, including an Economy Single Room with Sea View. Room features across its room types include balconies, terraces, kitchens, and living rooms. Family-size room types are available, and the largest sleeps five. With 18 room types, it gives travelers several ways to shape their stay while keeping to a lower-cost choice in Dahab.
Swiss Royal Dahab Hotel
Swiss Royal Dahab pairs a New Mashraba Street address with a broad choice of suites and family-size stays. The hotel is next to NBE Bank, and its room types include sea-view suites, suites with balconies, and villas. Some room types have a terrace, kitchen, or living room. The largest room type sleeps up to 10, making this a useful pick for families or groups who want space to stay together. It is a 4-star option in Dahab.
Swiss Inn Resort Dahab Hotel Stay
Choose Swiss Inn Resort Dahab for its setting in Dahab Resort Area and room choices that include sea views. The resort has eight room types, including a sea-view suite and family-size options. Some rooms have balconies or terraces, and room features include living rooms. The largest room type sleeps four. This is one of the more expensive hotels in Dahab, so it may suit travelers who value a choice of room styles over a lower-priced stay.
Sheikh Ali Dahab Resort
Sheikh Ali Dahab Resort puts you in Mashraba, a short walk from Dahab Lighthouse, with two-bedroom suites for travelers who want extra space. This 3-star resort is a good-value base for exploring Dahab. Its suite can sleep up to five, making it a practical pick for a small group or family. Rooms have balconies, too. Choose it for a stay near the Lighthouse rather than a beachfront hotel.
Safir Dahab Resort Hotel Stay
Safir Dahab Resort is a good pick in Dahab for travelers who want a 5-star stay in the Laguna area. The resort has room types with balconies, and some include a living room. A family-size option gives families room for up to four guests. Choose it for a resort stay in Laguna, rather than a base in Dahab’s Assalah area.
Retac Qunay Dahab Resort & Spa
Choose Retac Qunay Dahab Resort & Spa for a mid-priced 5-star stay on Al Tahrir Street, with sea-view rooms and suites. Room choices include a Standard Room with a partial sea view and balcony, plus a One-Bedroom Executive Suite with a sea view and terrace. Some room types have a living room, and the largest sleeps three. It is a strong pick for travelers who want a suite or terrace without choosing one of Dahab’s more expensive hotels.
JAZ Dahabeya Hotel
JAZ Dahabeya pairs a beachfront setting in Dahab with a pool, spa, and windsurfing. It suits travelers who want time by the sea and active days on the water. The resort has a kids’ club, tennis, and a gym, plus a restaurant and bar. Families can choose a family room with a garden view, while couples may prefer a sea-view suite. It is one of Dahab’s more expensive hotels, so its beach setting and range of activities are the main reasons to choose it.
Dahab Paradise Hotel
Dahab Paradise is a good-value pick in Dahab, with a Blue Hole Road address and rooms for up to three guests. It is one of the cheaper hotels in town, making it a practical choice for travelers who want to keep vacation costs down. Room choices include single, twin, double, and triple rooms. Some room types have a balcony or terrace. The hotel is 3-star, with a family-size or villa-style room type among its options.
Acacia Dahab Hotel
Acacia Dahab Hotel is a good-value pick in Dahab, with a short walk to Dahab Lighthouse and sea- and pool-view rooms. The hotel has 15 room types, including suites and family-size options for up to four guests. Some rooms have a balcony or terrace. Its Mashraba Street location suits travelers who want to explore Dahab on foot while keeping costs down.
From your door
What you can do from a Dahab hotel
Dahab sits between the Gulf of Aqaba and the Sinai desert – the reef is in front and the mountain is an hour behind.
The Blue Hole
The world's most famous free-diving site, ten minutes north of the promenade by taxi – a circular sinkhole in the reef dropping to 130 meters, with a swim-through arch at 56 meters. Snorkelers use the outer lip; divers go deeper.
Mount Sinai dawn climb
A night drive to St Catherine, a two-hour climb up the mountain of Moses, and a sunrise from the summit – back at your Dahab hotel by mid-morning. The classic Sinai night out.
St Catherine monastery
The oldest continuously inhabited Christian monastery in the world, one hour from Dahab in the Sinai interior – the burning bush, the 6th-century basilica and a library second only to the Vatican.
Desert and Bedouin camp
Into the Sinai desert on quad bikes or by camel – the sandstone canyons, a Bedouin camp dinner and a sky that clears the moment you leave the coast.
Before you book
Booking a Dahab hotel, practically
A few things worth knowing before you pick a Dahab hotel.
How many nights
Five to ten for a dive visit – the Blue Hole, the canyon sites, Eel Garden and the offshore sites fill a week. Most guests planning three nights end up staying longer; the pace and the reef keep people.
Getting in from the airport
Dahab has no airport. The nearest is Sharm El Sheikh (SSH), about 90 minutes south by private transfer. Cairo (CAI) is about 7 hours by road – some travelers fly to Cairo and take the bus or a private car. We arrange the transfer whichever way you arrive.
The Blue Hole is free to snorkel, the diving needs a guide
The Blue Hole reef is open to snorkelers at no charge from the shore. For the arch at 56 meters and the deeper sites, a local guide and PADI-certified dive center are necessary. The Dahab schools are experienced with the site; we can connect you to the right one.
Dahab is cash-based
Most restaurants, dive schools and guesthouses on the promenade operate in cash – Egyptian pounds or US dollars. Card machines exist at some of the larger hotels but are unreliable. ATMs are available in the town center.
Common questions
Dahab hotels, answered
01What is Dahab like and is it good for beginners?+
Dahab is a small dive and kite town on the Gulf of Aqaba – cushion-restaurant promenade, reef two minutes from most guesthouses, and a relaxed pace that suits beginners and experienced divers alike. The schools here know the reef well, Eel Garden is a good shallow site for an open-water course, and the prices run 30–50% below Sharm.
02What is the Blue Hole in Dahab?+
The Blue Hole is a circular sinkhole in the reef about ten minutes north of Dahab town – roughly 300 meters wide and dropping to 130 meters, with a swim-through arch at 56 meters. Snorkelers use the outer reef wall above the arch; certified divers swim the arch with a guide. It's one of the most recognisable dive sites in the world, and a short taxi ride from any Dahab hotel.
03Can I climb Mount Sinai from Dahab?+
Yes – it's one of the most common day or overnight trips from Dahab. The drive to St Catherine takes about an hour; you arrive in the evening, sleep or rest, and start the night climb to reach the summit by dawn. Back in Dahab by mid-morning. We arrange the transport and the guide.
04Is Dahab cheaper than Sharm El Sheikh?+
Yes, noticeably – guesthouses, dive packages and restaurants on the promenade run 30–50% cheaper than comparable Sharm options. Dahab has fewer big resorts and no polished all-inclusive strip. Guests who want the reef without the resort price tend to pick Dahab; guests who want the full beach holiday tend to pick Sharm.
05How do I get to Dahab from Cairo or Sharm?+
From Sharm El Sheikh airport (SSH), Dahab is about 90 minutes by private transfer. From Cairo, the drive is around 7 hours – or fly to Sharm and transfer. We arrange the private transfer whichever route you take.
Reservations
Find your room in Dahab
Tell us your dates, whether you want to be on the promenade or near the Laguna kite bay, and what you want from the reef – snorkel, dive, free-dive or the Blue Hole – and we'll send hand-picked Dahab options. Cairo · Luxor · Aswan · Hurghada · Marsa Alam · Sharm El Sheikh, on the ground since 1988.