How to get to Dahab
The easiest way to get to Dahab is to fly into Sharm el Sheikh (SSH) and take a pre-booked taxi or transfer about 90 km north, roughly 1.5 hours by road. From Cairo, you can fly to Sharm in about an hour or take an overnight bus of around 9 hours, and from the north you can come in through Taba.
Sharm el Sheikh airport to Dahab
Sharm el Sheikh International Airport (SSH) is the nearest airport to Dahab. The drive is about 90 km on the main road through the South Sinai mountains, which takes around 1.5 hours including the police checkpoints.
A pre-booked taxi or transfer is the simplest option, especially if you land in the evening or carry dive gear. Agree the price and the drop-off point, your hotel or the street it is on, before you set off. Taxis also wait at the airport, but it is easier to have a car arranged in advance.
There is no reliable bus from the airport to Dahab. To use the bus, you first get to the bus station in Sharm el Sheikh, about 17 km from the airport, which makes it a better option for travellers with time and light bags than for a late arrival.
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Buses to Dahab: East Delta and Go Bus
East Delta runs buses between Sharm el Sheikh and Dahab, taking just under 2 hours, with services through the day. Timetables change and some departures have been cut in the past, so check the current schedule shortly before you travel.
Go Bus runs long-distance coaches to Dahab, including from Cairo. Buses arrive at their own stops in Dahab rather than in the centre of town, and the East Delta station is a few kilometres inland from the seafront, so plan a short taxi ride to your hotel.
Book long-distance tickets in advance, particularly for night buses and around holidays.
Cairo to Dahab: fly or bus
From Cairo you have two good choices. The quickest is a domestic flight from Cairo to Sharm el Sheikh, about an hour in the air, then the 1.5-hour drive north to Dahab. It is the best option if you are short of time.
The cheaper option is the bus. Go Bus coaches from several Cairo stations take around 9 hours to Dahab, and many travellers take a night bus. The road crosses under the Suez Canal and runs down the Sinai coast, with several checkpoints on the way.
Driving yourself is possible but long, at more than 500 km, and night driving on Sinai roads is best avoided.
Comparing your options
Times below are approximate door-to-door estimates for normal traffic and checkpoint stops. Prices change often, so they are left out; confirm them when you book.
| Route | Mode | Approx. time | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| Sharm el Sheikh airport (SSH) to Dahab | Pre-booked taxi or transfer | 1.5 h | About 90 km. Easiest after an evening landing or with dive gear. |
| Sharm el Sheikh town to Dahab | East Delta bus | Just under 2 h | Leaves from the Sharm bus station, not the airport. Check the current timetable. |
| Cairo to Dahab | Flight to SSH, then car | About 1 h flight + 1.5 h drive | Fastest from Cairo. Allow time at both airports. |
| Cairo to Dahab | Go Bus coach | About 9 h | Night buses are popular. Book ahead. |
| Taba border to Dahab | Taxi or pre-booked car | About 2–2.5 h | About 140 km. Buses from the north are infrequent. |
Coming from Taba, Israel or Jordan
Taba is the land border with Israel at the northern tip of the Gulf of Aqaba, about 140 km from Dahab by road, or roughly 2–2.5 hours by car. Bus services from Taba and Nuweiba are infrequent and not always confirmed in advance, so most people take a taxi or pre-booked car.
Taba International Airport, on the plateau about 13 km from Taba, mainly handles seasonal charter flights. Ferries also link Aqaba in Jordan with Nuweiba, about an hour north of Dahab.
Border fees at Taba depend on how far into Sinai you are going; the UK government lists a lower fee for a Taba-only stay and a higher one for travel further into Sinai, payable in cash. Check current rules before you cross.
Passports, visas and the Sinai entry stamp
Many visitors flying into Sharm el Sheikh for a short coastal stay can enter on a free Sinai-only entry stamp instead of a full visa. According to UK government travel advice, it covers stays of up to 15 days in Sharm el Sheikh, Dahab, Nuweiba and Taba. If you plan to travel beyond these resorts, for example to Cairo, or to stay longer than 15 days, you need a full Egyptian visa.
Rules depend on your nationality and change from time to time, and some inland trips, such as desert routes, may not be covered by the Sinai stamp. Check current rules with your government’s travel advice or Egypt’s official e-visa portal before you travel. Your passport generally needs to be valid for at least 6 months from arrival.
Carry your passport whenever you travel by road in Sinai. There are police checkpoints between Sharm and Dahab and on the roads north and inland, and you will usually be asked for ID.
Arrival and departure tips for divers
You can dive the day after you arrive, as there is no waiting time after a flight before diving. If you arrive tired after a night bus or a late flight, though, start with an easy dive and keep the Blue Hole for a day later.
The departure is what needs planning. DAN recommends a minimum surface interval of 12 hours before flying after a single no-decompression dive, and 18 hours after multiple dives in a day or multiple days of diving. Add the 1.5-hour drive to Sharm airport and check-in time, and most divers finish diving the day before their flight.
Pack your certification card, logbook and dive insurance details in your hand luggage.
Flying after diving and other safety rules →
Getting around Dahab
Dahab is small and easy to get around. The seafront promenade runs along the bay from the Lighthouse and Eel Garden area down to Masbat and Mashraba, so you can walk between most cafés, hotels and town dive sites.
Local taxis cover longer trips, such as from the bus station or out to the Lagoon. Agree the fare before you get in, because drivers often quote high at first. Dive sites outside town, like the Blue Hole and the Canyon, are reached by car as part of the dive day.
Plan your dives before you arrive
Mohamed is a PADI and SSI dive instructor based in Dahab. Send him your arrival and departure dates, your certification and what you want to dive, and he will plan your days around your flight times. Coming from Sharm for the day instead? See the Blue Hole day trip guide.
Diving the Blue Hole from Sharm →
Questions
How far is Dahab from Sharm el Sheikh airport?
About 90 km by road, around 1.5 hours by car including the police checkpoints.
What is the best way to get from Sharm el Sheikh airport to Dahab?
A pre-booked taxi or transfer. There is no reliable bus from the airport, so taking the bus means first getting to the Sharm bus station.
Is there a bus from Cairo to Dahab?
Yes. Go Bus runs coaches from Cairo to Dahab, taking around 9 hours, including night buses. Book ahead.
Is there a bus from Sharm el Sheikh to Dahab?
Yes. East Delta runs buses from the Sharm bus station to Dahab in just under 2 hours. Check the current timetable, as it changes.
Do I need a visa to visit Dahab?
Many visitors flying into Sharm el Sheikh can use a free Sinai-only entry stamp for up to 15 days in Sharm, Dahab, Nuweiba and Taba. Travel elsewhere in Egypt needs a full visa. Check current rules for your nationality.
How do I get from Taba to Dahab?
By taxi or pre-booked car, about 140 km and roughly 2–2.5 hours. Buses from Taba are infrequent.
Can I dive on the day I arrive in Dahab?
Yes, there is no waiting time after flying before diving. Plan your last dive at least 12–18 hours before your flight home, as DAN recommends.
Sources
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