Corfu vs Sharm El Sheikh
Weather, sea temperature and the practical facts side by side. Just the data: where we've written a full comparison with a verdict, you'll find the link here.
Key Differences
- Sharm El Sheikh's sea is warmer all year (by up to 9°C)
- Sea at 22°C or more in Corfu: from June to October
- Sea at 22°C or more in Sharm El Sheikh: all year
- Sharm El Sheikh averages 35°C or more from May to September
- From London, Corfu is about 3 h by air, Sharm El Sheikh about 5 h 30
- Sharm El Sheikh has direct flights all year; flights to Corfu are mostly seasonal
- No visa for EU, UK and US citizens in Greece; Egypt needs one
- Sharm El Sheikh has coral reefs to snorkel; Corfu doesn't
- In Corfu a car helps; in Sharm El Sheikh you can do without a car
- A coffee costs about 2.50 EUR in Sharm El Sheikh and about 3.80 EUR in Corfu
- A beer costs about 5.20 EUR in Corfu and about 6.40 EUR in Sharm El Sheikh
Side by Side
Corfu
Island, Greece
Sharm El Sheikh
Resort, Egypt
Getting there
The airport is practically in town (10 min on blue bus 19). Ferries run to Italy, Albania and the mainland.
- London: 3 h, seasonal
- Frankfurt: 2.5 h, seasonal
- Warsaw: 2.5 h, seasonal
- Belgrade: 1.5 h, seasonal
About 10 km from Naama Bay. Year-round flights from the UK and Germany; from Warsaw and Belgrade mostly charters.
- London: 5.5 h, all year
- Frankfurt: 4.5 h, all year
- Warsaw: 4.5 h, seasonal
- Belgrade: 3.5 h, seasonal
Getting around
Blue city buses serve the town and nearby villages, green KTEL buses go everywhere else (card payment on board). Roads are narrow, so rent a small car. Corfu Town is compact and walkable.
Taxis have no meters and the airport is notorious for prices, so book a transfer. Naama Bay is a walkable promenade; hotels further out, such as Nabq, rely on shuttles and taxis.
Beaches and sea
Sandy and open to the waves in the west, pebbly and very clear in the north, calm in the east. Paleokastritsa has the best snorkeling, in cool clear water and sea caves.
- Glyfada, sandy (45 min by bus)
- Paleokastritsa, pebble coves and caves (50 min)
- Agios Gordios (40 min)
- Issos dunes (1 h)
- Sidari and the Canal d'Amour (1 h 15)
Coral starts right off the shore, often reached over a jetty or walkway, so you can snorkel without a boat. Naama Bay is the easy sandy beach for children.
- Naama Bay, sandy and shallow
- Ras Um Sid, beginner snorkeling from the shore
- Shark's Bay, reef from a walkway
- Ras Muhammad (40 min by road, 1-2 h by boat)
- Tiran island reefs (boat, under 2 h)
Food and drink
Venetian-influenced Corfiot cooking: slow-cooked meat in rich sauces, and seafood.
- Pastitsada, Sofrito, Bourdeto, Tsitsibira (ginger beer), Kumquat liqueur
- Coffee about 3.80 EUR, beer about 5.20 EUR, lunch for two about 47 EUR (Post Office Family Holiday Costs Barometer 2025, resort prices)
Mostly all-inclusive, plus restaurants on the Naama Bay promenade and grills in the Old Market. A 10-15% service charge is usual.
- Koshari, Ful medames, Ta'ameya, Kofta and kebab, Fresh Red Sea fish, Karkadeh (hibiscus)
- Coffee about 2.50 EUR, beer about 6.40 EUR, dinner for two with wine about 74 EUR (Post Office Long Haul Holiday Report 2025)
Sights and day trips
- Corfu Old Town (UNESCO) (in town)
- Old and New Fortress (in town)
- Achilleion palace (gardens only during restoration) (10 km)
- Paleokastritsa and Angelokastro (50 min by bus)
- Sidari and the Canal d'Amour (1 h 15 by bus)
- Ras Muhammad National Park (40 min by road)
- Tiran island (boat, under 2 h)
- Old Market and Al Sahaba Mosque (short taxi ride)
- Dahab (about 1 h)
- St Catherine's Monastery and Mount Sinai (3-4 h)
Best for
Entry and money
Schengen area: no visa for EU, UK and US citizens. The EU's Entry/Exit System registers non-EU visitors at the border.
Visa needed: 30 US dollars for a single-entry tourist visa, online or on arrival. Sharm El Sheikh has a free Sinai only stamp for short stays in the South Sinai resorts.
Health and safety
- The EU's EHIC and the UK's GHIC cover state healthcare.
- The main risks are natural: summer wildfires (April to October) and heat. UK travel advice
- EHIC and GHIC don't apply: get insurance that covers medical evacuation. Drink bottled water.
- The Red Sea tourist areas are generally low risk, but there is a terrorism risk in Egypt and boat safety varies. UK travel advice
Plan it
Beach Holiday, Month by Month
Based on the climate alone: sea at 22°C or more and highs under 35°C count as beach weather. Fresh = sea 20-21°C, cold = under 20°C, hot = highs of 35°C or more.
| Month | Corfu | Sharm El Sheikh | Better |
|---|---|---|---|
| Jan | ColdToo cold to swim | BeachBeach weather | Sharm El Sheikh |
| Feb | ColdToo cold to swim | BeachBeach weather | Sharm El Sheikh |
| Mar | ColdToo cold to swim | BeachBeach weather | Sharm El Sheikh |
| Apr | ColdToo cold to swim | BeachBeach weather | Sharm El Sheikh |
| May | ColdToo cold to swim | HotVery hot | Sharm El Sheikh |
| Jun | BeachBeach weather | HotVery hot | Corfu |
| Jul | BeachBeach weather | HotVery hot | Corfu |
| Aug | BeachBeach weather | HotVery hot | Corfu |
| Sep | BeachBeach weather | HotVery hot | Corfu |
| Oct | BeachBeach weather | BeachBeach weather | Both |
| Nov | ColdToo cold to swim | BeachBeach weather | Sharm El Sheikh |
| Dec | ColdToo cold to swim | BeachBeach weather | Sharm El Sheikh |
Weather Month by Month
Average daytime high, sea temperature and rainy days for every month. The two weather stations count a rainy day differently, so compare the rain column loosely.
| Month | Corfu | Sharm El Sheikh | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Air | Sea | Rain | Air | Sea | Rain | |
| Jan | 14° | 15° | 15 | 22° | 24° | 0 |
| Feb | 14° | 15° | 13 | 24° | 23° | 0 |
| Mar | 16° | 15° | 13 | 26° | 23° | 0 |
| Apr | 19° | 16° | 12 | 30° | 23° | 0 |
| May | 24° | 19° | 8 | 35° | 25° | 0 |
| Jun | 28° | 23° | 5 | 38° | 27° | 0 |
| Jul | 31° | 25° | 3 | 38° | 29° | 0 |
| Aug | 32° | 26° | 3 | 38° | 29° | 0 |
| Sep | 28° | 25° | 7 | 36° | 28° | 0 |
| Oct | 23° | 22° | 11 | 33° | 28° | 0 |
| Nov | 19° | 19° | 15 | 28° | 26° | 0 |
| Dec | 15° | 17° | 16 | 24° | 25° | 0 |
Air: average daily high in °C. Sea: average sea surface temperature in °C (green = warm enough for most people, blue = cold). Rain: average rainy days in the month. Sources: Corfu (HNMS, 1955-2010), sea: seatemperature.org; Sharm El Sheikh airport (1991-2020), sea: seatemperature.org.