Where to buy medicine in Sharm el-Sheikh at fair prices?

If the hotel pharmacy is closed, walk about 30-50 meters left from the exit to another pharmacy with a helpful pharmacist who can find an equivalent by active ingredient; prices there were lower than at the hotel pharmacy.

The in-hotel pharmacy doesn't always sell at the price printed on the box — pharmacies with genuine fixed prices are located outside the hotel, so check the packaging price before buying.

Look for medicines by active ingredient (e.g. paracetamol, ketoconazole, pancreatin — names match, only dosage differs). Best to buy at state-run 'Family Pharmacy' (Семейная аптека) chains — prices there are genuine, not inflated, printed directly on the packaging and unobscured. Always get a receipt and check whether the drug is on the customs export/import restricted list.

Russkaya Apteka pharmacy chain also has branches in Naama Bay and Hadaba. Their website lets you search medicines by active ingredient, with addresses and prices listed. Note that payment via bank transfer is not always accepted.

There's a pharmacy on hotel grounds behind the Columbus coffee shop that carries good anti-poisoning medications.

Some pharmacies offer free hotel delivery once your order reaches a certain amount, or send a free transfer from the pharmacy provided you purchase a minimum sum there.

Hotel pharmacies display the official government price on each package. Just ask to see medicines at official prices. For example, Otrivin costs around 45 EGP.

The 'Russkaya Apteka' (Russian Pharmacy) chain has multiple locations in Sharm el-Sheikh. Their website shows stock availability and prices. They also offer a free transfer: hotel – pharmacy – hotel.

Before buying anywhere, always compare the manufacturer's price printed on the packaging with what the pharmacist quotes. If the price label is covered or missing, treat it as a red flag.

If a specific medicine is out of stock at one pharmacy, check the chain's website — you can filter by city and branch. The most convenient option is to order online with delivery to your hotel.