Obayed Beach is about 14 kilometres west of Marsa Matruh and is one of the more tranquil options on the coast. The beach is longer and flatter than some of the rockier spots closer to town, and the water runs a particularly vivid shade of turquoise where the sand bar shelters the shallows from the open sea. It attracts a more laid-back crowd than the town beaches, and there is usually space to spread out even in summer.
The road runs close to the beach here, and access is easy by taxi or private car. There is minimal development — a few summer huts and umbrellas for rent in peak season — which keeps it quieter than the beaches immediately around town. Good for a full day of swimming and sun with a picnic rather than a quick stop.