Top places to visit in Hurghada

• Giftun Island & Snorkelling

  coral reef island · 4.7 rating · about 6 h · check the fee at the gate

  Giftun Island National Park (EEAA protected), 12 km offshore — the Red Sea's most spectacular accessible reef. Coral gardens with reef sharks, sea turtles, eagle rays, clownfish and hundreds of fish species. Day boats from Hurghada Marina…

• El Gouna

  planned resort town · 4.6 rating · about 4 h · check the fee at the gate

  Purpose-built lagoon resort 25 km north of Hurghada — Egypt's most polished beach destination with Venetian waterways, yacht marina, golf course, film festival and world-class kite-surfing on the lagoon. No beach touts, excellent…

• Hurghada Marina

  Nature · 4.3 rating · about 1.5 h · check the fee at the gate

  Modern marina boardwalk with restaurants, ice cream shops and glass-bottom boat departure points. The liveliest pedestrian area in Hurghada for an evening stroll with Nile-free views of the Red Sea.

• Makadi Bay Beach

  Beach · 4.5 rating · about 5 h · check the fee at the gate

  Pristine sandy beach 30km south of central Hurghada with excellent coral gardens directly off the shore. Home to some of Hurghada's best all-inclusive luxury resorts, each with private beach access and house reef.

• Hurghada Grand Aquarium

  Activity · 4.2 rating · about 2 h · check the fee at the gate

  One of Egypt's largest aquariums with 1,200 marine species in recreated Red Sea habitats, including a shark tank with walkthrough tunnel. Great for families and for previewing Red Sea species before a dive trip.

• El Dahar Souk (Old Town Market)

  Market · 4.2 rating · about 1 h · check the fee at the gate

  Hurghada's original market quarter — a labyrinth of alleys with souvenir shops, spice stalls, local restaurants and traditional Egyptian cafés. The most authentic non-resort part of the city.

• El Gouna Resort Town

  Activity · 4.6 rating · about 4 h · check the fee at the gate

  An upscale planned resort town 23km north of Hurghada, built around a lagoon system with hotels on private islands. Considered the best-designed resort in Egypt with a marina, golf course, arts scene and excellent restaurants.

• Paradise Island (Mahmya Beach)

  Beach · 4.6 rating · about 6 h · check the fee at the gate

  Uninhabited island accessible by speedboat from Hurghada's marina. Pure white sand beach with turquoise water and a coral reef garden. Operated as a day-trip beach club with included snorkelling.

• Sahl Hasheesh Bay

  Beach · 4.4 rating · about 5 h · check the fee at the gate

  A planned resort bay 20km south of Hurghada with a majestic 11km sandy beach, the new Italian-style Promenade shopping strip and some of Egypt's most exclusive resort hotels. Very clean water and good snorkelling.

• Hurghada Museum

  Museum · 4.5 rating · about 1.5 h · check the fee at the gate

  Egypt's newest and most modern museum (opened 2020), showcasing pharaonic artefacts in stunning high-tech displays including interactive exhibits and holograms. The only museum in the Red Sea region.

• Sun'n'Fun Aqua Park

  Activity · about 2 h · check the fee at the gate

  Water park in Hurghada with slides and pools for families.

• Fanadir Reef

  Beach · about 2 h · check the fee at the gate

  Popular Red Sea snorkeling and diving reef off Hurghada.

Things to do

• Snorkelling & Glass-Bottom Boat at Giftun Island Water Sports · 6 h · from EGP 1,200 per person
• Scuba Diving in the Red Sea (Intro Dive) Water Sports · 3 h · from EGP 1,800 per person
• Giftun Island Snorkeling Boat Trip Nature · 7 h · from USD 30 per person
• Dolphin House Snorkeling Excursion Nature · 6 h · from USD 35 per person
• Desert Quad Bike Safari, Hurghada Activity · 3 h · from USD 30 per person
• Orange Bay Island Boat Trip Nature · 6 h · from USD 25 per person
• Sun'n'Fun Waterpark Day Pass Activity · 5 h · from USD 20 per person

Day trips and tours

• Giftun Island Snorkel & Beach Day 8 h · from EGP 1,600
• Luxor Day Trip from Hurghada 16 h · from EGP 2,800

Where to stay in Hurghada

• Sakkala & Hurghada Marina about EGP 4,500 per night

  Mid-town Hurghada with the best nightlife, restaurants and the Marina strip. Midrange to luxury resorts. Closest to the boat trips to Giftun Island.

• El Dahar (Old Town) about EGP 1,500 per night

  Hurghada's original neighbourhood. Cheapest accommodation, local restaurants, dive shops and the covered souk. Authentic and budget-friendly.

Hotels

• Steigenberger Al Dau Beach Hotel 5-star · EGP 3,500 to EGP 8,500 per night
• InterContinental Hurghada Resort 5-star · EGP 2,800 to EGP 6,500 per night
• Three Corners Empire Beach Resort 4-star · EGP 1,200 to EGP 2,800 per night
• Serry Beach Resort
• Sunrise Royal Makadi Resort
• Baron Palace Sahl Hasheesh

Where to eat

• Felfela Hurghada Egyptian, Middle Eastern · about EGP 250 per person
• Portofino Italian, Mediterranean, Seafood · about EGP 300 per person
• Ali Baba Palace Egyptian, Arabic · about EGP 85 per person
• Moby Dick Restaurant Seafood · about EGP 235 per person
• Nemo Grill Fish Restaurant Seafood · about EGP 235 per person
• Le Jardin Hurghada French, International · about EGP 235 per person
• China House Hurghada Chinese · about EGP 235 per person

Getting to Hurghada

Airport: Hurghada (HRG)

How visitors arrive in Hurghada

• Fly into Hurghada airport By air from Europe · common

  Hurghada International Airport is the main gateway, with direct flights from Europe, mostly package tours, plus domestic flights from Cairo. Source: en.wikivoyage.org

• Long-distance bus from Cairo or Luxor By road from Cairo / Luxor · common

  Buses from Cairo, Luxor, Aswan and Alexandria serve Hurghada. Source: en.wikivoyage.org

From the airport to the centre

• Airport taxi or transfer

  No local bus leaves the terminal. Taxis and pre-arranged transfers are the usual choice; agree the total for the car first. Source: en.wikivoyage.org

• Uber or Careem unconfirmed

  Uber operates in Hurghada; airport pickup arrangements can differ, so check at the terminal. Source: roughguides.com

• Pre-arrange transfers if staying outside town, such as El Gouna, Makadi Bay or Safaga. Source: en.wikivoyage.org

From the bus terminal to the centre

• Intercity coaches

  Go Bus, Super Jet, High Jet and Upper Egypt Bus use separate stations in town. Source: en.wikivoyage.org

Getting around

• Taxi

  Taxis are widely available in Hurghada, and the fare is normally agreed for the whole car before setting off because the meter is often not used.

• Walking

Safety and scams to avoid

• Beach Quad Bike Scam

  Resort strip, Hurghada

  Quad bikes are offered at one price but damage claims (pre-existing scratches) are inflated to extract large deposits or additional charges after the ride.

  How to avoid it: Photograph all existing damage with the operator present before renting. Pay by card and get a written receipt.

• Snorkel Trip Downgrade

  Hurghada Marina / beach hotels

  Tourists book a quality snorkel trip but are taken to a degraded reef with no fish, not the advertised Giftun Island site.

  How to avoid it: Book boat trips only through hotel concierge or well-reviewed operators on TripAdvisor. Confirm destination in writing.

Best time to visit Hurghada

• Jan 22°C
• Feb 24°C
• Mar 26°C
• Apr 30°C
• May 34°C
• Jun 36°C
• Jul 37°C
• Aug 38°C
• Sep 35°C
• Oct 32°C
• Nov 28°C
• Dec 24°C

More in Egypt

• Cairo
• Luxor
• Sharm El-Sheikh
• Aswan
• Alexandria
• Dahab

Frequently asked questions about Hurghada

How many days do you need in Hurghada?

A typical trip to Hurghada is 3-4 days.

What are the top-rated places to visit in Hurghada?

The highest-rated places in our Hurghada guide are Giftun Island & Snorkelling, El Gouna, El Gouna Resort Town, Paradise Island (Mahmya Beach), Makadi Bay Beach.

Where should I stay in Hurghada?

Our guide covers these areas to stay in Hurghada: Sakkala & Hurghada Marina, El Dahar (Old Town).

How do I get around Hurghada?

Ways to get around Hurghada covered in our guide: Taxi, Walking.

What scams should I watch out for in Hurghada?

Scams reported to us for Hurghada include Beach Quad Bike Scam; Snorkel Trip Downgrade. Each is explained in the guide, with how to avoid it.

What is the weather like in Hurghada?

Average daytime highs in Hurghada run from 22°C in Jan to 38°C in Aug.

Which airport is nearest to Hurghada?

The nearest airport to Hurghada has the code HRG.