Once upon a time, Hurghada was just a small and relatively unknown fishing village. Fast forward to today, Hurghada is one of Egypt’s most popular tourist destinations situated right on the coast of the Red Sea and is visited by thousands of holiday makers every year.
It not only boasts some of Egypt’s most beautiful coastlines, but offers a wide range of other activities and has something to offer every budget- from 5-star all-inclusive resorts, to simple guesthouses in the downtown area.
If you’re looking for a stunning beach resort, or just somewhere to relax and unwind before you embark upon a tour of Egypt, Hurghada is the perfect starting point!
How to get here?
Hurghada is relatively easy to get to with direct flights going from all over the world.
First option– From the UK you can fly directly from London airports, Bristol, Manchester, Birmingham in around 5-6 hours.
Second option– Fly to Sharm El Sheikh and then take a 3-hour ferry across to Hurghada- perfect if you want to visit both resorts.
Third option– If you begin your trip in Cairo, fly direct to Hurghada or take the Go Bus (cheapest option). Buses run daily and are comfortable and spacious and take approximately 7-8 hours +.
Best things to do:
Relax at an all-inclusive resort
Hurghada is full of resorts and what better way to relax and switch off than to enjoy time in the sun at a gorgeous beach resort, with an all-inclusive buffet and drinks around the pool.
Take a boat trip to the Giftun islands- orange island/paradise island
One of my highlights of Hurghada was taking a boat trip to these beautiful islands, snorkelling in the coral reefs and spotting wild dolphins! The Giftun islands are located just a short boat ride from Hurghada and can only be reached by tour. With long sandy beaches, crystal-clear waters, an abundant marine-life and fabulous diving spots, you can see why this is the most popular excursion in the area.
Go quad biking in the desert
If you’re adventurous, this is the perfect activity! Quad bikes are easy to use and no previous experience is needed. Flying over the sand dunes, enjoying the glorious views and experiencing tea/dinner at a Bedouin camp is a cool experience!
Visit the Hurghada marina and enjoy cocktails at one of the many restaurants
If you’re looking for something to do on an evening, visit the Marina. It is a great place to take a stroll, enjoy the sights of the expensive yachts and boats, eat some good food, enjoy live music and most importantly, a nice cold beer!
Snorkel or dive in the beautiful coral reefs of the Red Sea
No visit to Egypt is complete without enjoying the rich variety of marine life in the Red Sea. Home to more than 1000 species of fish, including 44 species of sharks, the Red Sea is a scuba divers delight! Even if you’re not into scuba diving (like me!) it is amazing to go snorkelling in the gorgeous coral reefs and swim with the thousands of colourful fish. Most boat excursions will include snorkelling stops- diving (if you wish). Many resorts also have coral reefs just a short swim away from the shore, but the best reefs can only be accessed by boat/excursion.
Wander around the bazaars/markets and experience local life in the old city
The old city is filled with narrow streets, old buildings, chaotic traffic and traditional Egyptian stalls. Visit the El Dahar Bazaar- an authentic bazaar selling a wide range of traditional goods, spices, foods ect.
Hit the Nightclubs
Surprisingly for Muslim country, Hurghada is full of bars and nightclubs. If you’re looking for a great place to party after a day of relaxing, there are plenty of options in Hurghada. If you’re staying at a resort, the entertainment staff organise daily ‘Bar crawls’ and ‘Night events’ where all drinks and transport are included.
Visit the beautiful – Abdulmoneim Riadh mosque
Whilst visiting the marina, wander around the corner and check out this beautiful mosque. The minarets which are about 40 feet high can be seen from a long distance and the intricate design and location (between the ocean and bustling town) of this mosque is very unique. (If there is no prayer or religious event taking place, you can enter the mosque, admission is free, however women should respect the culture and cover up (including heads) before entering.
Check out the amazing sand art at Sand city- an impressive sand sculpture park
Located around 20-30 minutes’ drive from Hurghada is the only open-air sand sculpture museum in Africa and the Middle East. Marvel at the impressive sand sculptures created by artists from many different countries.
Go on a unique underwater adventure in a submarine
If you’re not into snorkelling or diving, the best way that you can enjoy the colourful coral and marine life of the Red Sea is by going deep beneath the surface in a submarine and the best part, you don’t even get wet! The Sinbad Submarine are the only submarines in Africa and the Middle East and two of them are located in Hurghada.
Where to stay?
There are loads of places to stay in Hurghada, from luxurious resorts to mid-range hotels and backpacker hostels.
Higher range
- Rixos Premium Magawish Suites and Villas
- Titanic Royal
- Steigenberger Pure Lifestyle/ Aqua Magic Red Sea
Mid-range
- Sunrise Aqua Joy all-inclusive resort (4 star)
- Bel Air Azur Resort
- Arabella Azur Resort
Budget
- Andalusia Blue Beach Hurghada (resort)
- Sea Waves Hostel
We sampled a few different resorts during our stay:
Number 1 (The best of the three) Sunrise Aqua Joy– excellent choice of food and drinks, variety of different restaurants to eat at, although it was so busy it was difficult to get booked into these. Entertainment was brilliant- range of activities on through the day and different themes/acts every night. The rooms were spacious and clean and the staff couldn’t help you enough!
Arabella Azur Resort– Large resort, own private beach/jetty and plenty of sunbeds/pools, daily entertainment, couple of buffet restaurants offering a decent variety of food. Rooms were nice and located right in front of the pool.
Bel Air Azur– Rooms were fair for the price- a little more dated. Internet was very poor- only in the reception area. Couple of restaurants- buffet, snack bar.
Things to know:
Visa
Most visitors to Egypt will need a visa. You can get it at the airport for $25 in cash- much better doing it in person than online (we got rejected online for the quality of the picture and lost the money). Before you pass through passport control, there are many stands where you can buy the VISA. It literally took seconds to pay and get the visa sticker in your passport. A tourist E-visa will give you up to 30 days in Egypt.
Transport
Uber is available in Hurghada and is much cheaper and more reliable than taxis. If you do want to take the local taxis- check the prices on Uber first and use this as a guide to what you should pay.
Drinking water
Don’t drink the tap water or even use it to brush your teeth. Always use bottled water and be careful with uncooked food- salads, vegetables, ect.
Public transport
Go Bus company has a range of buses daily to Cairo, Luxor and Aswan. You can use their website to book tickets or get them at the office.
Currency
The currency is Egyptian pound; however, US dollars or Euro is preferred. They even accept GBP- notes only.
Tipping
Be prepared to tip a lot so always have some small notes available. Of course, it is optional, but there is an expectation.
Internet
Internet is very poor, even in the big hotel resorts and can often be limited to the lobby/reception area. Buy a local sim card from any store (Orange or Vodaphone seem to be the best) and ask them to top up the credit/data when you run out.
What to wear
There are plenty of tourists in Hurghada so you can wear whatever you want. Dress modestly if you’re visiting the mosque or the local market ect to avoid unwanted attention/ wandering eyes 😊