Hurghada

A resort city on the Red Sea's western shore: take a boat trip to Giftun Island for snorkeling, or head to the lagoon town of El Gouna for a holiday.

Hurghada is in Egypt's Red Sea Governorate, stretching about 40 km along the western Red Sea coast. It has grown from a small fishing village into one of Egypt's largest seaside resort cities. The Red Sea's clear water and rich coral reefs make it a world-class diving and snorkeling destination. The climate is dry all year: March–May and September–November are the most comfortable; in December–February daytime temperatures are around 20–23°C and the sea is cool enough to need a wetsuit; in June–August temperatures often exceed 35°C, but sea conditions are at their calmest. By area: El Gouna to the north is a lagoon-and-canal town; the city itself is divided into the old town of Dahar (souk, mosques), Sakkala and Sheraton Road (restaurants, dive centers) and the new marina; to the south are the aquarium, the sand-sculpture city and the hotel zone, and farther south, in order, Sahl Hasheesh, Makadi Bay, Soma Bay and Safaga. The classic activities are boat trips to Giftun Island, Paradise Island and Dolphin House for snorkeling, or a ride on a submarine, or a trip into the eastern desert to see ancient Roman quarries. Getting there: Hurghada Airport (HRG) has many flights from Europe, and from China most routes connect via Cairo; Luxor is about 4–5 hours by road (see the "Luxor" destination); Marsa Alam and Sharm el-Sheikh are listed as separate destinations. Allow 4–7 days. Notes: check the latest official Egyptian rules on visas; choose a reputable boat operator, and do not touch the coral or feed the fish; tipping and hawking are common, and you should bargain when shopping.

Top sights

• Giftun Island & Mahmya Beach – A national park island off Hurghada, ringed by white sand beaches and shallow coral reefs. The eco-friendly Mahmya beach is the signature d…
• Hurghada Marina – Hurghada’s city living room. A promenade around the yacht harbor is lined with seafood restaurants, cafés and bars, and it is also the depa…
• El Gouna – A lagoon resort town north of Hurghada, with colorful buildings along canals and small islands. Known as the 'Venice of the Red Sea,' it ha…
• Eastern Desert & Mons Claudianus – A Roman granodiorite quarry deep in the Eastern Desert southwest of Hurghada. Columns for the Pantheon in Rome were cut here, and it is a h…
• Hurghada Museum – The first archaeological museum in the Red Sea region, opened in 2020. It displays about 2,000 artifacts from the pharaonic to Islamic peri…
• El Mina Mosque – A landmark mosque beside Hurghada's harbour, with twin minarets and a white dome reflected in the Red Sea. Visitors may enter outside praye…
• El Dahar Old Town & Souk – Hurghada's oldest district and a market of spices, shisha, papyrus paintings, and local street food. It is a good place to experience every…
• Sakkala & Sheraton Street – Hurghada's hotel and shopping main street, lined with restaurants, bars, souvenir shops, and diving centres.
• Hurghada Grand Aquarium – One of the largest aquariums in Africa. An underwater tunnel displays Red Sea sharks, rays, and coral, plus a small zoo.
• Sand City Hurghada – An outdoor sand sculpture museum built from Red Sea sand by sculptors from many countries, with pharaonic, mythological, and cartoon themes.
• Sindbad Submarine – A genuine sightseeing submarine that dives about 22 metres. You can watch Red Sea corals and fish through its round portholes without getti…
• Paradise Island – A small white-sand island offshore from Hurghada, a popular stop for half-day or full-day snorkelling boat trips, with a clear contrast bet…
• Dolphin House (Sha'ab El Erg) – A horseshoe-shaped coral reef north of Hurghada, where spinner dolphins often rest. It is a popular boat route for dolphin watching.
• Jungle Aqua Park – One of Hurghada's largest water parks, with dozens of slides, a wave pool, and a lazy river. It is well suited to families.
• Sahl Hasheesh – A high-end resort bay about 20 km south of Hurghada, with a long seaside promenade and the 'Sunken City' ruins, where you can snorkel.
• Makadi Bay – An all-inclusive resort bay about 30 km south of Hurghada, where you can snorkel straight from the beach over the coral reef.
• Soma Bay – A peninsula resort reaching into the Red Sea, known for kitesurfing, golf, and coral reef diving. It is about 45 km from Hurghada.
• Safaga – A small port town about 55 km south of Hurghada, known for windsurfing, pristine reef diving, and black sand spa treatments.
• Mons Porphyrites – The only source of imperial purple porphyry in the Roman Empire, in the Eastern Desert. The quarry, workers' camps, and ancient haul roads…

Where to eat

• Star Fish Seafood Restaurant – Opened in 2005, this long-standing seafood restaurant in Sekala lets you choose your catch and have it cooked to order…
• El Halaka Fish Restaurant – A local seafood spot across from the old fish market beside El Mina Mosque, where you pick your fish to order, with roo…
• Moby Dick Restaurant – One of the most-reviewed restaurants along Sheraton Road, famous for its camel ribs and camel burgers.
• Granada Restaurant & Pub – A seaside restaurant and pub on the old Sheraton Road, serving Italian dishes, seafood and Spanish paella.

Itineraries

• Grand Panorama Loop of Egypt – Cover Cairo, Aswan, Luxor, the Red Sea, and Alexandria, featuring overland temple routes and the historic Mediterranean…