Hurghada (al-Ghardaqa in Arabic) is the capital of Egypt’s Red Sea Governorate and the country’s biggest beach destination. Forty years ago it was a fishing village; today the coast is lined with resorts from El Gouna in the north to Soma Bay in the south, and the international airport receives direct flights from most European countries. People come for three things: the sun (around 300 days a year), the reefs (some of the best snorkelling within easy reach of Europe) and value-for-money all-inclusive hotels. This guide gives you everything you need to plan a successful stay.
Where is Hurghada?
Hurghada lies on the western shore of the Red Sea, opposite the southern tip of the Sinai peninsula. The town stretches along the coast rather than inland, which is why distances are measured in kilometres of coast road. The main reference points:
| From Hurghada to… | Distance | Time |
|---|---|---|
| Hurghada airport (HRG) → town centre | ≈ 5 km | 10–15 min by taxi |
| El Gouna (north) | ≈ 25 km | 30 min |
| Sahl Hasheesh (south) | ≈ 20 km | 25 min |
| Makadi Bay | ≈ 30 km | 35 min |
| Soma Bay | ≈ 50 km | 45 min |
| Luxor | ≈ 290 km | about 4 h by road |
| Cairo | ≈ 460 km | 5–6 h by road, 1 h by plane |
For a full map of the areas, see our guide on where to stay in Hurghada.
Which area should you choose?
This is the most important decision, more than the hotel itself. The town proper has three faces: El Dahar, the old town with the souk and the local atmosphere; Sakkala and the marina, with restaurants, bars and shops; and the long hotel strip south of the airport, where big all-inclusive resorts line the beach. Outside town, Sahl Hasheesh and Makadi Bay are quieter and greener, El Gouna is an upscale lagoon town with a marina and a lively bar scene, and Soma Bay is all about golf, kitesurfing and luxury hotels.
| Profile | Best area |
|---|---|
| Families on a budget | Southern hotel strip (aquapark resorts) |
| Couples, calm and beautiful beaches | Sahl Hasheesh, Makadi Bay |
| Nightlife, restaurants, walking around | Sakkala, El Mamsha promenade, marina |
| Upscale, kitesurfing, boutique feel | El Gouna, Soma Bay |
| Divers | Makadi Bay, Safaga, or a hotel near the marina |
Read also:Where to Stay in Hurghada (2026): Best Areas Explained — El Gouna, Sahl Hasheesh, Makadi…
Hotels: all inclusive is the norm
Most visitors book all inclusive, and it makes sense: restaurants outside the resorts are scattered, and the price difference with half board is often small. The market is huge — several hundred hotels — and quality varies a lot within the same star rating. Look at three criteria before the stars: the beach (sandy entry or jetty over the reef), the age of the last renovation, and recent reviews of the food. For a 4-star all-inclusive in high season, count roughly €70–120 per night for two; for a good 5-star, €110–220.
- Our selection by budget: best all-inclusive hotels in Hurghada.
- Travelling with children: Hurghada hotels with an aquapark.
Beaches in Hurghada
Hurghada’s beaches are mostly hotel beaches: each resort has its stretch of sand, often with a jetty that lets you step straight into deep water above the reef. Public beaches exist (Old Vic, Public Beach in Sakkala) but they are basic. The most beautiful beaches are in fact offshore: Orange Bay and Mahmya on the Giftun islands, with white sand and turquoise water, reachable only by boat. Close to shore the water is shallow in many places (reef flats and lagoons), so check whether your hotel has a pontoon if you want to swim and snorkel easily.
The best things to do in Hurghada
Hurghada is a base more than a sightseeing city. The classics, in order of popularity:
- Snorkelling at the Giftun islands — the must-do boat trip (≈ €25–45 with lunch).
- Orange Bay or Mahmya beach day — postcard beaches, more relaxed than snorkelling.
- Day trip to Luxor — Karnak, the Valley of the Kings and Hatshepsut’s temple (≈ €60–110).
- Quad and desert safari at sunset with a Bedouin dinner (≈ €20–50).
- Scuba diving — try-dive or certified dives on the reefs and wrecks.
- Cairo and the pyramids — long by road, comfortable by plane.
- Dolphin House, submarine, glass-bottom boat, El Gouna by speedboat…
Details, prices and pitfalls for each one are in our guide to the best excursions in Hurghada.
Day trips: Luxor or Cairo?
If you only do one cultural excursion, choose Luxor: it is closer (about 4 hours by road each way), cheaper, and the temples and royal tombs are spectacular. Cairo means the pyramids of Giza and the Grand Egyptian Museum, but it is 5–6 hours each way by road — we recommend the version by plane if your budget allows. Full comparison in our guides Hurghada to Luxor day trip and Hurghada to Cairo and the pyramids.
Is Hurghada safe?
Hurghada is one of the most visited places in Egypt and the tourist areas are well policed, with security checks at hotel entrances and on the roads. Most European foreign ministries do not advise against travel to the Red Sea resorts, while they do advise against some remote areas of Egypt (North Sinai, border areas of the western desert). Always check your government’s current travel advice before booking. In practice, the real day-to-day issues are:
- Insistent sellers and touts in the souk and around the marina: a smiling but firm « la, shukran » (no, thank you) works.
- Taxis without meters: agree on the price before getting in, or ask your hotel to book one.
- Stomach upsets: drink bottled water, avoid ice and raw vegetables outside hotels in the first days.
- Sun and wind: the breeze hides the strength of the sun; use reef-safe sunscreen and a lycra top when snorkelling.
- Sharks: incidents are very rare but have happened (including a fatal attack in 2023). Follow beach closures and lifeguard instructions.
Visa, money and practical tips
| Topic | What to know |
|---|---|
| Visa | Tourist visa ≈ USD 25: e-visa on the official portal visa2egypt.gov.eg or visa on arrival at the airport (pay before passport control). Passport valid at least 6 months. |
| Currency | Egyptian pound (EGP). Pay in pounds in town; euros/dollars accepted for excursions and tips. |
| Cards & cash | Cards accepted in hotels and malls; ATMs in town and at the airport. Keep small notes for tips. |
| Tipping | Expected: about 5–10% in restaurants, small amounts for porters and room staff, €5–10 per day for a guide. |
| Time zone | Egypt uses summer time: 1 hour ahead of Paris/Berlin/Amsterdam, 2 hours ahead of London/Lisbon all year round. |
| Electricity | 230 V, European two-pin plugs (type C/F). |
| Getting around | Taxis (negotiate), hotel shuttles, ride-hailing apps in town. Renting a car is possible but rarely worth it. |
When is the best time to visit Hurghada?
Hurghada can be visited all year. March–May and October–November are the sweet spot: 25–33 °C in the day and a sea at 23–27 °C. June–September is very hot (35–40 °C) but the water is at its warmest. December–February is pleasant during the day (21–24 °C) but cool in the evening and often windy, with a sea around 21–22 °C. Month-by-month details in our Hurghada weather guide.
Getting to Hurghada
Hurghada International Airport (HRG) has direct flights from many European cities, mostly by charter and low-cost airlines, with more frequencies in winter and spring. Flight time is around 4–5 hours from Western Europe. Tips to pay less — and which cities have direct flights — are in our guide to flights to Hurghada.
Sample 7-day itinerary
- Day 1: arrival, beach and pool, sunset on the hotel jetty.
- Day 2: Giftun islands snorkelling trip.
- Day 3: rest day, try-dive at the hotel’s dive centre.
- Day 4: day trip to Luxor.
- Day 5: recovery day, evening walk on El Mamsha promenade or in the marina.
- Day 6: quad safari at sunset with Bedouin dinner.
- Day 7: Orange Bay or El Gouna, departure.
Frequently asked questions
Is Hurghada a dangerous city?
No more than other big tourist resorts. The tourist areas are policed and guarded, and the main risks are petty: overpriced taxis, pushy sellers and the sun. Check your government’s travel advice before booking, as it can change.
Is Hurghada or Sharm el-Sheikh better?
Hurghada has more choice of hotels, a real town with restaurants and easier day trips to Luxor. Sharm el-Sheikh has more spectacular reefs right from the shore (Ras Mohammed, Tiran) and is better for pure diving. For families and first-timers, Hurghada is usually the better value.
Can you see the pyramids from Hurghada?
Not on the spot: the pyramids are near Cairo, about 460 km away. You can visit them on a long day trip by bus or, more comfortably, by plane.
What is the time difference with Hurghada?
Egypt applies summer time, so Hurghada is 1 hour ahead of France, Germany, Spain, Italy, Poland and the Netherlands, and 2 hours ahead of the UK and Portugal, all year.
Do I need to speak Arabic?
No. English is spoken in hotels and by excursion operators, and many staff also speak German, Russian, Italian or Polish. A few words of Arabic (« shukran » for thank you) are always appreciated.
Affiliate disclosure: this guide contains affiliate links (GetYourGuide, hotel and flight comparison sites). If you book through them we may earn a small commission, at no extra cost to you. Prices are indicative and were checked at the time of writing — the live price on the booking page always prevails.