Hurghada City

Hurghada was once a relatively small and unimposing fishing village, located next to the Red Sea and boasting several superb beaches. Now, the resort of Hurghada is almost unrecognisable compared to its past life. It has grown to become the most visited tourist destination in the whole of Egypt, with more than 100 different hotels, many of which line the shoreline. Famous for its superb diving opportunities, Hurghada is especially appealing to those with little scuba diving experience, who come to marvel at the underwater reefs and remarkable marine life. Currently, tourism constitutes a considerable part of Hurghada income. Each year, many tourists combine their holiday with visits to other prominent locations along the Nile Valley, including the relatively nearby city of Luxor.

Location of Hurghada City

Hurghada City stretches for about 40 kilometres along the shoreline of the Red Sea, Al-Bahr Al-Ahmar governorate. It lies 225 kilometres far from the nearest governorate (Qena) in the Nile valley and 446 kilometres to the south of Cairo. Ras Garib borders it in the north. In the opposite direction, Safaga exists the south of it. At the same time, the Red Sea coast borders it in the east and the Assiut governorate in the west.

History

Hurghada is one of the cities that exist in the Al-Bahr Al-Ahmar governorate on the Red Sea coast. The Egyptians founded the present city in the early 20th century. Until recently, it was a small fishing village with a small population. Since the 19^th century, Egyptian and foreign investors have continually enlarged the city to become the leading coastal resort on the Red Sea. In 1913, the mining companies discovered oil in the area. Although, its actual production and export only began in 1921 under British oil magnates.

Administrative Divisions

At present, Hurghada city has the following three main areas:

• El Dahar is the old Downtown.
• Sekalla is the city centre and the old part of the city.
• Also, El Qura is the modern part.

In addition to these three main divisions, Hurghada has several suburbs. On the contrary, it has no villages as in the cities located in the Nile Valley.

Hurghada Attractions

Hurghada City is an ideal resort to spend time on. This city has yearlong sunshine, incredible beaches and a crystal-like water sea. It lies at the side of the Red Sea, and a vast desert surrounds it. Besides, it has countless exciting attractions to explore. For ideas, see our list of the top tourist attractions and places to visit in Hurghada:

1. Abdulmoneim Riadh Mosque.
2. El-Mina Grand Mosque.
3. Church of St. Mary.
4. Hurghada Marina Boulevard.
5. Fish Market.
6. Fruit Market.
7. Marine Port.
8. Giftun Islands.
9. Hurghada Grand Aquarium.
10. Jungle Aqua Park.
11. Sand City.
12. Mini Egypt.
13. Hard Rock Café.
14. Also, Little Buddha.

1. Sand Museum

Sand City includes more than 70 sculptures of sand statues and inscriptions. Artists formed these statues from pressed wet sand so that they became hard like stones. Sculptors painted their surfaces with varnish to protect them from wind and rain. Some of these statues are about 10 meters high. It took about six months to complete this museum 29 artists from different parts of the world participated in the exit of these creations.

It includes different eras and civilisations, notably Pharaonic figures and sculptures, and Napoleon, Zeus, Cleopatra, Posiden, Caesar and Eros. Modern-day heroes such as “King Kong”, “Jack Sparrow”, and Spider-Man.

2. Dahar Mosque

Dahar Mosque is one of the most important landmarks of Hurghada and one of its most beautiful mosques. It exists in the Al-Dahar district in the city centre. This mosque is famous for its two distinctive high-rise minarets and the decorations on the interior walls. In the evening, a wall façade is lit from it, which gives it a magnificent view, and whoever goes to this mosque will see the large number of street vendors spread over its yard, making it one of the main crowded areas in the city.

3. Sahl Hasheesh

The resorts of Sahl Hasheesh have a distinctive character. It is famous for higher tourist accommodation prices than hotels in Hurghada and includes 1660 hotel rooms. It will open 6 thousand hotel rooms and an open theatre famous for the vast concerts held by foremost Arab singers and attended by thousands of their fans.

4. El Gouna:

El Gouna dated back to 1990 and was established by the Orascom Group company owned by the Sawiris family, about 20 km away from Hurghada International Airport, 470 km away from Cairo. The city is heading to achieve self-sufficiency in food by relying heavily on the products of the El Gouna farm built on an area of 120 acres. The area is famous for being a site for diving in the depths and various water sports such as water skiing, windsurfing, and golf. There are two main beaches, “Zaitouna Beach” and “Mangroovy Beach”. And also, the resort has a large number of water channels, many Islands, marinas and yachting in large numbers, and many health clubs.

There are six neighbourhoods in El Gouna: Marina Town, the Mediterranean, the Golf District, the Nubian Quarter, the Hadaba neighbourhood and the Italian Quarter. All resorts’ investments tend to rely on clean solar energy and dispense entirely with government-generated electricity by storing batteries for the power generated from Solar cells.

 5. Aquarium:

In the heart of Hurghada, just 5 minutes from Hurghada International Airport, in the Magawish tourist area. Hurghada’s Grand Aquarium is the largest aquarium in the Middle East and North Africa and the seventh in the world. Hurghada’s “Grand Aquarium” is home to thousands of species of marine organisms. It is also unique to the idea of ​​the rainforest with its abundant rain, intertwining trees, and the open forest similar to the African forests, which contain the most beautiful animals and different birds.

Shopping in Hurghada

Beaches are not the only one that attracts visitors, but rather the shopping places and the tourist walkway of Hurghada. This place has cafes, restaurants and shops, famous markets and malls. Thus, the area provides more fun and nightlife so that you can wander at night alone without boredom or with your friends or family.

You can buy many souvenirs from the shops spread inside the main town (Sekalla high street) and along with the beach areas. Also, the old downtown (el Dahar) has a wide selection of bazaars with lower prices than Sekalla.

For brand names and higher-quality products, head down to ‘New Marina’ and Sheraton Road, where you can find Adidas, Timberland, Dockers and Levi’s, as well as a traditional bazaar (Souq in Arabic). Often the clothes are counterfeit knockoffs, though you will notice that any shop may post famous trademarks on its banner and yet sell fake garments.

City Tour by Hurghada

Hurghada Activities

Hurghada is famous for its coral reefs, islands and entertainment. Generally, many tourists visit it annually to enjoy snorkelling, diving, and sightseeing. For the sake of the sea and culture, excursions go everywhere in Hurghada. On the other hand, these trips head from Hurghada to various tourist destinations in the coastal cities of Safaga, Marsa Alam, and El Gouna. Moreover, several tours go far to Cairo and Luxor. Infrequently, they head to Israel and Jordan.

So, here’s a comprehensive list of the activities and things to do in Hurghada. For your convenience, we have grouped these entries into the following basic categories:

• History Related/Sightseeing in Hurghada.
• Snorkeling in Hurghada.
• Diving in Hurghada.
• Sea Related Activities.
• Water Sports/Water-Related Activities.
• Also, Fun and Entertainments in Hurghada.

History-Related and Sightseeing Activities in Hurghada

Hurghada locates 456 km from Cairo and 306 km from Luxor. For sure, this unique location makes it possible to do some history-related activities and sightseeing tours. Also, it enables tourists to visit the monuments and attractions in Luxor, Sohag, El-Minya, Qena, Aswan, Cairo, Giza, Alexandria etc.

The following is a list of the activities tourists can choose. This list provides both the destination and the means of transportation to get to the place:

Group Sightseeing Activities

1. Excursion to Cairo-Giza from Hurghada.
2. Two-Days Trip to Cairo from Hurghada – Old Cairo.
3. And, Bus Trip to Cairo-Alexandria from Hurghada.
4. Excursion to Luxor- Valley of the kings from Hurghada.
5. Day Trip to Dendera – Luxor from Hurghada.
6. And, Trip to Luxor – Valley of Queens by Bus from Hurghada.
7. Also, Nile Boat Trip Hurghada.

Individual Sightseeing Activities

• Individual Trip to Luxor from Hurghada.
• Private Trip to El-Minya from Hurghada.
• Trip to Monastery of St. Anthony from Hurghada.
• Private Trip to Cairo from Hurghada by plane.
• Individual Excursion Cairo from Hurghada.
• Private Trip to Abydos – Sohag from Hurghada.
• Individual Trip to Abydos – Dendera from Hurghada.
• Also, Individual trip to Dendera – Luxor from Hurghada.

Snorkelling Activities in Hurghada

Snorkelling is a popular recreational activity in Egypt, particularly at the tropical resort of Hurghada. The primary appeal to this activity is the opportunity to observe underwater life in a natural setting without the complicated equipment and training required for scuba diving. It appeals to all ages because of the little effort needed.

A list of the sea activities and trips in Hurghada:

1. Individual Trip to Sharm El-Naga from Hurghada.
2. Excursion Super Utopia from Hurghada.
3. Private Speedboat to Dolphin Bay from Hurghada.
4. Sea trip to El-Gouna from Hurghada.
5. Private Speedboat to Orange Bay in Hurghada.
6. Excursion to Orange Bay in Hurghada.
7. And, fishing trip in Hurghada.
8. Excursion to Abu Dabab Beach from Hurghada.
9. Boat trip to Mahmya Island-Beach from Hurghada.
10. Excursion Super Gouna from Hurghada.
11. Boat trip to the Dolphin House in Hurghada.
12. Excursion to Giftun island in Hurghada.
13. Also, Snorkeling trip to Paradise Island-Beach in Hurghada.

Diving Activities in Hurghada

Diving is one of Hurghada’s popular sea activities. TIt lets you fully explore and experience the exquisiteness of the Red Sea. The city offers tourists several exciting options to do such an activity. These options vary widely in the destination they head to and the location they take place on. For example, diving can take place on the beach or in the open sea. Also, divers can practise this activity in various open-sea sites with a colourful marine world. It lets you fully explore and experience the exquisiteness of the Red Sea.

For more details about diving in the open sea, you can check the following activity:

• Diving trip in Hurghada.

Fishing Activities in Hurghada

Fishing is one of the enjoyable hobbies and activities tourists practice in Hurghada. This recreational and sport activity is primarily for pleasure or competition purposes. The most common form of recreational fishing can be done with a rod, reel, line, hooks and any one of a wide range of baits or lures such as artificial flies. The practice of catching or attempting to catch fish with a hook is generally known as angling.

In Hurghada, the most familiar type of angling is the one that uses line and hook. While the one which uses rod and reel is more professionally; and comes in second place.

The following fishing activities you can enjoy in Hurghada:

• Fishing trip in Hurghada.
• Also, Individual Fishing Trip in Hurghada.

Sea-Related Activities in Hurghada

Hurghada offers tourists who want to enjoy watching coral reefs and fish without getting themselves wet.

To get more details on these sea-related activities, discover the following options:

• Sea adventure on Sindbad Submarine in Hurghada.
• Also, Sea trip onboard semi-submarine from Hurghada.

Water Sports Activities in Hurghada

We concentrate, here, on the type of water sports done on the water. Therefore, we classify the other types of water sports under different categories on our site.

Hurghada offers a wide range of water sports to the tourists holidaying in. Parasailing is one of the water sports you can try. It is the most pleasant activity for tourists. Usually, in all Hurghada hotels, tourists can enjoy this kind of activity. Please, check the following link to know more details:

• Parasailing Trip in Hurghada.

Desert Safari Activities in Hurghada

Desert Safari is one exciting activity you should add to your plan list if you’re going to stay in Hurghada. This safari activity combines all the fun and adventures you can experience in the desert. Noteworthy that desert safari trips range widely from being a simple camel ride to buggy driving. Hurghada offers some safari activities, e.g. camel riding, horse riding, quad biking, jeep riding, and buggy.

We show the desert safari activities in Hurghada according to the following classifications:

• Quad Biking in Hurghada.
• Jeep Safari in Hurghada.
• Also, Camel and Buggy Riding in Hurghada.

Horse Riding Activities in Hurghada

Horse riding is a favourite sport and activity in Hurghada. Simitanoiusly, the city offers this recreational activity in two environments: seaside and desert. Some tourists prefer to practise this sport by the sea and ride a horse in the ocean itself. At the same time, other tourists like to enjoy that sport in a land environment – the desert. Moreover, the city offers you two options for horse riding, depending on the location where you can do them.

If you like to enjoy horse riding in Hurghada, you can check the following activity:

• Horse riding trip in Hurghada.

City Touring Activities in Hurghada

The city tour is an activity of discovering the attractions and the place around you. Indeed, tourists can do such a pleasurable activity in Hurghada. Also, this resort offers you many attractions and places to visit. These attractions are all of the modern styles.

Usually, city tours in Hurghada reach the most famous attractions in this city. The marine platforms, the old maritime port, the Coptic Church, and Muslim mosques are these attractions.  Also, these city tours get to the fruit and the fish markets.

• City tour by Hurghada.
• Also, Individual City tour by El-Gouna from Hurghada.

Beauty and Wellness Activities in Hurghada

Hurghada offers excellent solutions to all those who want to take care of their health. Fortunately, some spa centres exist in this city where tourists can enjoy body care procedures. The following are the city touring activities you can do in Hurghada:

• Trip to the Spa Center in Hurghada.

Entertainment and Fun Activities in Hurghada

Hurghada is a city of fun. Indeed, this city has a lot of entertainment activities to offer for you. Besides, in Hurghada, you can find several aqua parks, aquariums, dolphinariums, and other places to visit. The following is one of the best solutions Hurghada offers:

The following is a sample of the activities you can enjoy while holidaying in Hurghada:

• Trip to Grand Aquarium in Hurghada.
• Also, Excursion to the dolphinarium from Hurghada.

General information about the Hurghada International Airport

Airport Location

Hurghada International Airport stands inland, 5 km (3 miles) southwest of the downtown of Hurghada (El Dahar district). This airport presents Hurghada, the centre of Red Sea Governorate of Egypt, seaport city Safaga. In addition, it serves many amazing Red Sea beaches and aquatic sports resorts: Al Quseir, Sharm El Naga, El Gouna, Al-Mahmya, Soma Bay and Makadi Bay.

Route Network

The Route network of Hurghada consists of scheduled passenger services to the Egyptian capital city of Cairo and direct connections to several European destinations. More than 40 airlines perform seasonable charter flights to the cities in Western and Eastern Europe, Scandinavia, Russia and the CIS countries. Currently, the airport has undergone massive renovations to accommodate dramatically rising leisure traffic.

Passenger Services

There is only one terminal in the Hurghada airport, and car parking is located just outside the terminal. Also, it is possible to get to the city or hotels by taxi or public transport (minibuses).

More about getting to the airport

In the terminal, various infrastructure is necessary to satisfy the requirements of taking off and arriving passengers. This infrastructure includes restaurants and cafes, changes, phones and post offices. Also, it comprises souvenirs and essential commodities shops, a left-luggage office, the VIP lounge, and a car rental office.

More about passenger services

There are no business facilities at the airport. Still, it’s possible to use conference and meeting facilities at the resort hotels, located only 5 minutes by car from the airport.

Airport Shopping

Hurghada airport suggests a wide range of shopping possibilities before the flight. Also, a lot of souvenir shops exist at the terminal. There are also duty-free shops in the departure zone selling perfumes, alcohol and confectionery products with great discounts.

Hurghada Time Zone

Time zone in Hurghada GMT +2 (daylight saving time GMT +3 from the last Friday in April to the last Thursday in September). Hurghada Airport phone number: +20 65 443 976, fax number: +20 65 443 976.

How to Get to Hurghada?

By plane

Most major airlines in Europe and the Middle East can fly you straight to Hurghada International Airport (IATA: HRG) without having to stop in Cairo. Prices depend on the time of the booking and the airline. As you enter the airport building, you will see a big sign saying “Visa 25USD”. Airport guides will usher you towards a stand where you must buy the visa for 25 Euro (over 30USD). You can easily avoid this by going to the ‘National Bank Of Egypt’ stand in the same hall and presenting your passport, along with precisely 25 US dollars, to the attendant. This bank will give you the visa, and you finish everything in half the time, for half the price.

From the airport to the town vice-versa, cab drivers will likely ask for quote prices in Euros. Note that the price they will ask is high above the metered price, about 40 LE to the city (many will start at 10 euro/200 LE plus a 50 LE airport fee). Note with quite a bit of bargaining, and you can get this price down quite a bit.

If you are in Cairo, you can also fly to Hurghada on Egypt Air Express (a subsidiary of Egypt Air) or Nile Air, servicing domestic locations in Egypt. Prices vary 400-900 Egyptian pounds depending on the season and how early you book your tickets.

From Sharm el-Sheikh, you can fly with Egypt Air for about 450-550 LE (the trip takes about 1 hour).

By Bus

From Cairo: the trip takes about 7 hours, depending on the operator. Good operators are Super Jet and Go Bus; avoid MCV Co. Prices range from 50 to 150LE for a one-way ticket, and buses will leave about every hour.

From Alexandria: 2 daily buses. One is operated by Upper Egypt and leaves at 18:30, arriving in Hurghada around 4:30 the following day. It is not ideal as you will find the city asleep and it is tough to get a taxi this early. The second bus, operated by Super Jet, will leave around 20:30 and arrive around 6:30 in the morning. Prices are around 90-100LE for a one-way trip.

From Luxor: about 4-5h by Super Jet bus or longer by Upper Egypt. Super Jet runs twice daily, and Upper Egypt has more frequent buses.

From Aswan: 2 daily buses, both operated by Upper Egypt. The first one leaves at 15:30, the second leaves at 17:30. The trip takes at least 8 hours, meaning you will arrive in Hurghada after midnight. Prices are around 50-55LE.

Long-distance Buses

Buses arrive and leave for many destinations from the Old Town bus station. Eighty per cent of them run on schedule; the others may have long delays. Be there at least one hour before the scheduled departure. Your ticket might be an excellent way to avoid a lot of frustration whilst saving money.

Go Bus Egypt is a reliable company with friendly buses offering daily service to Cairo (from 190EGP) and Luxor (from 110 EGP).

Buses leave for Quseer and Marsa Alam (3 times a day), Luxor (3 times), Cairo (each 1 hour), there are no direct buses to Sharm El Sheikh; you must go to Cairo or Suez with the GOV buses.

Update (September, 2019): Hurghada to Luxor. Three bus companies service routes to Luxor. Each exists along El-Nasr. Go Bus has two departures daily at 08:15 and 15:30 (EGP 135). Blue Bus has one departure daily at 15:00 (EGP 150). Upper Egypt Bus Co. has six departures daily at 01:00, 03:00, 10:00, 13:00, 19:30, and 22:30 (EGP 40).