Hurghada is a beautiful place to spend your vacation with your family, friends, or partner. It has so much to offer, from crystal clear warm water, year-round sunshine, and sandy beaches, to a wide range of amazing things to do. Follow this travel guide to help make planning your dream Hurghada trip more manageable and have lovely experiences! Our Hurghada excursions tips will help you decide when to go, how to get there, where to stay, what to do, and more.
When is the Best Time to Visit Hurghada?
With a year-round dry and temperate climate, Hurghada is suitable for a year-round vacation. Winter and early spring are good times to visit Hurghada to avoid the summer heat and look for cheaper hotel rates. June through September is usually considered the best time to visit, especially if you want to go snorkelling and scuba diving. During this period, the Red Sea coast enjoys much cooler weather than Egypt’s inland, with average temperatures hovering around 84°F (29°C) and sea temperature about 80°F (27°C). If you choose to go in July and August, booking early is best. The resort is frequented by many European and American visitors and Egyptians who want to escape the summer heat of Cairo. Besides, applying a lot of sun cream is essential to avoid skin damage.
Is it Safe to Travel to Hurghada?
Egypt is generally safe to travel to except for some no-go areas, including the North Sinai province. People in Egypt are kind, friendly and willing to help travellers. Moreover, the Egyptian government is committed to keeping the country safe for travellers, as tourism is crucial to the nation’s economy.
As one of Egypt’s most popular tourist destinations, Hurghada is considered safe. Some travellers even said on TripAdvisor that they felt safer staying in Hurghada than in Europe and America.
Despite the overall safety, when visiting Hurghada and other places in Egypt, you should respect the local customs, keep vigilant at all times and follow the advice of local security officials, especially during festivals like Ramadan. It’s also essential to purchase travel and medical insurance before your departure.
Do I Need a Visa to Visit Hurghada?
Unless you’re a citizen of one of the visa-free countries, including South Korea, Jordan, Haiti, etc., you’ll need a visa to visit Egypt. With Egypt’s launch of the new e-visa service, nationals of the United States, the United Kingdom, Canada, Australia, New Zealand, etc., can apply for a visa online for a maximum stay of 30 days from the day of entry.
How to Get to Hurghada?
Being the most popular resort town on the Red Sea coast, Hurghada is easy to reach both from abroad and from Egypt’s domestic cities. Just a twenty-minute drive from downtown lies the Hurghada International Airport, which has flights from major Egyptian towns and worldwide destinations. If you are in Cairo, you can take a 1-hour flight to Hurghada. Travellers from some European counties, such as England, and Germany, can fly straight to Hurghada.
Apart from taking a plane, you can also take a long-distance bus from Luxor (5 hours), Aswan (8+ hours) and Cairo (7 hours) or hop on a ferry from Sharm El Sheikh.
Where to Stay in Hurghada?
With over 100 hotels stretching along the 40-kilometre-long coast, Hurghada offers accommodations to suit various tastes and budgets, from traditional Egyptian guest houses to top-end hotels. You’ll find luxury hotels in El Sakala and the marina, which surround boutiques and yachts. Sekalla, the city centre, is the place for more budget-friendly options. You may stay in El Dahar, the old town, for authentic Egyptian charm.
Hurghada Activities Tips
The following activities are the best things to do in Hurghada:
1). Dive the Red Sea
The Red Sea is one of the most popular places to dive. It’s easy to see why – the water is clear, calm, warm, and vibrant, with colourful marine life. Whether you are an experienced diver or a beginner, Hurghada is the perfect place to delve deep under the water.
Most hotels provide diving excursions or courses that you can book. You may take a taster dive in your hotel’s swimming pool if you are a novice.
Crystal clear water in the Red Sea in HurghadaWater in the Red Sea is clear as crystal, perfect for a dive.
Safety tips for diving in the Red Sea:
- Check your diving equipment before you jump into the water, as it is dangerous to dive with broken gear.
- Don’t break corals; take them out of the water, as it is forbidden.
- Don’t stand on the reef as there could be dangerous fishes there.
- Avoid touching any fish, however beautiful they appear, because they could be poisonous.
2). Go on a quad bike to Desert Safari
A quad bike Safari in the Desert near Hurghada is fun, exciting, and rewarding. You’ll travel across the shifting dunes before reaching one of the traditional Bedouin villages. Here you can enjoy a nice cup of mint tea, talk to the nomads and discover their way of life.
3). Try some traditional local food in El Dahar
If you fancy authentic local fare, visit El Dahar, the old town of Hurghada, with local restaurants and street stalls. Here you can try a variety of local food, including Falafel (cooked broad beans) and Taouk (grilled chicken sandwich), most of which are reasonably priced. After that, enjoy a coffee or juice at a Bedouin bar.
4). Shop in Hurghada
Depending on your interests and budget, you might find many places to shop in Hurghada. If you want to shop locally and hunt for bargains, head to the back streets of El Dahar. You will find a range of local products, including Bedouin jewellery, perfumes, papyrus, spices, shisha pipes, etc. If you prefer modern shopping, visit Senzo Mall in New Hurghada, which has big, international brand shops such as Adidas, Aldo, etc. Besides, Sheraton Street is also an excellent spot to buy souvenirs.
5) Take a boat trip to Mahmya Island
The beautiful, sandy beach on Mahmya Island is a must-see. The only way to get to the island is to take a boat ride from Hurghada, which takes around an hour. During the boat trip, you can appreciate the glistening blue waters. Get your cameras ready, because if you are lucky, you’ll see dolphins swimming along. When you reach the island, you’ll be amazed at the glowing white sand and crystal-clear waters that can be found nowhere else. Then it’s time to relax under the beach umbrella or snorkel to see the stunning coral reef.