Top places to visit in Hurghada

• Giftun Island & Snorkelling

  Beach · 4.7 rating · about 6 h · entry EGP 350

  Giftun Island National Park (EEAA protected), 12 km offshore — the Red Sea's most spectacular accessible reef. Coral gardens with reef sharks, sea turtles, eagle rays, clownfish and hundreds of fish species. Day boats from Hurghada Marina…

• El Gouna

  Beach · 4.6 rating · about 4 h

  Purpose-built lagoon resort 25 km north of Hurghada — Egypt's most polished beach destination with Venetian waterways, yacht marina, golf course, film festival and world-class kite-surfing on the lagoon. No beach touts, excellent…

• Hurghada Marina

  Nature · 4.3 rating · about 1.5 h

  Modern marina boardwalk with restaurants, ice cream shops and glass-bottom boat departure points. The liveliest pedestrian area in Hurghada for an evening stroll with Nile-free views of the Red Sea.

• Makadi Bay Beach

  Beach · 4.5 rating · about 5 h

  Pristine sandy beach 30km south of central Hurghada with excellent coral gardens directly off the shore. Home to some of Hurghada's best all-inclusive luxury resorts, each with private beach access and house reef.

• Hurghada Grand Aquarium

  Activity · 4.2 rating · about 2 h · entry EGP 400

  One of Egypt's largest aquariums with 1,200 marine species in recreated Red Sea habitats, including a shark tank with walkthrough tunnel. Great for families and for previewing Red Sea species before a dive trip.

• El Dahar Souk (Old Town Market)

  Market · 4.2 rating · about 1 h

  Hurghada's original market quarter — a labyrinth of alleys with souvenir shops, spice stalls, local restaurants and traditional Egyptian cafés. The most authentic non-resort part of the city.

• El Gouna Resort Town

  Activity · 4.6 rating · about 4 h

  An upscale planned resort town 23km north of Hurghada, built around a lagoon system with hotels on private islands. Considered the best-designed resort in Egypt with a marina, golf course, arts scene and excellent restaurants.

• Paradise Island (Mahmya Beach)

  Beach · 4.6 rating · about 6 h · entry EGP 1,200

  Uninhabited island accessible by speedboat from Hurghada's marina. Pure white sand beach with turquoise water and a coral reef garden. Operated as a day-trip beach club with included snorkelling.

• Sahl Hasheesh Bay

  Beach · 4.4 rating · about 5 h

  A planned resort bay 20km south of Hurghada with a majestic 11km sandy beach, the new Italian-style Promenade shopping strip and some of Egypt's most exclusive resort hotels. Very clean water and good snorkelling.

• Hurghada Museum

  Museum · 4.5 rating · about 1.5 h · entry EGP 250

  Egypt's newest and most modern museum (opened 2020), showcasing pharaonic artefacts in stunning high-tech displays including interactive exhibits and holograms. The only museum in the Red Sea region.

• Sun'n'Fun Aqua Park

  Activity · about 2 h

  Water park in Hurghada with slides and pools for families.

• Fanadir Reef

  Beach · about 2 h

  Popular Red Sea snorkeling and diving reef off Hurghada.

Things to do

• Snorkelling & Glass-Bottom Boat at Giftun Island Water Sports · 6 h · from EGP 1,200 per person
• Scuba Diving in the Red Sea (Intro Dive) Water Sports · 3 h · from EGP 1,800 per person
• Giftun Island Snorkeling Boat Trip Nature · 7 h · from USD 30 per person
• Dolphin House Snorkeling Excursion Nature · 6 h · from USD 35 per person
• Desert Quad Bike Safari, Hurghada Activity · 3 h · from USD 30 per person
• Orange Bay Island Boat Trip Nature · 6 h · from USD 25 per person
• Sun'n'Fun Waterpark Day Pass Activity · 5 h · from USD 20 per person

Day trips and tours

• Giftun Island Snorkel & Beach Day 8 h · from EGP 1,600
• Luxor Day Trip from Hurghada 16 h · from EGP 2,800

Where to stay in Hurghada

• Sakkala & Hurghada Marina about EGP 4,500 per night

  Mid-town Hurghada with the best nightlife, restaurants and the Marina strip. Midrange to luxury resorts. Closest to the boat trips to Giftun Island.

• El Dahar (Old Town) about EGP 1,500 per night

  Hurghada's original neighbourhood. Cheapest accommodation, local restaurants, dive shops and the covered souk. Authentic and budget-friendly.

Hotels

• Steigenberger Al Dau Beach Hotel 5-star · EGP 3,500 to EGP 8,500 per night
• InterContinental Hurghada Resort 5-star · EGP 2,800 to EGP 6,500 per night
• Three Corners Empire Beach Resort 4-star · EGP 1,200 to EGP 2,800 per night
• Serry Beach Resort
• Sunrise Royal Makadi Resort
• Baron Palace Sahl Hasheesh

Where to eat

• Felfela Hurghada Egyptian, Middle Eastern · about EGP 250 per person
• Portofino Italian, Mediterranean, Seafood · about EGP 300 per person
• Ali Baba Palace Egyptian, Arabic · about EGP 85 per person
• Moby Dick Restaurant Seafood · about EGP 235 per person
• Nemo Grill Fish Restaurant Seafood · about EGP 235 per person
• Le Jardin Hurghada French, International · about EGP 235 per person
• China House Hurghada Chinese · about EGP 235 per person

Getting around

• Taxi main way to get around

  Seeded from the curated primary_local_modes array; per-city parameters not yet researched.

• Walking

  Every city has walking. 2.5 km ceiling is a placeholder default, not a researched per-city figure -- Singapore is sheltered and air-conditioned, Bangkok often has no pavement.

Safety and scams to avoid

• Beach Quad Bike Scam

  Resort strip, Hurghada

  Quad bikes are offered at one price but damage claims (pre-existing scratches) are inflated to extract large deposits or additional charges after the ride.

  How to avoid it: Photograph all existing damage with the operator present before renting. Pay by card and get a written receipt.

• Snorkel Trip Downgrade

  Hurghada Marina / beach hotels

  Tourists book a quality snorkel trip but are taken to a degraded reef with no fish, not the advertised Giftun Island site.

  How to avoid it: Book boat trips only through hotel concierge or well-reviewed operators on TripAdvisor. Confirm destination in writing.

More in Egypt

• Cairo
• Luxor
• Sharm El-Sheikh
• Aswan
• Alexandria
• Dahab