I decided to visit Egypt after the opening of the Grand Egyptian Museum. Since I was already planning to see Cairo and Giza, I wanted to combine the trip with a few days at the beach and some actual rest. That is how Hurghada became the first part of the journey.
I traveled with a friend, and our main plan was to spend time at the beach. We added excursions and walks through the city whenever we felt like it.
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Seven days were enough for the sea, snorkeling, the desert, and some time in the city. Still, I left with reasons to return. Next time, I would stay longer and add Luxor and more of southern Egypt.
This guide is based on my stay in Hurghada in September 2026. Prices, flight schedules, and entry requirements can change, so check them again before traveling.
Hurghada in Brief
Hurghada is located on Egypt’s Red Sea coast and is the capital of the Red Sea Governorate. In the early 20th century, it was a small fishing settlement. Today, it is one of Egypt’s largest tourist destinations, known for its warm, dry climate, coral reefs, diving, and boat trips.
I arrived at around three in the morning, so my first encounter with Hurghada was calm. I had chosen a hotel in a fairly central location so that I could also walk into town. Morning walks were pleasant, while the streets became much louder and busier in the evening.
Sidewalks, traffic lights, and pedestrian crossings are not organized the way I am used to in Vienna, but I adjusted quickly. There is also a noticeable difference between the newer hotel areas and the older parts of the city, where there are more people, shops, traffic, and everyday local life.
How to Get to Hurghada
Hurghada International Airport is well connected to many European cities, as well as several destinations in Turkey and other parts of Western Asia. Many routes are seasonal, so it is best to search using your exact travel dates.
I flew from Vienna with Pegasus Airlines and changed planes in Istanbul. My ticket included 20 kilograms of checked baggage. I booked my return flight from Cairo rather than Hurghada, which allowed me to continue to Giza and the pyramids after seven days on the Red Sea.
The transfer from the airport to the hotel took around 40 to 50 minutes. The hotel was supposed to send a car for us, but the driver did not appear. Luckily, we already had mobile internet through our Nomad eSIM, so we could order an Uber right away. It proved useful before we had even unpacked our suitcases.
I flew from Hurghada to Cairo with Air Cairo. The flight took about one hour, and the ticket cost around €100. Buses are also available, but the journey usually takes about five to six hours. For our itinerary, flying was much more practical.
Airport security and baggage collection were straightforward and well organized.
Where to Stay
Before booking accommodation, check which part of Hurghada the hotel is in. The city is long, and distances between its different areas can be much greater than they appear on a map.
I stayed at Magic Beach Hotel Hurghada in the Dahar area. The hotel was about two kilometers from central El Dahar and the bazaar. It was possible to walk, but short Uber rides cost only a few euros.
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There were shops and restaurants around the hotel. We did not explore many of them because we had an all-inclusive package and ate most of our meals at the hotel.
I would recommend the hotel to travelers looking for a private beach, a reasonable price, and easy access to the city. Daytime activities included aqua gym, yoga, stretching, darts, and other games. In the evening, there was usually music or a program organized by the entertainment team.
The guests included families with children, young couples, and retirees. The location can also suit younger travelers who do not want to spend the entire vacation inside a resort, as El Dahar and other parts of the city are easy to reach by Uber.
How Many Days You Need
The number of days you need depends on whether you are coming mainly for the sea or want to fill every day with excursions.
Three days can be enough for a short break, one boat trip, and an evening walk through the city. Five days leave more time for the beach, El Dahar, and a desert excursion. Seven days allow for a slower pace, swimming, and several different activities.
If you want to combine Hurghada with Luxor, Cairo, or Giza, planning around ten days or more is more practical.
I spent seven days in Hurghada and another four days in Giza. Seven days were enough, although I would gladly have stayed longer. I did not visit Luxor because I did not want every day to be filled with transfers and sightseeing. That is one of the reasons I plan to return.
Things to Do in Hurghada
01 Walk Through El Dahar
El Dahar is the oldest part of Hurghada and the area where everyday local life is most visible. It has the bazaar, smaller shops, busy streets, and far more people than the enclosed hotel complexes.
It becomes loud and crowded in the evening. Shopkeepers will often invite you inside and try to start a conversation, so a completely peaceful walk is not always realistic. Still, nobody followed us, and we never felt threatened.
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02 Visit the Bazaar
The bazaar in El Dahar is a good place to shop for souvenirs, spices, clothes, and all kinds of small items in the evening. Prices are usually not displayed, and the first price a seller gives you may be several times higher than the amount they will eventually accept.
Before buying anything, walk around and compare similar items in several shops. This will give you a better idea of the real price and a stronger starting point for bargaining.
03 See Al Mina Mosque and the Harbor
Al Mina Mosque stands by the sea, close to the harbor, fish market, and marina. Shoes must be removed before entering. Women need to cover their hair, shoulders, arms, and legs. If your clothing does not meet the requirements, long coverings for female visitors can be borrowed near the entrance.
It is best to visit outside prayer times and follow the instructions given by mosque staff.
I did not tour the fish market itself, but I walked through the area, and the smell made it very clear that it was nearby.
04 Walk Around Hurghada Marina
The marina is more polished and calmer than El Dahar. Restaurants, cafés, shops, and moored boats line the area.
Many shops have fixed prices and accept cards, which means you can browse without bargaining or being under constant pressure to buy something. It is a pleasant place for an evening walk, especially after a day at the beach.
05 Visit Sheraton Road
Sheraton Road is one of Hurghada’s best-known and busiest tourist streets. It is lined with shops, pharmacies, restaurants, and souvenir stores. In the evening, it is loud, brightly lit, and full of people.
06 Watch the Sunset and Stars in the Desert
If I could choose only one excursion from Hurghada, I would book the desert stargazing trip again.
The trip began with a drive through the desert. We then walked uphill to a viewpoint for sunset. We watched traditional bread being made, had dinner, and had an opportunity to buy local crafts and teas.
Stargazing began after sunset. The Milky Way, the Big Dipper, the Little Dipper, and other constellations were visible to the naked eye. Venus was also visible that night. Through the telescope, we could see even more detail.
The organizer also offered professional photos under the stars, which we paid for separately.
*I’m not a fan of using animals for tourist activities or bringing them to beaches and similar places. Here, the camels were in their natural desert environment, so it felt okay to me.
Red Sea Boat Trips
Boat trips are among the most popular activities in Hurghada. Offers mention the Giftun Islands, Orange Bay, Mahmya, Hula Hula Beach, classic snorkeling trips, and introductory dives.
Names used in advertisements may describe an organized beach or a type of excursion rather than completely separate islands. Before booking, check how much time you will actually spend on the boat, in the water, and on the beach, as well as what is included in the price.
I chose a trip that included snorkeling and Hula Hula Beach. There were around 15 guests on the boat, so we had plenty of room, although the boat could clearly accommodate many more people.
The photo doesn’t do them justice – the colors were incredible in person.
The trip began with a safety briefing in English and Russian. We had two snorkeling sessions of about 45 minutes each and around two hours at Hula Hula Beach. Equipment, lunch, and drinks were included. At the end, we left the crew an optional tip.
Before we entered the water, we were repeatedly told that we could look at the coral but should not touch or step on it. The crew also followed this rule.
I did not choose a swimming-with-dolphins tour because I do not support activities in which large numbers of boats and swimmers follow wild animals. A dolphin encounter in the wild cannot be guaranteed anyway.
Beaches and Swimming
Hotels and private beach clubs occupy much of Hurghada’s coastline. If your hotel does not have a private beach, check where you can swim and how much day access to nearby beaches costs before booking.
Our hotel beach was sandy. We had to walk for around 100 meters before the water became deep enough for normal swimming. The water level changed during the day, but the sea was pleasantly warm.
The weather was sunny and hot throughout our stay. The breeze did not interfere with swimming or the boat trip. If anything, it made the high temperatures easier to handle.
Water shoes can be useful in places with rocks or coral. I did not use them. I grew up swimming in the Adriatic, where beaches are usually rocky, so apparently we learned early that getting into the sea should involve a little suffering and the occasional sharp stone.
I would also recommend bringing a snorkeling mask. You can observe marine life from ordinary hotel beaches without booking a boat excursion.
Do not touch, step on, or remove coral from the beach, and do not feed marine animals.
What to Eat
Finding vegetarian food in Egypt was not a problem. Many well-known Egyptian dishes are naturally meat-free, although it is still important to ask whether meat stock has been used.
In Hurghada, we ate mainly at the hotel. The buffet included vegetarian dishes and several Egyptian specialties, but the all-inclusive package meant that I did not explore enough restaurants in the city to give honest recommendations.
Some dishes worth looking for include:
- Koshari – rice, pasta, lentils, chickpeas, tomato sauce, and fried onions
- Ful medames – slowly cooked fava beans, usually served with bread, lemon, and spices
- Ta’ameya – Egyptian falafel, usually made from fava beans rather than chickpeas
- Mahshi – vegetables or leaves stuffed with seasoned rice
- Molokhia – a green dish made from jute leaves, often served as a soup or sauce
- Feteer meshaltet – layered pastry that can be savory or sweet
- Baladi bread – traditional Egyptian flatbread
- Baba ghanoush and tahina – dips and side dishes served with bread
- Umm ali – a warm dessert made with milk, pastry, raisins, and nuts
- Basbousa – semolina cake soaked in syrup
- Karkade – a hibiscus drink served hot or cold
I ordered falafel several times. With mahshi and similar dishes, it is still worth asking whether the rice was prepared with meat stock.
At one restaurant in Cairo, I was told that the japrak – stuffed grape leaves, as we call the dish in Bosnia – had been prepared with meat stock.
Fish and seafood are an important part of Hurghada’s food scene, particularly around the harbor and fish market. As a vegetarian, I did not try them and cannot recommend them personally.
Best Time to Visit
Hurghada has a dry, sunny climate for most of the year. The best time to visit depends on whether you want to spend most of your days at the beach or plan longer excursions and sightseeing.
I traveled in September, and every day was sunny. I did not need a light jacket, even in the evening. The sun felt strongest at around two or three in the afternoon, when we were usually already at the beach.
The wind did not bother us. It made the high temperatures easier to handle and did not affect snorkeling or our boat trip.
March, April, October, and November are usually the most comfortable months for combining swimming and excursions. Travelers who handle heat well may also enjoy summer, although desert excursions and long walks through the city require more careful planning.
Getting Around
Hurghada does not have a city transport system with clear maps, marked stops, and published timetables like those found in many European cities.
Local minibuses connect the main parts of the city and are very inexpensive. We did not use them because the stops and routes were not clear enough, the vehicles often appeared crowded, and most did not have air-conditioning.
Uber was the easiest option for us. Short trips around the city generally cost around €2 to €3, while the ride to the airport cost approximately €10. The fare and destination appeared in the app, so there was no need to negotiate with the driver.
Walking is possible within individual areas, particularly El Dahar, Sakkala, and parts of El Mamsha. Hurghada is too spread out, to walk between all parts of the city.
I felt safe while walking. People often approached us to sell something, explain something, or invite us into a shop, but there was no unwanted physical contact, and nobody followed us.
Money and Tipping
Egypt’s currency is the Egyptian pound, shown as EGP, LE, or E£. During my stay in September 2026, €1 was worth approximately 57 Egyptian pounds. Exchange rates can change quickly, so check the current rate shortly before your trip.
During our stay, we exchanged money at an official exchange office. We were asked to show our passports and proof of our Egyptian tourist visas.
The ATM charged a fee of around €3.50 regardless of the amount withdrawn. Fees can depend on the machine and card, so this should be treated as our experience rather than a universal rule.
Cards were accepted at the hotel and in more developed tourist areas such as the marina. Egyptian pounds were more practical in bazaar shops and on Sheraton Road.
Tipping is common in hotels, restaurants, taxis, and on excursions. We usually left around ten percent. For inexpensive Uber rides, we often added approximately one euro because the entire trip cost only €2 or €3.
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We booked most excursions through GetYourGuide and Viator. Prices were displayed in euros in advance, so no additional bargaining was necessary. We booked one excursion directly with a local operator, and everything also went according to plan.
It is useful to carry small banknotes for tips, short rides, and purchases in smaller shops.
Internet and eSIM
We needed mobile internet as soon as we landed in Hurghada. The hotel was supposed to send a taxi, but no driver was waiting at the airport, and nobody answered our messages or calls. Thanks to our internet connection, we could order an Uber and reach the hotel in the middle of the night.
I used a Nomad eSIM, and the signal was generally good in the city. It was not continuously available in the desert and during some remote excursions, but I did not need it there. If you decide to get one, use my code ASIM28FS for $5 off.
The hotel Wi-Fi was very poor. We paid extra for internet in the room, but the connection still did not work properly. For the final three days, I bought an unlimited eSIM package and connected my laptop through a mobile hotspot.
About 5 GB can be enough for a seven-day trip if the hotel has stable Wi-Fi and you mainly use mobile data for maps, messages, reservations, and Uber. You will need more if you plan to work on a laptop, watch videos, or use a hotspot.
Before buying a package, check that your phone supports eSIM and that the plan allows tethering.
Safety
I felt safe during my stay in Hurghada, including while walking outside the hotel. We spent time in the tourist areas of El Dahar, the marina, and Sheraton Road, used Uber, and usually returned to the hotel at around midnight. We went out in the evening, but we did not stay out until the early morning.
The most tiring part was the persistent sales pitches. Invitations to enter shops and attempts to start conversations are common, particularly in the evening. Still, nobody followed us, and we did not experience a seriously uncomfortable situation.
For late returns or unfamiliar areas, I would recommend using Uber. The app shows the route, fare, and driver details.
Do not photograph police, military personnel, government buildings, or sensitive infrastructure. Ask permission before photographing people.
Travel insurance should cover the activities you plan to do, especially diving and other water sports. Check current government travel advice for Egypt shortly before departure.