Hurghada

Hurghada is Egypt's premier Red Sea resort town, famous for its superb diving opportunities and accessible underwater reefs perfect for beginners. The town has transformed from a small fishing village into a major tourist destination with over 100 hotels lining the shoreline. Budget travelers from Europe and Russia flock here for all-inclusive deals, while independent visitors appreciate the excellent beaches, diverse dining, and vibrant nightlife scene. The town serves as a convenient base for day trips to Luxor's ancient temples or Cairo's pyramids.

Hurghada International Airport (HRG) handles both domestic and international flights, particularly from airports across Europe. Egyptair uses Terminal 2 while other carriers use Terminal 1. For ground transport, Go Bus Station offers services to Cairo, Luxor, and other destinations with e-tickets available on their website. Super Jet and High Jet bus stations provide additional options to Cairo (6-7 hours, LE380-450), with departures every 2-3 hours around the clock. ABC Taxi offers professional pre-booked service with SMS confirmation—about LE126 for a 30km ride to Hurghada Marina.

Hurghada is divided into several districts: the old town (El Dahar) with cheaper bazaars, the Sekalla high street area, and the newer New Marina and Sheraton Road areas with upscale shops and restaurants. Taxis are the most common way to get around, and haggling is expected. The city stretches along the coast, so distances between areas can be significant. ABC Taxi provides professional service with pre-booked fares, while regular taxis require negotiation on price.

Hurghada has a very dry climate with rare rainfall. Summers (June-August) are extremely hot with daytime temperatures reaching 36-37°C, while nights remain quite warm. Winters (December-February) offer pleasant daytime temperatures of 22-24°C but can be cool at night, especially when the Shamal wind blows from the northeast. Sea temperatures range from 21°C in winter to 28°C in August, making water activities viable year-round. The best time to visit is during spring (March-May) or autumn (September-November) when temperatures are moderate.

Hurghada offers accommodation ranging from budget hotels to luxury all-inclusive resorts. Budget options include Golden Rose Hotel (single from LE177, includes beach access 200m away) and Snafer Hotel (single from LE100, in northern part of town with Sea Sand Resort beach access available for LE50/day). Mid-range options line the Corniche Road area, while upscale properties like Sunrise Holidays Resort, Marriott Beach Resort, and Oberoi Sahl Hasheesh (15km south of downtown) cater to luxury travelers. Large tour operators like TUI and Jaz dominate the resort market with all-inclusive properties.

Hurghada offers diverse cuisine including Syrian, Indian, Thai, seafood, and Lebanese restaurants concentrated along Sheraton Road and the Marina. Budget eating options include Oriental Dish (falafel sandwich LE2.50) and Om Ammar (LE20-60, local dishes including BBQ). Al Mustafa Fish Restaurant serves delicious fish meals for LE30-80. Traditional Egyptian drinks include karkaday (hibiscus infusion, hot or cold), chi (local tea in a glass), yansoon (aniseed tea), ganzabeel (ginger tea), and sahlab (hot pudding drink with orchid-root starch). Sheesha (hookah) bars are common, and alcohol is readily available in hotel bars and clubs—a notable contrast to other parts of Egypt.

Diving is Hurghada's main attraction, with excellent reefs accessible for beginners. Boat trips to Giftun Island offer snorkeling among magical coral gardens with white sand beaches. Desert adventures include quad-biking into the Sahara, tea with Bedouin tribes, camel riding across biblical plains, and motorbike or beach buggy excursions. Water sports include windsurfing, parasailing, jetski, and glass-bottom boat tours. The promenade area offers evening walks with traditional cafes, shopping, and dining, plus bowling and family entertainment. Nightlife is significant with Hard Rock Cafe, Little Buddha, Calypso Disco, and the R&B Club, plus Hed Kandi Beach Bar (world's first) in local hotels.

In 2018, guests at Steigenberger Aqua Magic hotel fell ill due to food safety issues including undercooked food and cleanliness lapses, resulting in two British tourist deaths and Thomas Cook evacuating clients. Gastrointestinal ailments (sickness and diarrhea) are common due to heat combined with inadequate food hygiene—pack travelers should take precautions. Better tourist resorts make efforts for good hygiene, but nothing is certain. Hurghada is generally safe for tourists, though standard precautions against petty theft apply. The intense summer heat requires hydration and sun protection.

Hurghada is considered a budget-friendly Egyptian destination, especially for package holiday travelers. Local buses to Cairo cost LE380-450. Beach entry fees range from LE50 (El Sakia Beach, El Sawaky Beach) to LE100 (Orange Beach). Local meals can be as cheap as LE2.50 for falafel sandwiches, while restaurant meals typically run LE20-80. Budget hotels start around LE100-177/night. Diving excursions start around $35 for two dives with full equipment. Shopping in bazaars requires aggressive haggling—you should aim for 75% off the initial asking price.

Luxor is the most popular day trip destination, though covering the 20-hour round trip in a single day is ambitious. Day trips to Cairo include visits to the Great Pyramids and Sphinx at Giza. These trips are widely offered but tour operators add significant commissions—shop around and search the internet for reviews of reputable operators. Be cautious of people approaching you with trip offers; some are legitimate, others less so. Booking through your hotel tour desk provides some protection if things go wrong, but independent booking may save significant money.

Luxor is the obvious next destination, famous for Karnak Temple and the Valley of the Kings along the Nile. Aswan can be reached via Luxor, and offers weekly ferry service across Lake Nasser to Wadi Halfa in Sudan—the only surface route between Egypt and Sudan. Both cities connect via GoBus services from Hurghada, making overland travel straightforward for those continuing up or down the Nile Valley.