EG · Red Sea Governorate · 27.26°N 33.81°E

hurghada

Red Sea reefs, sandy island stops and easy beach days between boat trips.

Best time
April–May and October–November are best for a mix of beach and boat days. July–August is very hot; December–February is sunny but windy, with cooler water.
How long
3–5 days
Getting there
Fly with one stop to Cairo, usually via Dubai, Doha or Istanbul, about 13–16 hours all in, then about 1 hour on to Hurghada. Hotels are anywhere from 15 minutes to over an hour from the airport.
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EG · Red Sea Governoratehurghada27.26°N 33.81°Egowherelah.com
Dear group chat,Red Sea reefs, sandy island stops and easy beach days between boat trips.— gowherelahTo: whoever’s drivingHurghadaEG, Red Sea Governorate
KLhurghada
≈ 7,666 km from KL, as the crow flies
South Hurghada resorts

Photo: Michael Botros · CC BY 4.0

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Photos: Wikimedia Commons, credited on each.

Hurghada is a long strip of Red Sea resorts, with boats and dive centres everywhere. Where you stay matters more than sightseeing, because the town stretches a long way down the coast.

Makan

  1. Grilled fishRed Sea fish with rice, tahini and fresh salad.Map ↗
  2. KoshariRice, macaroni, lentils and tomato sauce, a filling town lunch.Map ↗
  3. Taameya sandwichesFava-bean falafel in bread, an easy breakfast before the boat.Map ↗

Things to do

  1. Giftun IslandsBoat trips to white-sand island beaches and the reefs around them.Map ↗
  2. Reef tripsDay boats out to coral gardens and dive sites beyond the hotel beaches.Map ↗
  3. El DaharThe old town, with produce shops, everyday cafés and a very different feel from the resort strips.Map ↗
  4. Marina promenadeYachts and outdoor tables, for an evening walk after a day at sea.Map ↗

Good to know

  • Snorkel boats vary a lot; the better ones have a guide in the water and life jackets for weaker swimmers.
  • The resorts far south of town can be an hour from the marina and the boats, so pick the area before the hotel.
  • Meat is halal as standard in Egypt, but resorts that cater to Europeans sometimes serve pork, so read the buffet labels.

Last checked October 2026. Things change, so check opening times, fees and transport before you go.