Hurghada is a resort city on Egypt's Red Sea coast and the capital of the Red Sea Governorate, known for coral reefs, reliable sunshine and long beaches. It was officially established in 1905, became an oil town after oil was found nearby in 1913, and grew into a major holiday destination once Egyptian and foreign investment arrived in the 1980s. About 214,000 people lived there in 2023, and its airport is the second busiest in Egypt after Cairo's.
Most visitors come for the sea: water that is clear and calm for much of the year, reefs a short boat ride away and the protected Giftun Islands offshore. Behind the coast rise the mountains of the Eastern Desert, and the temples of Luxor in the Nile Valley can be reached on a long day trip. Hurghada suits divers, snorkellers, families and winter-sun travellers. Vacation rentals range from apartments in the city districts and along the seafront to villas in El Gouna, a lagoon town to the north, and in the bay resorts of Sahl Hasheesh and Makadi Bay to the south.
El Dahar, the old centre in the north of the city, is the most local part of Hurghada, with its souq, fish market and busy everyday streets. Apartments here suit longer stays and travellers who want city life rather than a resort. Sakkala (also spelled Sakala), the former port area to the south, is the busiest district, its main road lined with hotels, shops and restaurants and the marina close by.
Further south, El Mamsha, the long seafront promenade, is where many of the newer hotels, restaurants and shops have opened, a good choice for a beach stay that keeps the city within reach. About 20 km north of Hurghada, El Gouna is a planned town of lagoons and islands that suits water-sports fans and families who like a self-contained place. To the south, Sahl Hasheesh, about 18 km away, and Makadi Bay, about 30 km away, are bays of resort developments and holiday homes for quieter beach time.
Hurghada's waters are clear and calm for most of the year, which has made the city a long-standing centre for diving and snorkelling. Reefs fringe the shore and the offshore islands, and boat trips head out to coral gardens and to wrecks lying on the seabed.
The Giftun Islands lie a short boat ride from the city: Giftun Kebir, or Big Giftun, to the west, and Giftun Soraya, or Little Giftun, further east. The larger island is protected, and much of Hurghada's diving takes place around it.
The reefs are fragile, and studies have recorded a serious decline in Hurghada's corals over recent decades, linked to pollution, sewage, dredging and oil spills. Never stand on or touch coral, avoid feeding fish, and follow the instructions of boat crews and park rangers.
Hurghada has more to it than its beaches. The Hurghada Museum, opened in 2020 as the first antiquities museum in the Red Sea Governorate, displays around 2,000 objects from Pharaonic, Roman, Coptic and Islamic Egypt, a good introduction for visitors who will not reach the Nile Valley.
In El Dahar, the souq is the place to browse spices, herbs, fabrics and household goods and to see the city as residents live it. Near the port, El Mina Mosque, with its two minarets about 40 m tall, stands out on the skyline, and the marina in Sakkala is a popular place for an evening walk.
On the water, glass-bottom boats and semi-submarines let non-swimmers see the reef. Inland, guided trips by four-wheel drive head into the mountains and wadis of the Eastern Desert, often timed for sunset and the cooler evening air.
Hurghada began as a small settlement of Bedouin who fished and harvested pearls around the area now called Sakkala. The town was officially established in 1905, and oil was discovered nearby in 1913, with production and exports beginning in 1921. In the late 1920s a marine biology station was founded here; it survives today as the National Institute of Oceanography and Fisheries, a sign of how early the Red Sea reefs drew scientists.
Tourism started modestly in the mid-20th century, and from the 1980s Egyptian and foreign investment turned the small town into a resort city stretching for kilometres along the coast. Many people moved here from other parts of Egypt to work in tourism. Arabic is the language of daily life. As in the rest of Egypt, most residents are Muslim, and the city also has Coptic Orthodox churches, among them the Church of Saint Shenouda.
El Gouna, about 20 km north of Hurghada, was founded in 1990 as a privately developed town built across some 20 islands surrounded by lagoons, with about 10 km of coastline. Its marina, walkable centre and sheltered lagoon beaches make an easy day out, and since 2017 it has hosted an annual film festival.
South of the city, Sahl Hasheesh and Makadi Bay are calm bays lined with resort beaches, and Soma Bay lies about 45 km south. Safaga, a working port town about 60 km south, sits at the start of the road that crosses the desert towards the Nile.
That road leads via Qena to Luxor, the site of ancient Thebes, with its temples and the tombs of the Valley of the Kings. It makes a long day trip, and the road has many curves, so travel in daylight with an experienced driver or spend a night in Luxor.
Hurghada International Airport (HRG) lies inland, about 5 km south-west of El Dahar, the city centre. It is Egypt's second-busiest airport, with flights from Cairo and many European cities, and most of the city is a short drive away. By road, Cairo is about 455 km to the north-west via the Hurghada–Sokhna road.
Most foreign visitors need a visa. Many nationalities can get one online through Egypt's official e-visa portal or on arrival at the airport, but the rules depend on your passport, so check official sources before you travel.
Hurghada stretches for many kilometres along the coast, so taxis and pre-arranged transfers are the easiest way to move between districts and to reach El Gouna, Sahl Hasheesh or Makadi Bay. If a taxi has no meter, agree on the fare before setting off.
Hurghada has a hot desert climate with very little rain and more than 3,500 hours of sunshine a year. Winter days are mild, with average highs around 22°C in January, but nights can fall to about 12°C, so pack a warm layer for evenings on the water. In July and August average highs reach about 37°C.
The sea follows the seasons more gently: it is coolest, around 21°C, in February and March and warmest, about 28°C, in August. Spring and autumn bring warm days and comfortable sea temperatures without the peak summer heat, and they suit desert trips as well as the beach. Winter is popular with travellers escaping colder climates, and summer suits those who enjoy heat and the warmest water. In any season, use strong sun protection, drink plenty of water and seek shade at midday.
Sakkala is the busiest area, close to the marina, shops and restaurants; El Mamsha suits a seafront stay among newer hotels and apartments; El Dahar is the older, more local centre. For a self-contained lagoon town choose El Gouna to the north, and for quiet resort bays, Sahl Hasheesh or Makadi Bay to the south.
Hurghada is sunny all year. Spring and autumn are warm without the heat of July and August, when average highs reach about 37°C. Winter suits sun-seekers, with January highs around 22°C, though evenings are cool and the sea drops to about 21 to 22°C.
Hurghada International Airport (HRG) lies about 5 km south-west of El Dahar, the city centre, so most districts are a short taxi ride away. El Gouna is about 25 km from the airport, and Makadi Bay is roughly 30 km south of Hurghada.
Yes. Reefs fringe much of the coast and the offshore islands, and the water is clear and calm for most of the year. Boat trips to the Giftun Islands are popular. Protect the reef by never standing on or touching coral, and follow the instructions of boat crews and rangers.
Yes, but it is a long day. Luxor lies in the Nile Valley on the far side of the Eastern Desert, reached by road via Safaga and Qena. The road has many curves, so travel in daylight with an experienced driver, or stay a night in Luxor to see the temples without rushing.
Most foreign visitors to Egypt need a visa. Many nationalities can apply online through Egypt's official e-visa portal or obtain a visa on arrival at the airport. Requirements depend on your passport and can change, so check the official portal or your government's travel advice before you travel.
Egypt uses the Egyptian pound (EGP). Cards are accepted in many hotels, larger restaurants and shops in tourist areas, but carry some cash in pounds for taxis, markets, tips and small purchases, especially in the souq of El Dahar.
A week is a common length: several days on the beach, a boat trip to the Giftun Islands, an afternoon in El Gouna and an excursion into the desert or to Luxor. Divers often stay longer to explore more reefs and wrecks.
Researched and written with AI assistance, then fact-checked against the sources below. Last checked .