Hurghada has developed from a small fishing village into Egypt's most popular seaside resort. It has superb beaches, great diving, and is a good choice for those who want to combine a beach vacation with visits to Egypt's famous archaeological sites.
Hurghada is a great place to try out all sorts of watersports, from scuba diving and snorkeling to parasailing and windsurfing.
Hurghada doesn't just offer fun in the sea. You can try quad biking in the Sahara, camel riding, and BBQ with local Bedouins.
Get to know your surroundings with a tour of Hurghada City, taking in the bazaars, Big Mosque, port area, and the Church of St. Mary.
Take a trip on a glass-bottomed boat to see the fabulous reefs and tropical fish, or explore the uninhabited islands of Big and Little Gifton.
Hurghada offers lots of opportunities to try the local specialties like the hibiscus drink of karkaday, sheesha, or a refreshing chai.
Hurghada has a subtropical desert climate with hot summers and warm winters. November-February are good months for those who prefer milder weather.
The city is served by Hurghada International Airport (HRG), which has international connections with Europe and the Middle East and domestic services from Cairo and Sharm el-Sheikh. A taxi into town will cost around E£30 or you can take a minibus from E£5.
Route 65 is the main highway into Hurghada from Cairo. The road is long and straight and the trip takes around seven hours, but driving conditions can be challenging for foreign visitors.
Hurghada has regular bus services from Cairo, Alexandria, Luxor, and Aswan. The trip from Cairo takes around seven hours and costs from E£100.
The Triton Empire Inn on Hospital & Sayed Korrayem St has modern rooms and excellent pools and amenities on the beach. The Dana Beach Resort on Sahl Hasheesh Road is another quality resort hotel, popular with visitors.
Sahl Hasheesh - this is located on a pretty bay with lots of islands, an artificial reef, good beaches, and plenty of hotels.
Dahar - this is old center of the town and has a number of interesting markets offering fish and local products.
Scaffold District - this is the area around the old port, which is the center for clubs, restaurants, and shopping.
Hurghada does not have any official public transport but a fleet of white minivans will take you almost anywhere for E£2.
Taxis in Hurghada are poorly regulated and meters can be unreliable. It is best to agree upon the fare with the driver before your journey begins and have the correct money ready. A typical trip across town will cost E£10-E£20.
Roads in Hurghada are modern and well surfaced but driving habits can be unpredictable. Car rental is from E£550.
Sekalla High Street and the bazaars of el Dahar are where to look for local goods and souvenirs, while the New Marina has more international brands.
A quart of milk in Hurghada costs E£11 and a loaf of bread is E£2.50.
The Nubian Cafe on the Hurghada Marina Promenade offers Egyptian cuisine such as tagens, with mains from E£25. White Elephant has Thai dishes, again on the Promenade, with mains from E£60.