Best Places to Visit in Hurghada
People often ask me why I keep coming back to Hurghada, and I never have a short answer. It is not just the diving, though the diving is world class. It is the way this city stacks a genuine desert adventure, a living waterfront and some of the best reefs on earth into one easy holiday. I have spent weeks here across several trips, and these are the places I would never skip. Whatever kind of holiday you want, from lazy pool days to hard core scuba trips, this stretch of the Red Sea has it in reach.
Giftun Island National Park
Giftun is the classic Red Sea day trip, and it earns the hype. A short boat ride from the marina takes you to white sand beaches and water so clear it looks like a pool. The snorkelling along the drop off is superb, with parrotfish, turtles and the occasional reef shark gliding past. I like to take an early boat because the afternoon wind picks up and the beach gets busy. Bring your own mask if you can, the rentals are tired, and you will want a good seal for the clearest water you will ever see.
The Old Town and Fish Market
Away from the resort strip, the old town around El Dahar gives you real Egyptian life. The fish market is the highlight, best visited in the morning when the boats come in. I watched fishermen haul in red snapper and grouper while seagulls argued overhead. Next door there are tiny eateries where you pick your fish and they grill it for you. It is easily the most memorable meal I have had in the city, and far better value than the seafront restaurants. Go with an appetite and a light sense of adventure.
Marina and the Waterfront Evening Walk
For a calmer version of the same idea, the Marina promenade is where locals and visitors mix in the evening. Yachts bob at anchor, kids chase one another along the boards and a parade of restaurants and ice cream stands lines the way. I find the walk along the boats at sunset one of the most peaceful things to do in the whole city. It is where you should come when you want to slow down and feel the sea breeze without navigating the busier resort strip.
The Desert and Bedouin Camps
Hurghada sits on the edge of the Eastern Desert, and that is a short drive away from one of Egypt’s great adventures. On trips into the sand you can ride a quad bike or camel, watch the sun sink behind the dunes, then share a Bedouin dinner under a sky thick with stars. I did this on my first night and it set the tone for everything else. The silence out there, with the city glow just a haze on the horizon, is something you feel more than see, and it is worth every bump of the jeep ride to get it.
Scuba Diving at the Offshore Reefs
The real reason most people come is the reef, and the best of it sits offshore. Sites like the Salem Express wreck, the Dolphin House and the islands of Abu Ramada and El Fanous are reachable on dive boats from the marina. Expect table corals, dramatic walls and schools so dense they block the light. My favourite moment was drifting over a field of brain coral with a current so gentle I barely moved a fin. Whether you hold an advanced card or a first timer license, the range of sites here suits every level.
Practical tips for your stay
A few things I learned the hard way. Carry cash for markets and tuk tuks, because card terminals are rare off the main strip. Drink the water only from sealed bottles, and skip the ice unless you trust the place. And push through the touts calmly, a polite no repeated twice works every time and a smile keeps it friendly. The resort strip is clean and safe, so relax there, but step into the old town with your wits about you and you will be richly rewarded.
When to go and what to carry
The best months for exploring Hurghada stretch from spring into autumn, when the water is warm enough for long swims and the evenings stay comfortable. If your aim is the desert trips, winter is genuinely pleasant too, since the daylight hours stay mild and the dunes are far easier to walk in low heat. Whichever season you choose, pack reef safe sunscreen, a good hat and light long sleeved clothing for the evening breeze off the water. A spare pair of swim goggles and a dry bag for phones will earn their weight, and comfortable shoes matter more than you think when you wander the old town markets.
Hurghada rewards visitors who leave the pool deck. Between the reef, the desert and that fish market, you could spend two weeks here and never repeat a day. That is exactly what I plan to do next time, and I hope you give it the same chance.
