El Gouna, the lagoon town near Hurghada
El Gouna is a Red Sea resort town built on a network of lagoons and some twenty islands, north of Hurghada. It's about 27 km and half an hour by road from the centre, 40 km from the airport. People come for Abu Tig Marina, the canals, the car-free centre and the wind that draws kitesurfers. Day visitors need an entry authorisation, requested the day before.
Where El Gouna is and how far from Hurghada
On the Red Sea coast, north of Hurghada along the coast road: about 27 km from the centre (half an hour) and 40 km from the airport (40 to 45 minutes), according to our OSRM reading.
On a map it's easy to spot: a string of islets and channels laid along the edge of the desert, breaking up the straight Hurghada coastline.
Why it's called the "Venice of the Red Sea"
Because water is everywhere: the town was built around lagoons, its districts spread over about twenty islands joined by bridges, and many houses sit right on the water.
The comparison stops there. No palaces, no gondolas: low-rise buildings, ochre, yellow and pink facades, domes and arches that echo Nubia. The town is recent and planned in one go, which gives it a very neat look. Fans of slightly chaotic towns may find it too tidy; anyone after a calm break will love it.
Small boats run lagoon tours that pass under the bridges. A simple walk along the quays also explains the nickname.
A modern, very chic little town
El Gouna is the chic side of the Red Sea: a private, recent town, groomed down to the flower boxes, with a yacht marina, terraces along the canals and a crowd that comes to slow down; think Saint-Tropez, with ochre domes and turquoise lagoons.
What strikes you on arrival is how well kept it all is. Clean streets, freshly painted facades, and Abu Tig's quays lined with boats people happily photograph. In the evening you dress up a little. Nothing formal, just as you would for dinner in town.
Food-wise, El Gouna plays in another league. World cuisine, catch of the day, Egyptian classics, a simple terrace or a proper chef's table: every style has its address, and chefs care about the plate as much as the decor. It's the foodie outing of the week.
Prices follow, a notch above Hurghada. El Gouna is a private town, looked after like a residence: you also pay for the setting, and most visitors find it well worth it.
What to do in El Gouna in a day
The centre (Downtown, or El Balad) and its lanes while it's hot, then Abu Tig Marina as the light drops, and a drink by the water at sunset: everything is on foot.
The order that works: start in the centre, wandering in the shade of the lanes and shops, then drift down to Abu Tig as the terraces fill up and the yachts light up. An ice cream, a coffee, dinner if you're hungry, and no rush at all. For photos, the bridges over the canals and the colourful facades of the centre are the easiest spots.
Kitesurfing and beaches
El Gouna is a well-known kitesurfing spot thanks to the north wind sweeping this stretch of coast, averaging around 18 to 23 km/h depending on the month, with schools and beach bars mostly in the north of town.
Even if you don't ride, watching the colourful kites skim across the lagoon easily fills half an hour. Beginners will find lessons and shallow water; ask the schools directly about prices and levels.
Restaurants and evenings at Abu Tig Marina
In the evening, everything happens around Abu Tig Marina, where restaurants and bars follow one another along the water; the town's official site mentions, for example, Breeze for dinner and Pier 88 for late nights (August 2026 article).
The mood is calmer than in Hurghada. Dinner is late, you linger on the quays, and you head home with a driver booked in advance: the smart move for an El Gouna evening.
The El Gouna Film Festival
Every autumn, El Gouna hosts its film festival: the 2026 edition runs from 15 to 23 October, according to Cairo Scene, when the town is livelier and tables need booking earlier.
How to get to El Gouna from Hurghada
By private driver or by app (Uber, Careem), half an hour from the centre; for an evening, book the outward and return trips before you leave, and the driver picks you up at the agreed time.
Entering El Gouna: we handle the authorisation
To enter El Gouna without staying there, you need an authorisation requested the day before, by 2pm or 3pm, with a photo of your ID; the restaurant, beach club or activity you're visiting arranges it, or, even simpler, send us the photo on WhatsApp and we sort everything.
How does it work? You pick your plan (dinner at Abu Tig, a beach club, a kite lesson), send us a photo of the passport or ID card of everyone in the group, and we make the request with the venue. Only people whose ID has been sent can go in, so remember everyone, including the friend who decided to join at the last minute.
At the gate, security checks your name in their system. On the day, just carry your passport or ID card.
Good to know: during the busiest periods (Eid, Easter, Christmas, New Year, the film festival in October), access for outside visitors is more tightly managed. If your trip falls on those dates, message us as early as you can and we'll tell you what's possible and book accordingly.
El Gouna or Hurghada to stay?
Hurghada for a lively week close to the excursion harbours and the nightlife; El Gouna for calm and setting, even if it means a car ride for each sea or desert trip.
FAQ
Do you need a passport to enter El Gouna?
You need ID, a passport or a national ID card, and an authorisation requested the day before, by 2pm or 3pm. The photo of your ID is sent ahead by the restaurant, beach club or activity hosting you, or by us on WhatsApp. Carry the original on the day of your visit.
Who requests the authorisation?
The venue welcoming you, based on your booking. You can also leave it all to us: send a photo of each person's ID on WhatsApp and we handle the request and the booking.
Can you go to El Gouna the same day?
Rarely: the request is made the day before. Let us know at least one day ahead, ideally two or three during school holidays and festivals.
What if you're staying in El Gouna?
Your hotel or rental registers you: the authorisation comes with your stay.
Sources: Wikipedia and Wikivoyage (El Gouna) · elgouna.com (bars, August 2026) · Cairo Scene (2026 festival) · OSRM reading of 23/09/2026 · Weather Spark (wind) · sickdogsurf.com ("How to enter El Gouna", April 2026) · Tripadvisor El Gouna forum (entry for non-residents, 2026)