Hurghada travel guide: what to do, day by day
A week in Hurghada swings between three worlds: the Red Sea, with its islands and reefs; the Eastern Desert, right behind the town; and the town itself, from the old El Dahar quarter to the Marina. Add evenings that start late, El Gouna half an hour to the north, and Luxor within reach of one long day.
In town: the Marina, El Dahar, the souk, El Mina mosque
The Marina for its quays, yachts and terraces; El Dahar, in the north, for the old town, the souk and the fish market; and the great El Mina mosque by the sea, admired from outside or visited in covering clothes outside prayer times.
El Dahar is the Hurghada locals live in: bakeries where baladi bread comes out warm, spice shops, cafés with backgammon boards clacking. Visit the souk in the late afternoon, once the heat drops. Haggling with a smile is part of the game. Sakkala, in the middle, links it all up with shops and restaurants. The Marina comes into its own at night. The El Mina mosque and the perfume shops are just below.
Culture and shopping: El Mina mosque, perfumes and oils
El Mina mosque, facing the sea, is the largest in the Red Sea Governorate: opened in 2012, it welcomes visitors outside prayer times in covering clothes, while Sheraton Road lines up shops selling perfumes, natural oils and spices.
El Mina mosque
Sand-coloured, set by the water with its two minarets and ring of domes, El Mina Masjid stands out from far away as you follow the coast towards El Dahar. Opened in 2012, it's the largest mosque in the Red Sea Governorate, with room for several thousand worshippers.
Non-Muslim visitors are welcome during the day, outside prayer times. Arms and legs covered; for women, a scarf over the hair. Forgot? No worries, abayas are available for women at the entrance. Shoes off before going in, voices low.
Best moment? Late afternoon, when the stone turns golden and the sea goes deep blue in front of the minarets. Best angle? From the water, on the way back from a boat trip. Carry on to the El Mina fish market next door for a grilled fish dinner.
Perfumes, oils and souvenirs on Sheraton Road
Egypt has a long history with perfume, and Hurghada keeps a lovely shop window for it: the perfume and oil shops of Sheraton Road. You walk in to smell, and often walk out with a small bottle blended on the spot. Lotus Hurghada Perfumes and Oils, for example, sells natural oils and perfumes, plus spices, ground Arabic coffee and papyrus.
The ritual never changes. A few essences dabbed on your wrist, some help finding the one that suits you, then the bottle gets filled. Take your time, that's the fun of it. And as in the souk, the price is discussed with a smile. It's the ideal souvenir: light in the suitcase, and it smells of Hurghada every time you open it.
At sea
The Giftun islands (Orange Bay, Paradise, Mahmya) by boat, wild dolphins offshore, White Island by speedboat, reef snorkelling, a first scuba dive, or the Seascope to see coral without getting wet.
Trips start from €15 (Seascope) or €25 (islands, dolphins), partner prices confirmed on WhatsApp.
In the desert
A quad or buggy safari out to a Bedouin village, with dinner and a show, and the horse ride that ends by the sea at sunset: both from €25 with our partner.
In the evening
The Marina for dinner and drinks on the quays, El Mamsha for bars and karaoke, clubs after 11pm, and El Gouna for a calmer night around Abu Tig Marina; Hurghada goes out late, with dinner around 9pm.
A Marina secret: the private rooftop above the quays, with the yachts at your feet and the El Mina minarets on the horizon. It isn't advertised and you can't just walk in: access is on request, through us. For a sunset drink above the yachts, a birthday or the first night of a hen do, message us on WhatsApp and we'll tell you how and which evening.
With kids
Paradise Island for its lagoon where you can stand, the Seascope to see fish without getting in, Dolphin World for the show, the Hurghada Grand Aquarium, and a horse ride at a walk; full 8am to 4pm sea days suit children over six or seven better.
With little ones, think half-days. The Seascope and Dolphin World fit into a few hours, transfer included, and leave the afternoon for the pool and a nap. A life jacket for toddlers on boats, a cap, and sun cream after every swim.
Month by month
From October to April everything works, with the sea between 22 and 27°C and mild afternoons; from June to September the heat sends you to sea in the morning and the desert in the evening, and November and March are two very balanced, often overlooked months.
| Period | Afternoon air | Sea | What works best |
|---|---|---|---|
| January, February | 21 to 23°C | 22 to 23°C | Luxor, Cairo, desert, snorkelling in neoprene |
| March, April | 25 to 29°C | 22 to 23°C | everything, with a jumper at night |
| May | 32°C | 24°C | islands and diving |
| June to September | 34 to 36°C | 26 to 28°C | sea in the morning, desert in the evening |
| October | 31°C | 27°C | everything, the best balance |
| November | 27°C | 26°C | islands, dolphins, desert |
| December | 23°C | 24°C | desert, horses, Luxor |
3 days, 5 days, a week: sample itineraries
In three days, one island and the desert; in five, add the dolphins and El Gouna; in a week, there's time for Luxor, a spa and a day of doing nothing at all.
3 days
- Day 1: Orange Bay or Paradise Island.
- Day 2: free morning, sunset quad safari.
- Day 3: El Dahar, the souk and El Mina mosque in the morning, perfumes on Sheraton Road, the Marina at night.
5 days
- Day 1: Orange Bay.
- Day 2: wild dolphins.
- Day 3: spa in the late afternoon, evening at the Marina.
- Day 4: quad safari and Bedouin dinner.
- Day 5: El Gouna.
One week
- Day 1: arrival, the Marina.
- Day 2: Orange Bay, then the spa.
- Day 3: dolphins, then El Gouna.
- Day 4: Paradise Island, then a sunset horse ride.
- Day 5: quad safari.
- Day 6: Luxor (or the speedboat to stay at sea).
- Day 7: beach club and parasailing.
Sources: Weather Spark (averages) · Tripadvisor (El Mina Masjid, Lotus Hurghada Perfumes and Oils) · cairotoptours.com and landioustravel.com (El Mina mosque: opening date, capacity, visits)