Hurghada, Egypt
Hurghada, Egypt: a Red Sea coastal city known for coral reefs and year-round diving.
Best Time to Visit
October to April
Region
Red Sea
Recommended Duration
3-5 days
Difficulty
Easy
Discover Hurghada, Egypt
Hurghada stretches along Egypt's Red Sea coast, where warm, clear waters and extensive coral reefs have made it one of the world's leading diving and snorkeling destinations. Once a small fishing village, the city has grown into a major Red Sea resort hub while its offshore reefs, islands, and dive sites remain its defining draw. Hurghada offers a coastal counterpoint to Egypt's inland, temple-focused destinations.
Hurghada, Egypt Highlights
Explore the treasures that make Hurghada, Egypt one of Egypt's most captivating destinations.
Giftun Island
Giftun Island, a protected national park 45 minutes off Hurghada's coast, shelters untouched coral reefs and white sand beaches among the clearest waters in Egypt.
SS Thistlegorm Wreck
The SS Thistlegorm, a British WWII cargo ship sunk in 1941, rests 30 meters beneath the Red Sea near Hurghada, its cargo of motorcycles and trucks still remarkably intact.
Dolphin House
Dolphin House, known locally as Shaab El Erg, shelters a resident pod of wild spinner dolphins that gathers each morning in shallow reef waters north of Hurghada.
Mahmya Island
Mahmya Island, a protected stretch of Orange Bay within the Giftun archipelago, offers powder-white sand and shallow turquoise water framed by the open Red Sea.
El Mina Mosque
El Mina Mosque, Hurghada's largest and most photographed Islamic landmark, rises above the marina with twin minarets and a striking white facade overlooking the Red Sea.
Hurghada Grand Aquarium
The Hurghada Grand Aquarium houses Red Sea and international marine species within themed tunnels and tanks, offering an up-close introduction to Egypt's coral reef ecosystem.
Sindbad Submarine
The Sindbad Submarine descends 22 meters into the Red Sea near Hurghada, revealing coral reefs and marine life through observation windows without requiring a dive certification.
Abu Ramada Island
Abu Ramada Island, a protected reef system south of Hurghada known locally as the Aquarium, draws snorkelers and divers to its shallow, exceptionally clear coral gardens.
Careless Reef
Careless Reef, a horseshoe-shaped offshore reef near Hurghada, drops into dramatic coral walls favored by divers for encounters with reef sharks and vivid soft coral formations.
Hurghada Marina
Hurghada Marina, a waterfront promenade lined with private yachts and boutique shops, serves as the city's departure point for Red Sea snorkeling trips and sunset cruises.
El Dahar (Old Hurghada)
El Dahar, Hurghada's original old town, preserves narrow lanes, traditional coffeehouses, and a working local market that predates the city's growth into a Red Sea resort hub.
Hurghada Museum
The Hurghada Museum displays ancient Egyptian artifacts and royal statuary within a modern gallery space, offering a compact cultural counterpoint to the city's marine attractions.
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