Top-Rated Tourist Attractions in Hurghada
| by Assia A. |
| Last Updated April 13, 2023 |
Hurghada is Egypt’s oldest and most famous resort. While the city has long attracted tourists with its scenic beauty, it also features a lively and busy waterfront featuring the Red Sea world of coral and fish life. This is where you’ll find many of Hurghada’s attractions.
Northern Europeans are the largest segment of Hurghada’s tourist population and they love to escape here. The beaches are sandy & have lots of white sand and the weather is great all year round.
As for what to do in Hurghada, there are plenty of things to choose from such as swimming, surfing, and sunbathing on the beach. There’s also more than one way to enjoy an adventure with the available services including water sports and safari.
Whether you want to plan your vacation or want something new to do with the kids, we’ve got some great activities for everyone. Check out our list of the top tourist attractions in Hurghada!
Hurghada’s Beach Life
The best beachfront location in Hurghada has been snapped up by hundreds of resorts on both ends of the city.
You can still enjoy the same conveniences even if you’re not staying at one of these hotels. Nearly all resorts in the area offer day access to non-guests.
To get the most out of your trip to this amazing destination, it’s important to spend a few nights in one of the resorts in the area. That way you can get a feel for Hurghada’s beach life.
With the white sand and clear, calm water, there’s no denying it – the beaches just south of Sigala are musts for any traveler who is searching for a relaxing time.
If you travel a bit farther south, you get to the area known as Sahl Hasheesh. It is home to some of the Red Sea coastline’s prime pieces of white-sand beach and the best luxury hotels.
Boat Trip to the Giftun Islands
A popular Hurghada excursion is a boat trip to the beautiful islands of the Giftun. The islands are a popular attraction for those who love swimming, sunbathing, and snorkeling. The bays are filled with white sand, which is perfect for soaking up the sun.
For those who aren’t scuba diving enthusiasts, the easily accessible coral reefs in the area surrounding the island shore provide an excellent taster of the Red Sea’s beauty.
During the summertime, when thousands of tourists descend on the islands daily, treat a Giftun Islands trip as an island escape, as the crowds scare off any sea life. During quieter times, while paddling close to shore, you could spot colorful fish flitting through the clear water.
Those not interested in diving for treasure can just claim a palmer beach shelter on the beach and sit back. They can even lay out a picnic, relax and enjoy the sun.
Diving the Sites of the Straits of Gubal
Egypt’s Straits of Gubal, which is a narrow channel of water on the western coast of the Sinai Peninsula, offers divers a wealth of recreational and educational opportunities. Accessible from Hurghada, it is one of the Red Sea’s major diving destinations.
It is popularly known as a wreck diving site and was the home of The Thistlegorm, a WWII cargo ship that Jacques Cousteau rediscovered during his career. This ship has been voted one of the top sites in the world.
The Thistlegorm is easily the Straits of Gubal’s most popular dive site, accessed by liveaboard from Hurghada. For experienced divers, there are plenty of other opportunities to explore, and a wider range of sites further south.
Abu Nuhas in the Straits of Gubal is a popular diving destination that lies within day-trip distance from the resort town of Hurghada. It is home to six separate diving sites, all of which are visited by dive boats.
The main attraction is the wreck of the Carnatic, a British cargo ship sunk in 1869, which is still in extremely good condition, with its skeletal remains home to thriving coral and abundant fish life.
The Greek ship Chrisoula K (also spelled Chios) sank in 1981, and the German Kimon M (sunk in 1978). Both are popular wreck dive sites in the area, with rich marine life, lionfish, triggerfish, and shipwrecks.
Discover the Desert by Jeep or Quad Bike
Hurghada is not all about beautiful beaches and water activities, there are many attractions and things to do onshore, and an entire desert world to explore. In fact, the most popular on-the-ground activity here is quad biking. You’ll find yourself exploring the desert like no other place on earth. Jeep expeditions and dune buggies are a great way to see the desert.
There are plenty of scenic views throughout the Eastern Desert that are worth stopping for. One of them is the acacia-lined “Wadi” valleys in red mountains, which make up most of this region’s landscape.
This desert excursion often includes scenery you wouldn’t even know existed, The Bedouin village and camel ride are some of the most popular activities available to visitors.
Diving at Gota Abu Ramada
One of the best & most intriguing sites in all the gulf is the Gota Abu Ramada. It’s a huge dive site with a breathtaking coral garden and tons of marine life.
If you’re in the Hurghada area and trying to learn how to dive, this is a great place to start. It’s popular with all levels of divers and offers great visibility, easy access, and general diving conditions low key enough not to scare away newbies.
For divers who are more experienced and advanced, the variety of sea life that this site offer is their primary attraction.
Triggerfish, lionfish, and clownfish are always zipping around the ethereal blue waters here, you’ll find yourself diving among them.
Dining at Hurghada Marina
The Hurghada Marina is a great modern addition to Sigala, providing gorgeous views and a variety of amenities. After its opening, it quickly became one of the city’s most popular dining and nightlife destinations.
Head to Hurghada Marina to spend time by the water in the evenings, or sit in one of the chic cafes in the area to enjoy a refreshing tea and sheesha while watching the sunset over the water.
Complete the evening by taking a leisurely stroll along the Red Sea and dining in one of the many restaurants out there, that offer delicious Egyptian or international cuisine, all with stunning views. Being able to grab -even a quick drink- with spectacular views is just as effortless in this dazzling city.
Snorkeling in Hurghada
Many beautiful reefs throughout Hurghada’s coast can’t be explored by most tourists, since they can only be accessed by diving. If diving isn’t for you, that doesn’t mean you can’t enjoy the beautiful coral reefs in Hurghada.
While swimming in Hurghada’s shallow waters might not be as thrilling as diving, it still provides an opportunity to view the colorful coral and marine life up close through snorkeling.
One of the most popular places to visit for snorkeling is the area surrounding the Gifton Islands.
The Gifon Island snorkeling trip would be a great choice for your next vacation. It includes pickup and drop-off from your hotel, as well as a full-day boat trip with lunch. There is also time to relax onboard as well.
Bedouin Dinner Tour
When you want to get the most out of your trip to the Egyptian coastal city, a Bedouin dinner tour is a great way to do so! It is a popular tourist attraction offered by several resorts.
If you’re a traveler who likes to enjoy food from different countries, this is a must-do. You’ll be able to enjoy authentic Egyptian dishes in their most basic form.
Many tours that include a camel ride are set in the desert to explore the unique landscapes of the area. Stopping by Bedouin settlements to enjoy local and authentic flavors, while resting on colorful cushions in a traditional Bedouin tent setting. This experience is guaranteed to provide you with some amazing memories.
Going Below on the Sindbad Submarine
Sindbad Submarine is an amazing submarine tour that offers tourists in Hurghada the chance of getting a glimpse of the Red Sea’s famous underwater sights without getting their feet wet. This tourist submarine is the only one operating in the area
Submarine tours are a fun way to get to see the amazing sights below the sea’s surface. Most of the tours will be spent in air-conditioned comfort on the vessel’s decks, but you’ll get to see the amazing coral reefs, and the wonders of the Red Sea, and learn about the underwater life and scenery in this fascinating setting along the way.
A Camel Ride into the Desert
The resorts in Hurghada offer camel riding activities for tourists aiming to have fun trying different things. Whether you want to go for a short walk on the beach or look for a longer one- or two-hour ride into the desert, all of the hotels in Hurghada offer a chance to experience the gentle ride of the camel.
The long trip can be a great option for those who want to experience the desert. There are many things to see along the way, from Bedouin settlements to the craggy mountains that back up the Red Sea coast. The Bedouin settlements offer travelers a chance for a quick stop en route to the desert’s natural sights. You can even enjoy the Red Sea Coast’s Mountain panoramic scenes of the region from the high seats.
A group of camel men will guide you and keep you on track as you explore the desert! watching the sunset while eating great food and getting to know the locals and their cultures.
Astronomical Nights Tour in Hurghada
Some of the most popular attractions in Hurghada are the astronomical night tours, where you can enjoy watching the stars of your dreams in the dark desert sky of the Red Sea. For stargazing enthusiasts, this is an amazing sight to behold.
Take trips outside the city after dark and make a night out of it. You’ll want to make sure you have a telescope with you to look up into the wonders of the night sky.
With the incredible clarity of the skies in this part of the world, tourists will have the best chances to witness the full beauty of the stars, which makes it the perfect destination for stargazing.
Hurghada Aquarium
If you have seen something while snorkeling or diving, the Hurghada Aquarium in Ad-Dahar can help you identify what it is.
The aquarium at Hurghada’s resort zone is the only decent display of marine life in the entire Red Sea region. It has a large collection of fish that exists in no other place.
For non-swimmers, this can be a good opportunity to see the many different types of fish life found in the Red Sea. However, to see these fish up close in their natural habitats, you might want to purchase a ticket aboard the Sindbad submarine.
Tours & Excursions in Hurghada
Visa & Health Requirements
Please make sure you check all the information you need to know about the passport, visa, and health requirements of your destination.
Check out all the data provided by IATA (International Air Transport Association)
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