Hotels in Hurghada

Hurghada: Red Sea Coast and Reef Diving

Hurghada sits on Egypt's Red Sea coast, roughly 470 km southeast of Cairo and 85 km south of El Gouna. The city grew from a small fishing village into one of Africa's busiest beach resorts over three decades, driven largely by direct charter flights from Europe. The Giftun Islands National Park, just 8 km offshore, anchors much of the marine activity, protecting coral reefs that host more than 200 fish species.

Where to Stay

Hotels concentrate in three main zones: El Dahar, the older downtown quarter with local markets; Sekalla, the central strip of mid-range and 4-star resorts; and the northern hotel corridor stretching toward Sahl Hasheesh, a purpose-built bay 18 km south. Most large all-inclusive properties occupy private beach strips along the northern highway. Families, European package tourists, and padi-certified divers make up the bulk of visitors year-round, with Russians and Germans forming the largest nationality groups historically.

Practical Tips

• Best months: October to April; summer temperatures regularly exceed 40 °C.
• Getting around: Shared minibuses run along the main coastal road; taxis are metered by negotiation.
• Diving: Padi open-water courses are widely available from around USD 300; the Abu Ramada reef is a popular first dive site.
• Airport: Hurghada International Airport (HRG) receives direct flights from over 40 European cities.