Everyone’s Kind of Happy Place - It’s Hurghada
Once a sleepy fishing village, Hurghada is now considered one of Egypt’s favourite holiday resorts. Located on the western side of the country’s Red Sea Riviera, this resort town invites visitors of all ages to enjoy its beautiful beaches, delicious dining, and abundant scuba diving opportunities. You’ll find that any time is a good time to visit - the sun makes a seemingly daily appearance here. If low prices are a must, January to March and November to December are likely your best bet.
Accommodation Options in Hurghada
There’s a decent selection of accommodation options in this Red Sea town. Many guests like to stay in one of the town’s hotels and all-inclusive resorts, most of which are situated on the waterfront and come complete with amenities such as spas and casinos. Many of these sea-facing properties have a four or five-star rating and some even have their own extensive waterparks. Staying in an upmarket hotel or lavish resort is not your only option, though. Budget-conscious guests can cut the cost of their stay in Hurghada by bedding down in one of the town’s hostels. These are not especially numerous but there are one or two that attract decent reviews. If you prefer an authentic experience, one of the town’s traditional Egyptian guesthouses may fit the bill perfectly.
Find Your Perfect Spot in the Sand
One of the biggest appeals of Hurghada is its beaches. If you’re staying in a hotel or resort, you’ll likely find that its amenities include a stretch of private beach but, if not, you have a couple of options available to you. The town’s public beaches run for around 12 miles along the shoreline although they can get pretty crowded. If you prefer a little more space, most of the hotels in the town offer a day pass option which allows you to access the facilities in the hotel as well as enjoy its private beach. Guest reviews over the past decade consistently rate Old Vic Village Beach and the nearby Elysees Dream Beach highly. If you don’t mind travelling a little further afield, the beaches at Soma Bay and Mahmya are well worth the trip.
Enjoy a Spot of Scuba Diving
Of course, lazing on the sand is not everyone’s cup of tea. Many visitors to this area come purely for the exceptional scuba diving on offer. Even if you don’t fancy going too far out, there are some beautiful reefs to enjoy just off-shore as well as local dive sites such as the El Mina wreck and the waters around the nearby Giftun Islands. Incidentally, if you’re new to diving, these local sites are a great place to learn and gain your open water certification. Experienced divers often use Hurghada as a launchpad for liveaboard trips to Southern Red Sea dive sites such as Elphinstone Reef, Rosalie Moller Wreck, and the Ras Mohammed Marine Park.
Squeeze in a Little Sightseeing
Tourists are somewhat spoiled in Hurghada. For starters, non-swimmers needn’t miss out on the area’s abundant underwater attractions. The tourist submarine, the only vessel of its kind in the Red Sea, offers the chance to head beneath the waves for a glimpse of the coral and fish life. If you’d prefer to stay out of the water entirely, Hurghada Aquarium in Ad-Dahar provides an opportunity to see some of the Red Sea’s marine life up close. On-the-ground attractions are also prevalent. Some of the most popular activities include jeep expeditions, quad biking, and dune buggying trips to the hinterland. Enjoying a camel ride is also a must. These are readily available on the beach although more adventurous guests can head out on a longer trip to one of the area’s Bedouin settlements.
Retail therapy and dining delights
Souvenirs hunters will delight at the tempting treats that await them in this Egyptian resort town. Traditionalists can spend time at the old town of El Daha where authentic bazaars sell shisha pipes and Papyrus. And if you want to test your haggling skills, best offers made respectfully will usually be most welcome in the stalls that dot the streets of the downtown district. For fixed prices and upmarket goods, your best bet is to head to Senzo Mall or Hurghada Marina, the latter the central focus of the Sigala district and home to some of the town’s most popular dining destinations. Don’t miss the chance to savour dinner while soaking up the views of bobbing luxury yachts in the marina.
