Hurghada, Answered: 15 Questions Before You Book

Hurghada, Answered: 15 Questions Before You Book

Hurghada has grown from a fishing village of a few thousand in the 1980s into a Red Sea resort city of 250,000-300,000, spread along 40 km of coastline. That growth means two things: the diving infrastructure is excellent and cheap, and the gap between a well-planned trip and a poorly planned one is wider here than in most beach destinations.

These are the questions worth settling in advance.

Entry and money

Do you need a visa?

Most Western nationalities buy a 30-day single-entry tourist visa for US$25 at a bank kiosk in the arrivals hall — before you reach passport control, and in cash (USD, EUR or GBP; cards are unreliable). The alternative is the official e-visa at visa2egypt.gov.eg, also about $25, applied for at least a week ahead.

One trap: the Sinai visa-exemption stamp applies to Sharm el-Sheikh, not to Hurghada. Different coast, different rule.

What currency should you carry?

The Egyptian pound (EGP) has devalued sharply since 2024, so hotels and excursion operators often quote in USD or EUR while local shops price in pounds. Withdraw EGP from ATMs rather than changing money at the hotel desk — the rate is meaningfully better.

How much tipping is expected?

Baksheesh is woven into daily life. Roughly 10-20 EGP for a porter or washroom attendant, 50-100 EGP a day for a dive guide, 10% in restaurants on top of any service charge.

Break large notes at the hotel. Vendors and drivers genuinely will not have change, and "no change" is a standard way to keep the difference.

Getting around

Is there Uber?

No. Uber and Careem operate in Cairo but not in Hurghada, and taxi meters are effectively decorative.

So how do taxis work?

Agree the fare before you get in, in EGP, with the door still open. Rough rates: short hops within the resort strip 50-150 EGP, downtown to the Marina 100-200 EGP, airport transfer 200-400 EGP. Ask your hotel what the trip should cost, then name that number first. Negotiating on arrival never ends well.

How far is the airport?

Hurghada International (HRG) is 6 km southwest of downtown and 15-40 minutes from most resorts depending on how far south you're staying. It's Egypt's second-busiest airport for charter traffic, and check-in queues can be long — allow extra time.

Diving and the sea

Is Hurghada actually good for diving?

Yes, and it's one of the cheapest places on earth to learn. A four-day PADI Open Water course runs about $350-450. A two-tank day trip is $60-95 including equipment.

The Red Sea holds over 1,200 fish species and around 200 coral types, roughly 10% of them found nowhere else.

Which sites are worth asking for?

The Abu Nuhas wreck cemetery — the Giannis D and the Carnatic — is the signature. Careless Reef is known for its resident moray colony. Small Giftun's drop-offs are the reliable choice when it's windy — we go site by site in our diver's guide to the Red Sea.

What's the single most important dive rule here?

Leave 18-24 hours between your last dive and your flight home. The classic mistake is a last-morning dive before an afternoon departure. Plan your final dive day accordingly — recompression chambers are in Hurghada and El Gouna, and you don't want to test the arrangement.

Also: confirm your travel insurance explicitly covers scuba to the depth you plan to reach. Most standard policies don't.

Can you snorkel instead?

Absolutely, and the Giftun Islands trip is built for it — reef starts a few metres from the beach. Snorkelling before a flight is fine; scuba is not.

Excursions

Should you book through the hotel?

No. Hotel tour desks typically mark up boat trips and safaris by 50-100% over the same operator booked at the Marina or online. A Giftun snorkelling day is around $35-45 direct against $70-90 through a resort concierge.

Check the operator has an actual office, read recent reviews, and for diving confirm the centre is PADI or SSI affiliated with in-date equipment. Booking off-property is the biggest single saving on the list of things to sort before you land.

Which boat trip is best?

The Giftun Islands, 45 minutes offshore — white sand, reef within swimming distance, boats leaving the Marina around 9AM and back by 4-5PM. Expect $35-60 including lunch and snorkel gear, plus a national park fee of roughly $5-10 collected separately in cash.

Book a small boat rather than a 100-person cruiser. The reef stops are far better and you're not queuing to get in the water. Mahmya on Giftun Kebir has the better beach; Orange Bay is busier.

Is the Luxor day trip worth it?

Honestly, it depends on your tolerance. The Valley of the Kings and Karnak sit 280 km inland — a four-hour drive each way, usually a 4AM-to-9PM organised tour for $70-120 including guide and entry to two or three sites.

Karnak's Hypostyle Hall alone justifies a great deal. But it's a punishing day, and if your schedule allows an overnight in Luxor instead, take that. Bring cash in small notes for the extra-ticket tombs like Tutankhamun's, Seti I and Nefertari.

What about the desert safari?

Quad bike, buggy or 4x4 into the dunes behind the city, typically 4-5 hours for $25-50 including a Bedouin camp stop with tea, a short camel ride and dinner. Take the sunset departure rather than midday — it's cooler, and the stargazing afterwards is the actual reason to go. Bring a scarf for the dust and confirm helmets are provided before you pay.

Practicalities

Can you drink the tap water?

No, including for brushing teeth. Bottled is cheap and everywhere, and stomach upsets are the single most common holiday complaint here.

What should you wear?

Bikinis and beachwear are fine on hotel beaches and boats. In El Dahar, the souk and any mosque, cover shoulders and knees — women may want a scarf. Alcohol is served in hotels and licensed restaurants but not generally in town.

During Ramadan, avoid eating, drinking or smoking in public in daylight, and expect reduced opening hours away from the resorts.

When should you go?

March-May and October-November. Air 25-32°C with a warm sea. December-February is cooler and windier; July-August regularly tops 40°C. Sea temperatures range from 22°C in February to 29°C in August.

Is it safe?

The Red Sea resort corridor is generally safe, with heavy routine tourist policing. Check your government's advisory before travelling to remote desert areas. The more realistic hazards are sunburn — the UV index tops 11 in summer — and touching coral, where fire coral and stonefish stings are genuinely serious.

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