Best Things to Do in Hurghada

Egypt admin May 20 2024

Hurghada is Egypt’s most well-known beach resort town. And it is home to the country’s best stretches of coastline, its best hotels, and its best diving sites. Hurghada is like a magical breath of fresh air located across the shores of the Red Sea. It has year-long sunshine, incredible beaches, and countless exciting attractions for all ages to explore. Hurghada offers many activities not to be found anywhere else on Earth. Here, we will take a look at some of the top activities to do in town:

1- Enjoy the Beaches

The beaches are always one of the best things to enjoy in Hurghada because, after all, this is a beach resort town. Hurghada grew from being a sleepy little fishing village into a tourist hub on the Red Sea because all along the coast, you can find long stretches of gorgeous white sands. If you’re staying at a resort, then most of the hotels open out onto the beaches, but there are plenty of great public beaches to visit as well.

If you have your vehicle though; then just drive north or south from Hurghada and you’ll be able to find your empty beach without too much trouble. The Most Recommended Beaches in Hurghada include; Sahl HasheeshBeacces, Old Vic Beach, Makadi Bay Beach, Mahmya, Giftun Island Beach, and Beach Albatros Resort.

2- Enjoy the Amazing Snorkeling in Hurghada

If you’re not a qualified diver or just want a more relaxed time on the water; then snorkeling is an awesome way to fully explore the miraculous ecosystem under the sea while swimming between the edge of the heavens above and below. Snorkeling is one of the best things to do in Hurghada. You’ll be impressed by the biodiversity of the Red Sea and the clarity of the water.

In fact, some of the best dive sites are coral reefs which are just a few meters underwater. That means that you can just as easily snorkel them as you can dive them. You can also walk in off the beaches to the shallow reefs, or take a boat ride out to beautiful snorkeling spots such as the Giftun Islands. You will snorkel alongside bright fish and vibrant coral in the protected area.

3- Experience the Giftun Island Cruise

Boarding a cruise to Giftun Island is one of the best things to do in Hurghada. It is a magical chance to swim in the clear crystal waters of the Red Sea and snorkeling opportunities. The island is one of the most beautiful and reclusive diving sites in Hurghada; located just 45 minutes away by boat and holds 80% of the biodiversity of the coral reefs in the Red Sea.

Soaking up the sun and swimming in the crystal-clear waters of the Red Sea is always a good holiday activity; all of which is on offer on this cruise to Giftun Island. Tourists will be collected from their hotels and taken to the port to board a boat bound for the island, on a 45 minute-cruise. Lunch is also served on board, with plenty of free time to explore the surroundings. People can either sit back and soak in the sun or don the snorkeling gear and jump in to swim and snorkel with the fascinating marine life beneath the waves of the Red Sea.

4- Go Scuba Diving

One of the best things to do in Hurghada is Scuba Diving. Indeed, for many tourists, Scuba Diving is the main reason that they come to Hurghada, and many return year after year once they’ve had their first taste of the Red Sea. There is a huge range of dive sites along the coast, making Hurghada perfect for divers of all abilities. It’s a great place to learn too. Many of the resorts have dive schools and swimming pools on-site where you can do the theory and the training before heading out into the open sea. Qualified scuba divers can enjoy two dives, accompanied by an instructor, at sites like Abu Ramada, Small Giftun, or Umm Gamar. Non-divers are welcome to come along and stay on the boat.

5- Enjoy a Sindbad Submarine Tour

If you don’t like to get wet then Hurghada’s Sindbad Submarine offers the opportunity to see some of the Red Sea’s famed underwater sights without getting your feet wet. It is one of Hurghada’s most adventurous experiences. All the submarines are located in the central area of Hurghada’s marina and can take you 22m underwater. Submarine trips take about one hour, and although they don’t go very far offshore where the better coral reefs can be viewed, they provide an opportunity to see the magical world below the sea’s surface and witness the pure beauty, magic, and wonder of the underwater marine life of the Hurghada and witness colored tropical sea creatures of the red sea. You can clearly see, film, and photograph the Red Sea’s marine life through large panoramic windows, and in your swiveling chair, you surely won’t miss a thing!

6- Try Some Watersports

As well as underwater activities, Hurghada is a hot spot for other watersports too. It’s the main focus of the biggest collection of watersports which is designed to put an unforgettable smile on your heart; such as diving, snorkeling, windsurfing, kitesurfing, parasailing, and many others around its magical beaches. At the resorts and the beaches, you can hire out everything from jet skis to banana boats, to add a little bit of excitement to your beach holiday.

7- Visit Hurghada Grand Aquarium

If you want to explore the wonders of the Hurghada Red Sea without the trouble of getting into the water; then you should head to the Hurghada Grand Aquarium. It contains over 1200 individual animals, and 100 species such as green sea turtle, shovel nose guitar shark, nurse shark, stingrays, eagle rays, and more. It is one of Africa’s largest aquariums, Egypt’s largest, and nearly the largest in the Arab world. Visiting Hurghada Grand Aquarium is the best activity in Hurghada where you will get to take a closer look in a very comfortable environment.

8- Visit the Hurghada City Centre and Corniche

Hurghada was only founded at the turn of the 20th century. It only began to be developed as a beach resort destination in more recent decades. That means that there isn’t much in the way of history or traditional tourist sites to be found in Hurghada, but it doesn’t mean that it’s not a lively place to explore. The city center is full of local cafes, shisha bars, and shops. If you head to the Hurghada Corniche and the Marina, you’ll be able to walk uninterrupted along the seafront, with sweeping views over the Red Sea.

9- Shop the Hurghada Markets and Souks

Hurghada is also a great place for shopping, or at least, for souvenir shopping. While the markets aren’t quite as big as those you’ll find in Cairo, they are much easier to navigate here. You can find shops and vendors selling everything from Egyptian headscarves – you will need these if you’re heading into the desert! – to shisha pipes that you can take home with you. Then you can relax in a local cafe, and enjoy fresh juices, or teas and coffees after you’ve made a few purchases.

10- Visit Abdel Moneim Riad Mosque

One of the Islamic things to do in Hurghada is visit the beautiful mosque of Abdel Moneim Riad. This big mosque is an architectural wonder standing tall on its offering everyone the chance to experience the magical connection between the ancient Islamic culture and the daily life of the beach town. The mosque is perfectly located between the main street and the ocean; and contains majestic Islamic architecture and intricate designs such as the great domes, minarets, arches, and carved hallways.

11- The Red Sea Monasteries of St. Anthony and St. Paul

While most people would expect the sights of mighty mosques, Egypt is also home to one of the most beautiful Coptic churches in the world. Some of which Monasteries of St. Anthony and St. Paul located just 45 km from Hurghada dating to the 4th century AD. It is considered by all to be one of the holiest locations of the Coptic culture in Egypt. The Monastery of St. Anthony is a huge complex that is encircled by high walls, including a bakery, chapels a garden, and churches, all celebrating the father of monasticism Saint Anthony. After a hike through the cliffs of the Galala Al-Qibliya Mountain, you will reach St. Paul’s monastery, constructed by hermits who isolated themselves in the desert from the material world.

12- Dive on Shipwrecks

If you’re an advanced diver though then one of the best things to do in Hurghada is to dive the shipwrecks. Due to the strategic location of the Red Sea and its use as a shipping channel, wrecks abound here. The most impressive is the wreck of the Thistlegorm, a supply ship that was sunk during World War II.

13- Experience Camel Rides into the Hurghada Desert

The pure natural atmosphere of the desert is always better explored by riding a camel-like the ancient days. You will get to travel across the essence of the desert and enjoy all the spectacular destinations in the desert like the majestic Bedouin villages and all the natural attractions hidden inside the eastern desert. All of Hurghada’s resorts offer a chance to sample camel riding. All are guided by Bedouin camel men, so you don’t have to stress about skittish camels suddenly shooting off into a gallop, and you can simply sit back and enjoy the views.

14- Take a Desert Safari and a Bedouin Dinner

It’s not just water that Egypt has to offer, as its deserts are equally charming and magical. This organized tour takes brave ones on a 4×4 adventure safari through the missing parts of Egypt; its deserts and oases. Just a one-hour drive by jeep through the desert brings tourists to the starting point of their tour; where they can meet Bedouins and witness the fascinating moment when the sun sets over the Egyptian desert. Also, the most delicious cuisines are waiting in the magical unique eastern desert of Hurghada; where you will also explore the Bedouin lifestyle and culture. After a one-hour drive, you will get your hands on the Bedouin tribe cuisine that will be served gloriously and contains kofta, chicken pie, rice, and more, next to a baked Bedouin bread, followed by a delightful Bedouin tea while watching an oriental show and folkloric songs.

15- Enjoy an Astronomy Tour

Enjoying astronomical nights in Hurghada is one of the charming things to do in Hurghada that can’t be missed. The astronomical night of Hurghada is a miraculous vision that contains infinite stars and galaxies; where the grace of the almighty is shown by billions of light bulbs that spread its light across the majestic shadow of the night. You will get to dine in the core of the eastern desert and witness the wonders of space with a telescope and witness the miraculous cosmic gifts of the universe.