Hotels in Hurghada

Verified by Pablo Montes Rincón
from the blog Viaje con Pablo

Hurghada is one of the main tourist resorts along the coastline of the Red Sea in Egypt. Originally a small fishing village, the area has been developed into a modern holiday resort that stretches for about 40 kilometres along the shoreline. It’s quite a narrow settlement not stretching very far into the desert.

Hurghada is particularly popular for those who love water sports ranging from windsurfing to kitesurfing to yachting to scuba diving and snorkelers. It is a highly-regarded diving destination.

Although holidays to Egypt are generally classed as luxury, there is a wide range of cheap and affordable hotels in Hurghada.

Neighbourhoods of Hurghada

The main areas of Hurghada of interest to holidaymakers are:

• El Dahar: This is downtown Hurghada. The oldest part of town gives a taste for the Egyptian way of life and is full of shops and the traditional souk. This is also the main area for nightlife. There are not many hotels in this neighbourhood.
• Sekala:Also, known as Sigala, this district is to the south of Downtown and centred around the old fishing harbour. It’s mainly pedestrianised and is a dynamic area with lots of urban entertainments including cinemas, bars and restaurants, shopping centres, and nightclubs. The swanky harbour is also in this neighbourhood.
• Al-Ahiaa: Located south of Sekala, Al-Ahiaa is the most modern district of Hurghada. There’s not much of the traditional happening here; it’s mainly an area of hotels some of which are still under construction.
• Dive Sites; With coral reefs offshore, the Red Sea is a Mecca for diving. Some of the best and most popular include the Abu Nuhas wrecks, Dolphin Reef, Carless Reef, and one of the largest reefs, Fanadeer. There are plenty of wrecks to explore.

What to see and do in Hurghada

There is a wide range of exciting things to do when holidaying in Hurghada. Some of the most popular sights and attractions include the amazing Hurghada Grand Aquarium, the Mini Egypt Park that is filled with lots of fun and famous Egyptian landmarks, and Sand City Hurghada which is a brilliant open air museum that features a plethora of impressive sand sculptures. It’s fun to gather in El-Dahar Square on market days, to go on a buggy ride through the Egyptian desert, go on a fishing tour, or a boat trip to watch dolphins. Hurghada is ideally located for days trips to Cairo, the pyramids at Giza and the Valley of the Kings at Luxor.

What to eat in Hurghada

The regional cuisine of Hurghada stays generally in line with the cultural and food traditions of Egypt. Some of the most popular dishes that tourists should make the effort to sample include tabbouleh which is arguably the most famous type of Middle Eastern salad, made with a base of cracked wheat, baba ghanoush which is a dip made aubergines, and feteer which is a large pie dish that comes in sweet and savoury versions. Of course, restaurants make the most of Red sea fish and seafood.

Typical events and festivals in Hurghada

Hurghada plays host to a number of popular and highly attended festivals over the course of the year. Some of the most high profile include the annual triathlon competition that attracts athletes from all over the world, the Liberation Day celebrations that take place every June, and the Egypt Yoga Festival that is staged in the first week of every March.

How to move around in Hurghada

The most popular form of public transport in Hurghada comes in the form of white mini vans collectively known as micro busses. They run on an established route system and are used regularly by locals and holidaymakers alike. It is worth noting that much of the central area of Hurghada can be easily navigated on foot.

The climate in Hurghada

Hurghada has a subtropical desert climate, meaning that every single month of the year is hot and dry. The region averages zero days of rain per year, with the coldest temperatures in winter rarely dipping below mid-teens. Summer temperatures can soar to the high thirties. The all year round good weather means that holidays can be taken in Hurghada all year round.