Looking for what to do in Hurghada? In this post, you can find attractions and tips on accommodation and transportation. The city is one of the most famous beach destinations in Egypt. After all, Hurghada is surrounded by the Red Sea and is famous for its crystal-clear waters, resorts, and nightclubs.
The city is about 6 hours’ drive from the capital Cairo. It also has a local airport. Therefore, it’s possible to make the journey flying in about 1 hour. We took the holiday of Eid al-Adha, or Feast of Sacrifice (in Arabic عيد الأضحى), to spend 4 days in the city and we will tell you about our experience here.
Transport until Hurghada
It is possible to reach Hurghada by land or air. As we don’t have our own car, we chose to go by bus to the city. After all, this is the cheapest option of transportation until Hurghada. The daily rent of a car would have cost about 35 USD per day. A plane ticket could reach 90 dollars each way.
We only spend 225 Egyptian pounds for each way bus ticket. Less than 900 EGP round trip for two people (prices in 2021). We bought our tickets on the Go Bus website. They also have a mobile app, in addition to fixed points of sale at the bus station.
Our departure was scheduled for Thursday at 4 AM. Despite the bus not being one of the best, we managed to rest and arrive in the city around 11 AM. The bus station is in the center of Hurghada and most resorts are further away from this region. For this reason, it took us about 45 minutes from the center to the hotel by Uber.
For those who don’t know, Hurghada has several beaches. Among the most famous beaches within the city limits are El Gouna, Sahl, and Makadi, where we stayed during our stay. When we arrived at the bus station in Hurghada we were informed that there were bus stops at other beaches, but not at the bus time we chose.
As we bought the tickets online, we didn’t know that there was more than one station within the city. That’s why our tip for anyone planning this trip is to go to a physical point before purchasing. So you can know which beaches the line will stop at before finalizing the purchase.
If you want to know more about transport in Egypt, check out this post full of tips here.
Accommodation in Hurghada
On this trip, we wanted to enjoy the beach with comfort. At first, searching for the best value for money among the resorts in Hurghada, we chose to make our reservation at the Stella Di Mare Beach Resort & Spa. My boyfriend had good experiences with the hotel chain in other cities in Egypt. Also, the price compared to other all-inclusive resorts in the area was reasonable.
We paid 390 USD for three nights for a couple. Already including extra fees that are often hidden on booking sites. Be aware of this and, if possible, contact the hotel directly to inquire about the final price. You can find different values. Most of the time we find better prices on Booking than directly with the hotel.
Check here the best apps to choose your accommodation!
The resort, as mentioned above, is located in Makadi Bay. However, we didn’t mind the distance from the center. Since our goal was to enjoy the most the beach and the structure of the hotel. All rooms have a balcony, minibar (with kettle, tea, coffee, and minibar), and air conditioning. We took a garden view room. However, there are also options facing the sea or pool.
For those who want to save money and enjoy the city, I recommend searching for hotels or vacation rentals in the center of Hurghada. There are much cheaper options, only with breakfast. However, some apartments are far from the beach and don’t offer access to the sea. As most of the coastal area is restricted to resorts.
Therefore, be aware of the conditions of the reservation before finalizing it. For those who choose this type of accommodation, cheaper and far from the beach, it’s worth purchasing packages with agencies. That way you will have different activities during the day, such as safaris or boat trips. With various entertainment, you will only go to the hotel when it’s time to rest.
In addition, another positive point is that several agencies offer transfers. I traveled around Hurghada much more economically with these tricks. You can check out this other experience here and find out how to travel cheaply around Hurghada!
What to do in Hurghada: 4 Days Itinerary
Days 1 and 2
After checking into the hotel, we had lunch. All three main meals of the day were an open buffet, with a variety of Egyptian dishes, sweets, pasta station, and pizza. In addition, every day the restaurant offered different international dishes.
We choose the soft all-inclusive system, without the addition of alcoholic beverages. However, I confess that we expected much more quality when we made the reservation. In all the hotels we’ve been to with the same system, there were no limitations. After all, as the name implies, everything was included in the price.
However, at Stella Di Mare in Hurghada, we were surprised by the extra fees for several services. For example, natural juice, coffee, or tea outside of buffet hours, soda, and extra water for the minibar. Above all, we were shocked when they said that even internet access in the room cost a few $ more.
Certainly, the best part of the stay was the private beach. The structure was great for spending the day enjoying the sun on the lounge chairs. Furthermore, a long wooden deck led guests to the diving area. Since the shallow part was very extensive and it wasn’t possible to swim there.
For those who don’t know, the still and crystal-clear waters of the Red Sea are perfect for Snorkelling. This region is very famous for being a great place for scuba diving. It’s possible to purchase glasses, fins, and other items within the hotel complex.
On the second day, we decided to relax around the pools. Activities such as water aerobics are offered by the hotel. That day, we ended up paying extra 30 dollars in the daily rate of the hotel to upgrade our all-inclusive to the one that includes alcoholic beverages. Therefore, we enjoyed the pool bar with a few drinks in the water.
At Stella, in addition to the pool bar, the resort has another one at the entrance to the beach. There they serve pizza, fruits, as well as other snacks. The resort also has two other reservation-only restaurants. In addition to some shops with souvenirs, clothes, and a pharmacy.
Day 3: Last day at the hotel
On our last day at the hotel, we enjoyed the beach and pool. As most resorts are far from the center, you need to take a taxi or Uber to leave the hotel. For those who are visiting the city for the first time, I recommend booking tours with tourist agencies so you can get to know the city as well.
In the vast majority, the tours include a transfer to the place of attraction. Some of the most popular activities in Hurghada are Desert ATV Rides, Desert Dinners, and Yacht Ride. The last one we did on this trip and you can check out our experience below.
As for the ATV ride, you can check more about it in this other post.
Finally, after dinner, we waited for the show to begin. On that day was scheduled a belly dance and tanoura show, folk dances from Egypt. Every day there were performances in the evening, most of which were performed by the hotel’s entertainers.
Day 4: Yacht trip on the Red Sea
On the last day, we scheduled a transfer at 7:30 AM. We checked out and left with our bags towards the port in front of the Beirut hotel, in the center of Hurghada. We had booked a yacht tour with EgyptousPlus. It cost 275 EPG per person, with snorkeling equipment and lunch included.
Then, we placed our bags on the boat and got our snorkeling equipment around 9 AM. However, we were only able to leave an hour later because of port inspectors. Already at our first stop with the yacht, we found a couple of dolphins swimming close to the boat.
Soon after, we sailed to a second stop where lunch was served inside the boat. In addition, we had time for swimming and fishing. Later, we went back to the port of Hurghada. Unfortunately, the EgyptousPlus yacht didn’t have a shower in the bathrooms. For this reason, we had to take a shower at the hotel where our friends were staying.
Eating and drinking in central Hurghada
After changing clothes, we left our bags at the reception of the Hilton hotel. The Hilton Plaza is one of the few resorts that are right in the heart of the city. In addition, the City Center chain opened a new mall right next to it, with Carrefour, DeFacto, and other brands.
We went to Hurghada Marina for dinner before taking the bus back to Cairo. There you will find several restaurants, as well as a club and activities for the kids. We stopped at the Italian restaurant L’Imperatore and we were very well treated.
At 10 PM we took the bus back to Cairo. This time without any stops for the police to inspect our luggage. Around 3 AM we were already at Nasr City station in the capital.
Got any questions about our trip? Check out the FAQ below or write us a comment.
FAQ What to do in Hurghada
The city is about 6 hours’ drive from the capital Cairo. It also has a local airport, so you can fly there in about 1 hour. Check out this post for more Egypt transportation tips.
It’s possible to reach Hurghada by car, plane, or bus. By bus, the journey costs around 225 Egyptian pounds for each ticket, less than 900 EGP round trip for two people. We bought our tickets on the Go Bus website. Check out this post for more Egypt transportation tips.
For those looking to save money, I recommend hotels or vacation rentals in the center of Hurghada. For those looking for comfort and being close to the beach, resorts are great options. We stayed at Stella Di Mare and tell you more about the experience here.
One of the most worthwhile tours in Hurghada is by yacht. Prices are around 300 EGP per person with lunch included. On the tour, there are also stops for diving. Check out more about the experience here.
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