Located just on the Eastern coast of Egypt is one of the country’s most sought-after tourist spots for a sunshine lover, Hurghada!
Once just a small fishing village, this coastal city has now become a bustling city that attracts thousands of tourists yearly.
And why shouldn’t it?
With all the exhilarating watersports, luxurious resorts, happening nightlife, and temperate climatic conditions, it is one of the best places to be at any time of the year.
So, if you’re planning a vacation to Egypt – no doubt for its fascinating landmarks and history – consider adding a little sunshine, water and relaxation too; here, we’ll share all the best things you can do with your family in Hurghada.
But first, let us tell you how to get there!
How to Get to Hurghada?
You can get to Hurghada by air, road, or boat.
Hurghada By Air
If you’re visiting Hurghada from Europe or the Middle East, your only option to get their direct is to travel by air. There are direct flights from the main airports of Europe and the Middle East to Hurghada’s international airport HRG.
However, if you’re coming from or via Cairo, you can get a short Egypt Air flight that takes less than an hour to reach Hurghada.
Hurghada By Road
Airfares can be quite expensive in Egypt if you are travelling on a budget, so if you’re looking for an alternative, you can get to Hurghada by bus or taxi in around 6 hours.
Similarly, you can get a flight to Luxor, and you can take a taxi to Hurghada. It will take approximately 4 hours to reach your destination this way.
Many tour companies will see you cruising the Nile in Upper Egypt from Aswan to Luxor, then connecting by bus to Hurghada for the next leg of your journey.
Hurghada By Boat
You can also get to Hurghada by boat. For this, you’ll have to go to Sharm-Al-Sheikh first, and from there, you can take a 1-hour and 30-minute boat ride to Hurghada for a one-way fee of $40. This fast ferry operators four days a week.
When to Visit Hurghada?
The best time to visit Hurghada is all year! But, if you want to avoid the crowds, get amazing deals on hotels and airfares and get the best weather, we recommend going from April to May and October to November.
During these times, the water temperature is around 24 degrees which is just right for enjoying all sorts of watersports.
If you visit during summer, i.e., June through August, you’ll experience the highest daytime temperatures, loads of people, and sky-high hotel prices and flight rates. The same can be said for winters, although the weather will be cool and pleasant from December to February.
Therefore, summers and winters are the busiest in Hurghada when it comes to tourism, while spring and fall are relatively slow in comparison (Think May and October half-term breaks from school!)
So, based on your preferences, choose the time of the year that suits you the most, pocket-wise and temperature-wise.
We have a complete guide to Hurghada weather and Red Sea dive conditions over here.
Now that you know how to get to Hurghada and what to expect in different months, it’s time to get to the part you’ve all been waiting for…
12 Best Things to Do in Hurghada With Kids
Regardless of which time of the year you choose to visit this amazing coastal city, you’ll find plenty of places to visit and things to do in Hurghada.
1. Bask on the White Sand Beaches
If you’re in Hurghada, the first thing you should do is head to the beach!
The shimmering white sand and the gleaming waters of the Red Sea stretch over an expanse 36 kilometres of the coast, luring you in away from the desert heat.
Most Red Sea coast resorts have their own private beaches for visitors. But if you’re looking for a more secluded place, away from the crowd, you can find plenty of empty beaches in the north or south of Hurghada (just don’t expect fancy facilities)
So, depending on where you’re staying, you can have access to the resort’s private beaches or just walk into the many public beaches on the entire shoreline.
We recommend our favourite Red Sea Resorts for families over here!
2. Visit The Giftun Islands
If you want to experience the true beauty of the coastal city, plan a trip to the Giftun Islands via boat.
The Giftun Islands are one of the most famous Hurghada attractions and offer more fun activities than you can imagine. For instance, you can go snorkelling, scuba diving, explore the vibrant coral reefs, or simply sit back and soak up the sun’s rays.
You can also watch the colorful fish swimming about in the crystal clear waters when there’s less crowd.
In short, a day trip to the Giftun Islands is a must when in Hurghada.
3. Dive in the Welcoming Waters of the Red Sea
Basking in the sun is one thing, but your trip to Hurghada is surely incomplete if you don’t go diving in the Red Sea!
Several boat excursions from Hurghada involve taking you around the Red Sea and stopping at known locations to let you dive in the warm water and experience marine life from up close.
If you’re lucky, you can also get the opportunity to dive alongside dolphins in the turquoise waters, see different species of fish swimming around the water, spot the magnificent sea turtles in all their glory, and all the other sea creatures that inhabit the famous coral reefs of the Red Sea.
4. Explore Wreckages at Straits of Gubal
Are beauitful coral reefs the only thing you can see while diving in the Red Sea? No way!
Between the Red Sea coast and the west Sinai Peninsula is a narrow strip of water known as Egypt’s Straits of Gubal. It is one of the most popular dive sites frequented near Hurghada by experienced divers.
This site is famous for being home to several wrecks that you can easily explore through deep-sea diving, the Thistlegorm, a cargo ship from WW2, being the most renowned.
Then there’s the Carnatic, a UK cargo ship that sank in 1869, the Chrisoula K, a Greek ship that sank in 1981, and Kimon M, a German ship that sank in 1978. All these wreckages are in good condition and have plenty to explore.
So, if you want to take a trip back in time, dive into the Straits of Gubal and go through the skeletal remains of sunken ships!
NB – recommended for experienced divers only with their sea legs! This is a long day trip from Hurghada.
5. Discover the Famous Landmarks at Mini Egypt
In Hurghada, another great place to visit with the kids is Mini Egypt, an open-air museum showcasing miniature models of 55 of Egypt’s most famous buildings and landmarks.
The best thing about this museum is that all the architecture is exactly like the original buildings, so even if you don’t travel around Egypt, you can get a precise idea of the historical facts and architecture.
The main attractions of Mini Egypt are the famous Pyramids, the Temple of Luxor, the Sphinx of Giza, the Valley of Kings, the Karnak Temple, and the Colossi of Memnon.
So, if you want to relive “The Mummy,” Mini Egypt is a must-visit place in Hurghada.
6. Quad Bike Safari
Even with the Red Sea coast running along the border of Hurghada, it is still located in the desert!
So, when you’re done enjoying all the Hurghada activities on the water, it’s time to head back to explore the desert. There’s so much to do in the desert of Hurghada, like quad biking, dune buggy trips, and jeep excursions through the sand dunes.
One of the most famous tourist attractions is an evening Quad Bike Safari that takes you through the wadis lined with Acacia trees, over the red-tinged mountains, all the way to Bedouin Village. Here you can ride camels, have lunch, drink Egyptian tea, and smoke hookahs.
7. El Mina Mosque
If you want to have an insight into Egypt’s religious and cultural side, visit the El Mina Mosque (Mosque El Mina Masjid). It is the largest and most beautiful mosque in Hurghada, with two 40-metre high minarets that can be spotted even from a distance.
The exterior of the mosque is made of marble with intricate carvings. The mosque’s interior is decorated with magnificent chandeliers, vibrant murals, and carvings that add to the sophistication and beauty of the mosque.
You can enter the mosque as a non-Muslim guest if you are decently dressed, and there’s no religious event taking place.
8. Shop at the Famous Hurghada Souks
If you’re looking for souvenirs to take back with you, visit the souks of Hurghada. They’re not very big, but you can find almost everything there, including Egyptian headscarves, shisha pipes, lamps, and intricate jewellery boxes.
The shopkeepers might charge you a bit higher, but you can get a good deal if you have some bargaining skills. These souks also include small cafes where you can sit and enjoy tea, coffee, and fresh juices after a tiresome shopping spree.
9. Go Wild at Hurghada Marina
If you want to take your shopping experience up a notch, visit the Hurghada Marina. Not only is this the most upscale shopping area in the city, but grab a babysitter because this is the best place to enjoy the nightlife in Hurghada. You’ll find all the high-end brands and designer labels at the Marina, in addition to famous restaurants and bars.
While enjoying the amazing view of the sun setting on the Red Sea coast, you can also see expensive yachts.
Therefore, it’s the best place to wind down after a long day of enjoying various water and desert activities.
10. Makadi Water World
Who doesn’t like the thrill of going down a water slide at full speed?
Located just outside Hurghada is Makadi Water World, one of the biggest water parks in Egypt. It has more than 50 water slides, pools, games, and other fun water activities. There’s a separate area for kids with a pirate-themed children’s pool and a lazy river.
The main attraction of Makadi Water World is the free-fall slide that is sure to have your adrenaline rushing!
You can head over to the restaurant situated inside the park to enjoy fast food with your kids at the end of the day.
Check out combined entry tickets and transfers package here.
11. Hurgahda Grand Aquarium
Not quite ready for scuba diving? The next best thing is to discover the native inhabitants of the Red Sea is a visit to the Hurghada Grand Aquarium. At “the Red Sea in Glass”, you can discover 1,200 species over a series of 24 galleries depicting their natural habitats. Discover sharks to sting rays and get hands on in the touch tanks.
12. Dinner at Bedouin Village
Let’s explore the desert a bit more. And if you’re a foodie, this one’s for you!
Most resorts offer the Bedouin Dinner Tours in Hurghada. The visitors are taken to the Bedouin Village on a camel or jeep and offered Egyptian cuisine that you won’t find at the restaurants.
The arrangement is in traditional Bedouin-style tents with colorful cushions, where you can relax, enjoy homemade meals, sip on Egyptian tea, and smoke shisha.
It’s the closest experience of everyday Egyptian life and culture.
Day Tripping to Luxor
We are surprised to see how many tour companies offer day trips from Hurghada to Luxor (and even Cairo!)
The drive by air conditioned coach, provided by numerous tour operators is about 4 hours in each direction, leaving very early in the day.
Most tours will include stops at places including:
- Hatshepsut Temple
- Karnak Temple
- Memnon statues
- Valley of the Kings
Simply amazing places, yes. With kids, it’s simply not something we would recommend trying to do in just a day. It’s a very long and tiring day of exploring, we feel you would be better adding a trip through Upper Egypt to your Hurghada vacation for 3 or 4 days (you can see the highlights of Egypt into a minimum of 7 days), rather than trying to squeeze it in as a side trip from Hurghada.
If this is your only chance to see these incredible sights though, by all means check out some of these day tour options that will take your Hurghada to Luxor:
Be warned if taking this option, you’ll arrive en masse with other tour buses doing exactly the same thing. Staying in Luxor, you have the advantage of early pre-dawn starts and seeing the sites before they are too crowded and hot.
Ready to visit Hurghada?
Hurghada, the coastal city of Egypt, has many tourist attractions and activities. You will find many water activities in the city, from relaxing on the beaches to deep-sea diving, snorkelling, and boating. And when you’re tired of being in the water all day, head out to the souks, Marina, or desert safari to enjoy the many on-ground activities.
As for food, you can enjoy everything from traditional Egyptian meals to international cuisines.
So, plan a trip to this amazing city across the Red Sea coast because there are plenty of fun and exciting things to do in Hurghada!
Don’t forget to check out our Egypt guides:
- A complete guide to planning a family trip to Egypt
- What should you pack for an Egypt family vacation?
- Is Egypt safe for family vacations?
- How to see the highlights of Egypt in just 7 days
- Explore Dahab and the Sinai Peninsula
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