Giftun Island
Protected island off the coast, with white beaches and coral reefs. Boat trips take visitors snorkelling and swimming in its clear water, and dolphins are sometimes seen.
Hurghada
This Red Sea resort city is known for diving, snorkelling over coral reefs, hotels on the beach and boat trips out to nearby islands.
Attractive locations
Sha'ab Abu Nuhas
Reef in the Strait of Gubal where several ships ran aground, creating a group of shipwreck dive sites. It is mainly visited by experienced divers on boat trips from Hurghada.
Desert Breath
Large land-art installation in the desert north of Hurghada, made of cones and ditches that form a spiral pattern. It is reached by 4x4 and photographs well at sunrise and sunset.
Hurghada Grand Aquarium
Aquarium in the resort area with tanks of Red Sea fish and other marine life. It is an easy choice for a family day out away from the beach.
Mons Porphyrites
Remains of a Roman quarry in the desert mountains, where purple stone prized for imperial statues and buildings was cut. Day trips by 4x4 reach the ruined workers' settlement.
Shadwan Island
Uninhabited Red Sea island ringed by coral reefs and steep drop-offs, visited on diving and snorkelling boat trips. Seabirds nest on its rocky shores.
Hurghada Museum
Museum showing Egyptian history through statues, coffins and everyday objects from pharaonic, Greek and Roman, Coptic and Islamic times. It offers a cultural break from the beach and diving.
Airports
Hurghada International Airport HRG
It is about 9 km in a straight line from Hurghada.
Sharm El Sheikh International Airport SSH
It is about 98 km in a straight line from Hurghada.
Scams and safe taxis
Weather by month
Each month shows its average temperature in °C and its mm of rain per month.
- Jan18.1 °C2 mm
- Feb19.1 °C1 mm
- Mar21.2 °C2 mm
- Apr23.9 °C1 mm
- May27.2 °C0 mm
- Jun29.4 °C0 mm
- Jul30.8 °C0 mm
- Aug31.1 °C0 mm
- Sep29.3 °C0 mm
- Oct27.0 °C2 mm
- Nov23.6 °C1 mm
- Dec20.0 °C1 mm
Driest months: May, Jun, Jul, Aug, Sep. Wettest months: Jan, Mar, Oct.
Costs
Prices here are about 15% of US prices (World Bank, 2025). This compares a country's overall prices, not the cost of a trip.
Who can help
Emergency
Police 122. Ambulance 123. Fire 180. Tourist police 126.
local government
Ministry of Tourism and Antiquities visitor hotline 19654
Helps with: Egypt's tourism ministry hotline. It answers tourists' questions during their stay, such as site opening hours, and takes complaints and suggestions. The page says 9:00 am to 5:00 pm daily, in Arabic and English.
Who qualifies: Tourists in Egypt with questions, complaints or suggestions. The page is undated, so check the number is still in service.
Phone: 19654
ngo
Egyptian Red Crescent Society
Helps with: Egypt's national Red Crescent society, the local member of the Red Cross and Red Crescent movement. Contact its head office in Cairo for its humanitarian services.
Who qualifies: People in Egypt who need its humanitarian services; contact the head office.
Phone: +20 2 25985555
Address: Abd El Razak El Sanhouri St., Nasr City, Cairo, 11371, Egypt
un agency
International Organization for Migration (IOM) Egypt
Helps with: The UN migration agency, present in Egypt since 1991. Its work includes migration and border management, crisis response, services for migrants and a migrants assistance hotline.
Who qualifies: Migrants in Egypt, including people fleeing conflict, and government partners. It is not a help service for ordinary tourists.
Phone: +20227365140
Address: 47C Abu El-Feda Street, Zamalek, Cairo, Egypt 11211
local government
Police emergency number 122
Helps with: Reaches the police in Egypt. The number comes from UK government travel advice, which also lists 126 for the tourist police.
Who qualifies: Anyone in the country, including visitors, can call this number.
Phone: 122
local government
Ambulance emergency number 123
Helps with: Reaches the ambulance service in Egypt. The number comes from UK government travel advice.
Who qualifies: Anyone in the country, including visitors, can call this number.
Phone: 123
local government
Fire emergency number 180
Helps with: Reaches the fire service in Egypt. The number comes from UK government travel advice.
Who qualifies: Anyone in the country, including visitors, can call this number.
Phone: 180