What are the best things to do in Hurghada?
The best things to do in Hurghada are snorkeling the reefs and island beaches, looking for wild dolphins at Dolphin House, diving or learning to dive, a desert safari at sunset, and dry family days at the Grand Aquarium or Jungle Water Park. The rest of this guide explains who each one suits.
If you only have a few minutes, here is how most of our guests spend a week in Hurghada:
- Snorkel a reef and lie on an island beach: Orange Bay, Giftun or Paradise Island.
- Look for wild dolphins at Dolphin House.
- Dive on a full-day trip, or learn on a PADI Open Water course.
- Drive into the desert for sunset on a mountain safari.
- Give the kids a dry day at the Grand Aquarium or Jungle Water Park.
The rest of this guide explains each one, who it suits, and when to go.
1. Snorkel the reefs and spend a day on an island
This is the classic Hurghada day out, and for good reason. Good reefs are a short boat ride from the marina, the water is warm all year, and you see fish from the surface without any training. All you need is a mask, a snorkel and a guide who knows where to stop.
The Giftun Islands, just offshore, sit inside a protected area supervised by Egypt's Environmental Affairs Agency. Orange Bay is the best-known beach on Giftun, with soft sand and shallow turquoise water. Our island trips follow the same simple rhythm: hotel pickup, a snorkeling stop on a reef, free time on the island, lunch on board with soft drinks, then back to the marina. Snorkeling gear and a guide are included, at €45 per person.
Choose Orange Bay for beach time, Giftun Island or the Hurghada snorkeling trip if you want more time in the water, and Paradise Island for a mix of both. Compare them on the snorkeling and sea trips page.
2. Look for wild dolphins at Dolphin House
Dolphin House is the local name for Shaab El Erg, a large horseshoe-shaped reef north of Hurghada, roughly halfway to El Gouna. Its sheltered lagoon is home to bottlenose dolphins, which are often seen moving in and out of the reef.
Two things to know before you book. First, these are wild animals: sightings are common but never guaranteed. Second, good crews keep their distance. Dolphins should never be touched, fed or chased. On our Dolphin House snorkeling trip (€45) the crew looks for dolphins and follows the local marine-life rules, and you still snorkel the reef and have lunch on board even on a quiet day.
3. Go scuba diving, or learn to dive
Hurghada is a natural place to try scuba: warm water, reefs close to the marina and plenty to see at shallow depths. Certified divers can join our full-day diving trip for €60: two guided dives, equipment, tanks and weights, a snorkeling stop and lunch on board. Non-diving friends can come along and snorkel.
New to diving? The PADI Open Water Diver course combines theory, confined-water practice and open-water dives. PADI sets the minimum age at 10 for Junior Open Water Diver and 15 for the full Open Water Diver, with depth limits for younger divers. Already certified? Move on to Advanced Open Water, Rescue Diver or the Divemaster programme. Experienced divers who want several days at sea can ask about a Red Sea liveaboard.
4. Take a boat of your own
Group boats are great value, but some days you want the sea to yourself. A private speedboat costs €250 for the boat, not per person, and includes a captain, snorkeling gear and life jackets. It suits couples, families and friends who want their own pace. You discuss the route with your captain within the permitted areas. For a longer, fully planned day, with fishing, beach stops or lunch on board, ask for a custom sea trip.
5. Head into the Eastern Desert
The mountains you see from your balcony are the Eastern Desert, and they are closer than they look. On the Hurghada mountain safari (€35) a safari vehicle takes you off-road to a Bedouin-style village for traditional tea and a short camel ride, timed so you can watch the light change on the mountains. The Super Safari adds quad biking and, depending on the package, dinner and evening entertainment. Bring closed shoes and a light jacket: desert evenings are cool in winter.
6. Ride a horse at sunset
Horse riding is the quiet alternative to quads. After a safety briefing, an instructor matches you with a suitable horse and leads you through desert or coastal scenery. The sunset ride is timed for the golden hour, which makes it a favourite with couples and photographers. Beginners and experienced riders can both join horse riding in Hurghada; the route and pace are adjusted to your experience, and long trousers and closed shoes make the ride more comfortable.
7. Fly, kite or stay dry on the water
For a short thrill, parasailing (€35) lifts you above the coast behind a boat. Hurghada's wind, mostly from the north and strongest on average in August and September, makes it a well-known kite surfing spot for beginners and experienced riders. Non-swimmers and small children can see the reef through the hull of a glass boat or submarine (€30). All of these depend on wind and sea conditions on the day.
8. Family days: water park and aquarium
Jungle Water Park (€50 with hotel pickup) is a full day of slides, pools and children's areas. The Hurghada Grand Aquarium, opened in 2015, has a shark tunnel and around 100 species across its exhibits, so it is a good choice for a hot afternoon or a windy day when boats stay in port.
9. See Egyptian history at the Hurghada Museum
Hurghada is not only beaches. The Hurghada Museum, inaugurated in February 2020, is the first antiquities museum in the Red Sea Governorate. It displays around 2,000 artifacts, from ancient Egyptian and Greco-Roman pieces to Christian, Islamic and modern objects, including a statue of Queen Meritamen. A visit takes about two to three hours with hotel transfer.
10. Spend a day in El Gouna
El Gouna is a resort town about 25 km north of Hurghada, built around lagoons and marinas. On our private El Gouna day trip (€200 per private trip) your driver takes you to Abu Tig Marina and downtown, and you set the pace for coffee, lunch and shopping.
When is the best time to visit Hurghada for each activity?
Snorkeling and island trips are best from April to early July and September to November, desert trips and horse riding from October to April, and kite surfing in the windier months. Hurghada has sunshine and almost no rain all year, so heat and sea temperature decide the timing.
Hurghada gets well over 3,000 hours of sunshine a year and almost no rain, so the question is really heat and sea temperature.
- Sea temperature: coolest in February and March, around 21–22°C, and warmest in August, about 28°C. From July to mid-October it stays above 27°C on average.
- Air temperature: average highs around 22°C in January, rising to the upper 30s in August.
- Snorkeling and island trips: best from April to early July and September to November, when both water and air are warm but not extreme.
- Desert and horse riding: October to April, when sunset temperatures are comfortable.
- Kite surfing: windier months, especially August and September on average.
What should you know before you book in Hurghada?
Before you book, know that most trips include hotel pickup with the time confirmed after booking, that the captain can change a boat's route for wind or safety, and that divers need their certification card. Bring swimwear, a towel, sunscreen and a hat, and wait at least 18 hours after multiple dives before flying.
- Pickup: most of our trips include pickup from hotels in Hurghada. Your time is confirmed after booking.
- Bring: swimwear, towel, sunscreen, sunglasses, a hat and a waterproof phone case. Divers need their certification card.
- Weather: wind can change a boat's route or reef. The captain decides on the day, because safety comes first.
- Reef manners: don't stand on coral, touch marine life or take shells.
- Flying home: DAN recommends at least 18 hours between your last dive and your flight after multiple dives.
Still deciding? See all Hurghada excursions side by side, or message us on WhatsApp with your dates.
FAQ
What is Hurghada best known for?
Hurghada is best known for the Red Sea: coral reefs close to shore, the protected Giftun Islands, Dolphin House reef and easy, year-round diving and snorkeling. Behind the coast lies the Eastern Desert, so a desert safari is the other classic activity. Add warm winter sunshine and almost no rain, and it is one of Egypt's main beach destinations.
What is the best month to visit Hurghada?
For most visitors, April–May and September–November are the best months: warm sea, warm days and less heat than summer. July and August have the warmest water, about 28°C, but daytime highs reach the upper 30s. December to February is mild and sunny, ideal for desert trips, though the sea cools to about 21–22°C in February and March.
Can you swim with dolphins in Hurghada?
You can snorkel at Dolphin House (Shaab El Erg), where wild bottlenose dolphins are often seen, but encounters are never guaranteed and should happen on the dolphins' terms. Responsible crews do not chase, feed or let guests touch them. If dolphins choose to swim nearby, you watch quietly from a respectful distance and enjoy the reef either way.
What can kids do in Hurghada?
Children love the island snorkeling trips, where they can see fish from the surface with a guide close by, and the beach time at Orange Bay. For no-swim days, the glass boat or submarine, the Hurghada Grand Aquarium with its shark tunnel, and Jungle Water Park are easy family outings. Junior Open Water diving starts from age 10 under PADI rules.
Is Hurghada good for non-swimmers?
Yes. Non-swimmers can join boat trips for the island beaches, lunch and views, and see the reef through the hull of a glass boat or the windows of a submarine. Life jackets are standard on our private boats, and snorkeling guides help nervous swimmers. On land, the desert safari, horse riding, aquarium and museum need no swimming at all.
How many days do you need in Hurghada?
A week is ideal. It gives you time for two or three boat days, one desert evening, a family or culture day and some rest at the hotel, with spare days in case wind moves a sea trip. With only three or four days, choose one island trip, Dolphin House or a dive day, and one sunset safari.
Planning dives? Read the companion guide to the best dive sites in Hurghada, or request a booking.
