Hurghada was little more than a sleepy fishing village before emerging on the tourism scene in the 1980s. Now it is a leading resort destination on Egypt's Red Sea coast, known for turquoise waters and offshore coral reefs. South of town,
Hurghada Airport whisks tourists from Russia and Eastern Europe into the resorts, though some visitors arrive via high-speed ferry from Sharm el-Sheikh.
Development boomed in the 1990s to the point that the waterfront is dominated by high-rise Hurghada hotels. Few public beaches exist, but most tourists enjoy their own generous slice of sand in front of their resort. Many visitors spend relatively little time outside of the resorts with the main attractions of Hurghada being its beautiful water and pristine beaches such as
Triton Empire Beach.
Infrastructure continues to grow, and hotels in the town center are in constant competition. While this area is the best place to find bargain accommodation in Hurghada, there are a few truly upscale options. Well-heeled tourists do well to venture to Sahl Hashish or Gouna, neighboring districts with several premium hotels. Gouna is particularly nice, with more than a dozen upscale hotels and hundreds of private villas.
Aside from passing hours under a beach umbrella, the main activities in Hurghada involve dining out and dancing late into the night. The city has a healthy after-hours scene with several quality discos and cocktail lounges attached to the finer hotels and resorts in Hurghada.
Here on the Red Sea, activities are water-based and include scuba diving, snorkeling, and parasailing. Facilities are excellent, and most Hurghada resorts have a tour agency in the lobby that can arrange diving excursions, daytrips, and other local activities.
