One of Egypt’s rising seaside resorts, Hurghada is a popular spot for seaside and water sports activities, especially diving. Finding a place to stay in Hurghada, close to the beaches but still enjoying the atmosphere of the city center, can quickly prove problematic when you know nothing about the place.
Where to stay in Hurghada? How much does accommodation cost? Which areas are best? In this guide, we’ll point you in the direction of some of the most interesting neighborhoods to stay in. Atmosphere, location, must-sees – you’ll find the pros and cons for each area, followed by a selection of hotels.
What you need to know before deciding where to stay in Hurghada
Where to stay in Hurghada
Here we detail the main areas where we recommend staying.
Accommodation in the city center at Al-Sakkala
This is the lively part of the beach resort, especially Avenue d'Al Fondok. This area is the best place to stay if you want to experience the atmosphere of the city, be close to the must-sees and enjoy boat trips on the Red Sea.
Lively day and night, this area is one of the most interesting for tourist stays with its restaurants, shops of all kinds and bars. The hustle and bustle is everywhere, taxis are constantly honking their horns and conversations are lively. The advantage of staying here is that you can go out directly onto the streets and stroll around. However, if you venture into the other districts, you will constantly have to take a taxi to get there.
One of the things to discover here is the marina. Opposite the marina, the large promenade has a string of tourist restaurants offering a variety of culinary specialties: Egyptian, Greek, Japanese, as well as seafood and grilled meats. The promenade overlooks the fish market and the El Mina mosque, an unmissable monument. You can't miss it, as its two minarets rise into the air and its architecture is remarkable with its domes and white marble. We highly recommend a visit.
If your stay is geared towards water sports, note that most boat trips leave from the marina. In fact, you will find many snorkeling and diving trips and tours of the Giftoun Islands. The beach is also more easily accessible than in other more remote areas.
In terms of prices, there are mainly affordable hotels, but no luxury complexes. For higher quality, choose all-inclusive hotels located on the main roads. If you don't know where to stay in Hurghada, this is the best area to choose.
Staying here allows you to enjoy a quality establishment with an outdoor swimming pool and access to a private beach. The complex is very large, with more than 6 restaurants. The rooms are spacious and overlook the Red Sea. Gym, sauna, beach volleyball, table tennis. Airport shuttle is available. It is a great place where to stay in Hurghada.
Hotel to stay in opposite the marina. Very nicely decorated, this establishment has an excellent location, with direct access to the departure point for excursions. There are two restaurants, including one serving fish. You will have free access to the Blue Beach, a private beach that also has a swimming pool.
A pleasant and welcoming establishment, located on a wide avenue a few minutes' drive from the main thoroughfares. It has several large swimming pools, a private beach with deckchairs and several restaurants and bars. It also has a tennis court and a gym.
To stay in El-Sawaki in the north, more authentic
If you want to stay in an authentic part of Hurghada, opt for El-Sawaki in the north of the city. This is an area located near the popular El Sawaky Beach. It is a pleasant place to enjoy the turquoise waters of the Red Sea.
There are very affordable hotel complexes. Restaurants, bars and cafés contribute to the liveliness of the neighborhood. It takes about ten minutes by taxi to reach the city center (compared to an hour on foot).
This area is ideal for accommodation in Hurghada if you want to enjoy the coastline while discovering the local culture. Staying here means you can reach the historic district of El Dahar in ten minutes. Less touristy, it has the advantage of offering a real immersion in local life.
It is an opportunity to eat like the locals, as there are quite a few restaurants. We recommend Koshary El Tahrir, where you can enjoy koshari, the famous “poor man's dish”. The souk is located in these streets, and you will pass by a large market and the beautiful Coptic church, which you can visit.
With fewer accommodation options, the El-Sawaki district is best explored on foot.
A rather luxurious hotel complex with a private beach. The bohemian chic decor is neat and modern, and the rooms all have a balcony with a view. In addition to the 3 swimming pools, 7 restaurants and 4 bars, you can also take advantage of the beauty and massage salon.
Pleasant establishment with swimming pool, access to a private beach, spa, restaurants and bars. It is good value for money. A good place to stay in Hurghada for those on a budget.
Beautifully decorated, this Hilton hotel faces the water and has large rooms, a private beach, 3 swimming pools and 4 restaurants. It is a great place to stay in Hurghada.
Staying in El-Mamsha, on the south coast
Located about ten minutes away by taxi, the El-Mamsha area in the south is an interesting area to stay in. It is quieter and has been growing rapidly in recent years.
In the past, it was mainly a transit point between the city center and the airport, which is only about ten minutes away. It is therefore a good place to stay during a short stay in Hurghada.
Today, the neighborhood is being revitalized thanks to more modern urban development. It is therefore pleasant to walk around there since this area has more and more fashion stores and big brand names. There are also fast food restaurants, cafés and bars. History buffs will be delighted to learn that the Hurghada Museum is nearby. The museum traces the history of ancient Egypt with an exhibition of more than 2,000 pieces from collections.
Many large hotel complexes are located here, very close to the beach. These are all-inclusive accommodations that allow you to enjoy the Red Sea just a stone's throw away, while having everything you need. There are mid-range and high-end options. Note that the departure point for some sea excursions is also in the vicinity.
An ideal hotel complex for families, this establishment has 6 swimming pools and 5 restaurants serving Oriental, Asian or Italian specialties. In this context, it is the place to stay in Hurghada if your budget allows. It is located only 3 km from the airport.
This huge establishment, which is more like a village, has many attractions. It has swimming pools, a private beach, restaurants and bars. Its added value is the range of water activities on offer, including diving and submarine excursions. There is also a sauna, a hairdressing salon and henna tattoo parlour.
A beautiful resort facing the coast, this Marriott property offers access to a private beach, an outdoor pool, a gym, and more. The spacious accommodations have huge bay windows overlooking the turquoise water. It's a good place to stay in Hurghada.
El Gouna, the new trendy and luxurious area to stay in Hurghada
A new El Dorado on the Red Sea, the beach resort of El Gouna is part of Hurghada, although it is more than a thirty-minute drive away. Private yachts and luxury hotels await you here. People come here to relax, far from it all
Artificially constructed in the 1990s, El Gouna has a surprising landscape. It is a setting composed of lagoons, islands and modern infrastructures, creating a very trendy whole. There are golf courses, restaurants, bars and even a small airport As a result, you will find many sea excursions, including diving, to be had in the surrounding area.
As for where to stay, note that these are luxury resorts, and that the rates are higher than in other areas. There is also mid-range accommodation. As El Gouna is popular and quite small, we recommend that you book in advance.
As you can see, everything is available here. You don't need to leave the beach resort at all. The only negative point is that you might miss the local atmosphere of downtown Hurghada, but this is not at all a problem if your main objective is to relax.
Good value for money at this tastefully decorated establishment, located north of El Gouna. Its Lebanese à la carte restaurant and two swimming pools are very pleasant. If you don't know where to stay here on a budget, this accommodation is a great option.
A very beautiful hotel complex, it stands out for its 8 restaurants and bars (one of which is located on a former boat). The decoration is refined and the seaside is private. In total, the establishment is built on 9 separate islands. It is undoubtedly one of the most popular addresses for travelers.
A luxury hotel with minimalist decor, this very well located establishment offers a top-of-the-range experience. A cozy atmosphere in this rather prestigious place, which offers two swimming pools, a spa, a gym, etc. It is an excellent place to stay in Hurghada.
Other alternatives where to stay in Hurghada
There are other more out-of-the-way places to stay in Hurghada. They allow you to enjoy all-inclusive hotels in peace and quiet, far from the bustling center. The advantage of these areas is that the beautiful luxury hotels are often further away, and therefore more present on these coasts:
- Sagafa, a rather well-known resort on the Red Sea, lost between the mountains. It is about fifty kilometers from Hurghada to the south and has a small, very touristy port with bungalows and hotels facing the coastline. Admittedly, it is one of the most remote areas we offer, but Sagafa is one of those places on the Egyptian coast that stands out.
- Soma Bay, located slightly further up the coast, 20 km away, is a peninsula. Only a private road leads there, where there is a large hotel complex. All kinds of water sports are available, such as diving, kitesurfing, sailing, etc. There is a golf course and a thalassotherapy center.
- Makadi Bay, located between Hurghada and Soma Bay, is a little slice of paradise where you can stay not far from the unmissable attractions. As well as being a very good diving spot, it has many other attractions: numerous hotels, fish and seafood specialties, nightclubs, spas, water parks and amusement parks, including Mini Egypt Park.
- Sahl Hasheesh, 25 km to the south, is a private complex. The area is home to several islands, ideal for scuba diving but also offering other water attractions. Snorkeling, kitesurfing, parasailing, water skiing, etc. are all on offer. Whether or not you are a fan of water sports, you will all appreciate the 9km-long beach, perfect for sunbathing. There are restaurants, golf courses, nightclubs and craft shops. It is the closest to the airport of all these alternatives.
- Al-Ahyaa, which refers to the large avenue to the north, below El Gouna. There are quite a few hotels all along it. It has the advantage of being about twenty minutes from the city center.
Note that if you choose to stay in one of these areas, you won't be able to enjoy the atmosphere outside the hotel, only the pool and beach in your hotel complex. This is because the latter generally overlook the desert. If you want to immerse yourself more in Egyptian culture, choose a place that's closer.
One last thing: if you book excursions, these areas are well taken care of, but they are an extra charge.
Located in Makadi Bay, this resort has swimming pools, a 380-meter private jetty and a private beach. Evening entertainment, gym, sauna and tennis courts. We appreciate the three on-site dining areas.
An ideal place for windsurfing, this complex located in Soma Bay is highly rated. Swimming pools, bars, restaurants, it is a very beautiful place where to stay in Hurghada, which stands out for its rather chic decoration.
A beautiful resort with 3 swimming pools and 3 restaurants. Well decorated, it is located in the north of Sahl Hasheesh, a stone's throw from the airport. The rooms are pleasant and the terrace is a nice feature. Numerous slides for children. A great place where to stay in Hurghada.
Before you book your hotel in Hurghada
Here’s a summary of the common denominators found in all the resort’s neighborhoods.
How to get around & excursion departures
Note that when you leave your hotel, you’ll need to take a cab to get to the heart of the city. This applies to all locations, except if you have chosen to stay in Hurghada itself, especially near the marina.
If you have booked excursions to the sea or desert, pick-up is included. So you don’t have to go anywhere. The jeep or van will pick you up directly in front of your accommodation, regardless of your location (please note that they charge extra for “other alternatives”).
Preferred housing type
Most travelers opt for all-inclusive hotels. It’s the most popular type of accommodation, for a number of reasons. First of all, it allows you to enjoy your holiday without worrying about the details: restaurants, bars, swimming pools, beachfront, and so on.
What’s more, in some areas there’s nothing around but desert, so you’ll have everything you need at your fingertips, as well as entertainment organized by the hotel.
This guide to where to stay in Hurghada comes to an end. Now you know everything there is to know about the different areas that make up the resort: Al-Sakkala, El-Sawaki, El-Mamsha, El Gouna, Sagafa, Sahl Hasheesh, Al-Ahiaa and the bays of Makadi and Soma. Adapt your location to your type of stay and your desires.
Hurghada is becoming more and more popular, so we recommendbooking a few months in advance if you want to stay properly in Hurghada. You’ll have more choice when it comes to the best all-inclusive hotels.
