Is Hurghada Worth Visiting? (Pros & Cons to Visiting Hurghada)
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If you’ve found your way here then that means you’re planning a holiday to Hurghada and you’re wondering ‘is Hurghada even worth visiting?’
Every year, thousands of tourists flock to the holiday resorts in Hurghada and whilst there are a lot of pros to stay in all-inclusive resorts there is so much more to Hurghada than just the resort you’re staying in.
This blog post shares the pros and cons to visiting Hurghada and whether it’s worth your time to plan a trip there. We will be sharing our experience in Hurghada, the different activities to do and plenty of tips along the way!
Where is Hurghada Located?
If you don’t know already, Hurghada is located in Egypt and is the capital of the Red Sea Governorate. It is a stunning small city with lots of different tourist resorts including Makadi Bay, El Gouna, Sal Hasheesh & El Mamsha.
These tend to be the areas that most tourists visit when they’re visiting Hurghada and honestly they’re not bad choices either! They can be used as really good bases to be able to get about and explore the local areas as well as enjoy being close to the sea and beaches.
Reasons to Visit Hurghada
As part of this blog post, we will be sharing pros and cons to visiting Hurghada so that you can weigh these up and decide whether this is the destination is for you!
1. Stunning Scenery
One of the best reasons for visiting Hurghada is that the actual location itself is stunning. We woke up every morning, looked out onto our balcony and could see the beautiful beaches and pristine Red Sea and felt blessed to be there.
We stayed in Makadi Bay when we visited Hurghada and we really loved this area. We appreciated the beauty of Hurghada the most when we went parasailing in Makadi Bay and got to see Hurghada from above!
If you get a chance to go parasailing whilst you’re visiting Hurghada then we highly recommend it to experience these stunning views like we did!
2. Amazing scuba diving
One of the main perks of being around the Red Sea is that there are a lot of amazing scuba diving sites nearby so this is perfect for any PADI divers that are looking to go diving whilst visiting Hurghada. There are plenty of shipwrecks, reefs and beautiful marine life to be seen whilst visiting.
We didn’t get a chance to go scuba diving whilst we were there as we were only there for a short period of time and it takes Amy’s ears a few days after flying to settle otherwise she has issues equalising when diving.
However, with that in mind, it is absolutely on our bucket list to return and experience the dive sites that Hurghada has to offer!
3. Options to enjoy Egyptian culture
If you’re like us and want to experience a destination not just for the touristy side but also the true culture of a location then you will get a glimpse of this from Hurghada.
In order to experience more Egyptian culture than the tourist resorts can offer, you will want to take a day trip to Hurghada Old Town where you will be able to visit the mosques and explore the old town.
4. Lots of water sports
As Hurghada is more of a beachy destination, you will find that there are plenty of water sports to enjoy! When we went to Hurghada, we decided to go parasailing and absolutely loved it. There is something about the silence when you’re gliding in the air that makes us appreciate that destination we’re travelling in.
If parasailing is not your thing then there are plenty of other water sports to keep you entertained. The only water sport that you can’t find in Hurghada is jetskiing as it was banned a few years ago.
We didn’t know this when we visited Hurghada and we were told we would be going on jetskis but it was actually more like a speedboat than anything else!
5. Safe to Visit
Despite what the media tells you, Hurghada is a really safe destination to visit. Egypt as a whole has a reputation for not being safe for travellers but that is not the case for every destination in Egypt.
Some locations such as Hurghada are very safe and in honesty, it is now a big tourist destination. There was not any point when we visited Hurghada where we were worried or felt unsafe.
6. Affordable destination
Depending on the time of year you visit Hurghada, it is actually quite an affordable destination to visit. If you’re travelling to Hurghada on a budget then you might want to try and visit outside of the Summer season as this is when it is the most expensive.
There are plenty of beautiful resorts in Hurghada that are still affordable. Most people that visit tend to prefer to stay at an all-inclusive resort in Hurghada. They are often at a good price (as long as you’re not visiting during the UK school holidays) so it’s worthwhile.
7. Warm Climate
Luckily, Hurghada is a destination that is warm throughout the year so even if you’re visiting out of season, you’ll still get lovely weather.
We visited in December and whilst it was chilly in the evening, it was really pleasant during the day. The only thing you need to bear in mind when visiting Egypt during the winter season is that it can be quite windy so you need to factor that in.
However, Hurghada is a great destination to visit all year round. We’ve created a guide on the best time to visit Hurghada to help plan your trip further.
Reasons Not to Visit Hurghada
1. Can be touristy
Similar to Sharm el Sheikh and Cairo, Hurghada is a very touristy destination to visit but for different reasons. Most travellers visit Sharm el Sheikh and Cairo for seeing the main sights in Egypt whereas tourists tend to visit Hurghada for a warm break away in the sun.
Unless you’re venturing further in Hurghada old town, you won’t find traditional Egypt whilst you’re visiting Hurghada. Most travellers tend to stay in El Gouna or Makadi Bay which are built up tourist resorts.
They are made up of plenty of all-inclusive hotels and these kind of resorts are made so that you don’t need to leave them.
2. Further from main Egypt Attractions
If you’re planning to visit Hurghada to have a mixture of relaxation and sightseeing then whilst there are some things to see, most of the main Egyptian attractions lie in Cairo and Sharm el Sheikh.
It is perfectly possible to take a trip from Hurghada to see the pyramids but prefer yourself for a very long day or potentially an overnight stay.
Even though it is further away, it is still perfectly possible to both sightsee and relax. A lot of people prefer to do this so that they don’t need to actually stay in Cairo or Sharm el Sheikh.
We’ve popped a couple of tours that will take you to the pyramids from Hurghada below so that you can further plan your trip but you can find even more in our best day trips from Hurghada guide.
Day trips from Hurghada
- From Hurghada to Luxor, Return & Lunch
- Private Tour Hurghada to Luxor
- From Hurghada Day Trip to Cairo
- Private Tour From Hurghada to Cairo
- Day Trip: Hurghada to Cairo by Plane
- Cairo & Luxor in 2 Days from Hurghada
- Budget: 8 Days – Cairo, Luxor & Hurghada from Cairo By Flight
3. Not Many Attractions
As we mentioned before, Hurghada is more of a beach destination so you won’t find any huge monuments or lots of museums. It is quite a simple place and is mostly for relaxing by the beach and going on a few excursions.
If you’re looking for a destination where you can get up and go out exploring all day then Hurghada is probably not the right destination for you.
With that in mind, there is still plenty to see if you’re staying for between 5 – 7 nights. Our favourite excursion was visiting paradise island from Hurghada.
If you’re the type of person that likes being in the sea, snorkelling and diving, this is going to be a great destination for you!
4. Haggling
We don’t really see this as a reason not to visit Hurghada but the idea of haggling makes some people feel uncomfortable. It is part of Egyptian culture to haggle over prices before making any purchases.
For most people, this is unheard of and the first time you try to haggle it may feel a bit unfair. However, in Hurghada and Egypt as a whole, the prices are ramped up for tourists to make the most money that they can (we can’t say we blame them!).
Don’t be frightened to refuse the price and suggest a lower price. You will find that you may be going back and forth a little while negotiating but often, you can get a reasonable price. Another thing to keep in mind is don’t be afraid to walk away if someone is trying to charge you too much for something.
The most important thing about haggling in Egypt is to become very familiar with the exchange rate so that you know exactly how much you’re paying!
5. Not many Culture Experiences
Other destinations we visit, we often find a way to step off the beaten track and get more familiar with the culture of the destination. However, as Hurghada is a tourist hotspot, you will find that there are not as many cultural experiences.
Whilst we were visiting, of course we got to try some Egyptian tea, take a trip into the desert and meet the Bedouin locals but even then a lot of this felt like it was a show and not authentic.
If you’re wanting to visit a more authentic Egyptian destination then you may want to visit Aswan or Alexandria.
Is Hurghada Worth Visiting?
In short, yes Hurghada is absolutely worth visiting and no matter what type of traveller you are, there is a little something for everyone in Hurghada.
If you are someone that likes to get up and sightsee everyday then we would recommend only a few days in Hurghada just because it is such a tourist hotspot.
However, if you’re someone that likes to go snorkelling or diving then you will want at least 5-7 nights in Hurghada.
We loved our time in Hurghada and got to find plenty of adventure in the short time that we were there. Even if it is quite touristy, there are still plenty of gems to be found and not to mention, it is a stunning destination to visit too!
