Hurghada Holidays

Hurghada will have you spoilt for choice - overspilling with sun-drenched days, stylish evenings out, and some seriously jaw-dropping scenes waiting to be captured. Consider your paradise found.

✨ Highlights of your Holidays to Hurghada

• 🤿 Red Sea diving and snorkelling: Hurghada's reefs are the reason this stretch of coast became a holiday destination. Coral starts in waist-deep water, the visibility's regularly 30 metres plus, and Giftun Island is a half-day boat trip away.

• ☀️ Year-round sunshine: 320-plus sunny days, winter highs around 22°C, summer pushing into the mid-30s. Hurghada doesn't really do off-season, only February dips below shorts weather.

• 👨‍👩‍👧‍👦 Family-friendly all-inclusives: the Egyptian Red Sea is built around mega-resorts that genuinely earn their family-friendly billing, pools and waterparks, kids' clubs, multiple restaurants, the lot, mostly for the price you'd pay for a much smaller hotel in the Med.

• 🏜️ The desert on your doorstep: the Sahara starts a 20-minute drive from the resort strip. Quad-bike sunsets, Bedouin dinners under the stars, camel rides, the desert side of an Egypt holiday is genuinely accessible without a long transfer.

• 🏖️ Four very different bases in one destination: central Hurghada for buzz and value, El Gouna for lagoons and marina dining, Makadi Bay for family resorts, Soma Bay for the polished end. Pick your character, the rest of the coast is a 30-minute taxi away.

💡 Hurghada Holiday Info

☀️ Weather: desert climate, 320-plus sunny days, summer 32-35°C, winter mild 21-23°C, water 22°C in winter and 28°C in summer. Genuine year-round destination.

💰 Money: A great value destination. A meal at a marina restaurant costs around £10-15 with a drink, a snorkelling boat day-trip £15-25, a 60-minute spa massage £20-30. USD cash is useful for tipping (small notes, ones and fives).

🐢 Fun fact: the Red Sea has more endemic species than almost any other tropical sea, around 1,000 fish species and 25% of those are found nowhere else on Earth. Hurghada sits on the most biodiverse stretch of it.

🗣️ Master the Lingo, Egyptian Style

Throw in some Arabic phrases to impress the locals and your travel buddies:

• "Sabah el-kheir!" – Good morning!

• "Ma'a salama" – Goodbye!

• "Shukran" – Thanks!

• "Fanta Lemon fein?" – Because your holibobs deserve the ultimate beach bevvy.

• "El-hesab law samaht" – The bill, please—'cause sharing hummus is not an option.

🏖️ Best Beaches for your Hurghada holidays 2026

Hurghada is mega for beach lovers - from buzzing hotspots to chill-out havens, here’s the lowdown on where to sink your toes into the sand:

• Mahmya Island – A slice of paradise, crystal-clear waters and white sands. This spot's all about that swanky tropical vibe, perfect for a boujee beach day.

• Giftun Island – A marine sanctuary offering turquoise waters and dazzling coral reefs. Snorkel gear is a must for underwater exploring that’s straight-up 10/10.

• Old Vic Beach – Ideal for families and sunseekers alike, with calm waters and plenty of space. Chill vibes only.

• Sahl Hasheesh Beach – Think golden sands, crystal-clear waters, and a tranquil atmosphere that’s absolutely delish for relaxing.

• El Gouna – A boujee lagoon beach town with watersports galore. Kitesurfing, diving, paddleboarding—it’s adventure central.

• Soma Bay – Luxe vibes with pristine beaches, coral-rich waters, and swanky resorts. The place to soak up the sun like royalty.

🗺️ Where to Stay in Hurghada

Hurghada stretches along Egypt’s Red Sea coast, and where you stay can completely shape your trip. From lively resort hubs to peaceful, upscale enclaves, here’s how to pick your perfect base.

💑 Best for Couples

🌊 El Gouna is the standout couples base. A planned resort town built around lagoons and a working marina, often called the Venice of the Red Sea. Walk-to-dinner restaurants, sunset cocktails on the marina, kitesurfing on the lagoons, and a more polished, grown-up feel than central Hurghada. The kind of place where you don't need to leave for a week and you can still feel like you've had a proper break.

✨ Best for Luxury

✨ Soma Bay is the high-end peninsula further south, five-star resorts with pristine reef directly off the beach, an 18-hole golf course, and a quieter, more refined feel. The closest the Red Sea gets to a true luxury enclave at this price point. Sahl Hasheesh sits in similar territory and houses several of the strongest five-star resorts on the coast.

👨‍👩‍👧‍👦 Best for Families

🏖️ Makadi Bay is the family base, full stop. A single sweeping bay south of central Hurghada lined with all-inclusive resorts, most of them built around proper waterparks. Self-contained, easy, low-friction, the area that does the package family holiday best on the whole Egyptian Red Sea coast.

🎉 Best for Groups

🌅 Central Hurghada is the natural group base. The marina is the social heart of the coast, bars, restaurants, yacht charters and the only proper nightlife strip outside hotel grounds, all walkable along one promenade. Big all-inclusive resorts with high room counts mean groups of 10-plus can co-locate without splitting across hotels, and the central position makes excursions (Giftun Islands, Luxor day-trips, desert safaris) easier to organise than from the bays further south.

💰 Best for Value

💰 Makadi Bay and central Hurghada are where the value picks cluster. Makadi Bay's mid-tier all-inclusives (Pickalbatros Jungle Aqua Park, Serenity Alma, Lemon & Soul Makadi Garden) deliver five-star feel at three-to-four-star pricing thanks to the bay's scale and competition. Central Hurghada goes a step cheaper still, the original resort town with the largest hotel pool and the lowest entry-level prices on the coast. Either base puts you in striking distance of the polished bays without the polished-bay price tag.

🏨 What are the top hotels in Hurghada?

You get a lot of bang for your buck in this resort town. Even five-star, All Inclusive holidays to Hurghada come with a reasonable price tag, and don't worry - we've got some great deals for all you last-minute Larries out there too. See all hotels in Hurghada or if you're feeling a BIG breakfast, check out all-inclusive holidays in Hurghada, or just have a look through our lovingly hand-picked top options below...

💑 Couples

• KaiSol Romance Resort - Adults Only is the standout adults-only pick on the whole coast, a five-star Sahl Hasheesh resort with elegant rooms, four à la carte restaurants (Italian, Asian, seafood, international) and a serious spa. Strongly reviewed across the board, a guest favourite for romantic Red Sea breaks.

• Steigenberger Pure Lifestyle - Adults Only is the central-Hurghada adults-only counterpart, a contemporary five-star with one of the most consistent review records of any hotel on this coast. Polished, calm, well-run.

• Caves Beach Resort - Adults Only (16+) does something different, cave-inspired rooms cut into the resort's structural concept, three à la carte restaurants and a proper private beach. The vibe is theatrical without being naff, and it lands well with couples after something with personality.

✨ Luxury

• Gravity Hotel Sahl Hasheesh is a five-star beachfront with seven swimming pools, four à la carte restaurants spanning Italian, Oriental, Mexican and Asian, and a kids' club for the family-luxury crossover. A guest favourite at this price point.

• Tropitel Sahl Hasheesh is the heritage-feel pick, a substantial five-star with Classic, Deluxe and Suite categories, multiple restaurants from buffet to Italian to Mexican, a private beach, and one of the best-reviewed hotels on this coast with nearly 10,000 strong reviews.

• JAZ Elite Asteria is the newest of the three, five-star with a seven-slide on-site waterpark, five à la carte restaurants, and the kind of polished modern resort feel that families with older kids and couples both go for.

👨‍👩‍👧‍👦 Families

• Pickalbatros Jungle Aqua Park - Neverland is the headline family pick on the coast, an absurd 81 waterslides, a kids' club, VR games, skating, multiple restaurants and a free shuttle to the beach. Strongly reviewed by families, the waterpark genuinely is the holiday.

• Titanic Beach & Spa is the value-luxury family option, seven on-site restaurants, a 17-slide waterpark, kids stay free on selected dates. Easier on the wallet than the five-stars, plenty for everyone to do.

• Jasmine Palace is a long-running five-star family favourite, a private beach, five restaurants and six bars across the resort, kids stay free on selected dates. The kind of resort that gets returning bookings, a guest favourite for years.

• DoubleTree by Hilton Mangroovy El Gouna Resort is the El Gouna family option, brand-name reliability, a private beach area, kids' facilities and the El Gouna lagoon-walking-restaurant scene a few minutes away. Excellent recent reviews.

🎉 Groups

• Hilton Hurghada Plaza is the standout group pick. Self-contained Apartments separate from the main hotel building (genuinely useful for groups of 6-plus who want their own space) plus standard Twin and King rooms in the main resort, two pools including an adults-only pool, a Turkish bath spa, multiple restaurants and the Anaconda Bar with live DJs running into the early hours. Walkable to the marina nightlife strip.

• Meraki Resort - Adults Only is the boho-clubbing-scene pick on Hurghada's Red Sea Riviera, private beach, multi-bed room categories (Triple Trouble Rooms work for groups of three), a sports bar, a pub, plus a clubbing scene built into the resort itself. Yoga-to-DJing classes for the daytime version of the same energy.

• Steigenberger Aqua Magic Hotel handles bigger groups well, Family Suites and Junior Suites for multi-room bookings, an on-site waterpark with six slides and a 400m lazy river, five pools, multiple restaurants including late-night dining until midnight, and a 24-hour lounge bar. Ten minutes from the airport.

💰 Value

• Serenity Alma (formerly Serenity Fun City) is the all-rounder family-value pick, a big aquapark, theme-park access, spa and sauna, five-star at four-star money. Strong recent reviews.

• Serry Beach wraps a 14-slide waterpark with a wave pool, day-and-night entertainment and surprisingly polished room amenities (spa products, welcome gift) for the price point. A guest favourite at the value end.

• Lemon & Soul Makadi Garden is the under-the-radar three-star with rooftop bar, private beach access and walk-in access to the Makadi Promenade restaurant strip, a smart pick if you want to base yourself in Makadi Bay without the all-inclusive price tag.

👉 All hotels in Hurghada | All-inclusive holidays in Hurghada

Hurghada Holidays 2026 Travel Guide

🥳 Things to do in Hurghada for groups

Hurghada is popping off for group holidays - here's why:

• Quad Biking - Zoom across the desert dunes on a high-speed ATV for some serious adrenaline pumping.

• Yacht Parties - Rent a private boat for the day and enjoy a boujee afternoon of music, snorkelling, and sunbathing.

• Hurghada Marina - Head to the marina for trendy bars and restaurants that are a guaranteed hit for your Insta-stories.

• Snorkelling Excursions - Grab the gang and head out to the Giftun Islands to explore the coral reefs together, ultimate friend-group goals.

• Desert Safari - Take a 4x4 jeep trek into the Sahara for a traditional Bedouin dinner under the starry night sky.

❤️ Things to do in Hurghada for couples

Romantic vibes? We've got you sorted.

• Sunset Cruises - Set sail on the Red Sea for a sunset cruise that'll make you fall in love with life, the dolphins usually come and say hello too.

• Private Beach Dining - Many swanky resorts offer candlelit dinners on the sand, the holy grail of intimate date nights.

• Desert Star Trekking - Head into the Sahara for a worldie dinner under a sky that’s absolutely beaming with bright stars.

• Couples’ Spa Retreats - Treat yourselves to a dreamy Egyptian massage or a traditional hammam session for the ultimate relaxation vibes.

• Hot-Air Balloon Rides - Take a short trip to nearby Luxor for a sunrise flight to make some guaranteed memories-for-life.

👨‍👩‍👧‍👦 Things to do in Hurghada for families

Keep everyone smiling on your family holiday with activities for all ages to sink their teeth into - win-win!

• Jungle Aqua Park - Spend the day at this whopping waterpark featuring 35 slides and plenty of pools for non-stop family fun.

• Sand City - Visit this one-of-a-kind open-air museum to see mahoosive sand sculptures of pharaohs and famous cartoon characters.

• Dolphin World - Catch a spectacular show or book a session to swim with dolphins for a special moment that's straight-up stun.

• Glass-Bottom Boat - Perfect for little ones who aren't quite ready to snorkel but still want to see the mega colourful fishies.

🍽️ Things to do in Hurghada for foodies

Dive mouth-first into Egyptian cuisine on your Hurghada jollies.

• Fresh Seafood - Head to the marina for the always-amaze catch of the day, served with insane views and a side of salty breeze.

• Street Food Crawl - Grab some falafel or a shawarma wrap from a local vendor for a quick and easy taste of Egypt.

• Kushari Tasting - Try Egypt’s national dish - a delish mix of rice, pasta, lentils, and chickpeas topped with a spicy tomato sauce.

• Traditional Mealtimes - Pull up a chair for some kofta and feteer, a buttery, flaky pastry that is a national treasure and very filling.

• Egyptian Tea - kick back in a local café with a mint tea or a strong coffee for the ultimate chilled-out foodie mood.

🗺️ More Places to Visit

Settled on Egypt but not sure on Hurghada? There are a couple of standout alternatives along the Red Sea that are well worth a look.

🌴 Sharm el Sheikh - One of Egypt’s most popular resort destinations, known for its lively atmosphere, luxury hotels and incredible coral reefs. Think beach clubs, boat trips and some of the best snorkelling and diving in the Red Sea.

🐠 Marsa Alam - Quieter, more untouched and perfect if you’re after pure relaxation. Expect pristine beaches, crystal-clear waters and world-class diving spots, with a chance to see turtles and even dugongs in their natural habitat.