YOUR HOLIDAY PARADISE AT THE RED SEA
Welcome to Hurghada
Sun and sea all year round!
From fishing village to tourist metropolis
In the 1980s, the few inhabitants of the small and once poor fishing village of Hurghada created a boom that now accounts as much as 12 percent of Egypt's gross domestic product. Hurghada became the first and most popular tourist destination of the Red Sea, meanwhile grown into a big city.
215.000 inhabitants are spread along a 40-kilometer coastline. Throughout the year, tourists from all over Europe visit the numerous hotels of all price and comfort categories that have settled along the coastal roads. Most of them come from Germany and Great Britain.
In the very north of Hurghada, on the city limits to El Gouna, another tourist centre is being built in the Al Ahyaa district. This is also where you'll find our Aqua Palms Studio A210.
Further south, the old town centre ad-Dahar is connected to it. This is the best place to observe colorful everyday Egyptian life – for example, on a visit to one of the large Egyptian markets.
The main tourist center follows in El Sekalla, with many hotels, restaurants, and shops, as well as the new luxury marina and the well-known entertainment strip on Sheraton Road.
Another lively promenade for visitors looking for experiences can be found in Al Mamsha, between other well-known hotels such as Steigenberger Al Dau Beach and the Grand Resort.
In the far south of the city, another hotel strip stretches through the Magawish district. Slightly elevated above the rooftops, Sky Star Village is located here, with our Villa 25 right at the city’s edge near the checkpoint to Safaga. After an exciting day in the holiday metropolis of Hurghada, it is best to relax in this area far away from package tourism, but still with sunrise over the sea and sunset in the mountains of the Arabian Desert.
Impressions of Hurghada and the surrounding area
Landmarks
The magnificent Al Mina Mosque near the harbor is Hurghada’s new landmark.
Ahoy, pirates!
From the harbor in Hurghada, you can also set sail on real sailing boats.
On approach
More than 8 million passengers travel through Hurghada International Airport (shown here: Terminal 1) every year – arriving in the country and flying from here to destinations around the world.
Harbor entrance
Hurghada Marina isn’t just a berth for countless ships, boats, and yachts. By evening, the many restaurants and bars along the quay become a go-to spot for guests from all over the world.
Right in the thick of it
If you visit the ad-Dahar district, you’re right in the middle of everyday Egyptian life for locals.
Market time
In an Egyptian “souq” (market), countless vendors offer their fresh goods.
Sherry Street
As a side street off Sheraton Street in the heart of Hurghada, Sherry Street is a popular walking mile with plenty of shops and restaurants.
Off to the beach
The attractive seaside promenade of Sahl Hasheesh in the south of the city is perfect for a long walk along the Red Sea.
Light show
Bright and welcoming: the lighting concept of the resort town of Sahl Hasheesh.
Sand by the sea
What could be better than a relaxing beach day on the Red Sea?
Evening sun
Enjoy the breathtaking sunset over the mountains of the Arabian Desert from out on the water!
Lagoon City
El Gouna, “Little Venice” in Egypt: The lagoon town north of Hurghada invites you to linger presenting itself as luxury resort for the wealthy.
The Red Sea reefs:
Your diving and snorkeling paradise
Year-round temperatures above 20 degrees – both in the air and in the water – make Egypt an ideal vacation destination. The warm water temperatures create a natural phenomenon: There are no coral reefs like those in the Red Sea anywhere else at similarly northern latitudes. To see a comparable spectacle, you’d otherwise need at least a 12-hour flight towards Asia. In contrast, you can reach the Red Sea from European airports in only around 4.5 hours. These are ideal conditions for divers and snorkelers, who are taken by boat from Hurghada by many operators to the best reefs in the area.
If you like our diving photos, we’d also like to introduce our fish ID project "Rifflexikon". It gives you an even deeper online look into the Red Sea’s underwater world.
The perfect way to get in the mood for your vacation!
Impressions from the Red Sea
Nemo’s world
Nemo’s Indo-Pacific buddy: the Red Sea anemonefish
Lunch time
The great barracuda is a notorious hunter in the Red Sea – sometimes alone, sometimes in large schools. Divers, however, are not on its menu.
Colorful clouds
Life on the reef is vibrant. When the countless small, colorful anthias swarm out over the reef, you find yourself in a true cloud of fish.
Sea turtle
The green sea turtle can live up to 100 years, but almost never reaches that age. These animals are critically endangered and urgently need our protection. Fortunately, you still encounter them more often in the Red Sea.
An encounter
When divers and fish (shown here: an Arabian angelfish) meet on the reef, it depends on the diver’s behavior how long the encounter lasts. Calm movements are key.
I'm walking!
The Red Sea walkman is easy to miss for the untrained eye. True to its name, it “walks” across the seafloor with its pectoral fins tucked in. But when it spreads its fins out, it’s a burst of color!
Photo shoot
Who doesn’t like to pose for a great photo? Here, a giant moray eel presents itself to an underwater photographer’s lens.
Makeup artist
The masked puffer slowly glides along the reef with its small fins.
In the school
Traveling in large schools makes you look like one big opponent to a predator. Smart!
Clowns at a reef
Anemonefish are the “clowns of the reef.” Always in attack mode, they’ll even go after their own reflection in a diver’s mask.
Snorkeling ...
You don’t have to dive to take part in the colorful life on the Red Sea reefs. Snorkelers get their money’s worth, too!
Or diving?
For everyone who wants to go deeper: When will you get your scuba diving certification and become part of the community?
Arriving in Hurghada
German citizens need a passport for their stay in Egypt that is valid for at least six months beyond the booked trip. Alternatively, entry is also possible with a national ID card. In that case, however, two biometric passport photos are also required. Since the national ID card is not accepted everywhere in Egypt as sufficient identification, we recommend traveling with a passport.
As a rule, entry cards are distributed on the plane, which every traveler must fill out carefully. After landing, you must purchase a tourist visa upon presentation of your ID document, which is then affixed in your passport. We recommend buying the visa at one of the entry counters in the arrivals hall. There you pay only the regular price of USD 25.00 or the equivalent amount converted into euros or any other currency at the current exchange rate.
Alternatively, many tour operators also offer the visa. However, they add a service fee, making it more expensive.
If you plan to stay longer or travel to Egypt more often and want to use your smartphone with an Egyptian SIM card, there’s an additional new requirement: you must register the smartphone with the National Telecommunications Regulatory Authority (NTRA) for a fee in order to keep using it after the new 90-day “duty-free” period. If you don’t, it will automatically be blocked once the period ends and can no longer be used with an Egyptian SIM card. Registration is done via the NTRA app “Telephony”.
Please make sure to check all entry requirements for Egypt before you travel. For example, you can use the German Federal Foreign Office website. Travelers who are not German citizens should also check with their respective consulates.
Activities and excursions
Experience Egypt up close!
For those who want to experience fun, culture and variety during their holidays, besides lots of sun and relaxation, we can refer you to certified providers in Hurghada, who offer a variety of different activities and excursions. For this, you can contact us at any time – before your arrival as well as during your stay on site.
How about a private discovery tour through your holiday city Hurghada? Accompanied by a local guide, you will visit the Al Mina Mosque, the fish market and the marina. In addition, you will experience an original Egyptian souq in ad-Dahar and immerse yourself in the traditional culture of your holiday destination. You will learn everything that is worth knowing about Hurghada – starting with the history of the city, its importance for tourism in the country and the way of life of the locals.
You are more interested in the Red Sea? Our service partner has the right activities for every taste: If you want to snorkel by yourself, a boat trip to the Giftun Islands might be a good idea. If you want to stay dry and still watch the fish, you might want to take a trip on the glass-bottom boat. Or we can recommend a top-rated diving centre that will introduce you to the secrets of the underwater world!
Do you want to dive even deeper, but into Egyptian history? Then join one of the day trips to Luxor, including a visit to the Valley of the Kings, the temple of Queen Hatshepsut etc. and a stop at one of the world famous papyrus factories. Or you can visit the capital city: A day trip also leads to Cairo. Here you will see the Egyptian Museum, the pyramids of Giza and the mysterious Sphinx statue.
Impressions of activities and excursions in Egypt
Fakir show
A great Egyptian folklore show wouldn’t be complete without a fakir – alongside belly dance and whirling dervishes – with fire-breathing and a bed of nails included!
Boat trip
Day trips by boat on the Red Sea are extremely popular. Snorkelers and divers can head out to the reefs from here; sunseekers stay on deck.
Desert ride
Riding in the desert, on the beach, or even in the sea is a wonderful experience with our friends at Equestrian Dream! We’re happy to put you in touch.
Cairo & pyramids
A trip to the pyramids can be perfectly combined with a visit to the markets and the Grand Egyptian Museum in Cairo.
Hieroglyphs
The inscriptions of the ancient Egyptians on walls and stone tablets can be admired both at the pyramids and in temples and tombs in and around Luxor. If you don’t want to travel that far, we recommend the Hurghada Museum.
Luxor
The temple complexes in Luxor (e.g., Luxor Temple, Karnak Temple, Hatshepsut Temple, Avenue of Sphinxes, Colossi of Memnon, etc.) offer a deep insight into Ancient Egypt.
Valley of the Kings
In the “Valley of the Kings” on the west bank of the Nile near Luxor, you can admire the excavation sites of the pharaohs’ tombs. Here you go deep underground into the burial chambers of the ancient Egyptian rulers.
Nile cruise
The Nile is Egypt’s lifeline. Around the river lies the country’s “green lung.” Nile cruises are a popular change of pace from a beach vacation and highly recommended.
Super Safari
So-called "Super Safaris" give you a small taste of many activities at once: jeep rides into the desert, quad and spider-car tours, camel rides, and visits with the Bedouins.
Camel riding
“If you haven’t ridden a camel even once, you haven’t really been to Egypt,” they say. When will you take a seat on the swaying back of a “ship of the desert”?
Quad tours
An (individual) quad tour into the desert is an experience: These motorized four-wheelers make it easy to tear across rough terrain.
"Sunset"
During a break on the quad, and in the right spot, you can enjoy a spectacular sunset over the mountains of the Egyptian desert.
"Spider Car"
Outings in a “Spider Car” are very popular, since you sit a bit more comfortably than on a quad. And you won’t need the roll bar – promise!
Seaside events
Fun on the Red Sea waves includes banana boats, parasailing, jet skis, and more! If you’d rather watch the fish, there are glass-bottom boats and even a submarine.
Learn to surf
In and around Hurghada, there are several ways to surf – traditional windsurfing, and for advanced riders, the especially exciting kitesurfing. Experienced instructors offer their courses.
Water parks
For fun and action, visit one of the large water and slide parks in the area – especially the “Neverland” Park and Makadi Water World.
Bedouins
A visit with the Bedouins offers plenty of insight into Egypt’s desert peoples and their lives far from civilization. How do you dig a well in the desert? How do you find anything edible out here?
"Ghost City"
“Ghost City” is an abandoned town in the middle of the desert, south of Hurghada near Safaga. You can even still find an old school with writing on the chalkboard and various utensils.
Hurghada and Egypt are always worth the trip! Stay in one of our luxury accommodations and your vacation becomes a dream getaway!
Take a closer look at our Sky Star Villa or our Aqua Palms Studio – and book your stay right away!
Disclaimer: Any offers and services that go beyond our vacation rental are merely our recommendations. On the one hand, we provide you with links that refer to selected providers; on the other hand, we leverage our relationships for you and put you in touch locally with the right people. In doing so, we act neither as a provider/organizer nor as an intermediary in the sense of a travel agency. Bookings are made exclusively directly with our respective partners. Should we, at your request, pass your data on to one of our partners, they will contact you and discuss and finalize the booking of services with you directly.
