14 Very Best Things to Do in Hurghada, Egypt

Looking for cool things to do in Hurghada? Don’t forget to check out this list of the very best things to do in Hurghada, Egypt.

Hurghada is one of the most popular travel destinations in Egypt. With cheap rates and a sun guarantee, the city attracts many travelers every single year.

In fact, Hurghada is the oldest and most famous resort in Egypt with the most beautiful coastlines and excellent hotels. Most people do not leave their hotel during the vacation, but that’s a real shame. Because there are so many fun and memorable things to do in Hurghada and the surrounding area.

I must admit that I’m not exactly the biggest fan of Egypt. It’s a breathtaking and adventurous country, but I felt very insecure because of the intrusive Egyptian men. However, it must be said that there are extremely different attitudes about whether people feel insecure in Hurghada or not.

Egypt is either a place you’ll hate or love. There’s not really anything in between. The only way to figure out how you feel is by visiting Egypt and getting your own impressions. Even though I’m not the biggest fan of Egypt, you’ll still get a list of the very best things to do in Hurghada, Egypt.

Table of Contents

The best things to do in Hurghada:

1. El Dahar Bazaar

In the Old Town of Hurghada, you’ll find the El Dahar Bazaar, an authentic bazaar with real Egyptian touch. This old area is filled with narrow streets, old buildings, and colorful shops. The bazaar is brought to life every day from around noon to late evening.

Inside the bazaar, you’ll find a myriad of small stalls selling all sorts of traditional Egyptian goods. You can simply buy everything from rugs, clothes, and spices to hookahs, brass, and more. When visiting the El-Dahar Bazaar, be sure to negotiate the price. It isn’t uncommon to reduce the price to half the starting price. The authentic atmosphere in the bazaar definitely makes it one of the best things to do in Hurghada.

2. Diving and snorkeling in the Red Sea

One of the best things to do in Hurghada is to dive or snorkel in the Red Sea. The Red Sea is actually known to be one of the best places in the world for diving and snorkeling! It’s absolutely amazing to see the beautiful coral reef and the thousands of colorful fish below the surface of the sea.

If you want to settle for snorkeling in Egypt, I highly recommend this full-day snorkeling trip from GetYourGuide. The trip involves you being sailed around the Red Sea with the opportunity to jump into the sea at several different locations. If you’re lucky, you might even spot free dolphins frolicking in the waves. The trip also includes a longer stopover at Giftun Island as well as a delicious lunch onboard the boat. It really is a great and cheap full-day trip that’s incredibly popular.

3. Mini Egypt

Mini Egypt is located just outside Hurghada and is an open-air museum with miniature models of Egypt’s most famous buildings and monuments. Here you can learn about Egypt’s exciting history and architecture without having to travel around Egypt.

When visiting Mini Egypt, you can see miniature models of many iconic buildings. For example, you can see the pyramids of Giza, the great temple complex of Luxor, and more. If you’re interested in a visit, you can book this trip to Mini Egypt from GetYourGuide. One of the best things about the trip is that you don’t have to think about transportation as it’s already included in the trip.

4. Water sports activities

Hurghada is an extremely popular destination for water sports activities. The Red Sea has the best conditions for great experiences at sea. At the various resorts and beaches of Hurghada, you can find all kinds of water sports activities. Here you can rent everything from jet skis and banana boats to kayaks and canoes. You can also try parasailing, windsurfing, and more. Trying out some of the water sports activities is definitely one of the best things to do in Hurghada.

5. Sand City Hurghada

In a hotel area just outside the city, you’ll find Sand City Hurghada. This is an open-air museum with a large number of sand sculptures. The large sculptures are very impressive and are made by artists from several countries. You can find mythological sculptures, Disney animated sculptures, superheroes, and much more. Sand City Hurghada is a fun attraction in Hurghada and well worth a visit.

6. Hurghada Marina

Hurghada Marina is a lovely and modern marina with a wonderful atmosphere. It’s one of the best things to do in Hurghada at night as it really comes to life after dark. Along the marina promenade, there are countless great restaurants, bars, and shops just waiting to be explored.

Slip past Hurghada Marina at sunset, enjoy the atmosphere and the last rays of the sun over the Egyptian landscape. It’s really beautiful when the sun goes down in the Red Sea! You can also enjoy the sight of fine and expensive yachts, drink Egyptian tea, or smoke some hookah.

7. Makadi Water World

Just outside Hurghada is Makadi Water World, one of the largest water parks in Egypt. Here you’ll find more than 50 water rides and activities, swimming pools, and much more. You can also find several different water slides, one of which has a free fall.

The water park also offers a children’s pool with a pirate theme, a lazy river, and so much more. If hunger strikes, you can slip past the restaurant with fast food already included in the entrance ticket. How smart! A visit to Makadi Water World is seriously one of the funniest things to do in Hurghada, Egypt.

8. El Mina Mosque

Close to Hurghada Marina, you’ll find the El Mina Mosque. This isn’t only the largest but also the most beautiful mosque in Hurghada. The magnificent mosque is located on the waterfront and is decorated with white marble and beautiful architectural carvings. There are also two tall minarets, each about 40 feet high.

If there’s no prayer or other religious event, you are allowed to enter the mosque. However, you should be aware that you need to be decently dressed just like at most other religious places. Inside the El Mina Mosque, it’s incredibly beautifully and colorfully decorated with chandeliers, detailed carvings, and Islamic murals. A visit to the El Mina Mosque is one of the most cultural things to do in Hurghada.

9. Senzo Mall

Senzo Mall is a shopping mall located about a 10-minute drive from Hurghada. Inside the center, there’s a large selection of local and international shops and restaurants as well as a supermarket. Senzo Mall also has a cinema, slot machines, and an excellent playground for the kids. If you’re looking for shopping in Hurghada, this is definitely the place to go!

10. Go on a submarine trip

One of the most unique things to do in Hurghada is to go on a submarine trip in the Red Sea. When you’re on vacation in Hurghada, you simply must explore the colorful corals and wildlife of the Red Sea. If you don’t like diving or snorkeling, then it’s completely obvious to go on a submarine trip. This way, you can explore the amazing life beneath the surface of the ocean, completely without getting wet. Amazing, right?

The popular submarine in Hurghada is called Sinbad Submarine. This submarine dives into the magical world of the sea at a depth of 22 meters. Onboard the submarine there are 18 panoramic windows and plenty of seating, making it easy for you to enjoy the view. I recommend booking a trip with Sinbad Submarine at GetYourGuide.

11. Jungle Aqua Park

Jungle Aqua Park is located just outside the city and is one of the largest water parks in Hurghada. Here you’ll find about 35 water slides and almost as many swimming pools. It’s a true water paradise for the whole family and is among the best things to do in Hurghada on a sunny day.

The many water slides in Jungle Aqua Park all have different adrenaline levels to suit the whole family. There are reportedly 21 water slides for adults and 14 for children. In addition to water slides, there are also children’s pools and many fun water activities for children. You can also find a large selection of eateries in Jungle Aqua Park.

12. Quad Bike Safari in the desert of Egypt

One of my best experiences in Hurghada was a day trip on an ATV in the desert of Egypt. We were each assigned an ATV and drove off into the endless dunes while the sun shone from a cloudless sky. It was eerily hot but also incredibly fun! We made sure to bring scarves and sunglasses, so we didn’t get sand in our eyes, noses, and mouths.

After driving in the desert for some time, we stopped at a small village in the middle of the desert. Here we were allowed to ride camels, smoke hookahs, and drink Egyptian tea in a small house. However, I really regret my camel riding as I’ve become much more aware of animal welfare since then. We booked our desert trip through our travel agency, but you can also book cheap Quad Bike Safari trips from GetYourGuide.

13. Day trip to Luxor

Although Luxor is located about a 4 hours’ drive from Hurghada, it’s still one of the best things to do in Hurghada. Luxor is just one of those places you must see in Egypt at least once. But why, you might be thinking? Because Luxor is the largest temple complex in Egypt! In fact, it’s often called the largest open-air museum in the world.

When visiting Luxor, you’ll be greeted by an eventful history, beautiful archeological buildings, and ancient royal tombs. Luxor is located on the banks of the Nile which is believed to be the longest river in the world. Thus, it’s obvious to go on a boat trip on the Nile. There are many different day trips from Hurghada to Luxor. However, I highly recommend this full-day trip to Luxor on Getyourguide.com.

14. Full day trip to Cairo

Cairo is the capital of Egypt and offers many exciting sights. Most notable are the ancient and world-famous pyramids of Giza. You’ve definitely already heard of them before! They’re one of the seven ancient wonders of the world and are an absolute must-see sight in Egypt.

You should be aware that Cairo is located far from Hurghada, and it takes a day trip of more than 12 hours to reach it. Even though it’s a long drive, it’s still one of those places in Egypt that you shouldn’t miss. Most travel agencies arrange day trips to Cairo. Alternatively, book GetYourGuide’s popular day trip to Cairo and Giza.

One last remark on this article of the best things to do in Hurghada …. You really should avoid visiting Dolphin World. The dolphins do not feel well in captivity and suffer every single day because the tourists are entertained at the expense of the animals. If you visit Dolphin World, it means you support animal cruelty, no matter what the sellers try to portray you.

That’s all on this list of the very best things to do in Hurghada, Egypt. What are your favorite things to do in Hurghada? What are you looking forward to on your trip to Hurghada? Feel free to leave a comment!