Hurghada travel guide 2026: Red Sea reefs, visas and itinerary

Hurghada is Egypt's most established Red Sea resort town, built around some of the most accessible coral reefs in the world. It works as a straightforward beach and diving holiday, and it also functions as a base for longer excursions to Luxor. This guide covers the visa rules that changed in 2026, seasons, transfers and a 5-day plan.

Visas: what changed in 2026

Most nationalities can enter Egypt on a tourist visa, and there are two routes.

The visa on arrival is bought at a bank counter before immigration at Hurghada airport. Its price rose from 25 to 30 US dollars on 1 March 2026, and it is best paid in cash with exact change, since change can be given at poor rates.

The e-visa, applied for in advance through the official government portal at visa2egypt.gov.eg, costs 25 dollars for a single entry. It is now both cheaper than the visa on arrival and saves you the airport queue, which makes it the better option for most travellers who plan ahead.

Both grant 30 days, with a grace period beyond that. Use the official portal rather than the many third-party sites that charge substantial markups for the same document.

When to visit Hurghada

The period from roughly October to April offers the most comfortable temperatures, with warm days and mild evenings. This is peak season for European visitors escaping winter.

Summer, particularly June to August, is extremely hot, with daytime temperatures that make anything beyond the pool or the sea uncomfortable. The sea stays warm year-round, and winter water temperatures remain swimmable, though divers may want a thicker wetsuit between December and February.

Where to stay

The resort strip north and south of the town is where most visitors stay: beachfront hotels, largely all-inclusive, with pools, private beach access and dive centres on site. These are self-contained, and many guests barely leave them.

The marina and old town area, El Dahar, gives a more local feel with independent restaurants, shops and a working harbour. Staying there means a more Egyptian trip and less of a resort one, though beach access is less convenient.

Transfers and getting around

Pre-booked hotel transfers or a reputable car service are the recommended way to get from the airport, and are usually arranged with your accommodation in advance. Unsolicited taxi offers at the airport are the most common source of complaints, with unclear pricing and inflated fares.

Within town, taxis are cheap but almost always require agreeing a fare before setting off, since meters are seldom used. Many resorts also run shuttles to the marina and main shopping areas.

Example 5-day Hurghada itinerary

Prompt idea: "5-day Hurghada itinerary in 2026, first-time visitor, staying at a beach resort, include snorkelling and one desert excursion."

• Day 1 - Arrival: transfer, check in, beach or pool afternoon.
• Day 2 - Reef day: boat trip to nearby snorkelling or dive sites with lunch on board.
• Day 3 - Desert: quad bike or jeep tour, Bedouin camp visit, sunset over the mountains.
• Day 4 - Luxor or a second sea day: the long day trip to the temples and Valley of the Kings, or another day on the water.
• Day 5 - Departure: final beach morning, transfer to the airport.

If you are combining destinations, our Marrakech travel guide covers a natural pairing with this trip.

See what else the planner handles on the features page, or start from the trip planner directly.

FAQs

Do I need a visa, and which type is better?

Most nationalities do. The e-visa costs 25 dollars through the official government portal and skips the airport queue, while the visa on arrival rose to 30 dollars in March 2026 and is paid in cash at the airport. The e-visa is usually the better choice.

Is the tap water safe to drink?

No. Use bottled water for drinking and brushing your teeth. Resorts provide it, and it is inexpensive to buy.

Is Hurghada safe, including for solo women travellers?

The resort areas and main tourist zones are generally safe and heavily used by international visitors. Sensible precautions apply: use pre-booked transfers, avoid isolated areas after dark, and dress more modestly away from the beach and resort grounds, where local norms are conservative.

How much should I tip?

Tipping is a normal part of the economy here. Around 10 to 15 percent in restaurants is typical, with small notes for housekeeping, porters and drivers. Carrying small denominations makes this much easier.

Is the Luxor day trip worth it?

It is spectacular but long, often starting before dawn and involving several hours of driving each way. It is worth doing once, ideally not on your last day, and not stacked next to another full-day excursion.

What do first-time visitors get wrong?

Accepting unregulated taxi offers at the airport, underestimating the strength of the sun, booking back-to-back long excursions with no recovery time, and paying inflated prices on third-party visa websites.