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How many days in Hurghada? 4 days of reefs, islands, desert and Luxor
By Tony Panopoulos · travel-agency planner in Greece · Updated
Hurghada began as a small fishing town and became, from the 1980s, the main resort of Egypt's Red Sea coast: tens of kilometres of hotels between the desert mountains and some of the richest coral reefs within easy reach of Europe. Most people spend their days on the hotel beach. Give it four days and get out of the resort: one in town, one on a boat to Giftun Island, one long day to Luxor, and one at El Gouna or in the desert.
Short answer
Three days covers the town, the islands and Luxor. Four days adds El Gouna or a desert evening, or a second day on the water for divers.
The 4-day plan, day by day
Day 1: El Dahar, the marina and the Hurghada Museum
Morning. Take a taxi to El Dahar, the old town, and walk the souk before it gets hot: spices, cotton, papyrus and shisha pipes. Then visit El Mina Mosque, the large white mosque on the seafront; visitors can usually enter outside prayer times, with covered arms and legs (women also cover hair).
Afternoon. Visit the Hurghada Museum near Senzo Mall (opened in 2020; about E£300-500 for foreigners, check current price), with pharaonic, Coptic and Islamic pieces from across Egypt. Then walk the promenade of Hurghada Marina, lined with yachts, cafés and restaurants.
Evening. Eat grilled fish at a restaurant in the Sakkala or El Dahar districts, where you choose the fish by weight and it is cooked with rice, salads and tahini (about E£500-1,000 per person).
In the souk, bargaining is expected. Start at about a third of the first price and stay good-humoured; walking away politely often brings the price down.
Day 2: Giftun Island and Orange Bay
Morning. Join a boat from the marina to Giftun Island, part of a protected area about 30-45 minutes offshore (about US$25-45 per person with lunch, often priced in dollars or euros; a national park fee may be extra). The first stop is usually a reef for snorkelling, with parrotfish, clownfish and corals in shallow water.
Afternoon. Land on the white-sand beaches of Orange Bay or Mahmya on Giftun for a swim in shallow turquoise water. Many boats add a second reef stop on the way back.
Evening. Back in town, take a walk along the marina and a coffee or mint tea in a café. Dinner of koshari, Egypt's national dish of rice, lentils, pasta and spicy tomato sauce, costs E£80-150.
Use reef-safe sunscreen and a T-shirt in the water; do not stand on or touch the coral. Many boats are crowded in high season; smaller private boats cost more but stop at quieter reefs.
Day 3: A day trip to Luxor
Morning. Leave at about 5:00 by tour minibus or private car for Luxor, about 4 hours away by road. Start on the West Bank at the Valley of the Kings (about E£700-800 for three tombs; extra tickets for Tutankhamun and Seti I), then the terraced temple of Hatshepsut at Deir el-Bahari.
Afternoon. Stop at the Colossi of Memnon, two stone statues more than 3,000 years old, then cross to the East Bank for the Karnak Temple complex, with the hypostyle hall of 134 giant columns (about E£600-700; check current prices). Lunch is usually included in tours.
Evening. Drive back to Hurghada, arriving about 21:00-22:00. If you can, stay a night in Luxor instead and see the Luxor Temple lit up after dark.
A Luxor day trip is long and hot. Bring water, a hat and cash for tips. A guided tour (about US$60-120 per person) is easier than going alone, as tickets and drivers are arranged.
Day 4: El Gouna or the desert
Morning. Take a taxi about 25 km (30 minutes) north to El Gouna, a car-light town built on lagoons, with a marina at Abu Tig, canal boat rides and kitesurfing schools (lessons about €50-80 per hour). Some areas charge a small entry fee for visitors.
Afternoon. Swim at one of El Gouna's beaches, rent a kayak on the lagoon, or return south and relax at Makadi Bay or Sahl Hasheesh, quieter resort bays with house reefs you can snorkel from the shore.
Evening. Instead, join a desert safari in the late afternoon: quad bikes or jeeps into the Eastern Desert, a Bedouin camp with bread baked on embers, a camel ride and stars at night (about US$25-50 per person).
Desert tours can be noisy and touristy. Ask for small groups and a camp away from the main highway if you want silence and stars.
Only have 3 days?
With 3 days, do the town, Giftun and Luxor. You lose El Gouna and the desert.
Got extra days?
Extra days go to diving, with day boats to the reefs of Abu Ramada, Carless Reef and the El Fanadir shelf, or a liveaboard to the northern wrecks; to Safaga and Soma Bay, an hour south; or a night in Luxor to see the West Bank at sunrise, sometimes by hot-air balloon.
Where to stay in Hurghada
| Budget | Area | Why | Typical double/night |
|---|---|---|---|
| Budget | El Dahar / Sakkala | Simple hotels in town, near the souk, the marina and dive centres. | E£1,500-3,000 |
| Mid-range | Village Road / Sakkala | Beach hotels within a short taxi of the marina and restaurants. | E£3,500-7,000 |
| Mid-range | Makadi Bay / Sahl Hasheesh | Large resorts with house reefs, 20-40 minutes south. | E£4,000-9,000 |
| Comfort | El Gouna and luxury resorts | Lagoon hotels, boutique stays and five-star beaches. | E£10,000-25,000 |
Getting around
Hurghada is spread out along the coast. Use taxis (agree the price first) or ride apps such as Uber and Careem, which work in town: most rides cost E£50-200. Local minibuses run along the main roads for a few pounds. Hurghada International Airport is south of the centre, about 10-20 minutes to Sakkala and 30-40 minutes to Makadi Bay. Tours to Luxor, Cairo and the desert usually include hotel pickup. Buses to Cairo take about 6-7 hours; flights about 1 hour.
What to eat in Hurghada
Hurghada mixes resort buffets with Egyptian street food. Try koshari, ful medames (stewed fava beans) and ta'ameya (Egyptian falafel made with fava beans) for breakfast, for E£30-80 in local places. Grilled fish and seafood, chosen at the counter and charged by weight, is the town's speciality. Molokhia, a green soup of jute leaves, and mahshi, stuffed vegetables, are home-style dishes. Hotels and some restaurants serve alcohol; local places usually do not. Tips (baksheesh) of 10% are expected in restaurants.
Best time to visit
March to May and October to November are best: highs of 25-32°C and warm sea around 23-27°C. June to September is very hot, often 35-40°C, but the sea is warmest. December to February has highs of about 21-24°C and cooler evenings; the sea is around 21-23°C, fine for diving with a wetsuit. Winds are common all year, good for kitesurfing.
What a day costs
| Budget | Mid-range | Comfort | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Bed (per person, sharing a double) | E£900 | E£2,500 | E£7,000 |
| Food & drink | E£600 | E£1,500 | E£3,500 |
| Sights & tickets | E£800 | E£2,000 | E£4,000 |
| Local transport | E£150 | E£400 | E£1,000 |
| Total per person, per day | about E£2,450 | about E£6,400 | about E£15,500 |
Approximate 2026 prices in Egyptian pounds; many tours and dive centres quote in US dollars or euros, and the Luxor trip pushes sights up on that day. Hotel prices may include taxes and service charges; check whether all-inclusive packages cover drinks.
Before you go
Common questions
Is Hurghada good for snorkelling from the beach?
It depends on the hotel. In central Hurghada, beaches are often sandy and shallow, and the best reefs are reached by boat. Resorts in Makadi Bay, Sahl Hasheesh and some on Village Road have house reefs and jetties for snorkelling from the shore. Ask your hotel before booking if a house reef matters to you.
Is a Luxor day trip from Hurghada worth it?
Yes, if you accept a long day. You leave around 5:00 and return late, with about 8 hours on the road, but you see the Valley of the Kings, Hatshepsut's temple and Karnak in one go. If you have more time, spend at least one night in Luxor to see more and travel less.
Do I need a visa for Egypt?
Many nationalities can buy a visa on arrival at Hurghada airport, paid in US dollars or euros, or get an e-visa online beforehand. Some, including several European countries, can enter the South Sinai area visa-free, but this does not apply to Hurghada. Check current rules for your passport.
Is Hurghada safe?
Hurghada is one of Egypt's most visited resorts and generally safe for travellers. Expect persistent sellers in the souk and around the marina, and agree taxi prices first. Take care with the sun and water. Some beaches have sea urchins and currents, so follow lifeguards and hotel guidance.
How this guide was made
Compiled by TonyPlan from official tourism, transport and attraction sources and on-the-ground travel knowledge. Prices are approximate for 2026 and change with season; anything we could not confirm is marked as approximate.
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