Travel Guide to Hurghada

Location

Located on the sun kissed shores of the Red Sea, the lively resort of Hurghada stretches out over 20km and can satisfy the needs of every visitor, from scuba diving to windsurfing to desert safaris.

Shopping

The small town centre with its bazaars, mosques and lively atmosphere reflects typical Egyptian life – haggle with the locals and pick up some great bargains including gold, leather and papyrus.

Geography

Hurghada is in reality three main centres and numerous self-contained tourist villages now growing into one body. To the north, lies the place that is closest to being a town, Ad-Dahar, which has more than half of the total local population, and the the most price worthy hotels and restaurants.

A couple of kilometres south, comes Sigala, a place that suffers from being between Ad-Dahar and New Hurghada a few kilometres more to the south. There are some hotels here, some restaurants, but relatively few tourists.

History

Until recently Hurghada was a small fishing village, and was not visited by anybody from outside of the local area. This was true as recently as the 1970s. However, once tourists discovered the clear blue water and great opportunities for diving, Hurghada quickly grew into a major tourist destination.

Climate

Basic Information

Language
Arabic is Egypt’s official language, but English and French are widely spoken.

Currency
The unit of currency is the Egyptian pound (LE), which is divided up into 100 piastres (pt).When entering the country with Egyptian currency: there is a limit of LE 5,000 per person. There is no restriction on American dollars, pounds sterling or euros which can be easily exchanged in Egypt.

Electricity
Plugs are continental style (two round pins) and the voltage is 220 V.

Banks
Banks are generally open from 9:30am to 12:30pm (these may differ on Fridays and during the month of Ramadan). Outside these hours, you can change money at hotels.

Driving
Traffic drives on the right. Drivers need an international driving licence and the minimum age is 21.

Time Difference
GMT + 2

Tipping and Local Customs
In restaurants, bars and cafes the level of around 10%. Taxis, 5-10%. It is customary to tip tour guides 5-10 LE and chambermaids 10-15 LE

Water
Bottled mineral water is recommended.

Visas
British and other EU nationals must obtain a visa from the Egyptian Consulate before travel.

Passports must be valid for at least 6 months from the date of travel.

Tourist information
www.gotoegypt.org
www.hurghada.co.uk

What makes it so special?
The unique underwater gardens offshore are some of the finest in the world and the warm waters are ideal for many varieties of rare fish and coral reefs, perfect for scuba diving. This plus the desert sands and year round sunshine make Hurghada a great holiday spot.

Where to visit?
Relax on the beach

Enjoy the resort’s range of recreational facilities

Visit local archaeological sites or venture further afield to visit the ancient wonders around Luxor

World class fishing, snorkelling and scuba diving in the Red Sea

Desert safaris and quad-biking

Test your bargaining skills in the local markets