The city of Hurghada - Travel guide

The city of Hurghada - Travel guide

The city of Hurghada - Travel guide

The Hurghada region stretches along approximately 40 km of coastline on the Red Sea in Egypt. Hurghada is a popular diving destination, and the modern Sekalla district boasts numerous dive shops and schools. Sekalla also offers a wide variety of restaurants, bars, and nightclubs. The old town, El Dahar, is characterized by more traditional Egyptian cafes and souks. A multitude of hotels of varying categories line the long stretch of beach.

The Arabic name for Hurghada.

Hurghada (Arabic: الغردقة, Classical Arabic: al-ġurdaqa, in the local dialect: il-ġurdaga, in the Cairo dialect/standard dialect: pronunciation: [el ɣæɾˈdæʔæ]) is, with 195,000 inhabitants, the largest Egyptian tourist center on the Red Sea. Many of the inhabitants come from cities along the Nile and live there without legal residency permits.

Since the 1980s, Hurghada has been developed into the leading Red Sea resort by European, Arab, and American investors. The name derives from the word "boat dock," as Hurghada has never had a harbor. Most tourists come from Germany, Great Britain, Russia, and the former Soviet republics. Hurghada stretches along the coast with its extensive tourist facilities and new apartment buildings. Many of these new buildings are designed in an oriental style. Hurghada International Airport is located very close to the city.

The coastal region of Hurghada stretches for over 30 km. In the north, Al Ahiaa, many hotels are currently under construction. To the south lies the original town center, ad-Dahar (Downtown). Ad-Dahar was initially an administrative center for the oil fields in the Gulf of Suez. Here, one can still observe typical Egyptian life. Further south of the original town center is the tourist area of ​​as-Siqala (most commonly signposted as El Sekalla) with its many hotels, restaurants, and shops. Further south along the coast, a chain of additional areas with package and luxury hotels stretches out.

The number of tourists far exceeds the local population, not only during peak season. Due to the Muslim culture and the reluctance to grant alcohol licenses, a vibrant nightlife has not developed along the wide Sheraton Road beach promenade in as-Siqala or in the pedestrian zone in ad-Dahar. Hurghada is the first place in Egypt with an alcohol-free hotel.

In the Hurghada region, you'll find a wide variety of hotels offering numerous water sports, including diving, snorkeling, windsurfing, sailing, and deep-sea fishing. The hotels are situated along 20 km of white sandy beaches. However, access to these water sports is limited to hotel rooms, as the hotels are typically separated by fences. At the southern end of the hotel zone, there are some easily accessible coral reefs. The most beautiful reefs, however, lie offshore. Scientists and environmentalists have observed a significant decline in intact reefs for approximately 20 years. This is undoubtedly due, in part, to the excessive number of dives per year exceeding sustainable limits. Consequently, many dive safaris to more distant reefs begin and end at Hurghada's marina.

Sahl Hasheesh is currently under development, though construction has stalled. The plan is to create a region with luxury resorts, five different golf courses, a bay, and an 11-kilometer-long palm-lined promenade. Sahl Hasheesh is intended to be a luxurious holiday destination, not just for golfers.

Further south lie other tourist destinations. Makadi Bay, Soma Bay, and Safaga are located 60 km away. Al-Qusair, the port city of the Ottoman Empire, is 207 km away, and Marsa Alam is 271 km away, with Berenice 400 km away. Continuing 490 km south, you reach Ash-Shalatin and the administrative border with Sudan. The international border lies another 140 km further south at the 22nd parallel north. A government development program is primarily promoting the area north of Marsa Alam. Marsa Alam is expected to replace Hurghada as a major tourist destination in the coming decades.

About 22 km north of Hurghada lies the resort area of ​​El Gouna, a new holiday destination crisscrossed by numerous lagoons. El Gouna was founded in the 1980s by the Egyptian architect Samih Sawiris and has been continuously developed. Previously, this area consisted of only a sandy desert strip between the sea and the mountains. Today, it is an artificial small town made up of hotels and apartment complexes.

Hurghada, or El-Ghurdaqa, is the most famous and largest tourist resort on Egypt's Red Sea coast and part of the Red Sea Riviera. The city is the administrative center of the Red Sea Governorate and has a population of 195,000.

Hurghada, founded at the beginning of the 20th century, served for a time as a base for the British oil exploration company Anglo-Egyptian Oil Fields Company. The company moved its headquarters to Hurghada in 1915 and is a joint venture between Shell and BP. The reason for the relocation was the discovery of oil two years earlier.

The turning point from oil production to tourism came with the construction of the Sheraton Hurghada Hotel in 1963. At that time, Hurghada was a large fishing village that hardly anyone would have ventured into. With the support of the private sector, the then-governor Youssif Afifi wanted to develop this small area. Investors received tax breaks, inexpensive land, streamlined building permits, and no environmental regulations. Thus, the tourism boom began in the early 1980s.

Today, tourism almost completely dominates the city's economic life. There are nearly 200 hotels in all price ranges. Accommodation is often quite affordable, which attracts masses of tourists from many countries.

Further hotels were built in the north in El Gouna and in the south in Sahl Hasheesh, Makadi Bay, Sharm El-Naga and Soma Bay.

Origin of the name

El-Ghurdaqa, the Arabic name of the city, derives from a shrub of the Nitraiaceae family, the charmyk shrub (Nitraria schobers). In Arabic, the shrub is called El-Ghurdaq (الغردق). Such shrubs served as meeting places for fishermen of the Arabian Peninsula. The charmyk shrub can reach a height of about 2 meters and usually grows in saline clay soils. Small, oblong leaves grow on the thin branches, and dark green berries develop from the white flowers. El-Ghurdaqa refers to exactly one shrub.

The name Hurghada is not used in Arabic; it likely arose from a misunderstanding among employees of a British oil company at the beginning of the 20th century. This was probably also due to the fact that the Arabic name el-Ghurdaq was rather uncommon. The 1928 Baedeker travel guide to Egypt mentioned el-Hurghada as the main town in the border region on the Red Sea, with 2,123 inhabitants, described as a workers' village with a school and a mosque.

El Dahar Square | Midan El Dahar | Hurghada Old Town

Dahar is the oldest part of Hurghada and is also known as Downtown. You could say that El Dahar is the most Egyptian district in Hurghada. Other attractions are geared towards tourism. So, if you want to see and explore the real Egypt in Hurghada, visit El Dahar.

Besides its authentic atmosphere, El Dahar is famous for its vegetable market (El Dahar Market), the souk (bazaar area), and the Coptic church. All of these are free and therefore worth visiting.

The Coptic Church of Hurghada in El Dahar

The Coptic Church in El Dahar, Hurghada, is a must-see. Entry is free, and the building itself is breathtaking. Here's everything you need to know before visiting the Coptic Church.

Visiting the Coptic Cathedral in Hurghada was an unforgettable experience. I loved the interior, and the building is equally impressive from the outside. The church is flooded with light, yet also incredibly ornate and breathtaking. Large windows, high ceilings, and bright colors—what more could an architecture enthusiast ask for? The building's architecture, down to the smallest detail, is simply stunning. The Coptic Cathedral of Hurghada is breathtaking.

The Coptic Christians in Egypt

Most Egyptians are Muslim; approximately 5-20% of Egyptians are Coptic Christians. The exact number of Christians in Egypt is uncertain; some statistics indicate 5% and others around 20% of the population. The Christian community in Egypt is the largest and oldest in the Middle East and North Africa.

The majority of Christians in Egypt are members of the Coptic Orthodox Church of Alexandria (Egyptian Orthodox Church). The head of the church is the Pope of the Coptic Orthodox Church of Alexandria. The church has approximately 20 million followers worldwide.

Religion is important to most Egyptians. People, especially Christians, emphasize their faith, perhaps because they are a minority in predominantly Muslim Egypt. Most Coptic Christians wear a small Coptic cross tattooed on their wrist or hand between their thumb and forefinger to signify their faith.

Even if you visit a shop owned by Coptic Christians in Egypt, you'll notice it immediately. There are usually religious images to mark and demonstrate their faith. Even Coptic taxi drivers have crosses and crucifixes in their cars to show their beliefs.

El Mamsha (also called Village Roads, New Hurghada, Promenade)

El Mamsha is the newest district of Hurghada. It is also called Village Roads, New Hurghada, and Promenade. It is the newest area in Hurghada, built primarily for tourists.

Many of the popular hotels are located along El Mamsha: Siva Grand Beach, Grand Hotel, Sindbad, White Beach, Steigenberger Al Dau and so on.

El Mamsha is a four-kilometer-long pedestrian area where you can shop, drink, eat, play, or simply relax. The busiest and most crowded parts of El Mamsha are at the beginning and end. It's a perfect place for a walk and even for exercise.

Along El Mamsha there are shops selling souvenirs, clothing, shoes, and other items. It's not the cheapest area to shop, mainly because it's close to hotels and tourists. Rents are higher in this area, and tourists often get special rates.

If you get hungry, you'll find international and local fast-food restaurants (McDonald's, KFC, Pizza Hut, GAD) in Mamsha. There are also many other good restaurants, especially in the Esplanada, for example Esplanada Sphinx and Magalena.

One of Hurghada's most popular nightclubs, called Little Buddha, is located at the beginning of the promenade. At the end of the promenade, there's another popular bar called Papas. Papas Bar is not far from the Hard Rock Cafe. If you're looking for a proper nightclub/bar, these are both worth a visit.

Many Egyptians also spend their free time in El Mamsha. After all, Mamsha is for everyone, not just tourists. If you want to stroll, shop, or eat out, El Mamsha is the perfect place. There are no cars around; therefore, it's safe and easy to walk, even with children and strollers.

Mamsha is too hot for me during the day, but in the evening it's a perfect place for a stroll and some relaxation. If you want to feel warm and get a tan on a cold winter day, visit El Mamsha. It's hot there. Whether you go during the day or at night, it's a place worth visiting. Depending on your location, you can get there quickly by taxi, bus, or on foot.

Sakkala (Sheraton Street/Road)

Sheraton Street or Sheraton Road (Sakkala, Sakala, Saqqala) is one of my favorite areas in Hurghada. It's a long street lined with shops and restaurants.

If you want to drink cheap beer and do some shopping, Sheraton Road/Sakkala is excellent. There are many souvenir shops and everything a tourist needs.

Street vendors can sometimes (mostly) be a little too eager, but remember that money is hard to come by and the competition between shops and workers is really fierce. If you keep that in mind, you won't lose your mind after a few minutes on Sheraton Street.

If you don't want to buy anything, say -La Shukran, which means "no thank you" in Arabic, and move on. It might feel rude, but if you start chatting with everyone, you'll eventually end up visiting every shop in the Sheraton.

You can always grab a cold beer or a hot coffee if things get too stressful. There are also a few side streets off Sheraton Road that are worth exploring. One of them is Sherry Street. Sheraton isn't far from Marina, which you should also visit.

The resorts Seagull, Minamark, Bella Vista, El Pacha and Regina Royal are located on Sheraton Street.

Hurghada sights| Hurghada Marina

Hurghada Marina is clean, safe, and the atmosphere is fantastic. I highly recommend Hurghada Marina to anyone visiting Hurghada. It's a perfect place for an evening stroll with family, friends, or as a couple. It's a place everyone should visit while in Hurghada.

The best time to visit and see Hurghada's marina is when people gather for dinner or drinks. Along Marina Boulevard you'll find many good restaurants, bars, and cafes.

The best restaurants in Hurghada Marina

As I mentioned, you'll find dozens of excellent restaurants and bars where you can eat and drink. Most restaurants in Hurghada Marina have a terrace, so you can sit either inside or outside.

The marina closes at 00:00 (12:00), so please arrive early.

It can get a bit chilly in winter due to the wind. But if you dress appropriately, staying outside is no problem. Most restaurants are excellent and cozy.

My favorite restaurants in Hurghada Marina are:

Grill & Chill

The Heaven

Che Guevara

Mr. Greek

Stone Restaurant & Bar

El Mina Mosque Hurghada | El Mina Mosque

The beautiful mosque is located in the heart of Hurghada, right next to the Hurghada marina. It is open to visitors daily from 9:00 AM to 5:00 PM (except during prayer times).

General information about the mosque

El Mina Mosque in Arabic: The El Mina Masjid mosque was opened in 2012. The construction costs of this enormous mosque amounted to approximately 20 million Egyptian pounds.

It's one of the most popular places in Hurghada. If you're interested in culture and architecture, the El Mina Mosque is well worth a visit. It's the largest and most impressive mosque and building in Hurghada.

My visit to the El Mina Mosque

When my girlfriend visited Hurghada, we had to take her with us to see the mosque. And of course, I wanted to see it myself. Neither of us had been to a mosque before. Since it was our first visit to a mosque, we were very excited.

What should one wear to a mosque? Dress code for the mosque.

Women must cover their hair, knees, and shoulders to enter the mosque. If you do not have clothing to cover yourself, you can borrow a dress from the El Mina Mosque.

Normally, you cannot borrow clothes in mosques, but many tourists visit the El Mina Mosque who may not have appropriate attire. You can also wear your own scarf and clothes as long as you adhere to the dress code.

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