Not many people associate Egypt with beaches, but the reality is that Hurghada has beautiful stretches of sand and offers some of the best scuba diving of anywhere. The sea temperatures and visibility are pretty good throughout the year and prices are also reasonable. In addition, quad biking in the Sahara Desert and Hurghada’s Red Sea Aquarium are also worthwhile attractions.

Quad Biking
Local tour operators offer desert safaris on quad bikes, where you will be picked up from your hotel, given a crash course on riding a quad, before heading into the desert proper. Trips stop at a Bedouin village after a 15-mile ride where you can sample some Bedouin tea. Trips may also include camel-riding.

Red Sea Aquarium
The Red Sea Aquarium teaches visitors all about the marine life in the Red Sea through interesting and informative exhibits. There are many colourful creatures here and the displays are also in English. The aquarium is a must if you plan on going snorkelling or diving on the reef.

Scuba Diving
Scuba diving is the main pastime in Hurghada and the reason that many people visit. There are many fine dive sites here and you can also get your PADI certificate at a licensed training centre. Visibility and Red Sea temperatures are good year-round and dive sites of note include the Sha'ab Abu Nuhas wreck, the huge coral reefs of Taba, and the sheer walls of Ras Mohammed.

Sindbad Submarine Tour
The Sindbad Submarine Tour is ideal for kids too young to go snorkelling or diving and shows corals and creatures you would normally see on a dive. The sub holds a good number of passengers and plunges to depths of around 20 metres. Tours go for two hours and include hotel pick-ups. www.city-discovery.com/hurghada  

Snorkelling
If you don’t have the time or inclination to scuba dive, then snorkelling the Red Sea coast is the next best thing. It doesn’t take much effort or cost to rent a pair of flippers and snorkel and the beauty is that you can even see some impressive sights right at the beach. For more impressive scenery and marine life it is best to join a snorkelling tour.

Titanic Aqua Park
Titanic Aqua Park is part of the Titanic Beach Spa & Aqua Park and has over 20 water slides of varying scariness, making it a popular attraction for visitors with kids. In addition to the slides are a wave pool and a rafting river. Titanic Aqua Park is just outside Hurghada city centre in front of Aladdin Beach and comes with pretty good facilities, including a restaurant.

Hurghada has a somewhat unusual yet intriguing set of attractions for the more discerning traveller. There are the Giftun Islands to explore, the nearby monasteries of St Anthony and St Paul, the must-see Roman site of Mons Claudianus, out in the desert, and a national museum in the town.

Giftun Islands
For an informative and an unforgettable day out from Hurghada, the nearby Griftun Islands marine park is a must-see. Big Giftun Island and Small Giftun Island are the main ones and feature a plethora of interesting marine life, including barracudas, white tip sharks, and whale sharks. There is also spectacular coral and a series of caves here.

Monastery of St Anthony
The church where St Anthony is buried is the star attraction at the Monastery of St Anthony complex, where restored wall paintings covering many periods and styles can be seen. There is also an impressive library and a cave, which is set at over 2,200 feet above sea level, which features writings and drawings. Views of the Red Sea and mountains are stunning.

Monastery of St Paul
The Monastery of St Paul in Hurghada is not as high-profile as the Monastery of St Anthony, yet features three impressive churches built around a cave where St Paul once lived. It is best to stay overnight if you can so you can study the monastery’s manuscripts better and see the freshwater springs and wall paintings.

Mons Claudianus
Mons Claudianus is a huge Roman site in the Eastern Desert and although a fair way from Hurghada and best seen by four-wheel drive, it is a must-see for those into Roman history. This site provided a huge amount of grey granite for the Roman Empire’s ambitious building plans and housed a thousand quarrymen for over 200 years. Be sure to check out the fortress, workshops, stables, dwellings, and baths.

National Museum
Hurghada’s National Museum is Egypt’s first national museum on the Red Sea and shows off antiquities from the Eastern Desert through four exhibition halls. The huge museum is beautifully situated at the water’s edge and even includes submerged monuments, artists’ studios, and a whole range of Egyptian history from Pharaonic times right up to Islam.

Other Hurghada Museums
The Marine Biology Museum is ideal for those who don’t have the means to go snorkelling or diving. It features a glass underwater tunnel and teaches about the wonderful marine life of the Red Sea, including its coral reef and sharks. The Café del Mar is a restaurant/art gallery and lies in the El-Dahar district. It is perfect for those who like to sip coffee or wine while observing art.

As Hurghada becomes more and more of a popular alternative to holiday resorts of the Mediterranean, more and more resorts are being set up along with an increasing number of restaurants. Everything from traditional Egyptian restaurants in El Dahar to international dining in Al Ahiaa, Sekala and large chain hotels can be had here.

Egyptian eating is a cross between Mediterranean and Middle Eastern, with kebabs and shawarma sandwiches being particularly popular and edible. For a street side snack be sure to try out some kofta (meatballs), as well as the national dish, ful medames, which consists of mashed fava beans together with an onion, parsley, olive oil, garlic, and lemon juice mix.

The best shopping in Hurghada can arguably be had along Hospital Street, which curves from Sharia Aziz Mustafa to Corniche Street. It is home to fashionable boutiques as well as small, speciality and souvenir shops, and popular restaurants.

The other main shopping choice in Hurghada are the local bazaars (street markets) that offer the best Egyptian shopping experience if you enjoy mingling with the locals at a street level and haggling for the best price. Locally made goods make ideal souvenirs and include superb brassware and jewellery.