Just a few minutes from Hurghada in Egypt, some strange statues await you... Modelled using only Saharan sand and water, the statues of Superman, Transformers, the Sphinx and Cleopatra stand proudly, sometimes several metres high.
Sand city is a park entirely devoted to sand sculpture. This little-known art form attracts thousands of people every year to festivals and sculpture parks. Hurghada's Sand City park features more than fifty statues and reliefs created by artists from all over the world. For adults and children alike, come and marvel at these ephemeral statues and discover the history of Egypt. The park is open every day and is just a few minutes from Hurghada city centre.
Sand sculpture during a FIESA festival.
- © amnat30 / Shutterstock
To the south of Hurghada, exposed to the wind and the elements, the Saharan sand has created a number of unique reliefs, with around fifty sand sculptures rising up to 5 metres in height.
Welcome to Sand City in Egypt, the only sand sculpture park on the African continent. From the statue of Ganesha, the god of knowledge, to Napoleon, who needs no introduction, each statue is built by different artists from all over the world.
Sand sculpture during a FIESA festival.
- © amnat30 / ShutterstockStrange as it may seem, spending hours perfecting the details of a sculpture that may end up blowing away in the first gust of wind is a popular activity all over the world.
Although some historians believe that sand sculpture is an art as old as time, the first artists started sculpting in sand in the 1990s.
In New Jersey, in the United States, sand sculptures have become an integral part of the local economy. Every season, tourists come to see sculptors create works of art on the beaches of the east coast.
Around 1970, a group of enthusiasts set up Sand Sculptors International (SSI), the only authority of its kind, and today the art of sand sculpture is recognised worldwide.
In Portugal, for example, artists come together for the FIESA, Festival internacional de Escultura em Areia.
Ancient Egyptian sand sculpture in Hurghada.
- © Alena Zharava / ShutterstockSand sculptures can take on unimaginable shapes and sizes. Sometimes they can weigh over 5,000 tonnes and are the result of hundreds of hours of work.
But the sculptures are simply made from sand and water, and that's it! There is no glue.
Sand sculpture during a FIESA festival.
- © amnat30 / ShutterstockThe huge sculptures at Sand City are divided into several themes.
Sand sculpture during a FIESA festival.
- © amnat30 / ShutterstockThe historic part of Sand City is home to sculptures such as the Egyptian sphinx, the statue of Napoleon and the statue of Julius Caesar. As well as admiring the intricate craftsmanship contained within these statues, you will discover a piece of Egyptian history, notably through the statue of the Battle of Kadesh, for example.
An Egyptian god in Hurghada's Sand City Park.
- © Svitlana Ozirna / ShutterstockThis part of the park, specially dedicated to children, is dotted with statues of our favourite characters. Bugs Bunny, Superman, the Transformers or Popeye, you won't be disappointed.
Sand City offers workshops to learn the art of sand sculpture, and if you want to take home a souvenir of your holiday in Hurghada, don't forget to visit the park's souvenir shop.
Prices
Admission costs 80 Egyptian pounds (EGP) per person, equivalent to around €2.50. Children under 12 pay EGP 40. Admission is free for children under 5.
Opening times and days
Hurghada's Sand City Park is open every day from 9am to 5pm.
How do I get there?
Sand City is around 20 kilometres from Hurghada city centre. It takes around 25 minutes to get there by car. If you're coming from the airport, the park is just 13 minutes away by car. The wonderland gallery at Sand City in Hurghada. There are no buses to get to Sand City. Instead, you can take a taxi. The fare should not exceed €6, or around EGP 200.
Who is this activity suitable for?
When we arrived at Sand City, we honestly thought that the park was more for children. Then, as we wandered around the huge sculptures, we too got hooked. In the end, the sand sculptures are works of art in their own right, as impressive as they are mysterious.
Our conclusion?
This park is for all the family!
Sand sculpture during a FIESA festival.
- © amnat30 / ShutterstockWhere to eat near the sand sculptures?
There are no restaurants in Sand City Park, but you can quench your thirst or enjoy a good coffee at Kafficho, the park's small coffee stand. You'll find a good selection of coffee drinks, ice-cold water and a few snacks. Kafficho is open from 9 a.m. to 6 p.m. every day. Outside, Chili's is a quality Mexican restaurant just a few metres from the park. Chili's Hurghada Restaurant is open from 10 a.m. to 11.45 p.m. every day.
Where to stay?
Both hotels are right next to Sand City and close to various activities for children, such as the Hurghada Aquarium and the Jungle Park.
