3 days to visit Hurghada: the marina, the desert and the Red Sea seabed

This itinerary for visiting Hurghada in 3 days offers an adventure that takes in the desert, the sea and the bustling city.

The first day is devoted to discovering Hurghada. You will visit the marina, a popular and lively district, before finally discovering the city's most beautiful mosque: El Mina.

On the second day, you'll venture out on a quad bike into the desert to discover the arid landscapes and sand dunes. An unforgettable experience.

To relax after a day full of emotions, you have the option of going to one of Hurghada's most beautiful beaches. Fine sand and turquoise water await you.

Finally, on the last day, you'll discover the hidden depths of the Red Sea. On a boat trip from Hurghada marina, you will encounter the flora and fauna of this extremely salty sea. Your choice of snorkelling or scuba diving!

© PHkorsart / Shutterstock

DAY 1: Visit to Hurghada marina, relaxation and shopping

For your first day in Hurghada, we suggest you discover the bustle of this seaside resort by visiting the marina district, where the port is located.

The Hurghada marina in Egypt.

- © Zbigniew Guzowski / Shutterstock

Hurghada's marina district: lively and bustling

Beach Club at Siva Grand Beach

First thing in the morning, we head to the Beach Club at Siva Grand Beach for coffee and more, as this beach club offers brunch with freshly prepared dishes, refreshing drinks and a view of the Red Sea.

From 'El Marashda', an area popular with tourists due to its abundance of restaurants, shops and attractions, we take a taxi to Hurghada Marina.

The journey takes just 12 minutes and costs EGP 40 (€1.20).

The Hurghada marina in Egypt.

- © Patryk Kosmider / Shutterstock

We spend the afternoon soaking up the atmosphere of the Egyptian city, strolling the streets and doing a little shopping at the Hurghada Marina shopping centre.

We'll discover later in our trip that sometimes it's nice to shop without the hard bargaining. Check out the competitive prices at Hurghada's El Dahar market. At the end of the afternoon, we'll relax at Hurghada Marina.

Stone Restaurant & Bar Facing the harbour with a view of the Red Sea, Stone Restaurant & Bar is open daily from 11am to midnight and serves camel steak.

Hurghada's most beautiful mosque: El Mina

The Al Mina mosque in Hurghada.

- © Barta28 / Shutterstock

In the evening, we will discover the illuminations of the Hurghada Mosque.

Made of marble, this mosque welcomes curious tourists under the 20 domes of its impressive architecture. From its two 40-metre-high minarets, the song of the 'Muezzin' resounds 5 times a day throughout the city.

Sindbad Club Hurghada
Booking.com

Sindbad Club

Book your room now
8.6 Superb
From
£132 / night
See the offers

DAY 2: Desert adventures and beaches

After a good night's rest, we set off in the morning for a desert adventure.

Hurghada

✈️ Your flight to Hurghada

Book your cheapest flight to Hurghada
From
£150
Book

Adrenalin in the Hurghada desert

Thanks to our hotel, which offered us a wide choice of activities on arrival, we booked a quad bike ride in the desert. A driver picked us up at around 9 a.m. to take us to the starting point of the excursion, where we embarked on a 3-hour motorised ride on a quad bike.

Excursion to the Sahara desert on quad bikes.

- © Drepicter / Shutterstock

Driving an ATV in Hurghada

Driving a quad bike is relatively simple if you already have a driving licence, but we advise people without a licence against learning to drive in the dunes of the Sahara. If you're not comfortable with driving, most tourist agencies offer desert rides on camels, on foot or with a driver.

This can be great fun. We recommend Safari Sahara, which works with many of the city's hotels.

Find out more about their desert excursion packages on their website.

A well-deserved rest on the beaches of Hurghada

On the return leg of our trip, we decided to take a stroll along the beach at Soma Bay, 45 km from Hurghada. This white sandy beach is surrounded by mountains.

Mashrabiya Hotel Hurghada
Booking.com

Mashrabiya Hotel

Book your room now
5.7 Fair
From
£21 / night
See the offers

DAY 3: discovering the Red Sea seabed

On our last day in Hurghada, we decided to go snorkelling in the coral reefs of the Red Sea.

Scuba diving in Hurghada, Egypt.

- © Jukkis / Shutterstock

Scuba diving in Hurghada

Hurghada is a very popular place for scuba diving and other water sports.

The resort has various diving schools with which you can take your PADI Open Water certificate, the first level in the world of diving that allows you to dive to a depth of 18 metres.

As far as we're concerned, we prefer our fins, mask and snorkel to look at the fish from the surface, and we're off with the Centre Français de plongée d'Hurghada. The centre offers scuba diving excursions, as well as snorkelling lessons.

Scuba diving in Hurghada, Egypt.

- © Tunatura / Shutterstock

Il Gusto

Il Gusto is an Italian restaurant on Sahl Hasheesh beach.

The restaurant is open from 10 a.m. to 1 a.m. every day.

by Jude JONES
Need a hand? take a look at our guide
Hurghada
Hurghada
Latest news
Edinburgh
Edinburgh to the rhythm of Scottish music
Edinburgh
Visit the Rich Heritage of Scottish Art at the National Galleries of Scotland
Edinburgh
Into Edinburgh National Museum and its fascinating galleries
Edinburgh
Visit Greyfriars kirkyard, the world’s most haunted cemetery
Edinburgh
Explore the Palace of Holyroodhouse
Read more articles
Best cities