Joint venture of Lufthansa and Turkish Airlines
Hurghada is considered one of the largest tourist centres in Egypt. The city itself stretches along 30 kilometres of Red Sea coastline, toward the south of the country. Visitors can experience an incredible range of activities when they arrive, with everything from water sports to safari excursions. Expect a subtropical desert climate, with long summers that are hot and dry, and short, mild winters. The average temperatures in summer are 33 to 34 degrees Celsius, with temperatures falling to a milder 19 to 22 degrees Celsius in winter. This city rarely experiences rainfall, so a sunbathing beach holiday is still a very real possibility, well into the winter months. One of the best times of the year to visit is during March, when the nights are pleasantly cool and the water temperature is a balmy 22 degrees Celsius.
Many of the beach hotel resorts in the region are all within a 15 to 30 minute drive away.
The region around Hurghada offers plenty of exciting activities to keep all kinds of travellers entertained and occupied. Once you’ve booked your low-cost flights with SunExpress, start planning your list of things to do as soon as you arrive in Egypt. Many hotels offer activity packages as part of their prices, with popular activities in the area including snorkelling, diving, windsurfing, sailing or deep-sea fishing. Boat excursions leave daily, with offshore fishing locations at around 20 kilometres away from shore allowing you the chance to land a seriously rare catch. Experienced divers can head under the water and explore the famous coral reefs of the Red Sea. There’s plenty of value to be had from the many beach resorts in the area, with all-inclusive passes to on-site golf courses being one such perk. There is also plenty to keep the bargain hunter happy, with sprawling promenades of shops – do a little window-shopping or start stocking up on souvenirs for your return home.
An important landmark for fans of architecture is Hurghada’s Coptic Church, located some seven kilometres north of the city centre. It can be viewed in all its glory from sunrise to sunset and stands as one of the few Christian churches in the region. Built in a classic British style in 1922, the original church was demolished in 2008, before being completely rebuilt again. Adjacent to this church is the ad-Dahar district, a pedestrianized zone that’s packed with small shops, boutiques and bazaars. This colourful district is a great way to really immerse yourself in the local life. There are also various mosques in the city that need to be visited in order to appreciate their architecture. Bear in mind, however, that these mosques are private and not open to tourists. An aquarium in the city provides a great day-trip destination for family groups, while the Sekalla district boasts its own marina that will go down well with boating enthusiasts. Once you’ve made the trip to Hurghada, you could head further afield to Cairo to admire the iconic sights of the Egyptian capital.
Hurghada Airport is designed with convenience in mind. In addition to many coffee stands, restaurants and shops, you’ll find a currency exchange service with manned kiosk desks and self-service banking machines available. There are also numerous telephones available for when you need to make international calls but are having trouble with your smartphone. The airport is incredibly child-friendly, with specially equipped play areas that will keep the little ones occupied during those long waits. If you’re arriving in Hurghada, you’ll be amazed at just how quickly transfers into the city centre are made. A regular bus shuttle gets tourists to the heart of town from the airport in as little as 20 minutes. This service can be paid for on the day, or pre-booked and paid for online to save you even more time after you land. If you’re hiring a car and driving yourself, you can expect to arrive in the centre of town within 15 minutes.