• Orange Bay — Giftun Island

    Unmissable

    The turquoise water over white sand that earned the place its nickname: the Egyptian Maldives.

    HurghadaGiftun Island, off Hurghada

    €€ Mid-rangeSea view
  • A parrotfish over a dense coral reef in clear blue water.

    Eden Island

    An island beach where the reef starts a few metres out — the snorkelling is better than the setting.

    HurghadaOff Hurghada

    €€ Mid-rangeSea view
  • Egyptboats — Private Boat Tours

    A boat to yourselves, a route that adapts, and dolphins when the sea agrees.

    HurghadaMarina, Hurghada

    €€€ High endSea view
  • A scuba diver descends below the surface amid bubbles and shafts of sunlight.

    Sea Secrets Hurghada

    A centre that gets a beginner into the water without frightening them — rarer than it sounds.

    HurghadaHurghada

    €€ Mid-rangeDiving / snorkelling
  • A scuba diver above a coral head, two clownfish in the anemone.

    Diving Planet

    A dive centre that is serious without being solemn: small groups, maintained gear, club atmosphere.

    HurghadaHurghada

    €€ Mid-rangeDiving / snorkelling
  • Mini Egypt Park

    All of Egypt in scale models: the pyramids, Abu Simbel and Karnak in an hour's walk.

    HurghadaHurghada

    €€ Mid-rangeFamily-friendly
  • A monumental sand sculpture, a bearded face standing out against the sky.

    Sand City

    Monumental sand sculptures, signed by carvers from all over the world.

    HurghadaNear Senzo Mall, Hurghada

    BudgetFamily-friendly
  • One of the aquarium tanks

    Hurghada Grand Aquarium

    The Red Sea without getting wet: an indoor circuit that fills a morning with children.

    HurghadaAirport road, Hurghada

    €€ Mid-rangeFamily-friendly
  • Buggy Desert Safari

    Quad bikes in the desert, a stop in a Bedouin village, mint tea and sunset.

    HurghadaDesert west of Hurghada

    €€ Mid-rangeFamily-friendly
  • The camel waits, saddled, between two legs of the ride.

    Safari Sahara Hurghada

    The full desert day: quad, buggy, 4×4 and camel, from morning to sunset.

    HurghadaDesert west of Hurghada

    €€ Mid-rangeFamily-friendly
  • Hot stones lined up along a back, rolled towels in the background.

    Venus Hammam & Spa

    Hammam and massage at a price with nothing in common with hotel spas.

    HurghadaHurghada

    €€ Mid-rangeBooking advised
  • Multicoloured slides above a pool, under the palms

    Makadi Water World

    Our favourite

    The biggest water park on the coast, with food and drinks included in the ticket.

    HurghadaMakadi Bay, south of Hurghada

    €€€ High endFamily-friendly
  • The top of a water slide, with the pool and the sea below.

    Sindbad Aqua Park

    Hurghada's own family water park — no need to leave town.

    HurghadaHotel area, Hurghada

    €€ Mid-rangeFamily-friendly
  • Aqua Park — Jaz Resort

    Two parks on one ticket, and above all: almost no queue for the slides.

    HurghadaMakadi Bay, south of Hurghada

    €€€ High endFamily-friendly
  • Ras Abu Galum

    Off the beaten track

    A reserve reached by camel, where the mountain drops straight into the reef.

    SinaiBetween Dahab and Nuweiba, South Sinai

    €€ Mid-rangeDiving / snorkelling
  • The Blue Lagoon

    A shallow lagoon at the end of a track, where the sea becomes a turquoise pool.

    SinaiNorth of Dahab, South Sinai

    €€ Mid-rangeSea view
  • Ras Shitan

    Palm huts at the water's edge, facing the Saudi mountains.

    SinaiNuweiba, South Sinai

    BudgetSea view
  • Serabit el-Khadim

    Off the beaten track

    A temple of Hathor perched at 800 metres, at the end of a two-hour climb.

    SinaiSouth Sinai

    €€ Mid-rangeHistoric venue
  • Sharm el-Luli

    A white sand beach and clear water, with not a hotel on the horizon.

    Marsa Alam & the Red SeaSouth of Marsa Alam

    €€ Mid-rangeSea view
  • A whole pod of spinner dolphins — what you come here for.

    Satayah reef

    A horseshoe reef where a colony of spinner dolphins comes to rest.

    Marsa Alam & the Red SeaHamata, southern Red Sea

    €€€ High endDiving / snorkelling
  • Elphinstone reef

    A 300-metre-long seamount, one of Egypt's best-known dive sites.

    Marsa Alam & the Red SeaOff Marsa Alam

    €€€ High endDiving / snorkelling
  • The Qulaan mangroves

    Mangroves standing in salt water, flamingos and a Bedouin village.

    Marsa Alam & the Red SeaWadi el-Gemal, southern Red Sea

    BudgetBest in the morning
  • The Strait of Tiran

    Four reefs in a row across the strait, and one of the country's finest boat days.

    Sharm el-SheikhOff Sharm el-Sheikh

    €€ Mid-rangeDiving / snorkelling
  • Ras Sudr

    A shallow lagoon and wind every day: the kitesurf spot closest to Cairo.

    SinaiRas Sudr, North Sinai

    €€ Mid-rangeSea view