Lively Hurghada or quiet Marsa Alam? How Egypt's two favorite Red Sea destinations compare, and which suits your trip.
Ending an Egypt trip with a few days on the Red Sea is one of the best ways to relax after the temples and pyramids. The two most popular choices are Hurghada and Marsa Alam. Both offer warm sea, sunshine and beautiful coral reefs, but they feel very different. Here's how to choose.
Hurghada: lively and easy
Hurghada is the Red Sea's best-known resort area, stretching for kilometres along the coast. It offers a wide choice of hotels and resorts, restaurants, cafes and shops, and plenty to do in the evenings. It's well connected, with an international airport served by many flights, and it's roughly four hours by road from Luxor.
From Hurghada, boat trips run to nearby islands and reefs, including the popular Giftun islands, for snorkeling and swimming in clear water. Desert safaris and other excursions are easy to arrange locally.
Marsa Alam: quiet and natural
Marsa Alam lies much further south and is far less developed. Resorts are more spread out, the coastline is quieter and the atmosphere is calmer, which makes it ideal if you simply want to rest by the sea.
Marsa Alam is especially loved by snorkelers and divers for its healthy reefs and marine life. Sea turtles are often seen in its bays, and lucky visitors sometimes spot dolphins and even dugongs. It has its own international airport, though with fewer flights than Hurghada.
Which should you choose?
Choose Hurghada if you want variety, easy flight connections, plenty of restaurants and things to do, and a lively atmosphere. Choose Marsa Alam if you want peace and quiet, a more natural setting and some of the best snorkeling and diving in Egypt.
Both are wonderful in any season: the Red Sea is warm enough to swim all year, with the warmest water from summer into autumn. For more on timing, see our guide to the best time to visit Egypt.
Tours that end on the Red Sea
To finish your trip in Hurghada, choose Pyramids to the Beach, Egypt in Nine Days, Timeless Treasures or Egypt in Style, which includes a 5-star all-inclusive resort stay. To finish in Marsa Alam, choose Pyramids & the Red Sea, which ends with three nights at a 5-star all-inclusive resort. Not sure what to pack for the beach? Read our guide to what to wear in Egypt.
