How many days · Hurghada · Egypt
How many days do you need in Hurghada?
A straight answer, then what each trip length really gets you.
Updated By the AMZBooking editorial team
Photo: user:vberger, Public domain
Quick answer
7 days is the sweet spot for Hurghada, and 4 days is the minimum to see the main sights. Four days allows a Giftun Islands boat trip, a dolphin or reef snorkelling day and time at the resort. A week adds a long day trip to Luxor, a desert safari and an evening in El Gouna or the marina.
Key facts
- Ideal
- 7 days
- Minimum
- 4 days
- Day trips available
- 4
- Daylight
- 10.4 h (Dec) to 13.8 h (Jun)
What each trip length gets you
| Trip | Pace | What you can see |
|---|---|---|
| 1 day | Rushed | Giftun Islands, Dolphin House reef, Hurghada Marina and El Mina Mosque |
| 2 days | Rushed | El Mina Mosque, El Dahar souq and Hurghada Museum |
| 3 days | Rushed | Hurghada Grand Aquarium, Sahl Hasheesh sunken city and Eastern Desert safari |
| 5 days | Good | The highlights plus a day trip to Luxor |
| 7 days | Ideal | A slow trip with day trips such as Luxor and Dendera |
How long the top sights take
The 12 best-known sights in Hurghada add up to roughly 29–42 hours of visiting time — about 4–6 days at seven sightseeing hours a day, before travel between them and meals. The biggest time commitments are Giftun Islands (Full day), Dolphin House reef (Full day) and Eastern Desert safari (3–6 hours).
| Sight | Time needed | Area |
|---|---|---|
| Giftun Islands | Full day | Sekalla and Hurghada Marina |
| Dolphin House reef | Full day | El Gouna |
| Hurghada Marina | 1–2 hours | Sekalla and Hurghada Marina |
| El Mina Mosque | 30 minutes | Sekalla and Hurghada Marina |
| El Dahar souq | 1–2 hours | El Dahar |
| Hurghada Museum | 1–1.5 hours | Central Hurghada |
| Hurghada Grand Aquarium | 2 hours | Hurghada |
| Sahl Hasheesh sunken city | 1–2 hours | Sahl Hasheesh |
| Eastern Desert safari | 3–6 hours | Eastern Desert |
| Makadi Water World | Half a day | Makadi Bay |
| Kitesurfing and windsurfing | 2–3 hours per lesson | Soma Bay |
| Abu Tig Marina | 2–3 hours | El Gouna |
By type of trip
| Trip | Days | Why |
|---|---|---|
| First visit | 7 days | The main sights at a comfortable pace |
| Short break / repeat visit | 4 days | Focus on Giftun Islands and Dolphin House reef |
| With children | 8 days | Slower days and time for Giftun Islands |
| With day trips | 9 days | Add Luxor and Dendera |
Daylight changes the maths
Sightseeing days are much shorter in December (about 10.4 hours of daylight) than in June (about 13.8 hours). Daylight varies little through the year, so plan by weather instead.
Ready-made itineraries
Combining Hurghada with other destinations
| Destination | Distance | Suggested stay |
|---|---|---|
| Sharm El Sheikh | About 89 km | 7 days |
| Luxor | About 210 km | 4 days |
| Petra | About 377 km | 2 days |
Questions travellers ask
+Is 4 days enough in Hurghada?
It covers the main sights at a brisk pace; 7 days is more comfortable. Four days allows a Giftun Islands boat trip, a dolphin or reef snorkelling day and time at the resort. A week adds a long day trip to Luxor, a desert safari and an evening in El Gouna or the marina.
+Is a week too long in Hurghada?
No — a week leaves time for day trips such as Luxor and Dendera.