Solo travel · Hurghada · Egypt
Solo travel in Hurghada
How to enjoy Hurghada at your own pace.
Updated By the AMZBooking editorial team
Photo: Hatem Moushir, CC BY-SA 4.0
Quick answer
Hurghada works well for solo divers and kitesurfers, who quickly meet others at dive centres and kite schools. Non-divers may find the resort strips family-focused; El Gouna and Sekalla are the most sociable bases. Many solo travellers base themselves in El Dahar.
Key facts
- Base
- El Dahar
- Getting around
- Taxi
- Emergency number
- 122 police, 123 ambulance, 126 tourist police
- Language
- Arabic (Egyptian) and English
Solo travel tips
- Stay in Sekalla or El Gouna to walk to restaurants and bars.
- Join dive courses, kite schools or small-group excursions to meet other travellers.
- Use hotel-arranged taxis late at night.
- Women travelling alone may receive unwanted attention; modest clothing in town and a firm 'no' help.
- Keep valuables in the hotel safe on boat days.
Where to stay
$ · Best for budget, solo travellers, food lovers and culture
El Dahar
El Dahar is the original town at the northern end of Hurghada, behind a rocky hill, with the old souq, fruit and spice stalls, local coffee houses and cheap restaurants serving fish and koshari. It has the least resort feel and the lowest prices, with a few budget hotels and access to public beaches nearby.
- Good
- Local atmosphere; Cheap food and hotels; Real Egyptian street life
- Watch out
- Few good beaches; Busy traffic and noise
- Nearby
- El Dahar souq, Hurghada Museum, Sekalla
Great on your own
Religious site · Sekalla and Hurghada Marina
El Mina Mosque
Photograph it from the marina boardwalk after sunset; dress modestly and ask permission before entering outside prayer times.
- Time needed
- 30 minutes
- Cost
- Free
- Free
- Architecture
- Photo spot
- After dark
Museum · Central Hurghada
Hurghada Museum
Visit on a windy day when boat trips are cancelled, or in the afternoon heat.
- Time needed
- 1–1.5 hours
- Cost
- Mid-priced
- History
- Rainy day
- Art
Meeting people
- Fish dinner in El Dahar — Choose your fish from the ice, agree a price by weight, and eat at a simple local restaurant where Egyptian families dine.
- Lunch on a boat — Island and reef boat trips usually include a lunch of grilled chicken or fish, rice and salads served on deck between snorkelling stops.
- Hurghada Marina — Bars, lounges and restaurants along the boardwalk, busy until late.
- Sheraton Road — Bars and clubs in Sekalla near the marina, popular with visitors.
Sensible precautions
Check your own government's travel advice before travel. The main issues are persistent touts and unagreed taxi fares, strong sun and heat, and sea urchins, coral cuts and wind-driven currents on boat trips; listen to crew briefings and use buoyancy vests if unsure.
- Emergency number
- 122 police, 123 ambulance, 126 tourist police
- Staying connected
- Local SIM cards and eSIMs are easy to buy and give good coverage across the resort strip; hotel Wi-Fi quality varies.
Questions travellers ask
+Is Hurghada good for solo travellers?
Hurghada works well for solo divers and kitesurfers, who quickly meet others at dive centres and kite schools. Non-divers may find the resort strips family-focused; El Gouna and Sekalla are the most sociable bases.
+Where should solo travellers stay in Hurghada?
El Dahar: The old town, with the souq, local cafés and budget hotels.