Divers' paradise

The aspect that most fascinates the tourists who come here is the ideal water for diving. Gota Abu Ramada is the most popular diving site in the entire region. This is where tourists attracted by underwater life, from amateurs to professional divers and marine photographers, always gather. For walks, relaxation and fun, tourists gather in Hurghada Marina, the city's tourist port.

There are also plenty of restaurants and bars, as well as hundreds of luxury yachts that tourists can rent for sea cruises. The resort covers 36km of coastline, which means you will have the beach at your discretion. The public beach is spacious and lively, but everyone recommends visiting the beaches within the resorts, which are much cleaner. Those attracted to marine life, but who do not want to dive, can study it closely at the Hurghada Grand Aquarium, an excellent aquarium where they can see hundreds of species of marine life. The Giftun Islands are perhaps the most impressive places for diving.

The environment here is protected to conserve species of fish, mollusks, crustaceans and other creatures. Other great places for diving are:

• Umm Moon
• Shdewdan Island
• Ashrafi Islands
• Siyul Kebira
• Stingray Station

the latter being populated by numerous scorpions and leopard sharks, livings harmless to humans.

One night in the desert

The Bedouins, the native people of Egypt, have been living in the threatening desert for thousands of years, following an absolutely fascinating lifestyle.

A night trip to the Sahara Desert allows you to meet these wonderful people, learn from them about the life in the desert, sing and dance together at night by the fire, taste traditional food and sleep in open tents, admiring the starry sky.

Local flavors

If you know where to look, in Egypt you will find much more than the triumvirate of kebab, falafel and shawarma. Of course, shish tawooq (grilled chicken) and kofta (fried meatballs) are ubiquitous and worth a try, but explore local cuisine in more detail and you'll be surprised to find unchanging culinary traditions from antiquity.

In Hurghada, unlike other places in Egypt, international food dominates, but with little effort you can find restaurants with excellent Egyptian food. Go to Nubian Cafe, Abu Khadigah or El Halaka and you will not be sorry. Try a fuul (bread beans, with spices), a taameya (Egyptian falafel), a kofta kebab or a hawawshi (similar to lahmaçun) wherever and whenever you have the opportunity.