Best Things to Do in the Red Sea, Egypt

The Egyptian Red Sea coast is one of the world’s great diving destinations, combining healthy coral reefs, exceptional visibility, and a remarkable diversity of pelagic life with easy access from European cities and a well-developed tourist infrastructure. The things to do in the Red Sea divide between reef diving and snorkeling (the primary draw), kite surfing (Safaga and El Gouna have ideal wind conditions), beach resort relaxation, and the desert landscapes of the Eastern Desert immediately inland. The southern areas — Marsa Alam and beyond — are less developed than Hurghada and offer better reef quality and smaller crowds; they reward divers willing to travel further.

Best time to visit

October through May is the best time: water temperatures are 22-26°C (wetsuit optional), air temperatures are 25-32°C, and winds are moderate. June through August brings intense heat (35-42°C air temperature), lower tourism from Europeans, and better value pricing; the water is warm (28-30°C) and visibility is excellent. September can be hot and choppy. Winter (December-February) sees occasional strong northerly winds (the khamsin) which can ground dive boats for days; check before booking a dedicated dive trip in these months. The Brothers Islands (known for hammerhead and oceanic whitetip sharks) and Daedalus Reef are best visited September-November when pelagic shark sightings peak.

Getting around

Hurghada Airport (HRG) receives direct charter and scheduled flights from most European cities. Marsa Alam Airport (RMF) receives fewer but growing connections. From Cairo, a bus (6-7 hours) or internal flight (1 hour) reaches Hurghada. Within the Red Sea coast, a car or resort transfer is needed to move between towns; the distance from Hurghada to Marsa Alam is 220km (2.5 hours). Most dive operations are resort-based; liveaboard boats (departing from Hurghada or Port Ghalib) are the best way to reach the remote dive sites like the Brothers, Daedalus, and Elphinstone.

What to eat and drink

The Red Sea resort towns are not Egypt’s culinary highlights. Resort hotels dominate the dining landscape, with varying quality. Outside the resorts, fresh seafood — grilled fish, shrimp, calamari — at the seafront restaurants in Hurghada’s Dahar district or El Gouna’s marina area is the best local eating. Egyptian staples (koshary, ful, ta’meya) are available in local restaurants and significantly cheaper than resort dining. El Gouna specifically has a well-developed restaurant scene with international options.

Top things to do

Scuba diving – The Red Sea has world-class dive sites at all experience levels: the Abu Nuhas shipwrecks (4 accessible wrecks in one dive site, good for intermediate divers), Elphinstone Reef (spectacular wall diving, occasional hammerheads and oceanic whitetips), the Brothers Islands (remote, exposed, best for experienced divers with shark encounters), and the Thistlegorm wreck (the world’s most-visited wreck dive, a WWII British supply ship at 30m). Day boat dives from Hurghada and Marsa Alam access most sites.

Sataya Dolphin Reef – One of the world’s most reliable places to swim with wild spinner dolphins. A resident pod of 100-200 individuals uses the reef as a resting site in the morning; snorkelers enter the water and the dolphins often approach closely. Requires a liveaboard or day trip from Marsa Alam (3-4 hours south of Hurghada).

Kite surfing at El Gouna and Safaga – The consistent north winds from May through November create ideal kite surfing conditions. El Gouna (a private resort town with European ownership) and Safaga are the established kite hubs, with multiple schools offering lessons and equipment rental.

Marsa Alam and the southern reefs – The reefs south of Marsa Alam (Elphinstone, Abu Dabbab, Samadai) are in better condition than those around Hurghada, which has suffered from overuse. Abu Dabbab has dugongs (year-round), sea turtles, and calm, clear water suitable for beginners. Elphinstone is the best wall dive on the Egyptian Red Sea.