Hurghada, Egypt, offers an affordable beach break with sunshine and cheap pints, and is reachable by flights from Cardiff and Bristol, where temperatures currently reach 33°C.
Stretching along Egypt's Red Sea coast, Hurghada is known for its year-round warm climate, coral reefs, and water sports. It is the second-biggest town on the Red Sea and one of Egypt's busiest holiday destinations, featuring world-renowned coral reefs, bazaars, bars, restaurants, and family-friendly resorts.
Package holidays are available through providers like TUI and Jet2holidays, or travellers can book flights and accommodation separately.
Marina, Snorkelling, and Local Life
A full-day boat trip to the Giftun Islands or an all-day snorkel trip is a must-do, with incredible water clarity and marine life. For around £25-30 per person, visitors can join a dive boat and swim among shoals of fish and pods of dolphins while exploring vibrant coral reefs.
Hurghada's marina features a large yacht harbour lined with shops, restaurants, and bars with outdoor seating. Pints are available from just £1.50, and oceanfront restaurants serve meaty shawarma and sweet, flaky baklava.
For a taste of local Egyptian life, the souks of El Dahar offer spices, local crafts, fruit markets, and traditional shisha cafes. Hurghada Grand Aquarium, known as the "Red Sea in Glass," features a 24-metre marine tunnel where sharks and giant stingrays swim overhead, plus an indoor rainforest and an open-air mini zoo with rescued animals like flamingos, monkeys, and sea turtles.
Desert Safari and Practical Tips
Visitors can book excursions with local operators, including a day-long desert safari by quad bike and 4x4 vehicle with dinner and stargazing in a traditional Bedouin village, for around £23 each including pickup. The Eastern Desert, stretching from the Nile to the Red Sea, offers quad biking, camel riding, and desert camps amid volcanic hills, sand flats, and stony plateaus.
British passport holders need a tourist visa, available for 25 USD in cash at government bank counters inside the airport arrivals hall. Most major cards are accepted at resorts, but cash is needed for local bazaars, street food vendors, and independent taxis. The official currency is the Egyptian Pound (EGP).
