About the city
Originally a small fishing village, it has seen a gradual boom in tourism since the 1970s. Tourists from all over the world are attracted here by the long sandy beaches, the possibility of trips to the main tourist attractions of Egypt, as well as diving in the Red Sea with its lush underwater life.
| Population | 261 714 |
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Hurghada has become a popular destination thanks to the combination of building infrastructure for tourists and using natural conditions – long sandy beaches, underwater coral reefs, warm climate and the possibility of offering trips to Cairo and Luxor, which offer tourists to see many ancient Egyptian monuments (for example, the pyramids of Giza and Saqqara, temples in Karnak and Luxor or burial grounds in the Valley of the Kings and Queens). In addition to history trips, Hurghada also offers trips to nearby islands (the most famous is Giftun Island) for a world of coral reefs.
Hurghada offers a glimpse into life in a typical Arab city with bazaars and mosques. The coral reefs that tourists used to go here for are practically non-existent today and they have to go further out to sea or to one of the nearby islands. There are many diving and surfing schools in the city, as well as sailing schools. The local aquarium is popular.
