Although the number of Russian tourists in Egypt has declined in recent years, there are still enough people who want to spend their holidays on the Red Sea coast. And direct charter flights, as well as connecting ones, help them in this.
Connecting flights to Hurghada are in the schedule of the capital’s airports Domodedovo, Sheremetyevo and Vnukovo, as well as St. Petersburg’s Pulkovo. The flight from Moscow is carried out by Pegasus Airlines, Turkish Airlines. The best option is with a transfer in Cairo or Istanbul.
Within 24 hours after arrival, by presenting a passport, any tourist can buy a pack of cigarettes, three bottles of alcohol and other goods in the duty free shop.
From airport to city
According to baglib, the air gate of Hurghada is located southwest of the city, 15 minutes away by car. It is better to take care of the transfer in advance by booking it via the Internet and thereby protecting yourself from cunning taxi drivers and crowded public transport (40-50 EGP – Classic shuttle bus or a car – from 150-200 EGP). Prices on the page are for July 2021.
The most budgetary way to get to the hotel is the city bus, but it may not be very convenient to travel with suitcases. For those who have not booked a car in advance, there are taxis, which are always full at the airport building. The trip will cost 100-150 EGP, but especially enterprising drivers may try to increase the price several times.
- How to get from Sharm El Sheikh to Hurghada
Transportation
You can get around Hurghada by public transport or taxi. The first is represented by minibuses for 14-16 seats. The cost depends on the duration of the trip – from 1 to 5 EGP. When boarding a minibus, you need to name the destination (the exact address or the nearest hotel to it) and immediately give the amount announced by the driver. To pay for the fare, it is better to have small bills or coins with you in order to pay without change – so there is less chance of being deceived by dishonest minibuses. The movement starts at 6:00-7:00 and ends at 1:00.
There are no stops in Hurghada, the driver will stop where the passenger asks. To catch a minibus, you just need to go out onto the road and wave your hand. The wait is usually no more than 10 minutes.
Taxis can be taken from the hotel or stopped on the street. In the first case, there is a high risk of paying 3-4 times more than the prescribed amount for the trip. It is better to negotiate the price on the shore – before getting into the car, and pay – upon arrival, going out into the street. Keep a close eye on the change, cunning taxi drivers strive to slip piastres instead of pounds. A trip around the city center will cost an average of 45 EGP, to more remote areas or the airport – 60-150 EGP.
It is possible and necessary to bargain with taxi drivers – recognizing a tourist in a passenger, the driver is likely to overestimate the cost.
Rent a Car
Driving around Hurghada is a risky business for a foreigner. Arriving here for the sake of a beach holiday, it is better to move around the city by minibuses and taxis. A car can be useful for those who decide to go to neighboring cities, admire the temples of Luxor or the pyramid of Giza.
On the roads, be extremely careful. Buckle up, don’t talk on your cell phone, and don’t speed—the fine is around 500-900 EGP.
Parking in Egypt is free, but usually everything is packed to capacity. When going on a journey through the desert, it is worth taking a supply of gasoline – gas stations are rare far from large cities.
Rental services in Hurghada are provided by small local offices and large international companies – Avis, Hertz, Europcar and others. Although the former have more favorable prices, it is better to make a choice in favor of the latter. By signing a standard contract with transparent terms, it is unlikely that you will have to pay for the repair of a malfunction that appeared long before. Prices for economy class cars start from 800 EGP per day.
What to bring
The first place in popularity is occupied by souvenirs with national color – figurines in the form of pyramids, scarab beetles, sphinxes and pharaohs, made of bronze, onyx, gypsum and other materials. Papyrus is a little behind them – the real first paper with a certificate costs decently.
When choosing papyrus, beware of fakes. The original does not break and easily straightens, even if it is crushed.
Even more expensive will be Egyptian porcelain and crystal, which are in demand due to their high quality and exquisite design. The assortment of jewelry stores has a lot of original jewelry made of gold and silver. But here it is also easy to run into counterfeit goods, many tourists prefer not to take risks.
In the bazaars of Hurghada, you can pick up a gift for hookah lovers. The choice is huge – large and small, modest and richly decorated, with one or more pipes. Along with the device itself, there are many fillers on sale at affordable prices. And the hookah itself is much cheaper here than in Moscow.
From edibles, you should pay attention to inexpensive, but high-quality and fragrant coffee, hibiscus tea, which is considered a national drink, and exotic spices – cumin, turmeric, fennel, saffron and others.