5. Hurghada: The Red Sea’s Family Resort
Hurghada is the original and most famous of the top tourist cities in Egypt located on the Red Sea. Once a small fishing village, it has transformed into a sprawling destination perfect for sun-seekers, families, and divers.
What makes Hurghada so popular is its accessibility. It’s the “default” beach add-on for most travelers coming from Luxor (a 4-5 hour drive), making it the easiest place to combine ancient history with a beach holiday. The coastline is dotted with resorts for all budgets, from sprawling, all-inclusive family resorts with aqua parks to quieter, luxury retreats.
Key Attractions & Experiences in Hurghada:
- World-Class Snorkeling & Diving: The Red Sea’s underwater world is the main event. The reefs are rich with colorful coral and rare fish.
- Giftun Island (e.g., Orange Bay/Paradise): The most popular boat trip from Hurghada. You’ll spend the day on these pristine islands, snorkeling in turquoise water and relaxing on brilliant white-sand beaches.
- Desert Safari: An essential Red Sea experience. Head into the Eastern Desert on a quad bike or 4×4 safari, visit a Bedouin village, and enjoy a traditional BBQ under the stars.
- El Gouna & Sahl Hasheesh: These are not “attractions” but upscale, self-contained resort towns just north and south of Hurghada, respectively. They offer a more high-end, quieter, and master-planned alternative to the main city.
The Verdict: Hurghada is the perfect, all-around choice for families and travelers looking for a classic, fun, and easy-to-plan Red Sea holiday to complement their historical tour.
6. The Sinai’s Diving Mecca: Sharm El Sheikh
Sharm El Sheikh is a global destination, while Hurghada is a resort city. “Sharm” is located on the southern-most tip of the Sinai Peninsula. It is one of Egypt’s top tourist cities. Many consider it one of the best scuba diving locations on the planet.
Sharm has a more cosmopolitan, upscale, and energetic vibe than Hurghada. Its distinct “downtown” area is Na’ama Bay. This area has a long boardwalk packed with restaurants, shisha cafes, and nightclubs.
The true magic of Sharm is its unique geography. It’s where the rugged, biblical mountains of the Sinai meet the world’s most vibrant coral reefs.
Key Attractions & Experiences in Sharm El Sheikh:
World-Class Scuba Diving: This is why serious divers come here.
- Ras Mohammed National Park: A protected marine park at the tip of Sinai, offering world-famous dive sites with stunning underwater cliffs and abundant marine life.
- Tiran Island: A popular boat trip to see pristine reefs (and a famous shipwreck).
St. Catherine’s Monastery: A UNESCO World Heritage site located at the foot of Mount Sinai. This 6th-century monastery is one of the oldest continuously operating Christian monasteries in the world.
Mount Sinai (Jebel Musa): The epic “sunrise climb.” Most tours leave Sharm in the middle of the night to climb the mountain in the dark, reaching the summit (where Moses is said to have received the Ten Commandments) just in time for a breathtaking sunrise over the rugged mountains.
Desert Safaris: The Sinai desert is more mountainous and dramatic than the desert around Hurghada, offering incredible 4×4 and camel safaris.
The Verdict: Sharm El Sheikh is the top choice for divers, couples, and travelers who want to combine a luxury beach holiday with the profound, unique, and historical adventures of the Sinai Peninsula.
7. Siwa Oasis: A Journey to the Great Sand Sea
Siwa Oasis is not just one of the top tourist cities in Egypt; it’s a different world entirely. This is not a quick add-on to your trip—it is the destination.
Located in the vast Western Desert, just 50 km from the Libyan border, Siwa is one of Egypt’s most remote and magical settlements. It has been isolated for much of its history, and as a result, it has a unique culture all its own. The locals, known as Siwans, are of Berber origin and speak their own language, Siwi, (a dialect of Berber) rather than Arabic.
A trip to Siwa is an adventure, a journey to a land of a thousand palm trees and olive groves, surrounded by the endless, shifting dunes of the Great Sand Sea.
Key Attractions & Experiences in Siwa:
- The Oracle of Amun (Temple of Aghurmi): This is the ruined temple that made Siwa famous. It was here that Alexander the Great allegedly traveled in 331 BC to consult the oracle and confirm his status as a divine son of Zeus-Amun.
- The Shali Fortress: The incredible ruins of the old, 13th-century mud-brick town, which dominate the center of Siwa.
- Cleopatra’s Bath: A large, bubbling natural spring and a popular local swimming spot.
- The Great Sand Sea: The main attraction. Take an exhilarating 4×4 “dune-bashing” safari into the ocean of sand, swim in cold-water lakes in the middle of the desert, and watch the sunset from a high dune.
The Verdict: Siwa is for the adventurous traveler, not the first-time tourist on a tight schedule. It’s a long journey (an 8-10 hour bus or car ride from Cairo or Alexandria), but the reward is a truly unique, authentic, and unforgettable cultural experience.