Hurghada is a place where the days are for the sea and the evenings are for everything else. Resorts offer entertainment, but the best nights often happen outside the hotel gates, and the region has more to offer after dark than many visitors expect. Here is how to plan your evenings.
Choose your mood
Evenings in Hurghada fall into three types: lively, scenic and quiet. Lively nights mean a staged show or a desert safari with a barbecue and music. Scenic nights mean watching the sunset from a boat or a viewpoint. Quiet nights mean stargazing, a marina walk or a long dinner. Mix them across the week and do not schedule a big night out before an early boat trip.
See a show
The Alf Leila Wa Leila show is the classic indoor evening, a staged spectacle of music, dance and costume based on the Arabian Nights. It suits families and groups and needs no Arabic. A hotel transfer is usually included, and it runs for a couple of hours, so you are back at the hotel at a reasonable time. Check what the ticket covers and arrange pickup times the day before.
Take the desert at sunset
A sunset desert safari is the signature evening, with quads or buggies in the late afternoon, a camel ride, a Bedouin-style camp and a barbecue dinner as darkness falls. The dune buggy safari offers a more private way to do it, and the standard desert safari with a Bedouin village is the all-round option. Dress in long trousers, closed shoes and a scarf for dust, and bring a warm layer, because the temperature drops quickly after sunset.
Look up
For a quieter desert night, the stargazing jeep safari with a Bedouin dinner takes you away from the lights for a clear view of the sky. The cooler months from October to April give the most comfortable evenings, and nights close to the new moon are darkest. If you prefer a more cultural evening, a visit to a Bedouin camp lets you meet hosts, drink tea and learn about desert life. These trips are gentle, so they suit older travellers and families with children who are too young for engines.
Walk the marina
The marina area has restaurants, cafes and shops, and it is lively in the evening, particularly in the cooler months. The old town around El Mina Mosque has a different atmosphere, with local restaurants and markets. A city tour can combine the two, and some include dinner. Agree taxi fares before you travel, carry small notes and keep an eye on your belongings in crowded areas.
Try El Gouna
El Gouna is a resort town with lagoons, a marina and a choice of restaurants and bars, and it is a good place for an evening if you want a more European-style atmosphere. A lagoon cruise at dusk is a pleasant add-on, and the town centre is easy to explore on foot. Allow time for the drive back, because the distance from central Hurghada is considerable.
Spa evenings
A Turkish hammam and massage is a relaxing way to end a day of sun and sea, and many visitors book one in the late afternoon or early evening. It is also a good plan for days when the wind makes boat trips uncomfortable. Read the inclusions and check whether hotel pickup is included.
Evenings with children
Families do best with an early start to the evening: a show or a sunset stop in the late afternoon, dinner by seven and a firm bedtime. The stargazing jeep safari and the Bedouin camp day are calm enough for most ages, while quads and buggies have age limits, so check them before you promise anything. A hotel kids' club can cover the nights you want a quiet dinner of your own.
Practical tips
Confirm your pickup time the evening before, and tell the operator about dietary needs. Bring a small amount of cash for tips, drinks and souvenirs, and keep your phone charged. Dress modestly in the old town and in cultural settings, and respect local customs. If you have children, plan an early dinner and avoid late nights on consecutive days.
A sample week
Day one, settle in with a sunset walk on the beach. Day two, a Giftun cruise followed by a quiet dinner. Day three, the Alf Leila Wa Leila show. Day four, a spa afternoon and a marina dinner. Day five, a sunset desert safari. Day six, the stargazing jeep safari. Day seven, rest and pack. Adjust the order to suit your energy and the weather.