Hurghada

Egypt

Things to do in Hurghada:

View the Gallery Seascape at Sunset

Hurghada Restaurants

Affordable (23)

GAD

Egypt's fast-growing chain of restaurants offering a wide range of local flavours from as little as 1.50EGP for a falafel sandwich. Menus in English and very helpful staff. Eat in or takeaway. read more
Fine dining (14)

Tuscany Restaurant

A fine-dining experience overlooking the Marriott gardens and marina. The carpaccio beef, duck in orange sauce and surf 'n' turf are house specials, but if the lamb chops are on the menu, go for... read more

Hurghada Nightlife

Chilled (26)

Shade Bar & Grill

Perfect spot to start your evening - relax on your beanbag with views over the Marina, sip a cold beer and plan the night - stay on for dinner and music later. read more
Clubbing (19)

Star Bar

Every Thursday evening, see live music starting at 9.30pm and going on late into the night - great food, full bar and a lively atmosphere.� read more

This Month in Hurghada:

By Denise Fletcher

Shopping: Newly opened in March, Diwan has a great selection of English novels for all ages, self-help books, children's activity books and a selection of stationery (Senzo Mall, next to Radio Shack, tel: +20122 950 0579).

Sightseeing: Every year, Hurghada's skies are filled with storks on their migration. Many hundreds at a time can be seen circling in the thermals and coming to rest on outcrops and desert flats.

Hurghada News & Gossip

Egyptian Christmas

HURGHADA, LUXOR, SHARM EL SHEIKH

Christmas happens on 25 December, right? Not in Egypt, where the Coptic Orthodox Church celebrates Jesus's birth two weeks later. So, those who aren't satisfied with one big day, can enjoy a second, sunny one...

1 Egypt uses three calendars: the Islamic, the Coptic and the Western. The Coptic calendar has 13 months in its year.
2 Coptics consider St Mark their first pope. His cathedral is in Cairo, where services are mainly held in the Coptic language.
3 It was only in December 2002 that Coptic Christmas officially became a public holiday in Egypt.
4 Christmas trees are as much a part of Coptic Christmas as their Western counterpart. In fact, Christmas trees actually originate in Egypt.
5 Services are held on the eve of 7 January and a special bread is given out. It's decorated with a cross and 12 dots to represent Jesus's disciples.
6 On Christmas morning, children are given a gift of money to buy sweets.

Hurghada Trivia

May: Construction of Hurghada's new airport terminal is coming on in leaps and bounds. With a yearly capacity of 7.5 million, it will boast 11 aircraft bridges plus nine normal gates. Due for completion early 2013.
April: Cinnamon is widely available in the spice shops of Hurghada. Cinnamon has many health properties including regulation of blood sugar, relief from arthritic pain when combined with honey and is a good source of manganese, fibre, iron and calcium.
March: Pay a visit to the Blue Moon Animal Shelter, which fosters sick, abandoned or stray animals (including cats, dogs, donkeys and camels). Volunteer your services, act as a flight parent for an adopted stray or make a donation. Call Monica on 010 0549 0046.