7 of the best resorts in Egypt

1. Hurghada

Best for families

It won’t take you long to realise why Hurghada is a hit with holidaymakers. Bazaars, boat trips, museums, desert safaris… you name it, and chances are this Red Sea resort has it.

Covering some 40km (25 miles) of coastline, families flock to Hurghada’s sun-kissed shores to make the most of its immaculate beaches. The calm shallows provide the perfect playground for little ones, and the underwater reefs offer some of the most spectacular diving in Egypt. Sign up with one of the scuba schools* to take the plunge.

Beyond the sand, head to the old town, El Dahar, for shopping, street food and lively nightlife after dark.

The four- and five-star hotels that line the beachfront cater to most budgets, so you can choose which board basis suits best.

2. Marsa Alam

Best for couples

Sharing many of the same draws as the larger Red Sea resorts, including fantastic diving and all-inclusive hotels, but running to a more laidback rhythm, Marsa Alam is one of Egypt’s best resorts for couples. Breakfast on the beach and sandy-toed strolls set the tone of holidays here.

Take a dip in the clear, turquoise sea and you’ll find all manner of marine life. Turtles, octopus and dugongs (sea cows) all call Marsa’s lagoons and reefs home, so strap on a snorkel* and say hello. For even more underwater magic, visit the Wadi el Gemal National Park to see coral and mangroves teeming with tropical fish.

Port Ghalib is the resort’s trendy marina. Pitch up at one of the coffee lounges or shisha bars and watch yachts come and go.

3. Makadi Bay

Best for R&R

Despite only being a 45-minute drive from Hurghada, Makadi Bay feels like one of the Red Sea’s more secluded resorts. Adults-only hotels, five-star spas and white-sand beaches make it a paradise for any peace seekers.

When you’re not snoozing in the sun, hire a glass-bottom canoe to spot rays and barracuda beneath the waves or browse for souvenirs at the local markets. If sightseeing is high on your holiday itinerary, you can tick off all of Egypt’s greatest landmarks in miniature at the Mini Egypt Park.

Prefer to relax with a game of golf? You’re in the right place. Base yourself at Madinat Makadi Golf Resort and you can practise your swing at the driving range in the morning before teeing off after lunch on the 18-hole championship course – palm trees and mountain views included.

4. Dahab

Best for travellers on a budget

A former Bedouin fishing village turned boho beach town, Dahab is Egypt’s hippy hangout. Buzzing with bars, internet cafes and dive schools, it's hugely popular with backpackers. Add in a number of laidback hostels and guesthouses, and it gets the vote of budget-conscious travellers too.

Thanks to its position on the Sinai Peninsula, Dahab is a windsurfing hotspot. The warm water and reliable winds draw surfers to the waves like all-inclusive devotees to a buffet, so expect your sea view to come with a kaleidoscope of colourful sails.

A sheltered lagoon provides an ideal practice ground for first-time surfers or divers – the latter is essential if you’re planning to visit Dahab’s renowned dive site, the Blue Hole.*

Active types can continue the adventure inland. Join a camel safari to the Colored Canyon or tackle the hike up Mount Sinai.

5. Luxor

Best for culture and history

If your idea of an Egypt holiday is more about exploring historical treasures than beach lounging, Luxor is for you.

Once the ancient capital of Thebes and now known as the largest open-air museum in the world, phenomenal tombs, temples and landmarks are all part of the package here.

The city itself sits on the East Bank of the Nile, where you’ll find the must-visit sights of Luxor Temple and the Mummification Museum, along with the resort’s best selection of hotels. But it’s the West Bank that holds one of Egypt's most famous archaeological wonders, the Valley of the Kings – home to Tutankhamen’s tomb.

Once you’ve had your fill of ancient relics and ruins, there are souks to shop at, Nile cruises* to go on and sundowners to sip.

6. El Gouna

Best for luxury

While luxury isn’t hard to find in most of Egypt’s resorts, it’s part of El Gouna’s DNA. Quite literally, as the purpose-built resort town was founded by Egyptian billionaire, Samih Sawiris.

Inspired by Venice, it’s a complex of islands, canals and lagoons, peppered with five-star hotels, golf resorts and villas that seem more lavish than the last.

Abu Tig marina is the spot to be seen. A hub of fancy restaurants, bars and boutique shops, there’s as much to do here as there are swish yachts.

The resort’s upmarket vibe is matched by the quality of experiences on offer.* Whether you go horse riding along the beach, book onto a Bedouin-guided desert hike or take a sunset sailing tour, El Gouna pulls out all the stops.

7. Sharm el Sheikh

Best all-rounder

A mecca of package holiday resorts, caramel-coloured beaches, incredible watersports and local bazaars, Sharm has been charming tourists to its sun-warmed shores for so long that it feels as much an Egyptian staple as the pyramids.

It’s one of the best places on the Red Sea for all-inclusive hotels. Imagine sprawling complexes spilling out onto the beachfront, each with palm-fringed pools and white curtains billowing from balconies and you’ll get the picture.

The only thing that rivals the hotels is the dive sites.* The Ras Mohammed National Park is a bucket list destination for any diver, as is the SS Thistlegorm wreck, and Sharm is the gateway to both. Marvel at thriving coral gardens and swim alongside more than a thousand species of fish, rays and sharks.

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