Marsa Alam or Hurghada: which should you choose?

Both places sit on the Red Sea, share the same warm sun and offer excellent snorkeling and diving. They feel completely different, though. One is a coast. The other is a city.

We run trips from both, so we have no stake in which one you choose. Here is how we explain the difference.

The feel of the place

Marsa Alam is spread out and calm. Many hotels are self-contained resorts, often with a reef in front. Outside the hotel there is not a great deal of town, and that is the point. Evenings are quiet, and the stars are bright.

Hurghada is a long, busy resort city with a seafront, shops, restaurants and plenty of entertainment. You can walk or taxi to dinner somewhere different each night. If you want options after dark, it has them.

Think about what you do on a typical evening at home. If you like to wander into a busy street and pick a restaurant, Hurghada will feel natural. If you like a book on a terrace and an early night, Marsa Alam will feel like a relief.

The sea and the wildlife

Marsa Alam is known for green turtles in sheltered bays, dolphin reefs such as Samadai and Sataya, and the chance of a dugong at Abu Dabbab. The reefs tend to be less crowded. Sightings are never guaranteed, but the area is built around them.

Hurghada has good reefs too, with a wide range of boat days, from island beaches to dolphin outings, and semi-submarine trips for non-swimmers. There is more choice, and also more boats.

Reefs vary a great deal from place to place on both coasts. Some of the best snorkeling in each area is right off a hotel beach. When you compare hotels, look for a house reef or an easy sea entry, whichever town you choose.

Trips and day outings

• Marsa Alam – turtle bays, dolphin reefs, Wadi El Gemal, desert evenings, El Quseir
• Hurghada – island boat days, dolphin trips, semi-submarines, desert safaris, city nightlife
• Both – Nile temple days by road, though the drives are long from either

Both bases can reach Luxor, but neither is close. Expect a very long day from either one. If Luxor is a priority, a Nile stay is better than a day trip.

Hurghada puts you near the busier northern half of the coast, while Marsa Alam puts you near the quieter southern reefs. Think about which side you want to explore, since the drives between them are long.

Getting there

Marsa Alam has its own airport, code RMF, so you may be able to land close to your resort. Hurghada has a larger airport with more flights. Always check your hotel's transfer time, since distances along this coast can be significant.

If your flight lands at Hurghada and your hotel is in Marsa Alam, the transfer is long. Check this before booking, because a late arrival and a long drive make a rough first day. We can arrange transfers, so ask when you are planning.

Which one for whom

Pick Marsa Alam if you love nature, hate crowds and want to wake up near a reef. Pick Hurghada if you want choice, company and a lively evening. Pick both if you cannot decide, and start with the quieter one.

You can see what is on offer in each place through our day trip pages, and compare hotels before you commit.

Some couples split the difference by spending the first half of a trip in Hurghada and the second in Marsa Alam, finishing with a quiet few days at the reef. It is a good way to taste both without choosing.