El Dahar is the original district of Hurghada, the one that existed before the hotels and the beach resorts. The town is generally dated to 1905, when it officially became a Red Sea fishing port, and local people still live here: men's coffee houses, bakeries, workshops, a working market, a Coptic church and a mosque. The district looks nothing like the Hurghada of the resort complexes. You can walk it in half a day, taking in the old souk, the fish market and the port, and it makes a good counterpoint to a week on the beach.
Highlights
The centre of El Dahar
The district is organised around a few main roads lined with low buildings, phone shops, pharmacies and cafés. The minibus terminal is in the heart of the district: this is where the minibuses serving the rest of the city leave from. The feel is that of an ordinary Egyptian town, far from the tourist promenades, and that is exactly its appeal.
The Coptic church of Saint Shenouda
Hurghada's Coptic Orthodox community has its church in the district, and Saint Shenouda cathedral is often mentioned on guided tours of the old town. You can see it from outside; to go in, ask the caretaker's permission and stay discreet during services.
The souk and the port
The old El Dahar souk sells spices, fabrics, souvenirs and everyday goods, and the fish market enlivens the waterfront. For a look at the religious side, add the El Mina Mosque, one of the most visited in the city.
Practical info
Tips
- Come on foot and without visible valuables; the streets are quiet by day but poorly lit at night, and several guides advise against lingering there after dark. Dress more modestly than at the hotel (shoulders and knees covered, for women and men alike). Souk prices are not displayed: agree the price before taking an item or a service, and read our advice on scams to avoid in Hurghada. To plan the visit, follow the El Dahar guide. Hurghada also has public beaches: see the public beaches of Hurghada. The information on this page comes from travel guides and public sources, not from an official website for the district.
How to get there
El Dahar is in the north of the city, a little further from the airport than the Sheraton Road hotels. From the hotels on Sheraton Road or by the marina, take a taxi (agree the price before getting in, or use a ride-hailing app) or a minibus to the El Dahar terminal. The district is then explored on foot.
Opening hours
Our guides that feature it
Nearby
See on the map →
Comments
No comments yet.