Where to stay in Egypt: The best resorts and hotels

1. Hurghada

Best for families

It won’t take you long to realise why the once peaceful fishing village of Hurghada is a hit with holidaymakers. Waterparks, watersports, bazaars, boat trips, museums, desert safaris… you name it, and chances are this Red Sea resort has it.

Covering around 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.

Where to stay in Hurghada

Want to wow the kids? A stay at the Steigenberger Aqua Magic should do it, with its fun aqua park, five swimming pools (two for children), lazy river, private beach and choice of restaurants. If you’d like to explore beyond your hotel, try the Hilton Hurghada Plaza which is next to Hurghada city centre shopping mall and around 2km (1.2 miles) from the El Dahar souk.

2. Marsa Alam

Best for couples

Popular with divers and with a more laidback rhythm than Egypt’s larger resorts, Marsa Alam is one of Egypt’s best resorts for couples. All-inclusive hotels with 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 put on your snorkel and say hello. For even more underwater magic, visit the Wadi el Gemal National Park on a day trip 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.

Where to stay in Marsa Alam

Swap the daily grind for flitting between Jaz Neo Reef Marsa’s three pools or snorkelling above its house reef. Then, watch the sun go down from its beach bar. Or stay closer to the chic Port Ghalib marina at the five-star, all-inclusive Three Corners Fayrouz Plaza Beach Resort where relaxation comes as standard – especially in its jacuzzi with Red Sea views.

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, spot rays and barracuda beneath the waves on a glass-bottomed boat trip 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.

Where to stay in Makadi Bay

Slip into a world of peace and indulgence at the five-star adults-only The Makadi Spa Hotel where there’s an infinity pool, spa treatments and spacious rooms. Alternatively, if you’re travelling as a family, the Serenity Alma Heights pulls out all of the stops with its theme park, waterpark with 26 slides, games room and a spa for the adults.

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, restaurants 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 Coloured Canyon or tackle the hike up Mount Sinai.

Where to stay in Dahab

If your backpacking days are over, soak up Dahab’s chilled vibe in the beachfront five-star Safir Dahab which has been designed to look like a Bedouin village. Or, stay in a hotel that’s built into the mountains at the Ecotel Dahab Resort where activities such as beach volleyball and evening concerts will connect you with fellow travellers.

5. Luxor

Best for culture and history

If your idea of an ideal 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 modern city itself sits on the East Bank of the Nile, where you’ll find the must-visit sights of Luxor Temple and Karnak, 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.

Where to stay in Luxor

An enviable location on the banks of the Nile plus a spa and two elegant infinity pools makes the Hilton Luxor Resort & Spa a chic place to stay. If you’d prefer to embrace the energy of the city, and are on a tighter budget, the Nefertiti Hotel overlooks the historical site of Luxor and has a roof terrace to take the view in from.

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 Onsi 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.

Where to stay in El Gouna

For adult-only luxury in El Gouna, Cook’s Club El Gouna is hard to beat. There’s a private saltwater lagoon to dive into, pool where DJs turn the atmosphere up a notch and yoga or fitness sessions to start your days on a high. If golf is your passion, Steigenberger Golf Resort El Gouna has an 18-hole championship course as well as a dreamy lagoon beach and three pools.

7. Sharm el Sheikh

Best all-rounder

A package holiday superstar with caramel-coloured beaches, sun-warmed shores, incredible watersports and local bazaars, Sharm has been charming tourists 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.

Where to stay in Sharm el Sheikh

All 298 luxurious rooms at the five-star Mövenpick Resort Sharm El Sheikh have balconies with enviable sea views over Naama Bay, as does its highly-regarded Indian restaurant, Rangoli. Surrounded by the Sinai Mountains, the Reef Oasis Beach Resort has an equally spectacular setting and is popular with divers thanks to its Padi dive centre and families who love its colourful water slides, 10 pools and snorkelling opportunities.