Africa > Egypt > Hurghada (HRG)
The Car or no Car advice for Hurghada can be broken down into three similar questions - do you need a car in Hurghada ; is it worth it (based on costs), and ultimately - should you rent one? (a balance of the two).🚆 🚌⛴️ Do we need to rent a car in Hurghada ?
These scores are based on the quality of public transport and other travel options. If these are good enough to see the main points of interest, then you don’t need to rent a car.
💰💶💳 Is it worth hiring a car in Hurghada?
These scores reflect the practical factors that affect whether renting a car is convenient, good value, and stress-free.
📍 Getting Around Hurghada — the Reality
Hurghada is long, linear, and resort-focused.
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Resorts are spread along the coast
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There’s no compact historic centre
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Distances between zones can be significant
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Traffic is manageable but constant
Movement tends to be point-to-point rather than neighbourhood-based.
🏨 Resort Transfers Cover Most Needs
Most visitors rely on hotel and tour transport.
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Airport transfers are typically included or easy to arrange
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Excursions (snorkelling, diving, desert trips) include transport
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Shuttles connect resorts with marinas and shopping areas
For a typical holiday itinerary, a car adds little value.
🤿Diving
Hurghada is widely regarded as the diving capital of the Red Sea, and that is where its real cultural and economic identity lies. The city sits directly on one of the world’s most accessible coral reef systems, with warm water, excellent visibility, and a huge variety of dive sites suitable for beginners and experienced divers alike.
Over decades, this has created a deep-rooted diving culture, with hundreds of dive centres, liveaboards, training schools, and marine conservation projects based here. For many visitors, Hurghada is not just a beach resort but a gateway to the underwater world, and its identity is shaped as much by reefs, wrecks, and marine life as by anything on land.
🚕 Taxis and Ride Services
Taxis are widely used and inexpensive.
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Easy to arrange via hotels
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Prices are often negotiated in advance
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Practical for evenings or short trips
This fills the gaps without committing to car rental.
🚗 When Renting a Car Makes Sense
A rental car can be useful in specific scenarios.
Consider renting if:
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You’re staying outside a full-service resort
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You want to explore independently along the coast
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You plan long trips to other Red Sea towns
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You prefer full control over timing
Driving is generally straightforward, but signage and standards vary.
⚠️ Practical Considerations
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Heat makes walking impractical for distance
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Parking at resorts is usually available
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Driving culture can feel assertive
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Fuel is inexpensive
For short stays, taxis are simpler; for longer, independent stays, a car can help.
Conclusion: should you rent a car in Hurghada?
No for resort-based stays — maybe for independent exploration.
Hurghada’s tourism model is built around transfers and organised trips. A car only becomes worthwhile if you’re deliberately stepping outside that model.
💡 Rule of thumb:
If Hurghada is your resort base, skip the car. If it’s your launchpad, consider one. 🌊🚕🚗
