Is Hurghada safe?
Safe for a resort city: heavy security and low crime. Boat trips, dive operators, aggressive touts and some sea hazards need care.
Key facts
- SoloSquare safety rating: 4/5, safe with normal care.
- US travel advisory: Level 2: Exercise increased caution, updated 2025-07-14.
- Homicide rate in Egypt: 1.3 per 100,000 people (2017, UNODC via World Bank).
- Road deaths in Egypt: 10.1 per 100,000 people a year (2019, WHO).
- Emergency numbers: Police 122 · Ambulance 123 · Fire 180 · Tourist police 126.
Safety in Hurghada at a glance
| What to expect | |
|---|---|
| Overall | 4/5 · Safe with normal care |
| Crime | Petty theft from beaches and rooms, overpriced shops and trips, and persistent touts. Violent crime against visitors is rare. |
| At night | Sakala and the marina stay busy late and feel fine. Take an app car or hotel taxi after dark instead of walking long, dim roads. |
| Solo women | Generally easier than inland Egypt, but catcalling and touts are common. Dress modestly away from resorts and use app cars at night. |
| Other risks | Strong winds and rough seas in winter; Sharks and strong currents; follow flag warnings and guides; Heat and sun exposure |
Scams, areas and local laws
Common scams
- Boat-trip prices that shift once you are on the pier
- Taxi drivers refusing the meter and quoting resort-level fares
- Shop owners offering free tea, then pressuring you to buy
- Unlicensed snorkel or dive 'guides' on the beach
Take care
- Dive and snorkel boats: check licences, life jackets and group size
- Sakala bar strip late at night: drunken fights
- Quad biking and unregulated desert safaris
Calmer areas to stay
Laws visitors break by accident
- Photographing people needs their consent; children, officials and military sites, including the Suez Canal, are off-limits.
- Importing or flying a drone without Defence Ministry permission can mean up to 7 years in prison.
- Criticising the government, including in social media posts, can lead to detention.
How Hurghada compares in Egypt
| Place | Safety |
|---|---|
| Hurghada | 4/5 · Safe with normal care |
| Sharm El Sheikh | 4/5 · Safe with normal care |
| Aswan | 4/5 · Safe with normal care |
| Dahab | 4/5 · Safe with normal care |
| Marsa Alam | 4/5 · Safe with normal care |
| El Gouna | 4/5 · Safe with normal care |
| Siwa Oasis | 4/5 · Safe with normal care |
| Cairo | 3/5 · Take real precautions |
| Luxor | 3/5 · Take real precautions |
| Alexandria | 3/5 · Take real precautions |
Quick answers
Is Hurghada safe for solo female travelers?
Generally easier than inland Egypt, but catcalling and touts are common. Dress modestly away from resorts and use app cars at night.
Is Hurghada safe at night?
Sakala and the marina stay busy late and feel fine. Take an app car or hotel taxi after dark instead of walking long, dim roads.
What is the crime rate in Hurghada?
Petty theft from beaches and rooms, overpriced shops and trips, and persistent touts. Violent crime against visitors is rare. Nationally, Egypt records 1.3 homicides per 100,000 people a year (2017).
What number do I call in an emergency in Hurghada?
Police 122 · Ambulance 123 · Fire 180 · Tourist police 126.
More about Hurghada
Going to Hurghada solo?
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Sources
- US State Department travel advisory
- Egypt Ministry of Tourism and Antiquities
- Go Bus
- UK FCDO travel advice: Egypt
- World Bank: intentional homicides (UNODC)
- World Bank: road traffic deaths (WHO)
Safety ratings are SoloSquare's editorial judgment from official advisories, crime data and local reporting. Compiled and reviewed by SoloSquare. How we compile and score this. Spotted something out of date? Tell us.