Red Sea · Oct 9, 2026

Hurghada Marina: Entry, Getting There, Evenings and What to Know

The yacht harbour in Sekalla, how it differs from the port where boats leave, and how to spend an evening there

Hurghada Marina is the town's yacht harbour and its most polished stretch of waterfront: a curved quay of moored boats, a palm-lined promenade, and a row of restaurants, cafés and shops facing the water. It sits in Sekalla, the old centre of Hurghada, not on the hotel strip. Walking in costs nothing. Most guests come once, in the evening, and many come back. This guide explains what the marina actually is, how to get there, what to do, and how it differs from the two other harbours people confuse it with.

Hurghada Marina in Sekalla, with yachts moored along the promenade

Hurghada Marina in Sekalla, with yachts moored along the promenade

What is Hurghada Marina?

Hurghada Marina, often called the New Marina or Hurghada Marina Boulevard, is a private development built around a sheltered yacht basin. According to the marina itself it has been operating since 2008. The whole project covers more than 150,000 square metres and was planned with French and Egyptian engineering consultants.

In practice it is three things at once: a working berth for private yachts and some excursion boats, a promenade where you can walk along the water, and a dining and shopping strip on the landward side. Above the shops are apartments, so people live here too. It is the closest thing Hurghada has to a seaside boulevard in a European sense.

Is there an entrance fee for Hurghada Marina?

No. Pedestrians walk in free of charge. There are gated entrances with security staff, and you may be asked to pass a bag through a scanner or simply be waved through. There is no ticket and nothing to sign.

What costs money is everything inside: food, drinks, boat trips and shopping. Expect prices noticeably above what you pay in the streets of Sekalla or El Dahar a few hundred metres away. You are paying for the setting, clean toilets and the quiet. We do not quote numbers here because they change; if you want a sense of what an evening costs, ask us before you go.

Where is the marina and how do you get there?

The marina lies in Sekalla, right next to the large white Al Mina Mosque and close to the old public port. Most hotels in Hurghada are south of here, along the coast road and Village Road, so for nearly everyone the marina is a drive rather than a walk.

Taxi: the simplest option. Agree the fare before you get in, or ask your hotel reception what a fair price is for your hotel.
Ride-hailing apps: app-based rides operate in Hurghada and spare you the haggling. Availability can be thin very late at night.
Microbus: the white shared minibuses run along the main roads and pass near Sekalla. Cheap, local and not for everyone; you need to know where to get off.
Hotel shuttle: some hotels run a shuttle into town in the evening. Ask at reception.

From the hotels in the southern part of town and Sahl Hasheesh the ride takes considerably longer than from the central hotels, so plan your evening around it. From El Gouna or Makadi Bay it is a proper trip, and an organised tour with pickup is usually less effort.

What to do at Hurghada Marina

Do not come expecting attractions. The marina is a place to walk, sit and look at the water. That is the point of it.

The promenade: a level, paved walk around the basin, good with a pram or for people who do not walk far.
Yachts: the berths hold everything from local wooden excursion boats to large private motor yachts. Looking is free; boarding private boats is not an option.
Seafood and international food: restaurants line the quay, many with tables outside facing the water. Seafood is the obvious choice here, but you will also find pizza, grills, Asian dishes and coffee places.
Shops: clothing, souvenirs, jewellery and small supermarkets. Prices are fixed more often than in the bazaar, which some guests find relaxing and others find dull.
Boat trips: some excursion and submarine-style boats depart from the marina itself. Check where your boat leaves from; most snorkelling boats use a different harbour (see below).

The quay at Hurghada Marina, the town's yacht harbour

The quay at Hurghada Marina, the town's yacht harbour

Day or evening — when should you go?

In the daytime, especially from May to October, the quay is hot, bright and quiet. Many places are half empty, and there is little shade along the water. A short daytime stop as part of a city tour works well; a long midday stroll does not.

The marina comes alive after sunset. The heat drops, the lights come on along the quay, families and Egyptian couples walk the promenade, and the restaurant terraces fill. From roughly an hour before sunset onwards is the best time: you see the light change over the water and then stay for dinner. Weekend evenings (Thursday and Friday in Egypt) are busier with local visitors.

Hurghada Marina, the public port and the fishing harbour: not the same place

This causes real confusion, including missed boats. Hurghada has three different harbours close to each other:

Hurghada Marina (New Marina): the yacht harbour with the promenade and restaurants described here. Some excursion boats moor here.
The public port (old port): nearby, by the Al Mina Mosque. This is where many snorkelling and island boats leave in the morning. It is functional rather than pretty: buses, crowds of guests, crew shouting boat names.
The fishing harbour: a separate working harbour with local fishing boats. Not a sightseeing spot, though photographers like the colours early in the morning.

When you book a boat trip, the pickup usually brings you straight to the right pier. If you travel independently, ask exactly which harbour and which jetty.

Nightlife at the marina: what to expect

Honest answer: lively, but not wild. Several places on the quay serve alcohol, some play music, and a few turn into bars late in the evening, especially in high season. It is a place for a drink outside with a view, not for clubbing until dawn. If big nightclubs are what you want, the marina is the warm-up, not the destination.

Remember you are in a conservative country, even in a tourist zone. Couples holding hands are fine; very drunk behaviour on a public promenade where local families walk is not appreciated.

Is Hurghada Marina good for families?

Yes, it is one of the easier places in town with children. The promenade is car-free, wide and level. There is ice cream, there are boats to look at, and in the evening the whole area feels like a family outing for Egyptians as well as tourists. Keep small children close at the edge of the quay: there is not a railing everywhere.

Is it safe?

The marina is one of the most controlled public spaces in Hurghada, with security at the entrances and staff on the promenade. Pickpocketing and aggressive selling are much rarer here than in the bazaar streets. Normal care applies: keep your phone off the edge of a table near the walkway, and agree taxi prices before you leave. Women walking alone in the evening generally feel comfortable here; covering shoulders and knees draws less attention, but nobody will enforce it.

Nearby: El Dahar old town and the Al Mina Mosque

The marina is easy to combine with the older parts of Hurghada. Hurghada was founded in the early 20th century as a small fishing settlement, and the older quarters still feel quite different from the hotel coast.

The Al Mina Mosque (also called El Mina Mosque or the Grand Mosque) stands on the waterfront between the marina and the public port. With its white stone and two minarets about 40 metres high, it is the largest mosque in the Red Sea Governorate. The current building dates from the early 2010s. Visitors are generally welcome outside prayer times if they dress modestly; women should bring a headscarf, and shoes come off at the door.

El Dahar, the old town, lies a few minutes inland by car. It has the traditional bazaar, spice and fabric shops, coffee houses and everyday Egyptian street life. It is louder, busier and cheaper than the marina, which is exactly why a visit to both makes sense.

El Dahar, Hurghada's old town, a short drive from the marina

El Dahar, Hurghada's old town, a short drive from the marina

Seeing it with a guide

If you would rather not organise taxis and fares yourself, our tours cover the marina together with the rest of the town. The Hurghada City Tour takes in the marina, the old town, the mosque and the museum in one outing. For a private car and your own guide, the VIP Hurghada City Tour lets you set the pace. If you want time on the water as well, the Glass-Bottom Boat & City Tour and the Hurghada Combo with speedboat pair the town with the sea. All include pickup from Hurghada hotels.

Who it is not for: if you have seen modern marinas in the Mediterranean and are not interested in Egyptian town life, the marina alone will not surprise you. Its value is as part of an evening, or of a day in the real Hurghada.

Photo tips

Golden hour: the last hour before sunset gives warm light on the yachts and the buildings behind them.
Blue hour: just after sunset the lights along the quay reflect in the still water. Rest your phone on a wall for a steady shot.
The mosque: the white minarets photograph well from the marina side, especially lit up in the evening.
People: ask before photographing locals, especially women. Do not photograph security staff or checkpoints.

Hurghada Marina: boats, water and the promenade

Hurghada Marina: boats, water and the promenade

FAQ

Do I have to pay to enter Hurghada Marina?

No. Entry for pedestrians is free. You pay only for what you eat, drink or buy.

Is the marina the same as the port where snorkelling boats leave?

No. Many island and snorkelling boats leave from the public port nearby. Always check the exact harbour for your trip.

How long should I plan for the marina?

An hour for a walk; two to three hours if you have dinner. Combined with the old town and the mosque, half a day or an evening is about right.

Is alcohol available at the marina?

Yes, several restaurants and bars on the quay serve alcohol. Drinking in public outside these places is not acceptable.

Is it worth it if I stay in El Gouna or Makadi Bay?

Worth it as part of a city tour with pickup, less so as a separate evening taxi ride. El Gouna has its own marinas with a similar feel.

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