Hurghada, Sharm El Sheikh or Marsa Alam: Which Red Sea Airport?

Egypt's Red Sea holidays are served by three main airports: Hurghada (HRG) and Marsa Alam (RMF) on the mainland coast, and Sharm El Sheikh (SSH) at the southern tip of the Sinai Peninsula. Choosing the airport closest to your hotel can turn a transfer of three and a half hours into one of under an hour.

The Sinai and the mainland coast face each other across the Gulf of Suez, but there is no short road between them. A hotel in Sharm El Sheikh is not "near Hurghada", even if the map makes it look that way. Always check which airport your resort uses before booking flights, especially with package deals and charter routes that change from season to season.

The southern Red Sea coast is long. From Hurghada Airport to Marsa Alam takes about 3 hours 30 minutes by road, while from Marsa Alam Airport the same area is about 1 hour 15 minutes away, and Port Ghalib only 10 minutes. After a four- or five-hour flight, those extra hours on the road matter, especially with children or on a late arrival.

The longer route is sometimes worth it: Hurghada has more flights and more departure cities, and a cheaper or better-timed flight can outweigh the drive. If you do land in Hurghada for a hotel further south, book a private transfer in advance, so the vehicle, the price and the driver at the arrivals meeting point are arranged before you fly. HotelTaxi works with local transfer companies at all three airports.

For the return journey, work backwards from your flight: from Marsa Alam to Hurghada Airport, leave at least six hours before departure to cover the drive, possible checkpoints and check-in.

For divers, all three areas have strong reputations. Sharm El Sheikh is the gateway to Ras Mohammed National Park and the Straits of Tiran, and Dahab is known for shore diving and freediving. Marsa Alam suits divers who want quieter reefs further south, and the area is known for dugong and turtle sightings in seagrass bays. Hurghada and Safaga offer many day-boat trips and a wide range of dive centres. Declare dive bags when booking a transfer; they take up more space than normal suitcases.

For families, the large resort bays are usually easiest. Makadi Bay, Sahl Hasheesh, Soma Bay and El Gouna near Hurghada, and Nabq or Naama Bay in Sharm, have many all-inclusive hotels with sandy beaches and pools. Check whether your hotel has a sandy entry to the sea or a reef with a jetty, as this varies between hotels. Child seats can be requested when booking a transfer.