Hurghada Airport in 2026: visa, taxi, Uber and how not to overpay
Mykyta Dzhus · Updated 2026-11-01 · 5 min read · Travel tips
Hurghada Airport is your first half hour in Egypt, and it's where tourists most often get lost and overpay: the visa queue, porters, taxi drivers with a "fixed price". Here is everything step by step: visa, money, getting to the hotel and mobile data.
Contents
In short: what to prepare before you land
- $30 in cash for the visa, ideally new, undamaged notes. Or an e-Visa in advance.
- Mobile data from the moment you land to book a ride and message the hotel. The easiest way is a travel eSIM installed at home.
- A ride app: Uber or Careem, sign up and add a card before you fly.
- A few small dollar notes ($1 each) for porters and the driver.
- Your hotel address in English and pinned on the map.
Egypt visa in 2026
Most European and Ukrainian travellers can get a tourist visa on arrival. Since 1 March 2026 a single-entry visa costs $30 (it used to be $25) and is valid for 30 days.
You buy it before passport control at the bank counters in the arrivals hall. Paying in US dollar cash is fastest. The visa sticker goes into your passport, then you queue for passport control.
The alternative is an e-Visa on the official site visa2egypt.gov.eg, paid by card. Apply at least 7 days before departure and print the confirmation. Beware of middleman sites selling the same visa with a markup.
According to media reports, the visa is expected to rise to $33 from 1 January 2027.
Passport control, luggage and porters
After the visa counter fill in the arrival card if asked (usually handed out on the plane or available at the desks). People near the desks often offer to "help" with the card or the visa and then ask for money. You can politely decline.
At the baggage belt porters may grab your suitcase and ask for a tip afterwards. If you don't need help, keep your bag with you and say "no, thank you". If you accept, $1 per bag is plenty.
Getting from Hurghada Airport to your hotel
Tour operator or hotel transfer. If it's part of your package, it's the easiest option: the bus waits at the exit and a guide holds a sign. A separate hotel transfer usually costs more than a taxi, but the price is known in advance.
Uber and Careem work in Hurghada and at the airport. You see the price before the ride, no haggling, pay by card or cash. A ride from the airport to downtown, Sakkala or the Marina usually costs 150–300 Egyptian pounds (about $3–6) in the app. The app pickup point is outside the terminal, sometimes a few minutes' walk. Drivers at the door may claim Uber "doesn't work here": it does. Another option is inDrive, where you propose the fare.
Airport taxis. Agree on the fare before getting in and confirm the currency: "200 pounds" and "200 dollars" are very different amounts. A 2026 guide: 300–600 pounds ($6–12) depending on the area. The first quote is often double, so haggle calmly.
For resorts further out (El Gouna, Makadi, Soma Bay) the drive is longer, and a transfer or a pre-booked car is often more convenient. Choosing a resort? Read .
Money: pounds, dollars and cards
The currency is the Egyptian pound (EGP). Dollars and euros are accepted in tourist places, but change comes in pounds at a poor rate. For taxis, cafés and markets it's better to have pounds.
Airport exchange rates are usually worse than in town, so change only a little for the first days. There are ATMs in arrivals and in town. If an ATM or card terminal offers to charge you in your home currency, decline: that conversion costs you several percent.
Tipping ("baksheesh") is expected almost everywhere: $1 to a porter, $1–2 to a transfer driver, 20–50 pounds a day for housekeeping.
Common airport scams and how to avoid them
- Paid "help" with the visa or arrival card. The visa is sold at the bank counter, and you can fill in the card yourself.
- A price without a currency. You agree on "200", and at the end the driver says it was dollars. Always confirm: pounds or dollars.
- No change. Carry small notes; drivers often "can't break" large ones.
- "Your hotel is closed" or "under renovation". Tourists get taken to another hotel for a commission. Check yourself in the app or your hotel emails.
- Street money changers. Only use exchange offices and ATMs.
A ride app removes most of these problems: the fare, route and plate number are recorded, and you can pay by card.
Local SIM or eSIM
Vodafone, Orange, Etisalat and WE have kiosks in arrivals. You need your passport, and in high season there can be a queue. Since 2025 Egypt has a phone registration system: a foreign phone with a local SIM works tax-free for 90 days, after that it must be registered and duty paid. This doesn't affect a one or two week holiday, but it's worth knowing.
A travel eSIM runs through a foreign operator, so phone registration doesn't apply to it. You install it at home, and after landing you're online on Vodafone, Orange or Etisalat. Egypt from $3.49, 5 GB for 30 days $10.49, a week of unlimited $27.49. Your main SIM stays in the phone for bank texts. More about hotel Wi-Fi and local SIMs in ; how to install: the installation guide.
Day trips from Hurghada
The most popular trip is Luxor: Karnak, the Valley of the Kings and Hatshepsut's temple in one day. How to plan it and what it costs: . For boat trips and snorkelling around the islands take offline maps and a charged phone: coverage at sea is patchy.
FAQ
How much is an Egypt visa in 2026?
A single-entry tourist visa on arrival costs $30 since 1 March 2026. Buy it at the bank counters in arrivals before passport control.
Does Uber work in Hurghada?
Yes, Uber and Careem both work in Hurghada and at the airport. The app pickup point is outside the terminal.
How much is a taxi from Hurghada Airport to my hotel?
In an app, 150–300 Egyptian pounds ($3–6) to downtown, Sakkala or the Marina. Airport taxis usually agree on 300–600 pounds.
What currency do I pay the visa in?
US dollar cash is simplest. Or get an e-Visa in advance at visa2egypt.gov.eg.
Do I need a local SIM card in Egypt?
Not necessarily. A travel eSIM installs at home, works as soon as you land and needs no phone registration.
How much should I tip a porter?
About $1 per bag. If you don't need help, just decline.
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