If you’re traveling from outside Egypt, we’re especially grateful that you're making it all the way to Gouna. We think you’ll love it here!

El Gouna (most people just say "Gouna") is a coastal town loved by Egyptians and foreigners alike. Located right by the Red Sea, people love to come for the weekend or during public holidays to enjoy the lagoons, marinas, beaches and beautiful sunsets.

To make planning easy, we’ve put together this guide on how to get here, where to stay and what to do while you’re in Egypt. Whether you join us for the wedding weekend, or turn it into a longer holiday, we hope this helps you make the most of your trip.

Here are our recommended hotels, with a little something about each one. We’ve included typical prices for a double room (2 adults) to help you plan:

€60 – €100 per night

Creek Hotel: A cozy boutique hotel overlooking the lagoon, offering simple, modern rooms at great value. Perfect if you want to be close to the Marina without breaking the budget.

G Cribs Hotel Apartments: Stylish serviced apartments with kitchens and living spaces. Great for longer stays or if you prefer a self-catering setup, while still having access to a pool and central location.

€100 – €130 per night

Turtles Inn: Small 3-star hotel in a great spot directly on the Marina.

Captains Inn: Right next to Turtles Inn, also 3-star, with the same unbeatable Marina location.

Mövenpick: Classic El Gouna resort with pools, spa, and beachfront.

Mosaique: Stylish and close to the Marina.

Fanadir: Next to Mosaique, another good option with a cozy feel.

DoubleTree by Hilton: A brand-new Hilton property near the new Marina.

€130 – €200 per night

Cook’s Club: Adults-only with a vibrant atmosphere, pool parties, and stylish design.

Sheraton Miramar: Designed by Michael Graves, spread across lagoons and islands.

Three Corners Ocean View: Popular adults-only option right on the Marina.

Steigenberger Golf Resort: Surrounded by golf courses, quiet and green.

Ancient Sands: Resort & residences with a mix of hotel and apartment-style living.

Sultan Bey: Boutique-style hotel with a central lagoon location.

€300 – €400 per night

The Chedi: Ultra-luxury, Asian-inspired design, outstanding service.

Casa Cook: Boutique luxury with a bohemian-chic vibe.

La Maison Bleue: Palatial and opulent boutique hotel for a truly special stay.

You can book them through Booking.com or via the El Gouna website.

Whether you’d like a full-service resort experience or your own private apartment or villa, El Gouna has plenty of options for every style and budget.

If you’d prefer more space or a home-like feel, renting a villa or apartment is a great option. Perfect for families, groups of friends, or anyone who wants their own pool and kitchen.

Checkout Airbnb https://www.airbnb.com/el-gouna-hurghada-egypt/stays

Tip: Villas near Abu Tig Marina or Downtown put you close to restaurants and nightlife, while lagoon villas are peaceful and scenic.

🛺 Getting around is easy with Tuk Tuks which are available everywhere. You can call anytime through one of the numbers below or ask at your hotel desk (recommended). Tuk Tuks have a fixed rate of around 50–60 EGP per trip (about €1).

Contact numbers: +201282000401 / +201282000402

Working hours: 7AM-4AM

🚖 If you prefer a car, you can also call a normal taxi. Ubers are not available.

Checkout Londoncab (or download the mobile app) : https://londoncabegypt.com/

🛵 If you’re more adventurous, you can rent a scooter or ATV.

Checkout Crystal Bike :

https://www.facebook.com/crystalbikeeg/

https://www.instagram.com/crystalbikeeg/?hl=en

Here are some of our favorite restaurants (by cuisine) and feel free to check out other ones at https://www.elgouna.com/things-to-do/dining

African: Bongoya

Thai: White Elephant

Japanese: Barten

Mexican/Peruvian: Chicha

Italian: Chez Chantal, Zia Amelia & Sotto Sopra

Indian: Tandoor

Greek: Athena

Egyptian: Tamr Henna

Vietnamese: Saigon

International: Pier 88

International: Smokery

Fish: Fish Market

Swiss: The Swiss House

Burger: Le Garage

Fried Chicken: Soul Chicken

Morning/Evening Nice Restobar: Villa Coconut

Breakfast/Brunch: Malus Deli

Breakfast /Brunch: Bagel Tree

Egyptian Breakfast (traditional): Zomba

Egyptian Breakfast (elevated): Eish Baladi

Activities

🏄‍♂️ Kitesurfing: Gouna is a kitesurfing paradise! Whether you’re a first-timer or a seasoned pro, there are several camps and schools where you can take lessons or rent gear.

🤿 Scuba diving: We both love diving! Even if you’re not a certified diver, you can discover the beautiful Red Sea underwater world with an instructor in a discovery dive. If you’re a certified diver, we highly recommend a trip to Marsa Alam for some of the region’s best dive sites. Let us know in advance — we’re happy to help organize it (and might even join you!)

🌊 Sliders Cable Park: One of the largest Olympic-standard cable parks in the world — perfect for wakeboarding and watersports lovers.

🐎 Horseback riding: Ride along the beach or through the desert. Again, if you don’t have any experience horseback riding that’s no problem, they can go as slow as you like.

🏍️ Motocross: Gouna has dedicated motocross tracks where you can test your skills or take beginner lessons.

🏎️ Go-karting: Yep, Gouna’s got a go-kart track!

⛳ Golfing: There are two excellent golf courses in El Gouna, with beautiful lagoon and desert views.

🚙 ATV desert safaris: Explore the desert dunes on an ATV (quad bike). Guided tours take you off-road through mountains and sand valleys often ending with a sunset view.

Relaxation

🛥️ Private Boat Day: Spend the day on the Red Sea with your own rented private boat around the islands. Swim and sunbathe in the morning, then cruise back at sunset.

💆 Spas: Gouna has many hotels offering spa services where you can treat yourself to a massage, facial, sauna or full spa day. You don’t need to be staying at the hotel — just call ahead to book.

💅 Salons: Egypt is known for very affordable beauty treatments compared to Europe. If you’re in the mood for a fresh blow-dry, manicure or pedicure, Gouna has several lovely salons to choose from.

🏖️ Beach clubs: Spend the day at one of Gouna’s many beaches, from relaxed local spots to lively beach clubs.

🍹 Drinks by the marina: Enjoy a coffee or cocktail by the Marina watching the yachts and the sunset.

If you need any help booking just let us know!

You can either fly directly into Hurghada Airport (recommended) or arrive via Cairo International Airport.

If you fly into Hurghada Airport (HRG):

Gouna is just a 30-minute drive away.

We recommend booking your transfer in advance — either through your hotel, LondonCab or Booking.com

London Cabs are usually around €30 one-way. Checkout LondonCab (or download the mobile app) : https://londoncabegypt.com/

Transfers via Booking.com usually start at around €15 one way (Sometimes even lower ).

If you fly into Cairo International Airport (CAI):

From Cairo you have several options to reach Gouna:

Option 1: Domestic Flight

Take a 45-minute flight from Cairo to Hurghada, followed by a 30-minute taxi ride to Gouna (check the airport transfer guidance above).

You can book your flight via Egyptair.com or Aircairo.com.

Domestic flights are regular and priced in the range of €35 to €70.

Option 2: Bus

Take a comfortable 5-hour ride with GoBus

• Business Class: ~680 EGP / person (approx. €12)

• First Class: ~1,100 EGP / person (approx. €20)

Book your trip via : https://go-bus.com/en

Option 3: Private Car with Driver

A scenic 4-hour drive through the desert and mountains.

Checkout LondonCab (or download the mobile app) : https://londoncabegypt.com/

London Cab costs around €100. If you’re traveling with others, this can actually be the most convenient and cost-efficient option.

Driving in Egypt can feel like an extreme sport — we strongly recommend hiring a car with a driver.

Visas

Most guests from Europe, the US, Canada and many other countries can simply get a visa on arrival or an electronic visa (eVisa) beforehand. If you’re unsure, check the Egypt e-Visa portal by searching for your nationality.

To get a visa on arrival, you need $25 in cash ( you can pay in $ or € ), with which you can then get a visa sticker for the immigration officer to put into your passport. You can buy visas at the banks that are present right before the immigration check. It does not matter to which one you go, so choose the queue that is shortest (– a talent Mignon has not yet mastered!)

This whole process shouldn't take you more than 10 minutes.

You can also apply online for eVisa in advance, which you then just show to the immigration officer.

Egypt e-Visa Portal: https://visa2egypt.gov.eg/

Immigration cards

On your flight, the flight attendants will likely hand out a small A5 card asking you to fill in your personal details and reason for travel. Take this with you to show alongside your passport and visa when you enter the country. If the cards are not handed out during the flight you can find them on the high tables in the entrance hall just before immigration queues.

Either way, remember to bring a pen on your flight (– a talent Mignon has also not yet mastered!)

Customs Clearance

Once you get through passport control and after you get your luggage, you'll have to put your luggage through a scanner just before exiting the airport at Customs clearance.

Taxis and Salespeople

After that, you will find salespeople both inside and just outside of the airport from tourism and transportation companies asking if you need a taxi or transportation. This can feel a little pushy when you're not used to it, but a calm "no thank you" or "shokran" (Arabic for thank you) will do to let them know you're not interested.

We highly recommend booking your airport transfers in advance, as it will avoid any unnecessary negotiations (or misunderstandings) with taxi drivers.

Airport Help Ushers

You will find men in burgundy polo shirts by the airport entrance and inside who will offer to help you with your luggage (mainly at the baggage belt). If you'd like to handle your luggage yourself, again, a friendly "no thank you" or "shokran" will do. If you'd like them to help you, a small cash tip of 100-200EGP( €2-4 ) will be appreciated.

Expect sunny days where the temperature ranges between 25 and 28 degrees (77–82°F). Evenings are cooler, about 15–18°C (59–64°F), so bring a light jacket or jumper.

The sun is stronger than you think, so be careful not to get sunburnt!

Hospitality

Egyptians are famously hospitable so don’t be surprised if shopkeepers offer you tea or locals want to have a friendly chat. It’s genuine and part of the culture.

Friendliness

People are very friendly and helpful; don’t hesitate to ask for assistance. Even if their English isn’t perfect, they’ll always do their best with a smile :)

Greeting Style:

A friendly “Salam Alleikom” (hello) or “Shukran” (thank you) goes a long way. Egyptians love when foreigners try a little Arabic.

Time & Pace

Life in Egypt runs on “Egyptian time” which means things can be a little more relaxed and flexible than in Europe or the US. Being German you might develop an allergic reaction, but you're just going to have to live with that 😉

Music & Celebrations

Egyptians love music, dancing and celebrating. Don’t be shy if locals try to include you!

Alcohol:

Alcohol is legal in Egypt. In Gouna (and other tourist areas), it’s served freely in restaurants, hotels and bars. Licensed shops like Drinkies also sell Egyptian alcohol. In Cairo, alcohol is available in bars and some restaurants, but not everywhere so best to check in advance if it matters to you.

• Gouna

Gouna is relaxed and international. Swimwear, shorts and summer dresses are the norm. Basically, there are no rules here :)

• Cairo

For dinners, bars or fancier spots, feel free to dress as you would in any major city.

For sightseeing and walking around downtown, overall modesty is appreciated. Women will feel most comfortable wearing bottoms or skirts that reach the knees, and tops that don't show cleavage.

Tipping

Tipping is common (around 5-10% of the bill) . If you go for shisha ( hookah), additional tip for the shisha guy is common around 50 EGP ( $1 / €1).

Bargaining

In local markets and small shops in tourist areas, bargaining is normal and part of the fun- (even for Egyptians). Always do it with a smile — it’s about friendly interaction, not confrontation.

Friday Consideration

Friday is the main holy day in Egypt (like Sunday in Europe). Some shops may open later in the morning, but in El Gouna and other resort towns you’ll hardly notice.

• Everyone drinks bottled water in Egypt. We dont recommend drinking from the tap water, some egyptians do but we'd rather avoid any risks .

• Food is safe in Gouna — no need to worry.

• In some local spots in Cairo you may find street food doesn't quite agree with you.

• If you feel a bit adventurous , we recommend buying "Antinal" from any pharmacy when you arrive just in case ( to take after a meal) . It works like a charm and more importantly its Mignon tested and approved ✅

• Fruits are delicious in Egypt! March is a great time for oranges, mandarins, strawberries, bananas and pomegranates. They truly taste much better than in Europe so make sure you try them all if you can!

• Here are some local Egyptian dishes you must try:

Koshari

Hawashi

Egyptian Shawerma

Ful (Beans)

Taameya ( Falafel)

• The local currency is the Egyptian Pound (EGP). You won’t need to stress about bringing cash from home — there are plenty of exchange offices in Egypt. Tip: airport exchange counters usually charge slightly higher fees than those in town.

• ATMs are widely available across Egypt, and all hotels and most restaurants accept credit cards (Visa, MasterCard, and Apple Pay).Amex is rarely accepted, so best to bring an alternative card.

• For tips, and small shops, it’s handy to have carry some Egyptian Pounds in cash.

Wi-Fi is available in most hotels, cafes and restaurants in Gouna.

If you want 5G coverage, you can buy a local SIM card at the airport from Vodafone, Orange or WE. This is often much cheaper than getting a foreign roaming bundle from your existing service provider.

Here are a few essentials to make sure you’re comfortable and ready for both the wedding and your time in Egypt:

☀️ Clothing & Sun Protection

Bring light, breathable clothes for daytime, swimwear and cover-ups for the beach or pool and flip flops or sandals for walking around resorts.

Also bring sunglasses, SPF50+ sunscreen and a hat (yes, really). The Red Sea sun is strong. Even frequent travellers to the south of Europe and Asia will find the sun in Egypt to be stronger than they are used to.

👗 Wedding Outfits

Check out our Q&A for the dress code.

🔌 Practical Extras

- Egypt uses 220V with Type C/F Plugs, so the same as Europe. If you're coming from the UK or the US, bring a travel adapter.

- Small backpack or tote bag for day trips.

- Reusable water bottle (to refill only with bottled water).

📸 Optional Fun

A camera or GoPro for diving/kitesurfing/boat trips!