Private Hurghada City Tour from Soma Bay: Al Mina Mosque & Marina

Al Mina Mosque opens at 8,000 square meters of marble and tile, the biggest building in Hurghada.

A private Hurghada city tour from Soma Bay takes up to eight passengers in an air-conditioned vehicle to the landmarks and neighborhoods that define the city: the Al Mina Mosque (opened 2012, built at a cost of 20 million EGP), the Cathedral of Saint Shenouda in the Dahar quarter, the Marina with its shops and restaurants, and the local grocery and bazaar markets where Hurghada residents shop. Hotel pickup and return are included. Your driver does not narrate, but staff at the mosque and cathedral answer questions. The tour runs four hours, with roughly 55 minutes of driving each way.

Step-by-step itinerary

Stops and time spent at each

1. El Dahar50m
2. Hurghada Marina20m

Hurghada city sightseeing tour

• Pickup from Soma Bay hotel
• Drive to Hurghada (55 minutes)
• Visit Saint Shenouda Cathedral
• Visit El Mina Mosque
• Explore Dahar markets
• Visit Hurghada Marina
• Drive back to Soma Bay hotel (55 minutes)

The experience

The driver meets you at your Soma Bay hotel and the route takes about 55 minutes to reach Hurghada proper. Once there, you move through the city on foot and by vehicle, stopping at the sites that anchor local life rather than the resort strip. The Al Mina Mosque, finished in 2012, dominates the skyline. It covers 8,000 square meters and was built at a cost of 20 million EGP pounds, making it the largest and most impressive mosque in the city. The Cathedral of Saint Shenouda sits in the Dahar neighborhood. Its exterior is modest, but the interior carries detail worth the stop.

Dahar itself is where you spend time in the traditional markets: the local grocery market and the bazaar where residents buy fabric, spices and everyday goods. This is not a tourist market. It is the place Hurghada shops. The Marina Boulevard runs alongside the water as a pedestrian walkway lined with shops and restaurants, and the marina itself can hold 200 boats. After four hours total, your driver takes you back to Soma Bay, another 55-minute drive.

Choose between a sedan car (up to four passengers) or a minibus (up to eight) depending on your group size. The driver provides transport only. If you have questions about the mosque or cathedral, staff members at each site can answer them. Dress code matters for the mosque: your head, arms and legs must be covered. Long trousers, long sleeves and a lightweight scarf work well. If you arrive underdressed, the mosque rents an all-in-one garment for about £1 or €1.

What’s included

• Hotel pickup and return from Soma Bay.
• private air-conditioned vehicle (sedan or minibus depending on group size).
• visits to Al Mina Mosque, Cathedral of Saint Shenouda, Hurghada Marina and the Dahar markets.

Options for this experience

2 options

Sedan car (up to 4 people)Up to 4 per booking · 17 departure times: the first at 09:00, the last at 17:00Includes pickup in the car

Minibus (up to 8 people)Up to 8 per booking · 17 departure times: the first at 09:00, the last at 17:00Minibus with pickup included

You'll see the exact price of each option when you check availability.See dates and prices

Before you book

Days and timesEvery day17 departure times: the first at 09:00, the last at 17:00

Book up to2d before

GroupPrivate

Meeting point and pickupHotel pickup included.You can choose from 34 pickup points.

Cancellation and refundsFree cancellation up to 24 h before the start. After that, no refund.

Prices and times updated 6 days ago

Good to know

Low physical effortStroller-friendlyInfants must sit on laps

Operated by 123 Taxi & Tours Hurghada

Is this one for you?Choose the minibus if your group is five or more, since the sedan becomes tight with luggage. The sedan works well for couples or small families traveling light. The driver-only format means you move at your own pace through each stop and can linger in the markets without a schedule pushing you forward.

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Top questions

How long is the drive from Soma Bay to Hurghada?

The drive is approximately 55 minutes each way, so you spend roughly 110 minutes in the vehicle over the course of the four-hour tour.

What is Al Mina Mosque like inside?

Al Mina Mosque opened in 2012 and covers 8,000 square meters. It is the largest and most impressive mosque in Hurghada, built at a cost of 20 million EGP pounds, with interior detail that makes the visit worthwhile.

Do I need to cover my head and arms to enter the mosque?

Yes, your head, arms and legs must be covered. Long trousers paired with a long-sleeved top and a lightweight scarf to cover your head are appropriate. If you arrive without proper coverage, the mosque rents an all-in-one garment for about £1 or €1.

Will the driver explain what we're seeing?

The driver provides transport only and does not act as a guide. Staff members at the Al Mina Mosque and Cathedral of Saint Shenouda can answer your questions about those sites.

What are the Dahar markets like?

Dahar is Hurghada's old city, where you visit the local grocery market and the traditional bazaar. These are working markets where residents shop for everyday goods, not tourist-focused souks.