Arrive at Hurghada Airport 3 hours before an international flight, or 3 and a half hours on busy charter days. Before check-in you pass a police checkpoint on the airport road and a security scan at the terminal entrance, and there is a second scan after passport control. Add your drive time on top: about 15 minutes from Hurghada, 30 from Makadi Bay, 35 from El Gouna and 45 from Soma Bay.
Airlines flying from Hurghada advise between 2 and 3 hours. We recommend the full 3 hours, because the queues at HRG are less predictable than at home: when several charter flights leave in the same hour, the line at the terminal door alone can take half an hour. This guide walks through every step from your hotel to the gate.
On this page
When to leave your hotel
Work backwards from your departure time: 3 hours at the airport, plus the drive, plus a small buffer for traffic and the checkpoint.
| Your hotel area | Drive to HRG | Leave the hotel |
|---|---|---|
| Hurghada City & Marina | about 15 min | 3 h 30 min before |
| Sahl Hasheesh | about 20 min | 3 h 30 min before |
| Makadi Bay | about 30 min | 3 h 40 min before |
| El Gouna | about 35 min | 3 h 45 min before |
| Soma Bay | about 45 min | 4 h before |
| Safaga | about 55 min | 4 h 10 min before |
Example: your flight to London leaves at 14:00 and you are staying in El Gouna. Leave your hotel at about 10:15 and you reach the terminal around 10:50, with three hours to spare.
Step by step: from the road to the gate
- 1
Police checkpoint on the airport road
Cars stop before the airport. Officers may look at your passport and your booking, so keep both to hand rather than in a suitcase.
- 2
Security scan at the terminal door
All bags, including checked luggage, go through a scanner before you can enter the terminal. This is where queues build up at peak times.
- 3
Check-in and bag drop
Find your airline on the screens. Online check-in opens 24 hours before departure, but there is no evening-before check-in at Hurghada, so you still drop bags at the desk.
- 4
Passport control
Show your passport and boarding pass. If you entered Egypt with a German ID card, show the separate visa sheet you were given on arrival.
- 5
Second security check
International passengers go through a second scan of hand luggage after passport control. Liquids rules apply as at home.
Departure lounge and gate
Shops, duty free and cafés are in the departure area. Boarding usually starts about 45 minutes before take-off.
Before you leave the hotel
- Check out the night before if you are leaving early, so you only hand back the key
- Keep your passport, visa sheet and boarding pass in your hand luggage, not your suitcase
- Weigh your bags: holiday souvenirs add up, and excess baggage at the desk is expensive
- Do not pack corals, shells or anything that looks like an antiquity. Exporting them is banned
- Spend or change your Egyptian pounds: you can only take a limited amount out of the country
Getting to the airport
Departure Concierge
Least stress- Pickup
- At your door, plan confirmed the day before
- Price
- From {{ pDep }}, fixed
- Luggage
- Every bag handled
- At HRG
- Walked to check-in
Taxi
- Pickup
- Called by reception
- Price
- Agreed with the driver
- Luggage
- Your job
- At HRG
- Dropped at the kerb
Package coach
- Pickup
- Set by the tour operator
- Price
- Often included
- Luggage
- Loaded onto the coach
- At HRG
- Often very early, with stops
Package coaches often collect you 4 or 5 hours before your flight because they stop at several hotels. If your coach time leaves you sitting at the airport for hours, a private pickup gives you the last morning of your holiday back.
Tips for a calm departure
Avoid the charter peaks
Many flights to Europe leave in the morning and early afternoon. If yours does, use the 3 and a half hour rule.
Keep a few small notes
Porters at the terminal door may offer to lift bags onto the scanner. A small tip is expected if you accept.
Ask for assistance early
Passengers with reduced mobility can get free assistance at HRG. Request it through your airline at least 48 hours ahead.
Shop after security
Duty free and souvenir shops are in the departure area, so there is no need to carry last-minute shopping through both scans.
Frequently asked questions
How early should I arrive at Hurghada Airport?
How many security checks are there at Hurghada Airport?
Which terminal do I fly from at Hurghada?
Can I check in the evening before my flight from Hurghada?
When should I leave my hotel for Hurghada Airport?
Written by the iNeed concierge team in Hurghada. Last updated .