Hurghada Airport Arrival Guide: Visa, Terminals, Money, SIM Cards and Your Transfer

Hurghada International Airport (HRG) is the gateway to Egypt's Red Sea coast, and for many travellers it is their first taste of Egypt. Most arrivals are smooth – but the order of things is different from most European airports. You buy your visa before passport control, you pass a duty-free shop before you collect your luggage, and the drivers wait outside, not in the hall.

Our team walked through the arrivals area of Terminal 2 in November 2026 and photographed every step, so you know exactly what to expect. Faces of travellers and staff have been blurred.

Hurghada Airport at a glance

Terminal 1 or Terminal 2?

Hurghada has two passenger terminals next to each other. Terminal 1 is the newer and larger building; Terminal 2 is the older terminal. Which one you use depends on your airline and flight, not on where you're going – charter and scheduled flights from Europe use both.

Your booking confirmation or the airport's arrivals board will tell you the terminal. For your transfer it matters, because the driver needs to wait at the right exit – always send your flight number to your transfer company and they will check it.

Step by step: arriving in Terminal 2

1. Visa at the bank counters (before passport control)

As soon as you come through the gate into the terminal, the bank counters are on your left. This is where you buy the visa stamp (currently US$30) if you don't have an e-Visa. You pay at the counter, receive the stamp and stick it into a free page of your passport. The same counters also exchange money.

If you have an e-Visa from the official portal, print it out and walk straight past to passport control. Some all-inclusive packages include the visa – your tour operator's representative will then hand it to you in the hall.

2. Passport control

With your passport and visa (stamp or e-Visa printout) you queue for passport control. Fill in the arrival card if one is handed out on the plane. When several flights land together, this is where waiting times build up – patience helps.

3. Duty free, restaurants, toilets and smoking areas

Straight after passport control you reach an area with the EgyptAir Duty Free, restaurants, toilets and smoking areas. It is unusual to find duty-free shopping on arrival, but in Egypt it's common. If your suitcase isn't on the belt yet, this is a good place to wait.

4. Baggage belts and ATMs

Next come the numbered baggage belts. Luggage trolleys are free for self-service; porters charge a small fee. Right next to the belts are ATMs from several banks, including Crédit Agricole, the National Bank of Egypt and Banque Misr.

Withdraw a small amount of Egyptian pounds here for tips, drinks and small purchases. Cards work in most hotels and larger shops, but cash is still king for tips and markets.

5. Customs exit and SIM cards

With your luggage, follow the "Exit / Customs" signs. Bags may be X-rayed once more at the customs exit. Just before the exit doors are the desks of Egypt's three mobile networks: Vodafone, Orange and WE.

A tourist SIM with data is the easiest way to stay online, and you can only buy one with your passport. If your phone supports eSIM, you can also install a travel eSIM before you fly – compare options in our guide to the best eSIMs for travel.

6. The exit: where your driver waits

Drivers and tour-operator representatives are not allowed inside the terminal. They wait directly outside the exit doors, usually holding a sign with your name. If you booked a private transfer, your driver will be in this crowd – look for your name, or call or message the number on your booking.

7. Car park and departure

From the exit you cross the road on the zebra crossing to the car park, where transfer vehicles, hotel buses and taxis wait. The walk takes only a few minutes.

Getting to your hotel

You have four options: the hotel bus included in a package, a taxi, a ride-hailing app, or a pre-booked private transfer. Taxis at the airport don't use meters, so you need to agree on the price before you get in. A pre-booked transfer costs a fixed price per car, the driver tracks your flight and waits if you're delayed – the most relaxed choice after a long flight, especially with children or several suitcases.

For a full comparison of prices and options, read our guide to Hurghada airport transfers. Typical driving times: 10–20 minutes to central Hurghada and Sakala, 20–30 minutes to Sahl Hasheesh, 30–40 minutes to El Gouna or Makadi Bay and 45–60 minutes to Soma Bay.

Practical tips for arrival

• Get the e-Visa in advance if you want to skip the bank queue – but only on the official government portal, never on look-alike sites.
• Carry some US dollars or euros in cash for the visa stamp in case the card machine is down.
• Keep your passport handy until you're at the hotel: you need it for the visa, passport control and the SIM card.
• Send your flight number to your transfer company, not just the landing time – flights to Hurghada are often early or late.
• Don't accept help with your luggage unless you're happy to tip.
• Allow extra time in high season (Christmas, Easter and the summer holidays), when many charter flights land at once.

Still deciding where to stay? Compare the areas in our guide on where to stay in Hurghada, then plan your days with the Hurghada travel guide.