# El Dahar Old Town, Hurghada > El Dahar is Hurghada's old downtown, north of the port: a noisy local souk selling clothes, spices and souvenirs, with street cafés and the Coptic Church of St Shenouda nearby. It's free to wander, with no ticket. Shops open from morning until late evening; come in the late afternoon. Allow about 90 minutes. Web page: https://yesgo.io/egypt/hurghada/el-dahar-old-town - City: [Hurghada](https://yesgo.io/egypt/hurghada), Egypt - YesGo score: 39/100 (Yes, if nearby) - Time on site: 1 h 30 min - With kids: Fine with kids - Entry: Free — it's a town district, no ticket - Hours: Shops roughly morning to late evening, each sets its own - Location: North Hurghada, ≈ 3.5 km north-west of El Mina Mosque as the crow flies - From El Mina Mosque: Taxi, Uber or Careem 10–15 minutes; ≈ 4 km on foot - From Village Road hotels: About 10 km by road, 20–30 minutes by car - From HRG airport: About 12 km by road, 20–25 minutes by taxi - Payment: Cash in Egyptian pounds at the bazaar; cards mainly in hotels and bigger shops - St Shenouda Church: Free; sources give different opening hours - Time needed: About 90 minutes, 2 hours with the church and a café stop - Coordinates: 27.25372, 33.83028 - Facts checked: 03.11.2026 ## Key facts - **Free** — to walk the district and bazaar — you only pay for what you buy (source: Nasha Planeta travel guide; Sputnik8) - **≈ 3.5 km** — north-west of El Mina Mosque as the crow flies, about 5 km by road (source: OpenStreetMap (coordinates and route)) - **2 markets** — the clothes market and the food market face each other across the street, between homes (source: Nasha Planeta travel guide; OpenStreetMap (Souq and Fruit & Vegetable Market)) - **St Shenouda** — Coptic Orthodox church in El Dahar, about 300 m from the market (source: English Wikipedia; Wikidata Q131406882; OpenStreetMap) - **Abdel Moneim Riad** — mosque in the north of the district, about 800 m from the market (source: OpenStreetMap; Sputnik8) - **1905** — year Hurghada was officially founded; before that it was a fishing village (source: English Wikipedia (Hurghada)) - **3 districts** — Hurghada's main districts are El Dahar, Sakkala and El Ahyaa (source: English Wikipedia (Hurghada)) - **≈ 12 km** — by road from Hurghada airport to the Dahar market (source: OpenStreetMap (route); Sputnik8) - **Haggling** — price tags are rare and the first price is high — bargaining is normal (source: Nasha Planeta travel guide; Sputnik8) > **Bring small Egyptian pound notes** Visa and Mastercard work in hotels and bigger shops in Hurghada, but the stalls of El Dahar almost always want **cash in Egyptian pounds**. Carry small notes: traders are slow to break a big one, and paying in dollars or euros usually means a poor rate. Keep a second wallet with a day's spending money and leave the rest at the hotel. ## Is El Dahar worth visiting? Yes, if you want to see how Hurghada lives outside the resorts. El Dahar is one of the town's three main districts and its old commercial heart: low-rise homes, a clothes market and a food market, workshops, barbers and pavement cafés. Locals shop here for groceries and clothes, and that's what makes it the real Hurghada. Don't expect a historic old town. Wikipedia places the first fishing settlement at the harbour in Sakkala, and the town was only officially founded in 1905, so there are no old walls, museums or ancient sites here. What you get is everyday Egyptian street life twenty minutes from the hotel strip. Skip it if you want a tidy souvenir street — [Hurghada Marina](https://yesgo.io/egypt/hurghada/hurghada-marina) and Sheraton Road do that better. El Dahar is crowded, loud and not very clean. Go with that in mind and it's one of the most memorable evenings you can have in town. ## Things to do in El Dahar - **Browse the clothes bazaar** — rows of cotton galabiyas, fabric, shoes, shisha pipes, lamps and kitchenware, all piled up together. - **Walk through the food market** — just across the street: fruit and vegetables, butchers, live chickens and pigeons, bread and spices. The liveliest corner of the district. - **Smell the spice stalls** — heaps of hibiscus, cumin and dried herbs, loose tea and dates. - **Visit St Shenouda Church** — a working Coptic Orthodox church a five-minute walk from the market. - **See Abdel Moneim Riad Mosque** — a landmark mosque on the north side of the district; admire it from outside and keep clear at prayer times. - **Sit at a street café** — mint tea, Turkish-style coffee or shisha at local prices, and the best seat for watching the neighbourhood go by. ## What to buy at the El Dahar bazaar The best buys are what locals buy for themselves: **spices and dried hibiscus**, loose tea, dates, cotton galabiyas and scarves, simple glassware and small brass pieces. Tourist souvenirs — papyrus, statues, shisha pipes — are here too, but the choice is thinner than in the resort shops and harder to find among everything else. Price tags are rare, and the first price depends on who's asking. Open at about half, stay friendly, and be ready to walk away — that's part of the deal, not rudeness. Where an item does carry a tag, there's usually no haggling. Prices may be written in Arabic numerals, so check the total on your phone's calculator. **Don't buy coral or shells.** Exporting coral from Egypt is banned, and airport customs can confiscate it and fine you. This is unofficial — sources disagree on the exact rules for shells — but it isn't worth the risk. > **Dress code for St Shenouda Church** St Shenouda is a working church. Women need shoulders and knees covered, and a headscarf is welcome; men should wear long trousers. Security checks bags at the gate. Don't take photos or walk around during a service. Modest clothing also makes the bazaar itself more comfortable — you'll get far less attention. ## St Shenouda Coptic Orthodox Church The Church of St Shenouda is El Dahar's main Christian landmark. It belongs to the Coptic Orthodox Church, which most Egyptian Christians belong to, and stands on El-Lewaa Salman Mazhar Street, about 300 m from the market — a five-minute walk. Entry is free. Opening hours vary by source: the Nasha Planeta guide gives 9:00–17:00 daily, while other listings give mornings until about noon. Mornings outside service times are the safest bet. Sources also disagree on when it was built, so we leave the date out. It's a working parish church, so keep your voice down, don't take worshippers' seats during a service and ask before you photograph anyone. ## How to get to El Dahar 1. From El Mina Mosque on El Shohada Street by the fishing harbour, take an Uber, Careem or taxi — 10–15 minutes, about 5 km by road. Ask for “El Dahar Souq” or “Old Market”. 2. From the Village Road or Sheraton Road hotels it's about 10 km, 20–30 minutes by car. Apps show the fare up front; street taxis have no meter, so agree the price before you get in. 3. On a budget, flag down a white city minibus heading north along the coast road — almost all of them pass through El Dahar. There are no marked stops: wave, say “Dahar” to the driver and pay in small notes as you board. 4. On foot from El Mina Mosque it's about 4 km north along the sea, 50–55 minutes. Not in the midday heat, but fine in the evening. 5. From Hurghada airport (HRG) there's no direct public transport: a taxi covers the 12 km in 20–25 minutes. Drop your bags at the hotel first. 6. Once there, walk: the markets, spice stalls and St Shenouda Church are 5–10 minutes apart. Order a car in the app for the ride back. ## Best time to visit El Dahar Come in the late afternoon and stay into the evening. The heat eases, every stall is open and the whole neighbourhood is out on the street. At midday, especially in summer, the market is hot, shade is scarce and some traders take a break. Mornings suit the food market and the church: fresher produce, fewer people and calmer bargaining. October to April is the most comfortable season. The bazaar has no official hours — each shop keeps its own — so leave yourself some slack. Finish by the sea: [El Mina Mosque](https://yesgo.io/egypt/hurghada/el-mina-mosque), the [fish market](https://yesgo.io/egypt/hurghada/hurghada-fish-market) and the marina are 10–15 minutes away by car, with dinner on the way. ## Before you go: checklist Tick off what's ready — your ticks are saved in this browser. - [ ] Small Egyptian pound notes - [ ] Uber or Careem installed, mobile data working - [ ] Clothes covering shoulders and knees - [ ] A headscarf for women visiting the church - [ ] A zipped bag you can carry in front - [ ] Water, and a late-afternoon start rather than midday ## El Dahar, the fish market or the marina? | | El Dahar | Fish market | Marina | | --- | --- | --- | --- | | What it is | Old shopping district and bazaar | Fish and seafood market by the harbour | Yacht harbour with a promenade | | Entry | Free | Free | Free, through security gates | | Where | North of town | El Mina, by the mosque | Sakkala, 400 m from El Mina Mosque | | Shopping | Spices, clothes, kitchenware | Fish by weight | El Souq shops, cafés | | Haggling | Expected | Common | Rarely needed | | Time | 1.5–2 hours | 20 minutes, an hour with lunch | 1–2 hours | All three are free: go to El Dahar for the bazaar, to the fish market and marina for dinner by the sea. ## Markets in Hurghada: compare and choose Every Hurghada market YesGo has rated. - [Hurghada Fish Market](https://yesgo.io/egypt/hurghada/hurghada-fish-market) — YesGo score 44/100 (Yes, if nearby) · 45 min · Free entry; seafood sold by weight - [El Dahar Old Town](https://yesgo.io/egypt/hurghada/el-dahar-old-town) — YesGo score 39/100 (Yes, if nearby) · 1 h 30 min · Free ## An evening in Hurghada: bazaar, fish market and marina Late afternoon among the stalls and spices of El Dahar, then the fish market and El Mina Mosque lit up, and a stroll beside the yachts to finish. YesGo sets the times and transfers. 1. [El Dahar Old Town](https://yesgo.io/egypt/hurghada/el-dahar-old-town) — YesGo score 39/100 (Yes, if nearby) · 1 h 30 min · Free 2. [Hurghada Fish Market](https://yesgo.io/egypt/hurghada/hurghada-fish-market) — YesGo score 44/100 (Yes, if nearby) · 45 min · Free entry; seafood sold by weight 3. [El Mina Mosque](https://yesgo.io/egypt/hurghada/el-mina-mosque) — YesGo score 45/100 (Yes, if nearby) · 30 min · Free, between prayers 4. [Hurghada Marina](https://yesgo.io/egypt/hurghada/hurghada-marina) — YesGo score 43/100 (Yes, if nearby) · 1 h · Free ## Not to be confused with This page is about the El Dahar district of Hurghada. Dahar is also a mountain region in southern Tunisia, visited on trips from Djerba, and a name found in Yemen. Dahab is a separate resort in Sinai, and the “Old Market” of Sharm el-Sheikh is in Sharm El Maya, a different town. ## Tips - Arrive a couple of hours before sunset: see the food market in daylight, then the spice stalls as the evening crowd builds. - Start haggling at about half the asking price and be ready to walk away — the trader often follows with a better offer. - Keep small notes in a separate wallet and don't pull out a thick roll of cash at a stall. - Buy hibiscus and spices in the food market rather than the first shop on the main road — it's cheaper. - Ask before photographing people, especially traders. - Want antiquities after the souk? [Hurghada Museum](https://yesgo.io/egypt/hurghada/hurghada-museum) in the south of town has an evening session. - If the bazaar feels too hectic, [El Gouna](https://yesgo.io/egypt/hurghada/el-gouna) and [Sahl Hasheesh](https://yesgo.io/egypt/hurghada/sahl-hasheesh) are the calm alternatives. ## Questions ### What is El Dahar in Hurghada? Hurghada's old downtown north of the port: a residential district with a clothes market, a food market, spice stalls, street cafés, a Coptic church and a mosque. It's where locals shop, not a resort area. ### Is El Dahar worth visiting? Yes, for a taste of everyday Egyptian life and spices or fabric at local prices. No, if you want a polished souvenir street — the marina and Sheraton Road are better for that. ### How do I get to El Dahar from my hotel? By Uber, Careem or taxi: 10–15 minutes from El Mina Mosque, 20–30 from the Village Road hotels. White minibuses running north along the coast road almost all pass through Dahar. ### Is El Dahar safe for tourists? Generally yes, but it's a crowded market: carry your bag in front, split your cash and watch the traffic. Modest clothes mean less attention. ### What can you buy at the El Dahar bazaar? Spices, dried hibiscus, tea, dates, cotton galabiyas and scarves, simple glassware and small brass items. Tourist souvenirs are there too, but with less choice than in resort shops. ### Do you have to haggle in El Dahar? Yes. Tags are rare and the first price is high. Start at about half and settle calmly; where there is a price tag, haggling usually isn't expected. ### Can I pay by card in El Dahar? Rarely at the stalls — most take only cash in Egyptian pounds, ideally small notes. Cards work in hotels and bigger shops elsewhere in Hurghada. ### When is the best time to visit El Dahar? Late afternoon into the evening, when it's cooler and every stall is open. Mornings are better for the food market and the church. October to April is the most comfortable season. ### Can tourists visit St Shenouda Church in Hurghada? Yes, entry is free. Cover shoulders and knees, women ideally with a headscarf; bags are checked at the gate. Sources give different hours, so mornings are safest. ### Is El Dahar the oldest part of Hurghada? It's called the old town because it's the traditional market centre, but Wikipedia places the first fishing settlement in Sakkala, by the harbour. The town was officially founded in 1905. ## How we checked The English core comes from search results and “People also ask”: things to do, is it worth it, is it safe, what to buy, how to get there and the best time. El Dahar has no official website or hours, so free entry, the markets, haggling and transport were cross-checked between the Nasha Planeta guide and Sputnik8; the positions of the markets, the mosque and the church come from OpenStreetMap, and distances and travel times from OpenStreetMap routing — all marked as unofficial. Sources disagree on St Shenouda's hours (9:00–17:00 versus mornings until noon), so we show both, and on its construction date, which we leave out. Wikipedia calls Sakkala the oldest part of town while guides call El Dahar the old town; we say so plainly. The coral export ban is unofficial, and sources differ on shells. Card acceptance for foreign visitors is based on travel guides and is marked as verifying. ## Sources - English Wikipedia — Hurghada (districts, founding) and Saint Shenouda Coptic Orthodox Church - Wikidata Q131406882 — St Shenouda Church (coordinates) - OpenStreetMap — El Dahar markets, Abdel Moneim Riad Mosque, the church, El Mina Mosque, routes from the mosque and the airport - Nasha Planeta travel guide — El Dahar old town and market, getting there, the Coptic church in Hurghada - Sputnik8 — Dahar old town - Uber — Hurghada city page --- This is the Markdown version of a YesGo page for AI assistants. Quote the web page link above, not this file.