El Gouna: A New Popular Resort City in Egypt

Updated On: April 14, 2024 by   Ahmed Samir

El Gouna, often hailed as the “Venice of the Red Sea,” stands as a premier resort town in Egypt, renowned for its sublime beauty, luxurious amenities, and vibrant atmosphere. Nestled along the picturesque coast of the Red Sea, El Gouna is not just a destination; it’s a meticulously planned, self-contained town offering a slice of paradise for tourists and locals alike. Developed from the ground up to be a haven of tranquillity and recreation, El Gouna spans across a series of islands and lagoons, each connected by beautifully constructed bridges, and lined with exquisite architecture that blends modern design with traditional Egyptian influences.

Unique Blend of Natural Beauty and Architectural Marvel

The city’s strategic location offers panoramic views of the turquoise Red Sea waters, contrasted against the rugged backdrop of the Eastern Desert. This setting provides not just spectacular scenery but also a perfect environment for a plethora of recreational and leisure activities. The weather in El Gouna is sunny and pleasant year-round, making it an ideal escape from the colder climates and busier cities.

Luxurious Accommodations and High-End Leisure Facilities

El Gouna is dotted with a variety of high-end hotels and resorts, each providing guests with world-class services and unparalleled comfort. From boutique hotels with private beaches to family-friendly accommodations with plenty of activities for children, the town caters to all types of travellers. The architectural aesthetics of these facilities often reflect a harmonious blend of traditional Egyptian motifs and contemporary luxury, turning each stay into an exotic yet comforting experience.

A Hub for Water Sports and Adventure

Adventure seekers and water sports enthusiasts will find El Gouna to be a veritable playground. The city is renowned for its excellent water sports facilities, including scuba diving, snorkelling, windsurfing, kite surfing, and more. The Red Sea’s rich marine life and clear visibility make it a world-class destination for scuba divers and snorkelers, who often come to explore the vibrant coral reefs teeming with colourful aquatic life.

Vibrant Nightlife and Cultural Scene

Beyond its natural beauty and sports offerings, El Gouna is vibrant with nightlife and cultural activities. The town boasts a wide array of restaurants, cafes, bars, and clubs, offering everything from casual dining to gourmet fare, alongside local and international music and entertainment. Cultural festivals, art exhibitions, and live performances are regularly held, reflecting the town’s commitment to fostering a rich cultural milieu.

Eco-Friendly and Sustainable Practices

Commitment to sustainability is key in El Gouna, with numerous initiatives in place to protect and preserve its pristine marine habitats and desert surroundings. The development of the town has been carried out with an acute awareness of environmental issues, incorporating eco-friendly practices and sustainable infrastructure, which has set a benchmark for future developments in the region.

Where is El Gouna Located?

Gouna is located on the Red Sea coast, about 470 km from Cairo, about 30 km from Hurghada, 22 km from Hurghada International Airport, and around 45 km from Sharm El Sheikh by ferry. The city of El Gouna is very new, having been established in 1990. The unique nature of this area has made it one of the most popular tourist destinations in Egypt.

El Gouna is made up of several islands, water channels, beaches, and a mix of the ancient Islamic, Indian and Egyptian civilizations and that makes it a perfect destination for many tourists. Now, let us see what you can do in this small city.

Things to do in El Gouna

1. Tamr Hena Square

Tamr Hena Square is located in the middle of the city. It is full of green spaces, trees, restaurants, and cafes and that’s why this is the best place where you can relax, especially during the day. The lovely thing in the square is that you can enjoy watching folkloric performances and Tanoura dances. This square is also a famous place for shopping, walking and having an overall great time there.

2. Marina Abu Tig

One of the famous destinations in El Gouna, it was designed by Italian architect Alfredo Frida and it is the preferred choice for the elite of society because it is one of the most prestigious areas in El Gouna. When you are there, you will see that it has a design inspired by the Italian city of Venice. Marina Abu Tig is famous for its luxury yacht harbour, well-known hotels, and many restaurants and cafes.

3. Downtown El Gouna

The downtown area is a beautiful place located in the middle of El Gouna with many restaurants serving Egyptian, Lebanese, Turkish, Greek, and Italian food, and there are also several bazaars and shops selling accessories, souvenirs, and hand-made work.

4. Sliders Cable Park

Sliders Cable Park is the perfect place for families and friends, where they can enjoy the beach club and swimming pools as well as relax in the spa or eat local and international cuisine in one of the restaurants there. The park organizes several parties and other events most of the time.

5. El Gouna Museum

The museum was opened in 1990. It includes about 90 exhibits of history, ancient arts, and a wonderful collection of artworks by the contemporary Egyptian artist Hussein Bikar. It’s one of the top historical sites in Egypt.

6. Bibliotheca Alexandrina (Library of Alexandria) in El Gouna

Over the past few years, the Bibliotheca Alexandria (Library of Alexandria) was a centre for culture and various research fields in Alexandria City so that every researcher and reader can find the books related to the field they are looking for and in order to spread culture in every part of Egypt. In 2010, an idea to establish similar libraries around Egypt came to be, and one of these places was El Gouna in order to spread Egyptian and international culture among all tourists as well.

The Bibliotheca Alexandria in Gouna was sponsored by the Sawiris Foundation, it contains about 750 books, and this number so far is what has been converted into electronic books and placed on the website of the Bibliotheca Alexandrina so that readers can browse them and overcome the difficulty of transferring and preserving such valuable books, and at the same time to keep pace with the technological development that is happening now. There are about 50,000 books in the Bibliotheca Alexandrina and the premises are divided into three parts, including halls for seminars, lectures, and scientific discussions, a conference hall, and staff rooms.

7. Golf in El Gouna

El Gouna contains two main golf courses: the Steigenberger course, designed by the famous golfer Fred Couples, and another one in Ancient Sands Resorts, designed by the famous architect Karl Litten. There, you will be able to see the beautiful view of the Red Sea Mountains with the lovely weather and bright sun throughout the year, and players will enjoy views of the sea, artificial lakes, green grass, and the desert.

The Golf courses challenge beginners and professionals alike to showcase their skills. Whether you’re looking to try the game for the first time or are taking part in international tournaments, these gold courses accommodate everyone, as golfers can practice at the city training area, which is located a short walk along the lake.

8. Diving in El Gouna

Diving in El Gouna is one of the lovely things that you can do there. Tourists come from all over the world to discover the marine life under the surface of the water with all its coral reefs as well as sharks, ash reefs, turtles, fish of various kinds and shapes and dolphins. Divers can practice at all times of the year due to the beautiful weather throughout the year, and you can start your trip by riding luxury and high-quality boats. You will also find a team of professional divers to train you and help you discover the best places to dive.

9. El Gouna Beaches

The beaches and lakes in El Gouna are like a network, resembling the Italian city of Venice. Most El Gouna hotels have private beaches, and among the most important beaches in the city are Marina Beach and Zaytouna Beach, where you can spend some time relaxing on the sand, and enjoying some sun and also you can have a delicious meal at one of its restaurants and the beach offers plenty of space for beach volleyball, kite surfing, and windsurfing.

Today, El Gouna is one of the most popular summer destinations in Egypt.

10. Ultra Light Sport

Ultra Light is a gilder plane that one or two people ride with a coach as they hang on to a rod as they fly and watch El Gouna from high above. You just have to hold on to the pipe in front of you, and the coach will do the rest.

El Gouna Neighborhoods

El Gouna is divided into six neighbourhoods, each one has its own character, so here’s more about these neighbourhoods.

1. Al-Hadba District:

It is located on a high hill, 15 meters above sea level, and from there, you can see the whole of El Gouna in a wonderful panoramic view, most of the buildings in this district are designed in the Tuscan style inspired by Italy. 

2. Italian District

This district was designed by the famous Italian architect Roberto Boni; when you enter, you will feel that you are in Italy, and the place also has some of the most beautiful beaches in El Gouna.

3. Marina Town

A beautiful district in El Gouna, Marina Town overlooks the sea, and it has a marina for yachts spread throughout the chalets and houses with more than 126 yachts at one time.

4. El-Motwasti District

When you are in this district, you will see that it consists of villas and chalets overlooking the artificial lakes in the style of the Mediterranean countries, surrounded by tropical trees and grass.

5. Nubian District

From its name, you will know that it was built in the Nubian style. It is located between the Italian District and the centre of the city, and you will feel the beauty and simplicity as soon as you enter the neighbourhood because most of the buildings are distinguished by their charming colours and are built in the form of domes.

6. Golf District

This district is full of greenery, and it is a suitable place for playing golf, and the neighbourhood is full of colourful buildings overlooking a wonderful artificial lake.

Top Hotels in El Gouna 

• Three Corners Ocean View Resort

This is one of the famous resorts in El Gouna. It is located 25 km from Hurghada International Airport and is in the Marina Abu Tig area. The resort includes a beautiful private beach and a swimming pool overlooking the Red Sea and offers many activities, such as surfing and water skiing, among others. Besides that, you can find a health club and gym inside the resort.

• Panorama Bungalows Resort

The resort is located near Zaytouna Beach, one of the famous beaches in El Gouna and 27 km from Hurghada International Airport. There is a landscaped pool area which gives you a magnificent view and aside from golf and horse riding, there are also water sports, such as scuba diving.

• Dawar El-Omda Hotel

The hotel is located in the middle of El Gouna City, and it is 22 km from the city of Hurghada. It contains many restaurants and markets that you can visit, and like many other resorts, it also provides many water sports, including diving and snorkelling.

If you’re planning a trip, why not take a look at some of our other top destinations in Egypt?