What's inside
One ticket covers all the zones. The marine part is the reason most people come.
- The tunnel. A transparent tunnel about 24 metres long, with nurse sharks, stingrays and eagle rays swimming over and around you. It's the photo spot; go early or at closing time if you want it to yourselves.
- Red Sea tanks. Around two dozen display tanks with reef fish, lionfish and corals. Useful if you're about to go snorkelling: kids can learn the names before they see the fish in the sea.
- Fresh water hall. River fish from other parts of the world.
- Rainforest. A covered, humid jungle room with plants, birds and reptiles.
- Mini zoo. Outdoors, with monkeys, birds and desert animals.
- Fossil hall. An exhibit based on Wadi Al-Hitan, the "Valley of the Whales" in Egypt's Western Desert, with fossils.
The aquarium does not allow flash photography, to protect the animals. Phones are fine.
When to go
Look at the feeding times: the aquarium lists them at 11:00–12:00 and 15:00–16:00 every day. A morning visit timed for the 11:00 feeding works well with children, who are usually done by lunchtime. In summer, the outdoor zoo part is hot after late morning, so do it first or last.
The aquarium is also a useful plan B. When the north wind is strong and island boats cancel or turn rough, an indoor afternoon here is a good alternative for kids who were promised fish.
Getting there and ticket options
The aquarium is on Villages Road, the main hotel road, and its own site puts it about ten minutes from Hurghada airport. From hotels in the main Hurghada strip a taxi takes 5–15 minutes. From Makadi or El Gouna it's a longer drive, so a ticket with transfer saves you arranging a car both ways.
You have three ways in:
- Walk-in ticket at the gate. No booking needed. The official prices are on the fee card.
- Online ticket from a booking platform: fixed price in your currency, free cancellation on most, no transfer.
- Ticket with transfer, or a transfer-only booking if you'd rather pay at the gate. Local agencies also bundle it with a city tour or a semi-submarine trip on the same day.
Who will love it, who won't
Toddlers to ten-year-olds, grandparents and anyone who doesn't swim usually have a good time. The tunnel is impressive the first time. Teenagers and adults who have already snorkelled at Giftun or Orange Bay often find it small compared with the real reef a short boat ride away. If that's you, spend the time on a semi-submarine or a snorkelling boat instead, and keep the aquarium for a windy day.
Diving with the sharks
The aquarium also runs dives inside the big tank, for certified divers only. The booking form asks for your certificate and the number of dives you have logged, and you pick a time slot. It's a short, controlled dive in a tank, not an ocean dive, but you are in the water with nurse sharks and rays, and your family can watch from the tunnel. If you are not yet certified, this is not the place for a first dive; book an intro dive on a boat instead.
Making a half day of it
The aquarium fits into a morning, which leaves the afternoon free. Local agencies often pair it with a city tour of Hurghada or a semi-submarine trip from the marina, both of which are short. With small children, a morning here and an afternoon at the hotel pool is often enough for one day.
