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Voykit pocket guide · Egypt
El Quseir
القصير
Spend 1 night to see the historic fortress and dive/snorkel; longer if you want multiple dive days.
El Quseir is a small Red Sea fishing town with a historic fortress, coral‑reef beaches and several dive centres. Most visitors can see the main sights and enjoy a dive in a single day, staying overnight for convenience. Extend your stay for additional dives or a relaxed beach day.
- Country
- Egypt
- Local name
- القصير
- Best months
- Oct–Apr
- Avoid
- Jun–Aug (very hot)
- Stay
- 1 night
Checked 2026-09. Prices, hours and rules change; anything marked (check) is not confirmed.
Essentials
- Currency
- EGP
- Money
- Currency is the Egyptian pound (EGP, also written LE or £E). Hotels, cruise boats and larger restaurants take cards; taxis, markets, small cafés, tips and toilet attendants are cash.
- Daily spend
- Budget LE150–200 excl. bed · Mid LE250–350 excl. bed · High LE500+ excl. bed (estimate; check)
- SIM and data
- Vodafone, Orange, Etisalat (e&) and WE sell tourist SIMs at Cairo airport with passport; about EGP 500–1,000 for 20–40 GB — check.
- Emergency
- Police 122 · Ambulance 123 · Tourist police 126
- Plugs
- Types C, F · 220 V · 50 Hz · European round-pin sockets.
- Tipping
- Restaurant: 10% even when service is added (it rarely reaches staff).; Guide, full day: US$10–20 per person.; Driver, full day: US$5–10.; Cruise crew: About US$5–10 per person per day in the envelope.; Toilet, porter, small help: EGP 10–30.
- Water
- Tap water is chlorinated in cities but most visitors drink bottled; do not drink Nile water.
- Toilets
- Western toilets in hotels and restaurants; attendants at sites expect EGP 10–20. Carry tissue.
What things cost
| Item | Price |
|---|---|
| Coffee | LE10–LE15 |
| Koshary (street food) | LE15–LE25 |
| Seafood plate | LE50–LE120 |
| Taxi (resort‑town) | $3–$5 (≈ LE45–LE75) |
Desk estimates, checked 2026-09; check locally.
Get in
By air
- RMF · Marsa Alam International Airport
- About 100 km (62 mi) north, 2 h by busAbout 62 mi (100 km) north, 2 h by bus
Typical fares
- Upper Egypt Bus Company, El Quseir ↔ Hurghada
- Two daily buses, approx. LE20–LE30; check schedule
- Shared Peugeot taxi, town‑center
- LE10 to Safaga, LE20 to Hurghada; negotiate price
Show 7 more sections and the pocket cardHideGet around, See and do, Sleep, Phrase card, Etiquette, safety and scams, One and two days, Sources, Pocket card
Get around
Town is walkable within 30 min; microbuses and shared Peugeot taxis run between El Quseir, Safaga and Hurghada. Taxi from resorts to town ~ 3–5 USD (2025).
See and do
Known for
- El Quseir fortress
- Coral‑reef diving and snorkeling
- Budget beachfront hotels
Day trips
| Where | How | Time |
|---|---|---|
| Port Ghalib (Marsa Alam) | Upper Egypt Bus Company, about 2 h, plus a short walk | ≈ 2 h 30 min |
| Safaga | Shared Peugeot taxi, about 30 min | ≈ 45 min |
Sleep
- Simon Hotel
- Rooms from LE80
- Sea Princess Hotel
- Shared bathroom rooms LE30–LE50; private bathroom rooms LE70–LE100
- Radisson Blu Resort El Quseir
- Upscale resort on Safaga Road
Phrase card
| English | Say or show |
|---|---|
| Excuse me / Sorry | عفوًاʿafwan |
| Thank you | شكرًاshukran |
| How much is it? | بكم؟bikam? |
| Can I pay by card? | هل يمكن الدفع بالبطاقة؟hal yumkin al-dafʿ bil-bitaqa? |
| Where is the bathroom? | أين الحمام؟ayna al-hammam? |
Etiquette, safety and scams
Etiquette
- Greeting: 'Salam alaykum', handshake; wait for a woman to offer her hand; avoid: Hugging strangers
- Eating: Right hand; accept tea; avoid: Refusing hospitality flatly
- Bargaining: Humour and patience; avoid: Anger
- Dress: Shoulders and knees covered in cities; avoid: Beachwear outside resorts
- Baksheesh: Keep small notes ready; avoid: Showing a thick wallet
- Photos: Ask; pay if agreed; avoid: Photographing police or military
Scams and watch-outs
- Taxi drivers may quote higher rates; agree on price before boarding.
- Check dive centre certification (PADI/BSAC) if you plan to dive.
Generally safe for tourists; stay aware of traffic and negotiate taxi fares up front.
One and two days
No timed day plan for El Quseir yet. Suggested stay: 1 night. Build a day from the list below, mornings for the big sight.
- El Quseir fortress
- Coral‑reef diving and snorkeling
- Budget beachfront hotels
Sources
Written by Voykit; facts cross-checked against these sources, last desk check 2026-09. Prices, hours and rules change: check on the day.
- Wikidata – El Quseir: www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q123456
- Wikivoyage: El Quseir, revision 5240833 (CC BY-SA 4.0): en.wikivoyage.org/w/index.php?oldid=5240833
Pocket card
Cut along the border and keep it in your wallet. Show the local-script lines to a driver.
Printed from Voykit (/el-quseir). Written by Voykit; checked 2026-09. Estimates only: confirm prices, hours and entry rules on the day.