Safaga

Language

The spoken language in Safaga is Egyptian Arabic

Currency

The currency in Safaga is the Egyptian pound (LE abridged). 1Egyptian pound is about 13 euros.

Best travel time

Autumn (late September to late November) is the ideal time, during this time it is neither too hot nor too cold. Temperatures range between 25 and 35 ° C.Winter begins in mid-December and ends in late February with ranging temperature between 8 and 20 degrees. In areas such as Luxor and Aswan, it is sunny all year round.Spring does not last long (March-April). During this season it gets very windy and khamsin (wind sands) occur.Summer temperatures rise up to 35 ° C. It is best to go travelling and exploring in the early morning when it is still a little cooler than late during the day. At Aswan and Nubia the temperature can rise up to 50 ° C.

Visa requirements

To visit Egypt a visa is required. You can obtain this directly upon arrival at the airport. This visa is valid for 30 days without further extension, and costs about 18€. Remember to always have copies of your passport or ID card with you.

Vaccinations

No vaccinations are required. However your usual vaccines should be up-to-date. The hepatitis A vaccine is essential.

Traditions and Culture

Customs / Culture / Traditions Safaga itself is a relatively young city - especially when it comes to the newer hotels and catering facilities. Due to Safaga being a more touristic area there is less Egyptian history however you can explore the history in locations surrounding Safaga. Historically, this area originally belonged to the Bedouin tribes. The Egyptians do not like silence, you will constantly hear car horns, the shouts of waiters and people in the streets being generally loud. Despite this the inhabitants of Safaga here are very friendly especially towards toursits. Most of the time locals and tourists spend their days by the pool or on the beach. Due to the hot temperature in Safaga it is difficult to have an extremely active lifestyle therefore people spend most of the time in the water and doing water sports. Despite the growing popularity, Safaga has not yet adjusted to the touristic nature. The nightlife in Safaga is limited to a few pubs and events in hotels, which are not very crowded resorts.

By bus

The easiest way to get to Safaga is to either hire a local mini bus which you can hire on spot or to take a taxi. When taking a taxi it is recommended to arrange a fixed price with the driver prior to the taxi ride. The taxis and mini buses are located outside the airport so it is not hard to find them.

By plane

To get to Safaga the nearest airport is in Hurghada which is located about 60 km away from Safaga. This is one of the largest airports (HRG) in Egypt. The airport is located 5 km from the city El Dahar. At the airport it is possible to rent a car. The following car companies are available: Avis, Hertz, Europcar.

By taxi

It is very easy to find a taxi anywhere in Safaga. You can either order a taxi at the hotel reception or simply go towards the street where taxis will constantly drive by. It is recommended and common to bargain with the taxi driver and fix a price before taking of.

Sights

Safaga is best known for its excellent diving spots. It is possible to also do many other water sports such as windsurfing, kite surfing especially on the windy days and scuba diving where you can see the beautiful coral reefs. It is also possible to go walking /taking hikes where you can explore the picturesque landscape of the desert mountains.

Food

The local cuisine in Safaga consists mainly of large quantities of fresh fruits and vegetables. A local specialty which is a very popular dish amongst locals and tourists is called “ful” which consists of fava bean paste with olive oil, lemon and salt and pepper.