Is Hurghada Grand Aquarium Worth It? What to Expect Before You Go

Yes, for a half-day off the beach, especially with children or if you want sharks and rays up close without getting wet. Hurghada Grand Aquarium is the largest aquarium in Egypt, with a 24-metre walk-through tunnel and a mini zoo on the same ticket. It is priced in US dollars, though, so book online and time your visit for a shark feeding to get the most from it.

What not to miss

Featured location Hurghada Grand Aquarium الغردقة, Egypt The aquarium opened its doors in January 2015. Its tanks hold close to 3,500 cubic metres of water, or some 900,000 US gallons.

The aquarium opened on 23 January 2015 after 48 months of construction, and today it shows more than 1,200 animals across 24 galleries. Go straight for the transparent 24-metre tunnel, where sharks, rays and tropical fish pass overhead. Nurse sharks patrol the main tank, eagle rays soar through the water, and sea turtles glide through the tanks. One point of pride for the aquarium: a whitetip shark was born there.

Plan the day around the shark feeding, which your ticket includes. It happens twice a day, from 11am to noon and from 3pm to 4pm, though the aquarium warns the schedule may change without notice, so confirm the time when you arrive.

The ticket also covers far more than fish. In the mini zoo you can watch rescued monkeys up close, meet a rescued ostrich, and walk through an aviary of tropical birds that you are allowed to feed. A rope bridge runs above the mini zoo. The rainforest keeps chameleons, iguanas and geckos in naturalistic habitats, along with parrots, macaws and tropical songbirds, and there is a Bedouin life exhibit as well.

Keep your expectations in check at Whales Valley. It is a recreation inspired by Wadi Al-Hitan, the UNESCO World Heritage Site in Egypt's Western Desert known for its ancient whale fossils, and the aquarium is candid about its scale:

the aquarium features one whale exhibit display inspired by Wadi Al-Hitan. It is not the full fossil collection from the site

If you are a certified diver, you can go further than the glass. The shark dive lasts 35 minutes, starts at 11am or 3pm, and costs US$125, as of September 2026. You need an Open Water Dive certificate or equivalent and previous diving in the open sea.

If your trip also takes in Alexandria, Alexandria Aquarium is a much older one: it was established in 1930 and stands in the Al-Anfoushi neighbourhood, next to Qaitbay Citadel.

Tickets and saving money

As of September 2026, a walk-in ticket costs US$35 for anyone aged 10 and over and US$17.50 for children aged 4-9, while children under 4 go in free. Either ticket covers the aquarium, the mini zoo, the rainforest, the rope bridge, the shark feeding show and the Wadi Al-Hitan museum.

The one easy saving is to book online: international visitors pay US$32 instead of US$35 per adult, with free cancellation up to 24 hours ahead. You do not have to reserve, though. Tickets are sold at the entrance at any time, and you can visit on your own without going through a travel agency.

The prices are in dollars, but you can pay by credit card or in sterling, euros, US dollars or Egyptian pounds. Visitors with a disability ID get 50% off, but the discount applies to the cardholder only, not to family members with them.

Getting there

The aquarium stands between the Mercure and Rixos hotels on the Magawish village road, a 10-minute drive from Hurghada International Airport. That makes it easy to fit in as the first or last stop of your holiday, which is exactly how the aquarium suggests using it.

Most Hurghada hotels offer shuttles to the aquarium, so ask at reception first. The aquarium also runs its own hotel transfer: you can book the ride with no online payment, pay the driver in cash on the pickup day, and buy your ticket when you arrive. Otherwise, public buses, Uber and local taxis are available on the main road in front of the entrance. If you are driving, parking on site is free.

Best time to visit

The aquarium is open every day from 9am to 11pm, with last entry at 9pm, and it stays open on public holidays. Those long hours give you two good strategies. Come for the 11am or 3pm shark feeding if seeing the sharks eat is the point, or come after 6pm, when the aquarium says the atmosphere is quieter.

Weather matters because part of the visit is outdoors, in the mini zoo. Hurghada is very hot from June to September, so in those months an evening visit is the more comfortable choice. November, March and April are comfortably warm, and from December to February days are warm but evenings can drop from about 20C to 10C, so bring a layer for a late visit. Wear comfortable shoes whenever you go.

With kids and accessibility

The aquarium calls itself suitable for the whole family, and children under 4 get in free. If your children want to feed the birds in the aviary, supervision is on you: the aquarium holds parents fully responsible for their children, and children must never feed the animals alone. Twin prams are not allowed inside.

There is no restaurant, only cafeterias selling drinks and snacks, but you may bring your own food and drinks. You can take photos with your phone, but flash is not allowed, so switch it off before you reach the tanks. The visit is self-guided, so you set the pace.

For wheelchair users, the whole site is accessible except the rope bridge. The aquarium has no wheelchairs to lend, so bring your own, though there are benches around the site if anyone needs to rest.