El Dahar is the oldest part of Hurghada and the only part that was not built for tourism. Everywhere else in the city grew up around hotels; El Dahar was here first, and it is still where people live, shop and work.
Locals call it Downtown. If you want to see Hurghada rather than a resort strip, this is where you go.
The bazaar
The market runs through narrow streets and covered alleys, and it sells everything: spices, perfume oils, cotton, brass and copper, alabaster, papyrus, jewellery, shisha pipes, leather and clothing. Some of it is genuinely good and some of it is made for visitors — a guide or a slow eye will tell you which.
Worth buying
- Spices — hibiscus for karkade, cumin, dukkah, saffron. Buy from stalls where locals are also buying.
- Egyptian cotton — genuine cotton is a real thing here, but so are imitations. Feel the weight.
- Perfume oils — sold undiluted from glass bottles. A small quantity lasts a long time.
- Alabaster and brass — heavy, breakable, and worth wrapping properly for the flight.
How to bargain without getting it wrong
Bargaining here is expected and it is a social exchange, not a confrontation. The rules are simple:
- Start at roughly a third of the asking price and expect to settle somewhere near half.
- Stay friendly and unhurried. Losing patience loses you the price.
- Walking away is a legitimate move and often produces a better offer. It is not rude.
- If you do not want it at any price, say no clearly and keep moving. A vague answer invites another twenty minutes.
- Once you name a price and it is accepted, you have agreed. Do not then change your mind — that is the one thing that genuinely gives offence.
Beyond the market
El Dahar also has the fish market, the public beach, El Mina Mosque a short distance away, and the everyday restaurants where a meal costs a fraction of the marina prices. The Coptic church nearby is a reminder that Egypt's Christian community is one of the oldest in the world.
Practical advice
- Dress modestly — shoulders and knees covered. This is a residential neighbourhood.
- Take cash in small notes. Card payment is rare and change for large notes is scarce.
- Go late afternoon or evening. Midday is hot and the market is quieter.
- Persistent sellers are normal. A smile and a firm "no, thank you" works.
Our Hurghada city tour includes El Dahar with a guide, which is the easiest way to see it if you would rather not navigate the bargaining alone the first time.
