Quick answer. Unless you hold an e-visa, buy the tourist visa at the bank windows before passport control: it costs $30 since March 2026, and is paid in clean US dollar, euro or sterling notes. Ignore the people in uniform-like jackets who offer to buy it for you for $32 or more and sell you a "form"; the immigration card is free. Hurghada is on the mainland, so the free Sinai-only stamp used at Sharm does not apply. After customs, take Egyptian pounds from an NBE, Banque Misr or CIB machine, not the exchange desk. Most visitors have a prepaid resort transfer; if not, agree a taxi fare before you get in. Egypt has no Bank of America Global ATM Alliance partner.
Where to get Egyptian Pound at HRG
At HRG the bank machine is the cheapest source of pounds, and paying the visa in dollars at the official window is the cheapest way through. Figures assume the pound equivalent of $100.
| Option | Where | Markup | Total Cost |
|---|---|---|---|
| Visa paid at the official bank window | Before immigration | $30 in clean notes | $30 flat |
| Visa bought through an airport tout | Arrivals corridor | $2-10 over the official price | ~$32-40 |
| NBE or Banque Misr ATM, in pounds | Arrivals hall | Network rate; small operator fee | ~$101-103 |
| Exchange desk | Arrivals hall | 5-10% off the bank rate plus fees | ~$105-110 |
The visa windows, bank machines and transfers at Hurghada (HRG)
Hurghada's airport, a few kilometres south-west of the town, handles millions of holidaymakers a year, mostly on charter and package flights from Europe. The modern terminal is laid out so that the bank windows selling visa stickers come before immigration: this is where you need clean foreign notes. After customs, machines from the National Bank of Egypt, Banque Misr and CIB sit in the arrivals hall, alongside exchange desks that run 5 to 10 percent off the bank rate. Egypt limits visitors to bringing in or taking out 5,000 Egyptian pounds in notes, so most withdraw on arrival. The Egypt money guide covers tipping, dollar pricing and the machines in town; for the other Red Sea gateway, see our Sharm el-Sheikh airport guide.
Visa windows (before passport control)
All international arrivals without an e-visa
Bank counters sell the visa sticker for $30, payable in US dollars, euros or sterling. Bring exact, undamaged notes. Stick the visa in your passport yourself and queue for immigration. Anyone offering to buy it for you is charging a markup.
Arrivals hall (after customs)
Charter, package and scheduled flights from Europe, the Gulf and Cairo
NBE, Banque Misr and CIB machines are in the arrivals area. Withdraw pounds, decline any offer to convert into dollars or euros, and take some small notes for tips. Tour company desks and transfer reps meet flights here.
Taxis and transfers
Resort coaches, private transfers and taxis
Most visitors have a transfer included with their package or arranged by the hotel. Taxis outside arrivals are not metered: agree the fare to your hotel before getting in, in pounds, and have the right change.
Do you actually need cash at Hurghada (HRG)?
Yes, for the visa if you do not have an e-visa, and for tips. The rest depends on how you booked:
Prepaid package or hotel transfer (included or roughly $10-25): Booked in advance; the simplest option.
Taxi to central Hurghada or Sakkala (roughly EGP 300-500): About 15 minutes; agree the fare first, cash.
Taxi to El Gouna (roughly EGP 900-1,400): About 30-40 minutes north.
Taxi to Makadi Bay or Sahl Hasheesh (roughly EGP 700-1,200): About 20-35 minutes south.
⚠ DCC trap. When the ATM or terminal asks if you want to be charged in your home currency instead of the local currency, always decline and choose the local currency. Accepting locks in a 3-13 percent markup that your no-FX-fee card cannot undo. Full DCC explainer →
Frequently Asked Questions
Do I need cash to get from Hurghada (HRG) to Hurghada?
Only for an unbooked taxi and tips. Most visitors have a prepaid transfer. In the resorts, keep small pound notes for tips, local cafes and markets, and agree prices in pounds rather than euros or dollars where you can.
Can I order Egyptian Pound before flying?
Not for pounds: Egypt limits the import of Egyptian notes to 5,000 pounds, and rates abroad are poor. Do bring clean US dollar, euro or sterling notes for the visa. CEI Currency Exchange can ship US dollars or euros to a US address in 2-5 days for that.
How much is the visa on arrival at Hurghada airport?
30 US dollars, raised from 25 on 1 March 2026. It is sold at the bank windows before passport control and paid in US dollars, euros or sterling, in clean notes. An e-visa bought online in advance is the alternative. Hurghada is on the mainland, so the free Sinai-only entry stamp does not apply here.
Do I need to pay someone to buy my Egyptian visa at Hurghada?
No. Some people in the arrivals hall, often in jackets that look official, offer to buy the visa for you or sell you an entry form for a few extra dollars. The immigration card is free and the visa is sold directly at the bank windows. Walk past and buy it yourself.
Can I use euros or dollars in Hurghada?
In tourist businesses, yes: many excursions, dive packages and resort extras are priced in euros or dollars. But the rate is set by the seller and is often poor. Paying in Egyptian pounds, by card or cash from a bank machine, is usually cheaper.