Read next: The best family hotels in Mexico
FAQs: Egypt family holidays
Do I need to hire a car in Egypt?
For most families, no. And many parents actively choose not to.
If you’re staying in a resort in Hurghada or Sharm El Sheikh, there’s little need to drive. Hotels typically arrange airport transfers, and day trips, snorkelling excursions and sightseeing tours can be booked directly through your resort or a reputable tour operator.
Driving in Egypt can feel challenging, particularly in busy cities like Cairo, and is not something most families find necessary. In Cairo, families tend to rely on taxis, ride-hailing apps, organised tours and the metro.
All of the family-friendly hotels featured in this guide offer airport transfers (at an additional cost), making travel with children straightforward from arrival to departure.
Is Egypt family-friendly?
Yes. Egypt can be a very family-friendly destination, particularly in established tourist areas along the Red Sea.
While Egypt has experienced political upheaval in the past, the main resort destinations used by families — including Hurghada and Sharm El Sheikh — are well policed, heavily reliant on tourism and set up to cater for international visitors. Parents on the Mumsnet forums frequently describe feeling safe and well looked after when staying in reputable hotels and booking trips through trusted operators.
As with any destination, families are advised to stick to well-reviewed hotels, follow local guidance and avoid independent travel into areas not recommended by the Foreign Office. Within those parameters, many families return to Egypt repeatedly for its warmth, hospitality and value.
Is the Red Sea safe for swimming and snorkelling with children?
The Red Sea is one of the best places in the world for snorkelling, and both Hurghada and Sharm El Sheikh are excellent choices for families.
Many resorts have house reefs that can be accessed directly from jetties, allowing children to see colourful fish and coral without needing a boat trip. For younger children or first-time snorkellers, guided excursions and calm, shallow areas are widely available.
One thing parents often note is that some Red Sea beaches are shallow for a long distance, particularly at low tide. While this can limit swimming in the sea, it’s also why resorts invest heavily in pools. And every hotel featured in this guide has multiple pools suitable for children of different ages.
What can kids do in Egypt besides the beach?
Egypt offers far more than pool days and water slides, especially for school-age children and teens.
From Hurghada, families can:
Take a guided day trip to the temples and tombs of Luxor
Explore the desert by jeep, quad bike or camel
Join a Bedouin dinner or stargazing tour
Visit Hurghada Aquarium or Mini Egypt Park
Eat out at Hurghada Marina
From Sharm El Sheikh, families often enjoy:
Visiting St Catherine’s Monastery
Exploring the Sinai Coloured Canyon
Boat trips to Ras Mohammed National Park
Nature walks in Nabq Nature Reserve
The Sharm El Sheikh Museum
Evening outings in Naama Bay
When's the best time to visit Egypt with children?
The best time for a family holiday in Egypt is usually spring (March to early May) or autumn (late September to November), when temperatures are warm but not overwhelming.
Summer temperatures along the Red Sea regularly reach 30–40°C, which some families find too hot, particularly with younger children. Winter, however, is very popular with families seeking sunshine, with daytime temperatures around 20–25°C - ideal for sightseeing and pool time, though evenings can be cool.
The Red Sea stays warm year-round, reaching around 30°C in summer and dipping to about 20°C in winter.
If visiting Cairo, spring and autumn are also the most comfortable times. Summer can be intensely hot, even though hotel prices may be lower.
Families should also be aware that:
March can bring short sandstorms, which may temporarily disrupt outdoor plans
During Ramadan, some attractions and restaurants operate reduced hours, though tourist areas continue to function well
How we chose the best family hotels in Egypt
To compile this list of the best family hotels in Egypt, we started with the Mumsnet forums, which are visited by over 8 million unique users each month. This makes Mumsnet one of the UK’s most trusted and comprehensive sources of real-life family travel advice.
We analysed hundreds of forum posts and reviews from parents who have travelled to Egypt with children of all ages, paying close attention to repeat recommendations, honest feedback and practical insights about hotels, resorts and destinations.
To balance these personal experiences, we also reviewed ratings and comments on trusted travel platforms such as Tripadvisor and Booking.com, ensuring each hotel met high standards for cleanliness, service, family facilities and value for money.
Finally, we consulted official sources including the Egyptian Tourism Authority, the Ministry of Tourism and Antiquities and Egypt’s e-visa portal, alongside reputable travel publications, to ensure our information is accurate and up to date. We'd recommend consulting the Foreign Office to follow guidance ahead of any travel to Egypt.
The result is a parent-approved, well-researched guide to the best hotels for families in Egypt, with particular focus on Hurghada and Sharm El Sheikh.
About the author
Rachel Erdos is an Editor at Mumsnet where she commissions, edits and writes content with a focus on family travel.
She has written hotel reviews, features and destination guides for top publications including the Guardian, Four Seasons Magazine, Travelzoo, Visit Britain and Visit London. She loves nothing more than researching and writing about fun things for families to do in destinations near and far, as well as trawling the Mumsnet holiday forum for inspiration for her next trip away with her husband and two kids.