El Quseir at a glance
El Quseir is a small port town on the Red Sea, north of Marsa Alam and Port Ghalib. It is the place on this coast where you can walk through an old town: a fort, narrow streets, houses with wooden balconies and a souk. Visitors usually come on a day trip rather than staying overnight.
The fort dates from 1571 and belongs to the Ottoman port. It was restored between 1996 and 2005 and set up as a visitor center on the history of the town and of the Red Sea. Port Ghalib lies about 75 kilometers south, so plan time for the drive as well as the visit. If you also want snorkeling the same week, the Marsa Alam snorkeling page compares the reefs.
Our pick: diving off El Quseir
A four hour dive at the Serib Kebir reef, picked up from your hotel. It gets you into the water off El Quseir.
Hand-picked tours, booked through GetYourGuide. Prices are indicative starting prices in US dollars (as of October 2026). Tap a tour for live availability and the current price in your currency.
El Quseir and day trips from Marsa Alam
Guided old town tours and day excursions with hotel pickup, with live prices and availability.
What to see in El Quseir
Three stops make up the visit.
The Ottoman fort
The fort is the main sight. Its walls surround a courtyard, and the restoration turned it into a visitor center on the history of the town and the Red Sea. Opening times and the ticket price for foreign visitors can change, so ask at your hotel or tour desk before you go.
The old town
Old coral stone houses with wooden balconies line the narrow lanes near the sea. Walk slowly and look up.
The souk
The souk is worth a short walk. Dress respectfully, agree prices before you buy or take a ride and keep a calm pace. Touts at tourist sites exist, as they do across Egypt, and a polite no is enough.
The old harbour and the town fort are not the same place
The Ottoman port and fort of 1571 lie about 8 kilometers south of an older harbour, called Quseir al Qadim. The older harbour goes back to Roman times and is a separate site. The fort you visit today is not that older harbour.
This matters when you read about the town's long history. Quseir al Qadim belongs to the ancient trade routes on the Red Sea. The fort and the old town belong to the Ottoman period. The history page explains how the coast's ports, mining roads and tourism fit together.
How a day trip to El Quseir works
The usual shape of the day.
Organised day trips pick you up at your hotel in Marsa Alam or Port Ghalib, drive you to El Quseir and include a visit to the fort with its entry ticket. The old town walk and some time in the souk follow. The drive is the longest part of the day, and the length depends on where your hotel is.
If you drive yourself, do not travel at night outside the towns, and check the opening times of the fort for the day. Official fort entry prices and opening times are not something to guess, so ask the tour desk or the hotel. A guided trip takes care of that for you.
Is El Quseir worth a day? A short comparison
How it compares with other days out on the coast.
| Question | El Quseir | Snorkeling or Dolphin House day |
|---|---|---|
| What you do | Walk an old town, visit a fort, browse a souk | Boat, reef and sea animals |
| Good for | Culture, history and a change from the beach | Water lovers |
| Price in 2026 | Fort ticket: ask locally | From about EUR 60 for Samadai; check the current price when you book |
For most visitors, El Quseir is a good second or third day: it gives you something dry and cultural between snorkeling days. If you only have one day, put the sea first and add El Quseir on a day when the wind keeps the boats in. The Dolphin House page explains the boat day.
More Marsa Alam guides
Pages that fit around a day in El Quseir.
El Quseir: frequently asked questions
What is El Quseir known for?
It is an old port town on the Red Sea with an Ottoman fort from 1571, old houses with wooden balconies and a small souk.
How far is El Quseir from Port Ghalib?
About 75 kilometers. Port Ghalib lies to the south.
How much is the fort ticket?
Ask at your hotel or tour desk, because the price and the opening times can change. An organised day trip usually includes the entry.
Is the fort the same as the old Roman harbour?
No. The old harbour, Quseir al Qadim, is about 8 kilometers north of the Ottoman town and fort.
What should I wear in El Quseir?
Respectful, modest clothing, especially in the souk. Agree prices before you buy or take a ride.
Is El Quseir better as a day trip or an overnight stay?
Most visitors come on a day trip from Marsa Alam or Port Ghalib. The drive is the longest part of the day, so start early.