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Hurghada is divided into three parts. The downtown (El Dahar or simply Dahar) is the old quarter of the city; Sekalla is the modern section; El Korra Road is the newest, most contemporary part.

The colourful Dahar streets and alleyways are worth strolling to experience the charms of this vibrant city. There is a wide range of shops here and you can find jewelry, papyrus crafts and leather items for sale.

Souvenirs in Hurghada's markets include colourful glassware, Bedouin jewellery and dolls, wooden tea tables and sheesha water pipes. Haggling is expected in both the markets of Dahar and the shops here too, so try to bargain your way to big savings on any items you purchase. It's part of the fun!

Dahar Old Town has a wide variety of authentic Egyptian cafes and restaurants. Some restaurants serve international cuisines, too. Try the snacks offered by the vendors at the street stalls such as nuts and dried fruits, too. The locals make the foods sold here within their long-held traditions and tasting the local dishes is part of the experience of enjoying Hurghada. Foods here include dishes such as Ful Medames (a famous bean dish served with egg and vegetables) rice-stuffed pigeon, rice-stuffed vegetables, stuffed grape leaves, kebabs, falafel, baba ghannoush. Bread is a staple of Egyptian cuisine. Fish in Hurghada is copious so you will see a lot of freshly caught fish and seafood on the menus here. But if you are vegetarian or vegan, you can eat well here as vegetables, bread, and rice are readily available on most menus along with beans, legumes, chickpeas and olives. One of the favourite dishes here is Mahshi which is rice seasoned with herbs and spices and stuffed into either green peppers, aubergines, courgettes, or tomatoes. The dish is topped with tangy tomato sauce.

Two of the best desserts to be found here are baqlawa which is a sweet pastry made with many layers of phyllo, an assortment of nuts, and covered in honey. Khak is a sweet dessert made of a shortbread biscuit covered with icing sugar, and often stuffed with dates and walnuts.

Sekkala has lot of hotels, bars, cafes and shops. There are several beach discos where you can dance away to the music and beach bars where you can enjoy the scenery while having a drink. Nightlife in Hurghada is fairly vibrant and because it has a very western feel to it. It's easier to get an alcoholic drink here compared to other parts of Egypt. There are many clubs for dancing where you can party late into the night, all over the city.