Cairo by Night: a handy guidebook for exploring the city's nightlife

Cairo is known as the city that never sleeps. If you don't feel like going back to your hotel early, you can choose from a wide variety of activities to keep your day going: dinner cruises on the river, strolling through the bustling market streets, going to the opera, or even going to a pub or nightclub. In this article I detail some of the suggestions in case they help you during your trip.

If there is one thing you can be sure of when you travel to Cairo, it is that you will spend a few hours visiting the pyramids of Giza and the nearby Sphinx. However, not everyone knows that it is also very interesting to visit the area at night to enjoy and be amazed by the sound and light show at the pyramids.

For one hour, the pyramids are illuminated by laser beams of light. Both the walls of the Temple of the Mummification and the pyramids themselves, not forgetting the desert sand and the Sphinx, become screens on which part of the history of the Egypt of the Pharaohs unfolds.

The images are combined with a wonderful soundtrack and you can listen to the mysterious or dramatic voice of the Sphinx. During this time you will be able to learn some details about the life of Nefertiti and that of the pharaoh Akhenaten, as well as finding out how the imposing pyramids were built.

Practical information

• Location: The pyramids are located in Giza, about 30 minutes from the centre of Cairo (provided the chaotic traffic doesn't slow down your arrival).
• Tickets: The most convenient option both for getting to the pyramids and for enjoying the visit is to book a tour of the pyramids, which includes tickets to the audio-visual show and, if necessary, transport.
• Timetable: Although there may be changes, the show takes place every day, in three different sessions. In summer the schedule is at 19:30, 20:30 and 21:30, while in winter it is at 18:30, 19:30 and 20:30.

Without the Nile, the history of Egypt and Cairo would have been very different. The great river is the creator of life in the country and the element that structures it from north to south. Booking a night cruise on the Nile is therefore a must and the experience is made even better by the addition of dinner and a belly dancing show.

These small night cruises in Cairo are not only perfect for relaxing after a long day of sightseeing. During the tour you can admire the city's illuminated skyline and see some of its attractions from a different point of view.

There are different types of cruises depending on what you're looking for. Those that include dinner are divided between buffet style and those offered by excellent chefs and that will help you to get to know better the wonderful Egyptian gastronomy. You can also book a cruise that includes a belly dancing show and small concerts of traditional music.

Although cruise ships are the most popular with tourists when they are in Cairo, there is another more traditional way of cruising the Nile: in a falucca. If you want a truly unforgettable experience, I recommend you book a ride on a falucca on the Nile, one of these boats to enjoy the sunset from the river.

Faluccas are small wooden boats propelled by the wind. For centuries, they have been the means of transport used by the Egyptians to travel up and down the Nile, whether on short or longer journeys. On board these boats and rocked by the waters of the river, you will feel transported to a different era.

If you want to do this activity, try to find a falucca that, in addition to the sails and oars, also has an engine. During my trip to Aswan, I had the misfortune to sail in a falucca on a totally calm day, with no wind at all. Just to say that it took a long time before we could reach the shore with the oars.

The most visited place in Cairo by tourists looking to shop is the Khan El Khalili market. Most of these visits take place during the day, but it's well worth it to venture into its narrow streets at night.

Khan el Khalili is located in what is known as Islamic Cairo. Its stalls and shops are scattered through a large number of zigzagging alleyways and lanes. Getting lost in them is more of a possibility than an inevitability. You can also see some beautiful mosques in this area, as well as the workshops where the craftsmen who sell their wares in the market work. The shops do not close when the sun goes down and the market district takes on a different atmosphere when the traditional metal lanterns are lit.

My recommendation is to go after 19:00 hours (earlier in winter) to stroll around the market at your leisure and then have dinner in one of the local street restaurants.

Joaquín's Traveller Tip

If you have decided to go on your own and not with a guide, I advise you to be patient. Some vendors can be very insistent in attracting tourists to their shops. If you are not interested you will have to refuse their invitation several times.

Near Khan el Khalili is another essential spot to experience the Cairo nightlife: Al Moez Street (you may see the name spelled differently, as the Arabic transcriptions are not easy on the vowels). It is an unforgettable experience to walk the approximately one kilometre of this street when the coloured lights are switched on.

Al Moez Street was closed to traffic in 2008, which increased the already considerable traffic flow. Along the way you will be able to see several small architectural gems, all beautifully illuminated. Don't miss the Al Hakim bi Amr Allah Mosque, the Al-Aqmar Mosque, the Al Nasir Muhammad Madrasa and the Qalawun complex.

Another building worth seeing is Beit al-Suhaymi, a house (which is what beit means) built in 1648 and considered to be one of the finest examples of Ottoman architecture in the city.

On one side of Khan el Khalili is the Fishawi, one of the most famous cafes in the Egyptian capital. If you've decided to take a stroll around the area in the evening, a seat on its terrace will help you to relax for a while from the hustle and bustle of the streets. The street where the café is located is usually crowded at all hours, so if you don't have a guide you will almost certainly have to wait for a table.

The Fishawi or Mirror Café began its activity more than 240 years ago. Over time its clientele began to grow and today it is renowned for serving the best tuco coffee, delicious mint tea and the best narghiles (water pipes) in the city.

For many Egyptians, spending time in this café taking in the atmosphere while sipping tea and smoking a hookah is a real pastime and I'm sure you'll love it too. Just think, too, that this place is proud to have been a favourite haunt of some of the country's most famous writers, including Naguid Mahfoud, winner of the Nobel Prize for literature in 1988.

If you want to enjoy a view of the city with all its illumination at night, there is no better place than the Cairo Tower, the Cairo Tower.

This former telecommunications tower, 187 metres high, is located in the modern Zamalek neighbourhood and its design stands out for its stylised appearance and for having been covered with a lattice that was intended to resemble a lotus flower.

To enter the tower you'll have to pay around 10 euros, but it's worth it for the views from the observation deck on the terrace. Until 00:00 (in winter) or 1:00 (in summer) you can look out to see the Nile illuminated by the lights of the boats and get a perspective of the city streets. Another option is to book a table at the revolving restaurant at the top of the tower. You'll be able to enjoy the same views while you dine.

Take a walk around Zamalek while you're in the area

The neighbourhood in which the tower is located, Zamalek, is actually located inside a small island on the Nile River.

It has long been considered the most modern and westernised part of the city and is home to many trendy shops and high-end restaurants.

You may not associate Cairo with opera or classical music. However, if you are a lover of these genres you will find the city to be one of the best performing arts centres in the world. In fact, the Cairo Opera House, inaugurated in 1988, is a complex that houses seven different theatres. It also houses a music library, a museum and an art gallery.

As the theatre's name suggests, the most popular genre is opera, but it also hosts ballet, musicals, plays and concerts.

This theatre is the main venue for several companies, such as the Cairo Symphony Orchestra, the City Opera Company, the Cairo Opera Ballet Company and the National Arab Music Ensemble. To get to the building you will have to go to Gezira Island, located on the Nile. Before you go, check the programme on their website, where you can also buy tickets.

You almost certainly don't think of Cairo as a nightlife hotspot, but the fact is that the Egyptian capital offers plenty of options for a night out, albeit with its own unique style. If you're looking for nightclubs, head to those located in the city's most luxurious hotels, while near the Egyptian Museum, there are a few clubs frequented by locals. Another interesting option are some of the boats anchored in the river, which function as floating discos.

You can also go to the well-known Baladi bars, a kind of coffee shops that are licensed to sell alcohol, although it is usually only drunk by tourists. Most of these are in the Sharia Alfy area near Midan Orabi and the clientele is almost exclusively male.

Note that in both the clubs and the discotheques you can eat and drink while watching some of the shows. As in other cities, the hot spots change over time, but here are some of the best known:

• Harry's Pub: located in the Cairo Marriott Hotel. It has karaoke and some nights it organises special events for women.
• Windows on the World: on the 36th floor of the Ramses Hiton. Boasts some of the best views of the city.
• Sultan Bar: in the Mena House, located in a palace overlooking the pyramids.
• Jackie's Joint: inside the Nile Hilton, with dance floors and pool tables.

Joaquin's Traveller Tip

Alcohol is banned for the Muslim population, so in practice it is difficult to find alcoholic drinks outside tourist hotels or in some specially licensed venues. Even if you are a foreigner, you should not show signs of drunkenness in public.

Cairo's nightlife also offers the opportunity to go to a few venues to listen to live music, both international and Egyptian. One of the best places to do this is The Place, located inside the Sheraton el Gezirah, where you can also enjoy great views of the river.

If you like jazz and want to listen to it while sipping a cocktail, you can go to the Ramses Hilton Hotel, specifically the club located on the 30th floor. Slightly further afield, this type of music is also played at the Cairo Jazz Club, a venue that is highly recommended for its extraordinary atmosphere.

Although it's not an unsafe city, there are a few safety tips to keep in mind. For starters, watch out for pickpockets in the busiest tourist areas. Also, keep an eye on your belongings, as the so-called careless ones may be on the lookout.

Another tricky aspect is scams when taking a taxi or by some vendors. In the first case, you should always negotiate the fare before getting into the vehicle and, of course, only use official taxis and, if possible, those that have been requested by your hotel or by the managers of the place where you are staying. As for the vendors, it's all about your bargaining skills and not being fooled when they offer you supposedly antiques at bargain prices.

Finally, if there's one thing that's really dangerous about Cairo , it's the traffic. Zebra crossings (where they exist) are more of an ornament, as are traffic lights. Crossing the street requires decisiveness and a fair amount of caution.

Most tourists opt to hire guides to help them enjoy all the things to see and do in Cairo, but if you prefer to do it on your own it's best to use the metro or taxis.

One of the advantages of the metro is that it's easy to use, as well as having signs in English as well as Arabic. There are 3 different lines and it runs from 5.15am to midnight.

After that time you're stuck with taxis, unless you can read Arabic so you can use the buses. Remember to negotiate the fare with the taxi driver and ask your hotel for the approximate fare beforehand to get a rough idea.