Cairo Shopping and nightlife

Cairo offers an incredible selection of shopping leisure, culture and nightlife. shopping ranges from the famous Khan el-Khalili souk, largely unchanged since the 14th century, to modern air-conditioned centres displaying the latest fashions All the bounty of the East is here-particularly good buys are spices, perfumes, gold and silver, carpets, brass and copperware, leatherwork, glass, ceramics and mashrabiya. Try some of the famous street markets, like Wekalet al-balah, for fabrics, including Egyptian cotton, the Tentmakers' Bazaar for appliqué-work,Mohammed Ali street for musical instruments. And, although you probably won't want to buy, the Camel Market makes a fascinating trip.

When you need a break from city life, try a round of golf on the famous Mena House course overlooking the Pyramids, watch the horse-racing at the Gezira Club or visit the Zoo and the Botanical Gardens. Take a trip on the Nile in a felucca or ride on horseback from the Giza Pyramids to Saqqara. For a day trip outside Cairo visit Haraniyya village and see the beautiful tapestries and weaving produced by local people. Or get away from it all at the top of the Cairo Tower, a modern 187 metre-high tower with views of the city from all sides, topped by a revolving restaurant.

Cairo comes alive at night, the best time to shop, eat delicious Middle Eastern cuisine, or simply watch the world go by from a pavement cafe. You can dine in a floating restaurant on the Nile, sample a shisha at a coffee-shop or see oriental dancers and cabarets at a luxury hotel. The splendid Opera House complex houses several galleries (including the Museum of Modern Art), restaurants and concert halls. Listening to Arabic music under the stars, in the open-air theatre, is a magical experience. At El-Ghuriya, in the heart of Islamic Cairo, you can watch folk musicians and whirling dervish dancers. And don't forget the most essential after-dark experience, the Sound and light show at the Pyramids, a dramatic fusion of light and music recounting the story of antiquity.