5 things to do in Cairo

1. Mini Nile cruise
A sunset ride on the Nile in a felucca (wooden sail boat) is a quaint and thrilling experience. Feluccas are available on the Corniche El Nil near the Hilton (hiring an entire boat for one hour costs about 35 Egyptian pounds).

2. The Pyramids
You can’t come to Cairo and not see the Pyramids. Spend the day wandering around them. Don’t get conned into a photo-op on a camel. However, it is worth paying the extra charge to ascend into the Pyramids. In the evening head to the Sound and Light Show (www.soundandlight.com.eg) — where you can watch the Sphinx narrate the history of Egypt while you swig Cleopatra beer.

3. Shopping
Wander through the narrow lanes of the Khan-e-Khalili souq opposite the Al Azhar University. The shops here sell everything from alabaster bowls and gold, to key chains and sheeshas. Stop at the Feshawi Coffee Shop for some delicious strawberry juice.

4. Egyptian museum
You could spend days seeing the vast collections of the Egyptian Museum (www.emuseum.gov.eg). The Tutankhamun Galleries have everything from his gold death masks to remains of his clothing.

5. Take a walk
Go for a midnight stroll on the Cornich El Nil. It’s a carnival — anglers fish in the Nile, loud Egyptian pop blares from the boats, hawkers sell many different snacks, and groups of people sit around smoking and drinking chai. Follow it up with some heady Turkish coffee and a sheesha at one of the many roadside cafés.