After SUNSET
Egypt isn't just for beach bunnies and culture vultures. Once the sun goes down, Egypt's lively resorts spring into life with bars and night-clubs, discotheques and casinos, all open from sundown to sunrise or even 24 hours a day. Cosmopolitan Cairo has the lions share of night-clubs and bars, with all their international hotels competing to put on the most spectacular shows.
If you want to hit the dance floor, you'll be looking for discotheques. But if you'd rather let someone else do the dancing for you, go to a night-club. They entertain you with their live shows while you eat, drink and chat the night away.
But it's not all noise and mayhem. If your idea of night-life is more cultural, you can go cruising down the Nile at sunset or beneath the glittering stars. Otherwise, you can immerse yourself in Egypt's traditional coffee-house culture by sampling a fruity, bubbly shisha pipe or by tasting sumptuous Egyptian and Lebanese dishes.
Bars & Restaurants
 With a cultural heritage that's been coloured by all of the great Mediterranean cultures, Egyptian cooking is a fabulous combination of different dishes. It's sumptuous delicacies are seasoned with a host of exotic spice, from mouthwatering bite-sized mezze to charcoal-grilled skewers of chicken or stuffed lamb. Nothing washes a meal down better than a cup of steaming mint tea or an intense shot of arabic coffee with a piece of sweet baklava on the side.
But it's not all so traditional, there are plenty of contemporary restaurants serving up modern twists of the old favourites. From the traditional to the trendy, you can easily find an atmosphere to suit your mood. And after dinner, Egyptian bars are a good place to sample the local lagers and wines.
Coffee Houses
Modern Coffee Houses
When you talk about Egyptian coffee houses, most people will naturally imagine it's more traditional ones. But there are plenty of modern coffee shops where you can get your dose of caffeine, whether you're after an arabic concoction or a more western cup of cappuccino.
And there are always plenty of fresh juices and teas on offer if you want to soak up the conversation without all the caffeine.
Traditional Coffee Houses
For a taste of real Egypt, you have to experience its famous traditional coffee house culture. Down every alley and on every corner, you'll find Egyptian men huddling over backgammon tables or relaxing over a bubbling shisha pipe filled with sweet, fruity tobacco.
Just like western coffee houses, these are gathering places where friends get together to tell a joke or two, play a game or debate the hot topics of the day.
Amusement parks & Casinos
In some ways, Egypt is like the ultimate amusement park. Real pyramids and temples to explore, real camels and boats to ride, real mummies and mystical mythology. You are constantly surrounded by all of the excitement and adventure that make theme parks so magical.
But sometimes children prefer make believe monuments to real life history. Egypt has plenty of amusement parks to keep them entertained too, like the American-style Dream Park, Family Land, Cairo's Al-Fustat Garden and Sindbad.
 Being an Islamic country, you wouldn't really expect gambling to be very high on the agenda. Nevertheless, Cairo has its fair share of casinos where you can practice your poker face, pit your wits against the blackjack dealers or risk the spin of the roulette wheel.
Every casino has its own house rules, and it's a good idea to read up on them before you place your bets.
Shopping
Whether you're after souvenirs or spices, sequins or shishas, you can give your wallet a workout in Egypt's traditional souqs or modern-day malls. In its bustling bazaars, you can pick up everything from exquisite jewellery to hand-woven carpets, papyrus paintings, pipes and perfumes.
Herb shops serve up ancient remedies like licorice powders and other mysterious medicines. But there's plenty to satisfy contemporary tastes with the sprawling western style-shopping malls in the major urban centres, catering for fashion victims and die-hard spendaholics !
Modern Shopping
Cairo's seen an explosion of western-style shopping malls over the past decade with the average mall boasting up to 500 local shops and international chains. You can shop for your favorite brands or be daring and try something completely different.
Egyptian malls aren't just places to shop, they're places to socialise with friends and families. At weekends, families from Cairo often meet up in one of its many malls. There are plenty of places to stop off at and recuperate like coffee shops and full-blown food courts.
Traditional Shopping (Markets and Bazaars)
The Khan el-Khalili Bazaar
Built at the tail end of the fourteenth century, the magnificent Khan el-Khalili is the biggest bazaar in Egypt and the Middle East. It fulfils  the ultimate orientalist fantasy with its ramshackle corridors, brightly coloured stalls, heady scent of incense and the din of its hagglers. It's just like a virtual Aladdin's cave with its meandering maze of stalls glittering with endless lamps and lanterns in gold, copper and silver.
The air is heavy with the smells of its essential oils and multicoloured mounds of herbs and spices. Though swamped by souvenirs, there are real treasures to be found from backgammon boards to beautiful boxes inlaid intricately with mother-of-pearl.
Papyrus : beautiful designs are available everywhere.
Jewellery : you can have the ring or necklace of your choice made to measure for the following day.
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