Egypt Activities

A fascinating playground for children, Egypt is an ideal place for families to take their kids. There are endless choices of fun activities, including the magical pyramids, the tombs of the mummies and travelling on the Nile.

Cairo Tower 
Resembling the Space Needle in Seattle, the Cairo Tower is famous for its revolving restaurant. A crowded lift is used to get to the top of the tower. The Nile, parts of eastern Cairo and the western desert can all be seen from either the observation deck or the revolving restaurant. Children may enjoy the ‘Pharonic Personal Analysis’, imitation papyrus with Egyptian hieroglyphics and a personality analysis in both Arabic and Egypt.

Citadel Fortress 
The crumbling fortress of Citadel is a sight not to be missed.  Its high walls and beautiful courtyard will impress even the most knowledgeable and well-travelled of visitors. The Mohammed Ali Mosque stands within the walls and boasts extravagant ornaments such as a giant chandelier. The well-kept courtyard displays a clock in its centre, which Mohammed traded with the obelisk from Luxor. This clock has never worked.

Egyptian Museum 
Not just for kids, the Egyptian Museum is one of Cairo’s main attractions. Excessive amounts of gold can be found in the Tutankhamun collection, as well as rare pieces of Egyptian jewellery. More than a dozen mummies are exhibited in the museum, with a unique twist of being unwrapped so visitors can view their faces. The museum will no doubt leave your child excited and desperate to learn more of Egypt and its mummies.

Qanatar 
A day trip to Qanatar is ideal for families. Just an hour and a half south of Cairo, the island of Qanatar has several small amusement parks equipped with Ferris Wheels and bumper cars. This island in the middle of the Nile is also ideal for having a picnic. Stunning Victorian stone bridges can be found throughout.

Diving 
Popular among divers, the Gulf of Aqaba and the Red Sea Coast boast shipwreck ruins and dense marine life. Coral, small fish, large turtles, nurse sharks and Napoleon wrasse are examples of just some species in the area. Sharm el-Sheikh and Ras Muhammad are the main dive centres on the Sinai Peninsular. The famous WWII wreck, SS Thistlegorm can be found just off Sharm el-Sheikh, while the Straits of Tirian are home to beautiful offshore reefs. Full training is available and it is possible to enjoy the diving opportunities, regardless of ability. During November and December the water is at its clearest and in February and March, planktons swarming the area attract stunning manta rays.

Donkey rides 
Starting in the west bank of Gerizra, a donkey ride can be taken above the Valley of the Kings. The ride takes visitors through sugar cane fields, along the ridge over Deir El Bahri, into the Valley of the Kings and back down to the temple of Hatshepsut.

Nile Cruises 
Feluccas (sail boats) and motor launches can be rented by the hour for a cruise along the Nile. Motor launches tend to be very comfortable and fully equipped with tables and cushions. Children are allowed to pilot the boat in some areas, such as the sandy banks of Luxor. Tea is included and lunch can be arranged. A pleasant trip on a felucca can be taken to the Banana Islands during a glorious sunset. Banana palms cover the island which ok stunning but are also a tasty treat. The felucca is an exceptional way to travel allowing visitors to fully experience their surroundings while enjoying the peace and quiet.

Egyptian dining offers a unique blend of Middle-Eastern and Arabic foods. Due to the country’s location, there are large varieties of ingredients and foods available from both Africa and Asia.

Meat is often used in cooking, whether it is grilled, roasted or minced. Lamb and chicken are a favourite amongst locals. It is common to see a lot of cows when in Egypt, though they are used more for labour than eating.

Fava beans and chickpeas are plentiful in Egypt with the locals using them in most of their dishes. They are ground to produce tahini and hummus, often served at lunch and dinner, with a large amount of garlic mashed in.

Eggplant is also used in several Egyptian dishes. Moussaka is a famous eggplant dish mixed with white cheese. Vegetables such as cabbage, cauliflower, potatoes and Okra are prominent in cooking, as well as garlic and tomatoes. Rice is provided with most meals.

Egyptian dishes include T’amiyaa, which is a mixture of noodles, onions, rice, lentils, tomato sauce and mashed chickpeas. Another popular dish is the shish kebab, which can be served in a number of ways. Skewers are often used and are accompanied with side dishes of tahini sauce, tomato salad and pita bread. Whole-wheat pita bread allows people to eat the kebab like a sandwich. Dipping sauces are offered with pita bread and include: hummus, tahini or babaganoush.

Salads are served with most dishes as a refreshing appetizer. Tomato and onion salads with simple garlic oil makes for a delicious dish. It is often seasoned with mint, coriander and small peppers. 

Grilled pigeon is considered a delicacy in Egypt as are tuna and perch from the Red Sea. These are often fried in a thin batter. Spices are plentiful in Egypt, with bazaars offering a huge range from saffron to ochres. Salt and cumin are the common condiments found on restaurant tables. 

Juice bars can be found scattered around the city and are known for their refreshing freshly squeezed orange juices and sugar canes. Oranges, figs, dates and pomegranate are sweet snacks, which can be found in most markets or along the road. 

Alcohol is not commonly available, though the local beer, ‘Stella’ is a popular alternative.

Cafés offer a cheaper alternative to restaurants, though the quality of the food served in cafés is noticeably less. Street stalls and vendors are the cheapest option around and are also possibly the tastiest.

Shopping in Egypt must be experienced by visitors, regardless of whether or not any money is spent. Shopping opportunities range from fixed-price stores to bargaining bazaars. A wide range of goods can be found throughout Egypt including: copper and brassware, rugs and carpets, scarves, shawls, spices and jewellery. Egyptian bazaars offer an excitement that is hard to recreate anywhere else in the world. You will find the local shop owners incredibly friendly and an enormous range of products on offer.

The Khan-al-Khalili Bazaar is a favourite amongst tourists and offers the best in brass and copperware. Aswan market is the best place to buy gold jewellery and spices. Silver jewellery is prominent in Luxor while shawls and scarves an be found in Dendarah.

Shopping cannot be rushed in Egypt or else you may find that you pay far too high a price for your goods. It is recommended that shopping be looked at as another sight to see and another way to spend an entire day. A lot of energy is required to browse the bazaars, as hagglers and vendors can be quite persistent. Fixed price stores often offer the best deals when it comes to quality, although you miss out on the bazaar atmosphere and experience.

Tea is offered by most shop and stall owners and it is best to only accept it if you are seriously interested in buying one of their products or you may find yourself stuck listening to very long and animated family stories for a very long time.

Shopping Hours are generally from 9:00 to 15:00 and 17:00 to 22:00 every day of the week, though some shops do close on Sundays. During Ramadan shopping hours are severely restricted.