Cairo night tour: Khan el-Khalili, dinner and felucca ride

A traditional wooden sailing boat on the Nile has no engine, just wind and a slow, deliberate pace.

This four-hour guided night tour of Cairo starts with hotel pickup and takes you through Khan el-Khalili, the largest bazaar in Africa, and Al-Muizz Street's medieval architecture, with stops at a historic café and a 10th-century mosque. You'll choose dinner from koshari, shorma, or falafel at a local restaurant, then sail the Nile for 30 minutes on a traditional felucca. The guide speaks English, Spanish, Portuguese, Italian and three other languages. Children from age one are welcome.

Step-by-step itinerary

Explore Cairo's historic center and river

• Pick up from hotel
• Tour Al-Muizz Street and Khan el-Khalili
• Visit Café El Fishawi for tea and shisha
• Enjoy 30-minute felucca ride on Nile

The experience

The tour begins with pickup from your Cairo or Giza hotel and heads straight into the old town, a UNESCO World Heritage Site. A two-hour walk covers Al-Muizz Street, lined with medieval architectural details most visitors miss, and Khan el-Khalili. The sprawling bazaar that has operated since the 14th century and still fills with locals after dark. Your guide navigates the narrow passages and explains what you're standing in front of, rather than leaving you to guess at the stalls and the crowds.

Halfway through, you stop at Café El Fishawi, which has served mint tea and shisha for over 200 years and earned the nickname Café of the Spies for the conversations that happened there. You'll sit where Egyptians sit and drink what they drink (traditional mint tea or a shisha pipe) before heading back into the market or toward dinner. The café anchors the evening in how Cairo actually moves after sunset, not as a photo stop.

Dinner is your choice: koshari (rice, lentils, pasta and chickpeas layered together) at Abu Tarek, shorma (thin slices of meat or chicken) at Papa Abdu, or falafel if you prefer vegetarian. These are neighborhood restaurants where locals eat, not tourist versions of the food. After dinner, you board a felucca (a wooden sailing vessel with no engine, powered only by the wind), for a 30-minute drift down the Nile. The boat moves slowly enough that the city lights reflect clearly in the water and conversation doesn't have to compete with noise. Hotel drop-off closes the loop.

What’s included

• Hotel pickup and drop-off in Cairo or Giza.
• a live guide in your choice of language.
• a two-hour walking tour of Khan el-Khalili and Al-Muizz Street with entry to a 10th-century mosque.
• tea or shisha at Café El Fishawi.
• dinner at a local restaurant (koshari, shorma, or falafel, your choice).
• and a 30-minute felucca sail on the Nile.

Before you book

Days and timesEvery day8 departure times: the first at 14:00, the last at 21:00

Book up to1h before

AgesAdult (20 to 39 years) · Senior (40 and older) · Youth (9 to 19 years) · Child (4 to 8 years) · Infant (1 to 3 years)

GroupPrivate

Live guideEnglish, Spanish, French, German, Italian, Portuguese and Arabic

Meeting point and pickupHotel pickup included.

Cancellation and refundsFree cancellation up to 24 h before the start. After that, no refund.

Prices and times updated 6 days ago

Good to know

Low physical effortWheelchair accessiblePublic transport nearbyInfants must sit on laps

Operated by somos egipcios

Is this one for you?Book this tour if you're traveling with a group or family and want a guide who handles the navigation and history: the walk through Khan el-Khalili and the old town moves faster and makes more sense with someone who knows which streets matter and what the buildings are. The fixed itinerary and included dinner mean the evening holds together without anyone building it.

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Top questions

What languages is the tour guided in?

Live guide in English, Spanish, French, German, Italian, Portuguese and Arabic.

Can children come?

Yes. Ticket types: Youth (9 to 19 years); Child (4 to 8 years); Infant (1 to 3 years).

What is Khan el-Khalili and why does it matter at night?

Khan el-Khalili is a bazaar that has operated since the 14th century and is the largest market in Africa. At night, when tour groups have left, it fills with locals shopping, eating and socializing, which is why the tour runs after dark. You see the place as Egyptians use it, not as a daytime attraction.

Do I choose what to eat for dinner, or is it set?

You choose at checkout: koshari at Abu Tarek, shorma at Papa Abdu, or falafel. All three are served at neighborhood restaurants where locals eat, and the choice stays with you when you book.

What is a felucca and how long do I spend on it?

A felucca is a traditional Egyptian wooden sailing boat with no engine: the wind moves it. You'll sail for 30 minutes on the Nile, which gives you time to watch the city lights and feel the slow pace the boat creates.

Does the tour include pickup from my hotel?

Yes, pickup and drop-off from your Cairo or Giza hotel are included. The tour starts with pickup and ends with return to your hotel.