Cairo Evening Tour: Cairo Tower Sunset, Felucca & Koshary

When the day’s heat eases, Cairo takes on a different mood. This evening outing links three simple pleasures: a sunset view from above, a sail on the Nile, and a plate of the city’s best-loved street food. It works well for a first night in town or a relaxed end to a busy sightseeing day. You see the city from three angles: high above, on the water, and at the table.

The first stop is the Cairo Tower on Gezira Island. At 187 meters tall, it gives a wide view over the river and the city. Express tickets are included, so you spend less time waiting and more time at the top as the sun goes down.

Next you board a felucca, the traditional wooden sailboat of the Nile, for a one-hour sail. By now the city lights are coming on along both banks. The pace is slow and quiet, which makes a nice contrast with the traffic above.

The evening ends with dinner of koshary and a soft drink. Koshary mixes rice, lentils, pasta and chickpeas under a spiced tomato sauce and crispy fried onions. It is cheap, filling and eaten all over Egypt.

Good to know

The tour runs every day. An English-speaking tour leader goes with you, and a modern air-conditioned vehicle collects you from your hotel and drops you back afterward. Taxes and service charges are covered. Tips and any extras outside the program are not. A light jacket can help on the river in winter months. Prices start from $97 per person.