It's in Gezira - just up from Zamalek, and usually has a good range of shows on - while I was here for four months they had a couple of Operas, lots of Symphony stuff, a few Ballets and (in late November), a Harry Potter play.

It's horribly cheap (25-35LE (about £3) for a mainshow) - but if you're looking for grandeur, make sure you get tickets to the Main Hall show, the Small Hall is underwhelming.

Their website (and lots of other listings websites) lie about their program, so it's best to get down there to ask. Or call (they speak English)

Tell your taxi driver "Op-err-aa, Gezira" - costs about 5LE from Zamalek and Mohandiseen

Telephone number is 02 7398132

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I was in Cairo for a couple of weeks earlier this year. I stayed in the Hilton WTC (World Trade Centre) Residence, which is like a serviced apartment on the Nile. My children, aged 14, 10 and 3, all loved it. They liked the chaos of jumping into cabs and negotiating the fare, almost all of the food and we all liked Khan el-Khalili market. My older kids enjoyed the spectacle of me haggling for stuff and pointing out how badly I was doing. There are a surprising amount of fast food places if you need them and you can get the supermarkets to deliver food and booze to you for a nominal charge. We also had a great time going to the historical sites.

Hilton WTC Residence, 1191 Cornich El Nile, World Trade Center.
Telephone: +20 2 580 2000
Khan el-Khalili market is just north of the Citadel in the centre of Cairo.

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Once the home and garden of a wealthy Swiss businessman, the Swiss Club was donated to the Swiss community of Egypt. Today, however, it is open to all for a small fee, although it tends to be an expat hangout. If the bustle of Cairo becomes too much to bear you can bring your family to this green oasis and enjoy reasonably priced good food and a relaxing atmosphere. Other activities include barbecues, car boot sales and bazaars.

The Swiss Club, Villa Pax, El Gihad Street (off Sudan Street), Kit Kat Square.
Tel : +20 2 314 2811
www.swiss-club-cairo.com

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Cairo Zoo was once very lovely but is now rather run down. However, if you are in Cairo with children and they have had enough culture and need a break this is quite a fun place to take them.

We went in quite a large group (8 adults and 8 children) but we were the only westerners there. This added so much to the experience - there were several groups of school children visiting and they were so excited to see us there that they were paying more attention to us than to the animals. Our children felt like celebraties. The security men at the zoo were quite concerned about us being pestered and kept shooing the children away. There were also a few teenage boys who were trying to engage us in conversation, but no problems because of the security.

The zoo itself is very cheap - about 2 pence (sterling) per person to get in!! and ten pence to take your camera in. You buy the tickets at a little window outside the zoo and the ladies there speak no english but we were able to communicate easily. Once you get inside you need LOTS of small notes, this is because the zoo keepers need tipping. Lots of the keepers have food for you to feed the animals with such as lettuce for the giraffes and peacocks, bits of fish on long sticks for the sea lions etc. You don't get to feed the lions but you will get taken inside the lion house and so get to see them much closer up.

It was great fun and the animals seemed a lot happier than some we have seen in western zoos and even if their accomodation is a bit shabby at least the enclosures are large.

Giza - we took a taxi.

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Send them to stay with auntie in Margate. There’s very little to keep them occupied in Cairo, at least until they reach the mid teens.

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