Must-see entertainment in Cairo

  • Makan

    Cairo

    The Egyptian Centre for Culture & Art runs this intimate space dedicated to folk music. Don’t miss the traditional women’s zar, a sort of musical trance…

  • El Dammah Theatre

    Cairo

    Regular Thursday, Friday and Saturday shows by musical ensembles such as Rango, a trancey Sudanese folk group, and the El Tanboura Band, playing…

  • Cairo Opera House

    Cairo

    Performances by the Cairo Opera and the Cairo Symphony Orchestra are held in the 1200-seat Main Hall, where jacket and tie are required for men …

  • Darb 1718

    Cairo

    This super-cool creative space aims to be a ‘trampoline’ for contemporary art, which gives an idea of the fun to be found here – there's a regular program…

  • El Sawy Culture Wheel

    Cairo

    Egyptian rock and jazz bands play at this lively and very active complex of a dozen performance spaces and galleries tucked under a bridge overpass. There…

  • Cairo Puppet Theatre

    Cairo

    Keeping Cairene kids entertained since 1959, this is the Arab world's biggest puppet theatre. Shows are in Arabic but are colourful and animated enough to…

  • Al Tannoura Egyptian Heritage Dance Troupe

    Cairo

    Egypt’s only Sufi dance troupe – more raucous and colourful than the better-known white-clad Turkish dervishes – puts on a mesmerising performance three…

  • Cairo Jazz Club

    Cairo

    The Cairo Jazz Club has kept up with the beat, and it has one of the city’s liveliest stages, with modern Egyptian folk, electronica, fusion and more,…

  • Netherlands-Flemish Institute

    Cairo

    This excellent cultural centre hosts Sunday evening films (7.30pm), ranging from Dutch art-house features to the latest works by young Egyptian directors …

  • El Genaina

    Cairo

    Al Azhar Park’s 300-seat open-air theatre hosts touring artists from overseas, big-name stars from the Middle East and local Egyptian bands and musicians…

  • Goethe Institut

    Cairo

    Seminars and lectures in German on Egyptology and other topics, plus visiting music groups, art exhibitions and film screenings.The library has more than…

  • Istituto Italiano Di Cultura

    Cairo

    One of Cairo's most active cultural centres, the Italian institute hosts a busy program of art house films plus lectures (sometimes in English) and art…

  • Zawya

    Cairo

    Wonderful arthouse cinema showing both local and international films, but mainly from North Africa and Middle East, with English subtitles.

  • Sound & Light Show

    Giza

    Narrated by the Sphinx, this is a rather dated spectacular. It’s not worth a special trip, but fine if you’re in the area – it is neat to see the Pyramids…

  • GrEEK Campus

    Cairo

    Egypt's 'tech valley'. Once part of the old AUC campus, this set of buildings has been transformed into a hub for local tech and media start-ups. As well…

  • Nile Maxim

    Cairo

    The best of the Nile cruisers, run by the Marriott, is a relatively economical way to see a big-name belly-dancing star such as Randa or Farah, along with…

  • Shahrazad

    Cairo

    Worth visiting for the gorgeous interior alone, this old-school hall got a makeover in recent years, and its Orientalist fantasia, complete with red…

  • Bab El Nil

    Cairo

    The Fairmont Nile City's restaurant is one of the classier venues to take in a belly dancing show with long-time Cairo favourite Soreya regularly…

  • Haroun El Rashid Nightclub

    Cairo

    This five-star club is all red curtains and white marquee lights. Top seats, at tables nearest the stage go for LE1900 (drinks not included), with the…

  • Cinema Metro

    Cairo

    Once Cairo's finest, this old 1930s cinema has been spruced up enough in recent years to even show 3D movies. Foreign films are usually shown in their…

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