Cairo, Egypt Hotels and City Guide

Cairo - Going Out

Cairo Entertainment

Cairo is a city ripe with culture, tradition, and ancient attractions, yet it lacks nothing in fashionable and sometimes even frenzied entertainment, either. Many of the fascinating festivals and events that take place in Cairo throughout the year, although completely contemporary in nature, such as The Pharaoh's Off-Road Rally, have the incredible pyramids as their backdrop. With such a tremendous juxtaposition of old and new to enjoy at the same time, no wonder Cairo is becoming one of the entertainment capitals of the world.

Theatre, Music and Dance

The National Cultural Center is part of the Ministry of Culture and serves as an umbrella organization for all the music or dance companies, galleries, museums and the educational programs of the Cairo Opera House. Its goal is to promote the arts of music and dance and to preserve traditional Arab music. The center also offers ballet, voice and instrumental classes to children and youths. Performances of ballet, operatic and symphonic works are staged with Egyptian companies and in cooperation with foreign ensembles or soloists.

The Gomhouria Theatre is an exquisite theatre situated near the Abdeen Royal Palace. Many diverse performances are staged at this spacious theatre with its beautiful façade. It stages medium sized performances in many different dance, dramas, and musical styles.

Arts and Events in Cairo

Cairo is famous for museums, with the Egyptian Antiquities Museum at the top of the list. Here you can view King Tut's treasures. Although the actual pharaoh’s mummy still lies in his tomb in the Valley of the Kings, an impressive collection of other mummies is on display. There are extensive exhibits from the Old, Middle and Modern Kingdoms, as well as from the Greco-Roman Era. Ancient artifacts range from scarabs to papyrus to sarcophagi and more. For those interested in contemporary art, The SafarKhan Gallery has compiled a considerable collection of Egyptian fine art spanning from the 1930s to the present time. The collection represents an array of styles and artistic media.

Annual Events in Cairo

Throughout the year, there are numerous festivals to enjoy and learn more about Cairo’s rich culture through attending and participating in. Cairo, nicknamed “the city of a thousand minarets”, hosts a variety of local and international festivals during each year.

January

January 7: Coptic Christmas
On the eve of Coptic Christmas, special church services are held at designated cathedrals across the city, ending at midnight with the ringing of the bells. This annual event, held on January 7, is celebrated by numerous Christmas concerts and bustling bazaars throughout the city.

Mid-January: Flora Egypt Fair
Held at the Social Fund for Development Hall for three days, this beautiful fair gives visitors a chance to see every type of the region's flower and ornamental plants. There will also be opportunities to take flower arrangement courses and participate in an international flower arrangement competition. Participants will also be given the chance to speak with horticultural professionals from all over the world.

January until February: Cairo International Book Fair
Held at the Cairo Fair Grounds, this 12-day fair is one of the leading cultural activities in the Middle East, attracting over 3000 exhibitors and up to 3 million participants, including publishers, writers and book lovers from around the world. The fair includes seminars, music, and discussions with guest speakers.

Mid-January: Cairo International Fashion Show
Drawing an array of exhibitors from around the globe, the Cairo International Fashion Show is organized by Défilé D'Egypte and hosted by the city’s International Conference Center. This spectacular event creates a forum for fashion designers, manufacturers, and fashion houses to showcase their latest creations.

Mid-January: Flora Egypt Fair
Held at the Cairo Fair Grounds, the Flora Egypt Fair is an international exhibition of fresh-cut flowers and ornamental plants. Along with stunning displays and floral exhibitions, the fair offers workshops on a variety of horticultural-related matters, from marketing to future trends. This growing fair attracts breeders, plant material producers, flower and plant wholesalers, and floriculture technology providers from around the world.

February

Early February: International Nile Song Festival for Children
The Egyptian Association for Children & Arts hosts this festival, which welcomes international musicians, performers and singers from around the world, providing an opportunity to present both Arab and Western music to the events many visitors.

Late February: Egypt International Boat Show
The first international boat show organized in Egypt and held annually at the Cairo International Convention and Exhibition Center attracts participants from all over the world in every category of boating.

March

Mid-March: Al Nitaq Festival
This cultural festival was created to showcase Egypt’s visual art, music, poetry and a host of other artistic disciplines. During the festival, the historic Townhouse Gallery and various other venues showcase local artists, while cafes and cultural centers are transformed into theatres for drama, music and poetry readings. As well as visual art, visitors can enjoy films and lectures about Egyptian life and culture, poetry from local writers, as well as traditional and international music.

April

Mid-April: Folkloric and Oriental Dance Festival
A 5-day event, featuring the best in Folkloric and Oriental dance performances and instruction in Cairo, shows every night with the live music of the Safa Farid ensemble and the Miss Belly Dance competition.

May

May 1 to 24: Spring Festival
A major multi-disciplinary art event, the Spring Festival provides a forum for dancers and writers from seven countries to showcase their skills before packed audiences. Through music, dance, creative writing and photography this festival encourages international artists to cross political, social and cultural boundaries.

June

Mid-June: The Cairo Oriental Dance Festival
This 6-day festival, held at the Ramses Hilton, has many of the world's top belly dancers in attendance. The festival opens with a grand show and opening ceremonies at 10pm. There are daily programs, including dance classes and other training sessions. Free, live daily performances feature both beginners and professional dancers. The best performances will gain the dancers a chance to participate in the closing ceremonies.

July

Mid-July: Oscar Video Clip Festival
Organized by the Egyptian Association for Art of Cinema, this 3-day festival is an international event and competition held at the Pyramids at Giza. Open to all video architects, from producers and directors to singers and photographers, the video clips, which must not exceed five minutes in length, compete for the prestigious Oscar statuette and Appreciation awards.

August

Mid-August: Arab Music Festival
Attracting top instrumentalists, singers and established ensembles, this 4-day event held at the Cairo Opera House bursts with vitality. Spectators are treated to a musical extravaganza of Arabic music at its very best.

August 15: Wafaa Al-Nil Festival
It was said that the Pharaohs sacrificed a beautiful virgin girl to the river to insure a good harvest. The ancient legend has become an ongoing tradition where a wooden doll dressed as a bride is thrown into the Nile instead. Cairo's Wafaa Al-Nil Festival honors the ancient Egyptian adoration of the river with today's celebrations focused on the arts, poetry readings, concerts and a variety of cultural discussions.

October

Early October: Pharaon's Rally
A thrilling weeklong endurance race across the Sahara desert, The Pharaon's Rally is an International Motorcycling Federation sanctioned event that attracts top competitors from around the world. The 3000-kilometer circular route begins under the watchful gaze of the iconic Sphinx of Giza and the gripping final sprint takes place in Cairo amidst the cheers of thousands of fans. Cars, trucks and motorcycles are all permitted to compete in the grueling event.

Mid-October: Cairo International Festival for Experimental Theatre
Nearly seventy presentations from thirty-eight countries and five continents serve to create an electrifying atmosphere during this 10-day festival of 'anything goes' theater. Venues range from the main stage of the sumptuous modern Opera House to the Sound and Light Theatre at Giza.

November

Mid-November: Cairo International Film Festival
With a cinematic tradition dating back to the early 1930s, Egypt has had a remarkable influence on the Arab world and Cairo is often referred to as the "Hollywood of the Middle East". This 10-day festival features seminars addressing contemporary world issues and paying tribute to controversial films. Film lovers from all over the world come here to mingle with actors and producers and preview upcoming movies and films.

Late November: Le Marché
Held at the Cairo International Conference Centre, Le Marché is the leading home furnishings and accessories exhibition in Egypt. Showcasing imported products and the newest in local designs, the event acts as a platform for the finest products around and provides a forum for exchanging ideas and sharing strategies.

December

Early December: The Sphinx Festival
This festival is a special 5-day event celebrating the fusion of art and science, held at the Pyramids of Giza each year. With captivating dance performances, enchanting musical arrangements, and lively seminars on topics ranging from Egyptian cosmology to scared geometry, there is something for everyone to enjoy.

Mid December to Mid February: International Cairo Biennale
This extensive art festival will be held at various venues, including the Museum of Modern Art, the Palace of the Arts, the Mahmoud Khalil Museum in Giza and El Bab Galleries. Over 80 artists from more than 40 countries will participate in the Biennale.

December 31: New Year’s Eve
Most of the nightclubs and hotels in town will have a party of some sort; however, the biggest parties will be at the finer hotels. In the past, the InterContinental Cairo Citystars has hosted a spectacular party on New Year’s Eve with superstar entertainment in the main ballroom.

Cairo After Dark: Nightlife and Bars in Cairo

When the sun dips below the sandy skyline, Cairo turns up the volume on its entertainment factor. It’s almost like an entirely different city after dark. The bustling nightlife is diverse to say the least and offers something for everyone - from a quiet, intimate evening spent enjoying fine wine to happening nightclubs, Cairo has the spot for you.

Many expats and upper class locals begin their night out in the Zamalek neighborhood bar Deals where the staff are friendly, the drinks prices tend to be reasonable and the completely laid back atmosphere makes even a new comer feel right at home.

The Odeon Palace Hotel’s bar is also quite popular, as is Pub 28, another cozy bar that makes a popular stop off before heading out for a night of clubbing. The food here is good, too, so you can enjoy a nice steak before a long night of dancing. The Library, a small but sophisticated bar, is efficient and serves first-rate drinks. A perfect place to relax and enjoy the Cairo sunset is at The Mojito, a half-restaurant half-lounge perched on the roof of the Nile Hilton. While at the Hilton, check out the live music at Jazzup.

Another great spot for live jazz is the Cairo Jazz Club. For a trendy nightclub, look no further than L'Aubergine, which boasts the city’s best sound system. The nights get rolling here around 10 PM and the dance floor fills up fast. For a mix of Eastern and Western beats, the floating El Morocco Nightclub is your best bet for a memorable evening.

If gaming action is calling your name, Cairo has 20 casinos where you can wager away an evening or two in fine style. Several among them are situated right on the Nile River, such as the beautiful Cairo Sheraton Casino and the Marriott Hotel and Casino. Both casinos offer a variety of gaming options, including roulette, baccarat, blackjack and slot machines.

Hotels in Cairo, Egypt