Must-see entertainment in 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…

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

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 …

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…

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…

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…

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

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,…

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

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…

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

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…

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

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…

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…

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…

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

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…

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…

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…