Entertainment Guide
About a decade ago, entertainment options in Egypt, especially outside Cairo, needed to be expanded. However, today, tourist cities like Alexandria, Luxor, Aswan, Sharm El Sheikh, Dahab, Hurghada, and Marsa Alam offer a wide range of entertainment means for travelers of all ages.
Aside from the bars, restaurants, discos, and cafès that tourists can find almost everywhere around the Nile, especially in larger cities, some other entertainment options would interest tourists visiting Egypt worldwide.
Information about Entertainment in Egypt
It is always easy to find information about the different entertainment means in Egypt. Several magazines and guides are published monthly to provide information about various events, festivals, and new adventures.
Egypt Today is one of the most famous Egyptian magazines published in English. It covers the cultural and artistic events taking place in the whole country. Other examples include Al Ahram Weekly, The Middle East Times, and the Cairo Times.
On the other hand, many websites and Facebook pages provide rich information about different events and various entertainment means in Egypt in multiple languages.
Arabic Music
For fans of Arabic Music and different types of oriental tunes, the Cairo Opera House and the Sayed Dervish Theatre in Alexandria are the best places to attend a live Arabic music concert.
In Islamic Cairo, especially on public holidays and during the holy month of Ramadan, there are usually music evenings and theatre productions in Beit Zeinab Khatoun, a historical house located behind the famous Azhar Mosque, and Beit El Haraway, another famous house constructed in the 17th century in Islamic Cairo.
The Whirling Dervishes Tanoora Dance Show
Whirling dervishes, or Tanoora dancing, performances encapsulate all that Egyptian culture is.
Many Nile Cruise ships that travel from Luxor to Aswan, and vice versa, offer a Tanoora dance show as part of their entertainment program. The same goes for a dinner cruise sailing down the Nile in Cairo.
The most famous place to watch the best-whirling dervishes show would be the Wikala of El Ghoury, located in the Azhar area, in front of the entrance to the Khan El Khalili tourist market.
The Wikala offers a Tanoora dance show every Saturday and Wednesday at 9 p.m. The performance lasts about an hour and a half and is free of charge.
Belly Dancing Performances
Although belly dancing in Egypt dates back to the Pharaonic period, most of today's performances depend primarily on blending folk, gypsy, and Ottoman movement patterns.
Many Nile cruise ships in Egypt, Luxor, Aswan, and Cairo offer guests a short belly dance performance. Moreover, nightclubs in many cities nationwide, especially in larger hotels, have a permanent belly dance performance every night.
The Sound and Light Shows in Egypt
Almost every primary historical site in Egypt provides a sound and light show available in several languages and has specific schedules.
These sites include the Pyramids of Giza, the Karnak Temple, the Temple of Philae, and many other monuments.
These performances begin when the sun goes down and involve the historical site illuminated by different colors and shades. At the same time, a recorded voice tells the audience about the monument's history and mythology.
Western Classical Music
The Cairo Opera House is the main venue for Western classical music. Its main hall regularly hosts performances by visiting international artists from all over the globe.
In Alexandria, the theatre of Sayed Darwish and the Alexandria Conference Hall host Western musical concerts, usually organized by the French, Italian, or German consulates. Many cultural centers around Cairo also organize Western music concerts.
Some major hotels in Cairo, Hurghada, and Sharm El Sheikh sometimes organize live classical Western music performances during dinner in the main restaurant or in nightclubs and bars to entertain their guests.
Bars and Discos in Egypt
Although Egypt is considered Islamic, there are many bars around the country, other than those inside five-star hotels, where the prices are far cheaper but no less enjoyable.
Alexandria features a large number of bars because it hosts a large number of foreigners in the 19th and 20th centuries. The beautiful Cap d'Or Bar will make you feel like you are in an authentic Mediterranean taverna from the good old days.
In Cairo, several bars exist, especially on the Island of Zamalek and Mohadneseen. Examples of bars in these neighborhoods are Deals, L' Aubergine, Tabasco, and Bull's Eyes, which are usually attended by the city's wealthy youth.
Downtown Cairo also hosts many bars, usually crowded with foreigners and tourists who stay in the city's hotels. The famous After Eight Bar generally organizes live music played by several youth bands in Egypt.
In Sinai and the Red Sea region, tourist cities are also packed with bars and discos. Check magazines like Sinai Today or Red Sea Today for the best information about these places.
The Rock and Jazz Performance in Egypt
A few jazz, rock, and pop concerts are organized in Egypt, like the famous Jean Michael Jarre performance at the Pyramids during the millennium celebration. However, these events are rare. The only dedicated venue for live modern Western music performances is the Cairo Jazz Club in Agouza, near the Island of Zamalek in Cairo. There is usually a live band playing most nights.
Casinos in Egypt
Many of the five-star hotels in Egypt, especially in Sharm El Sheikh and Cairo, have a casino open only for non-Egyptians. The games of these casinos are usually operated in US dollars or Euros.
Examples of hotels with casinos in Egypt include Semiramis Intercontinental and Marriott in Cairo, El Salamlek Hotel in Alexandria, and many hotels and resorts in Sharm El Sheikh and Sinai.
