Entertainment And Night Life In Cairo

Most tourists who come to Egypt know where they are going to spend their mornings: exploring the numerous monuments in Cairo, Luxor, Aswan, and Alexandria. Tourists in Sharm El Sheikh, Hurghada, Dahab, Marsa Alam, or Ras Suder, most likely spend their mornings on the beach.

However, the question that remains is "what is there to do in Egypt at night?"

If you have been wondering "what kind of activities can one do in Egypt other than visiting monuments and enjoying the beach?" there's an answer for you.

Most people think that the range of entertainment activities in Egypt, especially outside Cairo, is quite limited. However, this is untrue. There are many activities for tourists to enjoy in Egypt at night and there are many cities outside Cairo that offer a wide variety of exciting night sports like Sharm El Sheikh and Hurghada. This article will shed some light on Egypt's nightlife and night entertainments for tourists. 

Belly Dancing

Belly dancing, or oriental dancing, is among the performances that tourists simply must see while they're in Egypt. Some guidebooks say that if a tourist does not watch a belly dancer during his stay in Egypt, he hasn't truly visited Egypt. The art of belly dancing dates back to the time of the Pharaohs. There are drawings on many of the temples and tombs of the Pharaohs that highlight the important part bellydancers played in ancient Egyptian rituals and celebrations. Their movements and their poses were very similar to modern Egyptian belly dancing.

However, modern-day belly dancing owes more to the European experience of Egypt in the 18th and 19th centuries. The sensual movements of the Egyptian bellydancers who blended folk, gypsy, and Ottoman dances inspired the imagination of Europeans who came to visit or were stationed there with various army regiments. Excitement over Bellydancing was often largely due to visitors' description that the dancing was associated with prostitution, but this certainly is not true. Bellydancing is considered an art and there are even many schools around Egypt and even around the world that teach belly dancing.

One of the most interesting aspects of belly dancing is the outfit which traditionally consists of squeezed bras, beaded hip bands, veils, and flimsy skirts. These outfits are sold in many tourist shops especially in Khan El Khalili and many other places. Many hotels around Egypt offer very entertaining belly dancing shows to their guests. Usually, the show consists of one or two dancers who perform a number of dances and changing their outfits before the beginning of every dance. In many places, tourists are encouraged to participate in the dances and sometimes they have belly dancing competitions as well.

Auberge du Nil: Royal Nile Towers Hotel, Kornish El Nile Cairo  - Tel: 02 -2362 1717
Haroun Al Rashid Club: Semiramis Hotel -  Tel: 02 27957171
Palmyra: downtown Cairo - Tel: 02 25743306

Whirling Dervishes

Although many tourists come to Egypt to enjoy watching whirling dervishes' shows, little of them know the origin of this popular dance. Egypt whirling dervishes are members of the Mawalaya sect of Sufis, followers of a semi-mystical branch of Islam. Sufis were originally associated with poverty and self-denial and wore rough woolen clothes next to their skin.  Sufi comes from the word "wool" ("suof") in Arabic. The whirling dervishes, so-called because of their ritual spinning dances, offer a rare glimpse of this otherwise underground phenomenon. The whirling dervishes perform marvelous shows. Dancers with brightly colored outfits turn like spinning tops while a line of musicians creates a hypnotic pulse, tossing their heads from side to side to fully absorb themselves in the ritualistic worship of God.

A lot of hotels and cultural centers offer whirling dervishes performances among their oriental show. However, the best place to watch whirling dervishes is in the Al Ghuri complex located at the back of Al Azhar Street (Tel: 02- 25100823). You can read more here about the Al Ghuri theatre complex, and tanoura dance shows.

Nile Dinner Cruises

One of the most interesting night activities, especially in Cairo, is to take a Nile dinner cruise at night. This has its own beauty and many of the boats that offer dinner cruises provide passengers with tasty food and wonderful entertainment that typically contains belly dancing, whirling dervishes, and sometimes oriental or Western live music.

Here Is A List Of the Most Famous Nile Dinner Cruises in Cairo:

Maxim 

This Nile cruise offers a tasty open buffet and a remarkable oriental show

Address: In front of the Marriott Hotel in Zamalek, as it is operated by the hotel.

Telephone:  02/7388888

This cruise runs 7 30 PM and 9 30 PM and the cruise takes approximately two hours. 

The Nile Pharaoh

This is one of the most famous dinner cruises in Cairo because of its Pharaonic theme and the delicious dishes they offer

Address: 138 El Nile St. Giza

Telephone: 02-57 01 000  

This cruise runs 7 PM and the main cruise is at 8 PM with two boats. The cruise takes 2 hours around Giza and Zamalek

Nile Crystal 

One of the best dinner cruises in Cairo with a distinctive Oriental show. I went on it last winter and I really enjoyed my time with my family.

address: At the beginning of the Maadi Road of Kornish El Nile.

Telephone: 02-3190009

Time of Cruises: 8-9 PM with a 2+ hour cruise

Nile Peking

The most unique Nile cruise in Cairo with its special Chinese food and a calm, romantic attitude.
They offer all sorts of dishes as well.

Address: Kornish El Nile St, Old-Cairo, After El Malek El Saleh Bridge

Telephone: 02-51 70 839

Time of Cruises: 5 PM 8 PM. The cruise takes around 1-1/2 to 2 hours.

Discos And Bars

Despite being predominantly Islamic, there are many bars in Egypt beyond those in hotels. In Alexandria, there is the Cap d'Or, a very stylish bar. In Cairo, most of the best nightspots are in the neighborhoods of Zamalek, Mohandeseen, and downtown. Bars like Deals, L'Ambergine, Le Tabasco, and Bull's Eye usually host many wealthy young Egyptians and these places offer a huge variety of drinks and cocktails. Cities like Sharm El Sheikh and Hurghada are packed with nightspots and discos. You can know more details about parties that are taking place from magazines like Sinai Today or the Red Sea Today and don't worry, there is action going on every single night of the week. 

Cities like Luxor and Aswan have their nightspots as well. Luxor has many bars scattered all around the East bank of the Nile. There is a variety of bars that range in cost and style. There isn't a single city or town in Egypt that hosts tourists and does not have a bar.

Casinos

Many of Egypt's five-star hotels have casinos for non-Egyptians only (passports must be shown at the door). All games are conducted in US dollars or other major foreign currencies. The dress code for these casinos is smart casual. Hotels with casinos include Semiramis Intercontinental, the Marriott in Cairo, Nile Hilton, and Al Salamlek Hotel, and Sheraton Al Montazah in Alexandria. However, there are many other examples like Hilton Taba, many hotels in Sharm El Sheikh and Hurghada. 
Al Salamlek Hotel: Montazah Palace, Alexandria Tel: 03 574 7999
Marriott Cairo: Zamalek Tel: 02 2735 8888
Sémiramis Intercontinental: Kornish El Nile, Cairo, Tel: 02 2795 7171

Sound And Light Shows

Every major monument in Egypt feels compelled to present a sound and light show. These shows usually begin after sunset. It involves the monument being illuminated by colored lights while recorded voices narrate the story of the monument and its history. The sound and light shows are quite enjoyable and they include shows at the pyramids of Giza, the Temple of Kanak in Luxor, Philae and Abu Simbel in Aswan. The shows are presented in numerous languages that include English, Spanish, German, Italian, Russian, French, and Arabic.

Sound and lights contact phone number: 33863469(+202) - 33852880(+202) - 33847823(+202)

Opera

Many performances take place in the new Opera house in Cairo, especially with visiting companies and troops who come to Cairo to present their art. There are also some attractive performances in the Gomhyrya theatre.  The Egyptian Ministry of Culture mounts a grand production of Aida, the opera written in honor of the opening of the Suez Canal. Previous performances have been held in the temples of Hatshepsut and Karnack in Luxor while the most recent venue for this opera performance was the pyramids of Giza.

Cairo Opera House:  Al Tahrir Street in Zamalek Tel: 02 2739 8114
Gomhoreya Theatre:  12 Gomohoreya Street Tel: 02 23907707

The Pharaonic Village in Giza

The Pharaonic Village in Giza provides quality entertainment for all members of the family, especially children. The village is an ancient Egyptian theme park situated on the west bank of the Nile in Cairo, 10 km from the city center. Visitors ride in small boats through the bed of reeds viewing scenes of Pharaonic daily life recreated by costume-clad actors. The park also boasts a replica temple and some interesting museums dedicated to the Egyptian former presidents Gamal Abdel Al Nasser and Anwar Al Sadat. 

Cairo Puppet Theatre

The Cairo Puppet theatre located in the Opera square downtown presents traditional puppet shows like Sinbad and Ali Baba.  In some cities around Egypt, many amusement parks have been built such as the Dream Park to the north of Cairo. There is also Aqua Park located 32 kilometers to the east of Cairo that offers water slides, a wave pool, and a nice playground.

Pharaonic Village:  3 Al Baher Al A'zam street Tel: 02 25718675
Aqua Park:  Ismailia Street Tel: 02 2477 0088
Dream Park:  6th of October City Tel: 02 8400561
Cairo Puppet Theatre:  Al Azbakeya Gardens Tel: 02 25910954