The Definitive Guide to Living in the Capital , Cairo , Egypt

Well hello there, Cairo. If you’re reading this, it probably means that you are one of the unfortunate many that will be spending the long Easter weekend in Cairo. Yes, the season of sun, sea and sand is all but upon us, but there’s plenty to do across the capital over the next four days.

Cairo nightlife is out in full force on Thursday, staring with this week’s edition of Bus Stop’s House Station, which this week will see the New Cairo bar welcome DJ duo, Gawdat. Elsewhere, Tamer Auf kicks off the Tap’s weekend, before heading off to Downtown, where he's part of Zigzag’s line-up alongside Man-O.

Meanwhile, DJ Tommy in the man in charge of the music at Cavallini, while live music can be found at Cairo Jazz Club, where Amro and the Big Bang Boogie take the stage, as well as at Garden City’s ROOM Art Space, where Do'souka perform.

Nile-side Giza venue, Eat & Barrel, are staring Friday nice and early-ish with this week’s edition of Eat to the Beat welcoming hip-hop DJs, Mobbz and Fedde, while later in the night, you might just catch sunset at, well, Sunset – the Garden Nile Front’s weekly party, which this time round welcomes back Phil & Adam, as well as Medoz.

Later in the evening, DJ Mash returns to Bus Stop for a night of Oriental-tinted house for Orient Express and DJ Miesh is back at Cairo Jazz Club. Elsewhere, hip-hop is on the menu at the Tap courtesy of your chef for the evening, Man-O.

At the other end of the music scale, meanwhile, the Boghdady Band perform a special gig at Cairo Opera House while Mustafa Hussien Al Haky takes to the stage at El Gomhouria Theatre.

Saturday is the calm before the Easter and Sham El Nessim storms, though Basheer is back with his Nubian-inspired music at Cairo Jazz Club. It’s a busy night over at Cairo Opera House, too, where three different events are taking place, the first of which sees the Cairo Symphony Orchestra return.  In addition, the brilliant Belal El Sheikh and his band Sehr El Sharq perform, while opera fans have the chance to catch a screening of Strauss’ Elektra, live from the Met in New York.

Elsewhere, Hekayat and Shady Moenes perform at El Sawy Culturewheel, while El Gomhouria Theatre goes Indian, with colorful musical performance, Odissi Indian Musical Dance.

Things get interesting on Sunday with a host of one-off events, starting at the Garden Nile Front, where DJ Fedde and a belly-dancing surprise await. There’s more Easter fun, meanwhile, at Sofitel Cairo’s Le Duplex with their special Easter Party, while Bamboo says Hello Easter with the help of belly-dancer, Alla Kushnir.

Elswhere, the increasingly popular Black Theama are live at El Sawy Culturewheel and Michelle Rounds returns to Cairo Jazz Club, while this week’s Urban Sunday sees DJ Fat Sam provide the music at the Tap in Maadi.

For a decidedly more low-key Sunday, though, there are several special dining option available at the likes of Four Seasons Nile Plaza restaurant’s, Bella and 8, as well as at the Marriott’s Roy’s Country Kitchen, and the Semiramis’ special brunch.

Speaking of which, Monday sees Cairo’s hotels go all out with some of the highlight Easter events including Fairmont Nile City’s special brunch, which will feature the Hamleys Egypt entertainment team.

Cairo Marriott are hosting a brunch, too, in the Garden Promenade Café, as is Four Seasons Nile Plaza’s Pool Grill, Four Seasons First Residence’s Italian restaurant, STRADA, and Fairmont Heliopolis.

Later in the evening, DJ Junior takes the reins at Cairo Jazz Club, while Downtown’s After Eight hosts a special Hip-Hop and R&B Ladies Night – just remember that we’re all back at work on Tuesday…

These are just a few of the events across the capital this weekend – check out the Cairo 360 events calendar for more. Happy Easter!