LANDMARKLandmark
Cairo Opera House
29.7910, 31.8438
The Cairo Opera House anchors Egypt's national cultural life from its home on Gezira Island, a modern Islamic-styled complex opened in 1988 that hosts opera, ballet, classical concerts and Arabic music. It's the resident stage of the Cairo Symphony Orchestra and the country's opera and ballet companies.
The grounds double as an arts campus, with multiple halls, open-air stages and galleries, giving the leafy Zamalek district a genuine cultural heart. Catching a performance here is a window into Cairo's sophisticated, cosmopolitan side, worlds away from the tourist trail.
Even outside show times the setting near the Nile and Cairo Tower makes for a pleasant wander.
Know before you go
Many performances require modest formal dress and tickets sell out for big nights, so check the programme and book ahead, and note men are often expected to wear a jacket for evening shows.