Discover the Egyptian Opera House's history in Zamalek, Cairo, and explore its cultural treasures: museums, theaters, and more await your visit!
Overview | |
Location | Zamalek, Cairo, Nile riverside. |
History | 1988 Reconstruction after fire |
Style | Blend of Islamic |
Venues | Main Hall, Open-Air Theatre |
The Egyptian Opera House in Cairo is a truly impressive wonder in Egypt, which acts as the official national cultural center in Egypt that offers the best symptomatic music works, and its visitors can find their different museums, dance galleries, and educational programs. It is the main center for performing arts in the Egyptian capital. Exploring the Opera House in Cairo under the evening sky stands as an enchanting and culturally rich experience, offering a splendid array of performances that make it one of the best things to do in Cairo at night.
The Opera House, for many years, has displayed the diverse, rich culture of Egypt, plus a number of others, in the form of lively music numbers and opera shows made by world-class composers. The place is a true gem that radiates pure art in various ways that come to life in one of the most magical works of modern architecture in Cairo.
The old Egyptian Opera House was established in 1869 by the Italian Architects Rossi & Avoscani during the reign of Khedive Ismail, and the new opera house was constructed for 30 years in order to preserve traditional Egyptian Music. It has a very effective cultural role in Egyptian society since it encourages artistic aspects and the best traditional musical practices.
There are lots of people who show interest in such amazing art activities that can be witnessed in the Opera House, whether the musical/voice instrument courses or the ballet classes. It is not just a music center since it hosts lots of cultural events, conferences, and seminars from all around Egypt, and that is why it has become a very important destination for the intellectual ones.
The amazing new Cairo Opera House is located near downtown Cairo, only one kilometer from El-Tahrir Square in Zamalek, and it opens its doors to visitors from 09:00 up to 16:00. Its design is influenced by the Islamic architecture of domes. Its construction was supported in a financial way by Japan International Co-operation Agency “JICA”.
The Egyptian Opera House is located in the heart of Zamalek, an island on the Nile River in Cairo. Accessible by various modes of transport, the Opera House is approximately a 30-minute drive from Cairo International Airport. Alternatively, visitors can opt for the metro, disembarking at Sadat Station, followed by a short taxi ride. Its regal presence beckons art enthusiasts and tourists alike.
There, you will find a music library, a museum, an art gallery, and seven theaters. The main hall of the opera seats 1200 people, and it has 4 levels, which are the presidential box, the orchestra seating, and the three tiers. The small hall of the opera is designed to seat up to 500 people on a single floor. The Open-air Theatre in the Opera is used for outdoor performances and it can seat up to 600 people.
There is another magnificent section of the opera, the Roman theatre, and it can seat up to 800 people. There are so many amazing facilities in the Opera House that make it one of the most recommended sites in Africa and all around the Middle East. The amazing Museum of the Opera is located on the first floor of the main hall, and it includes some valuable documents, some old photos of the original building, and some of the best artistic performances.
Only two statues were rescued from the fire, which is a small model of the opera and a statue of art made by Mohammed Hassan. You will also find there a wonderful collection that includes some unique musical instruments like a huge nay, an original wooden flute, a unique piano, and similar impressive musical instruments.
The Music Library of the Opera House is considered one of the most important parts of the opera, and it has allowed it to become one of the best music libraries in the whole Arab world. You will find there some unique references, music books, ballet, and Arab music. There are also some digital recordings that belong to the best Arab composers and singers.
If you have the chance to plan a visit to that breathtaking site in Cairo, it would be a very interesting addition to your Cairo excursion, and we will be more than happy to arrange the best cultural tours for you within our various Cairo day tours.
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The dress code or attire of the Cairo Opera House is known to be either formal or smart because of the many performances that take place there. The evening wear includes dresses, suits, or dressy separates. It's often advisable to dress elegantly, respecting the occasion and the venue's cultural significance.
The old Egyptian Opera House was established in 1869 by the Italian Architects Rossi & Avoscani during the reign of Khedive Ismail but the modern Cairo Opera House was constructed by the Japanese architect Dr. Kisho Kurokawa, with the project completed in 1988. It stands as a symbol of Egypt's commitment to the arts and cultural exchange.
The history of the Cairo Opera House is rich and diverse, which was a part of Egypt's attempt to revitalize its cultural scene, emphasizing music, opera, theater, and dance. It faced challenges and was even destroyed by a fire in 1971, the current building has become a cornerstone for artistic expression after it was finished in 1988 which hosted various performances, festivals, and international events thus contributed significantly to Egypt's cultural landscape.
The entire country of Egypt deserve to be explored with its every heavenly detail but there are places that must be seen before any other such as the breathtaking Hurghada's red sea, The wonders of Cairo the pyramids of Giza, the great sphinx, the Egyptian Museum, Khan El Khalili Bazaar, the wonders of Luxor like Valley of the Kings, Karnak & Hatshepsut temple and the wonders of Aswan such as Abu Simbel temples, Philea temple, Unfinished obelisk and The Wonders of Alexandria like Qaitbat Citadel, Pompey's Pillar and Alexandria Library. Read more about the best places to visit in Egypt.
If you want to apply for a Visa On Arrival that lasts for 30 days then you should be one of the eligible countries, have a valid passport with at least 6 months remaining and pay 25$ USD in cash, as for the E-Visa for 30 day you should have a valid passport for at least 8 months, complete the online application, pay the e-visa fee then print the e-visa to later be presented to the airport border guard. You could also be one of the lucky ones who can obtain a free visa for 90 days. Read more about Egypt travel visa.
Egypt has a variety of delicious cuisines but we recommend “Ful & Ta’meya (Fava Beans and Falafel)”, Mulukhiya, “Koshary”, a traditional Egyptian pasta dish, and Kebab & Kofta, the Egyptian traditional meat dish.
The best time to travel to Egypt is during the winter from September to April as the climate becomes a little tropical accompanied by a magical atmosphere of warm weather with a winter breeze. You will be notified in the week of your trip if the Climate is unsafe and if any changes have been made.
You should pack everything you could ever need in a small bag so you could move easily between your destinations.
We have been creating the finest vacations for more than 20 years around the most majestic destinations in Egypt. Our staff consists of the best operators, guides and drivers who dedicate all of their time & effort to make you have the perfect vacation. All of our tours are customized by Travel, Financial & Time consultants to fit your every possible need during your vacation. It doesn't go without saying that your safety and comfort are our main priority and all of our resources will be directed to provide the finest atmosphere until you return home.
You will feel safe in Egypt as the current atmosphere of the country is quite peaceful after the government took powerful measures like restructuring the entire tourist police to include all the important and tourist attractions in Egypt. Read more about is it safe to travel to Egypt.
Wear whatever feels right and comfortable. It is advised to wear something light and comfortable footwear like a closed-toe shoe to sustain the terrain of Egypt. Put on sun block during your time in Egypt in the summer to protect yourself from the sun.
The best activity is by far boarding a Nile Cruise between Luxor and Aswan or Vise Versa. Witness the beauty of Egypt from a hot balloon or a plane and try all the delicious Egyptian cuisines and drinks plus shopping in old Cairo. Explore the allure and wonders of the red sea in the magical city resorts of Egypt like Hurghada and many more by diving and snorkeling in the marine life or Hurghada. Behold the mesmerizing western desert by a safari trip under the heavenly Egyptian skies.
There are a lot of public holidays in Egypt too many to count either religious or nation, the most important festivals are the holy month of Ramadan which ends with Eid Al Fitr, Christmas and new years eve. Read more about festivals & publich holidays in Egypt.
Egypt is considered to be one of the most liberal Islamic countries but it has become a little bit conservative in the last couple of decades so it is advised to avoid showing your chest, shoulders or legs below the knees.
Arabic is the official language and Most Egyptians, who live in the cities, speak or understand English or at least some English words or phrases. Fewer Egyptians can speak French, Italian, Spanish, and German. Professional tour guides, who work in the tourism sector, are equipped to handle visitors who cannot speak Arabic and they will speak enough English and other languages to fulfill the needs of all our clients.
The fastest way is a car, of course, a taxi. If you are in Cairo ride a white taxi to move faster or you could board the fastest way of transportation in Egypt metro if the roads are in rush hour.
The temperature in Egypt ranges from 37c to 14 c. Summer in Egypt is somehow hot but sometimes it becomes cold at night and winter is cool and mild. The average of low temperatures vary from 9.5 °C in the wintertime to 23 °C in the summertime and the average high temperatures vary from 17 °C in the wintertime to 32 °C in the summertime. The temperature is moderate all along the coasts.
It is the home of everything a traveler might be looking for from amazing historical sites dating to more than 4000 years to enchanting city resorts & beaches. You will live the vacation you deserve as Egypt has everything you could possibly imagine.