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

Ramadan is a time thought to be governed by tradition and plainly Egyptian idiosyncrasies – i.e. sleep all day and eat till you drop. With the blistering heat, infamous Cairo traffic, and the overall exhaustion of a regular day in the capital, it’s easy to succumb to the allure of cyclic napping and lazy nights I, but there’s plenty you can do after fetar, despite the misconception that the city just drifts into sleep mode for the month. This is Cairo, after all – when is it ever quiet?

In the spirit of spicing up Ramadan, the return of the annual cultural festival, Mawaweel, offers a great opportunity to embrace an alternative Ramadan experience thanks to Cairo Jazz Club Agency.

Held once again at Cairo 360 Editors' Choice Award winning cultural hub, Darb 1718,  the fifth edition of Mawaweel promises nights full of entertaining performances, music to get lost in, a little knick-knack shopping and food to rave over, all in a warm and fun atmosphere.

As always, the live music line-up has been masterfully crafted with a good blend of everything from Basheer’s smooth Nubian-infused sounds, to the Afro-Egyptian style of Hawidro.

Taking place every Thursday 8PM and 1AM, things are set to kick-off on June 25 with the line-up for the evening including Sufi-inspired performer, Eslam El Sha’ary, and increasingly popular Alexandrian band, Massar Egbari, with a special and festive tannoura show sandwiched in between.    

In addition, interactive art shows, and Darb 1718’s ongoing Cinemania exhibition will be at your service, while – of course – the customary bazaar will be out in full force, with some of the top local artisans, craftsmen and brands setting up shop.

So, with food, art, music, shopping and more, there are no excuses for not breaking the pattern no Ramadan laziness – none. Tickets are 40LE, chicldren under 12 get in for free. For more information, click here