By: Nour Nader

Summer is a time for fun in the sun. Unfortunately, not all of us are lucky enough to be able to travel and enjoy the beach. We are blessed with a magnificent city though, so fear not fellow Cairenes, you can still make your summer count in this wonderful city we call home!

Sight seeing

Let’s admit it; we don’t appreciate where we live nearly enough! How many Egyptians have actually been to all the lovely mesmerizing places we promote to tourists? My guess is, not enough. You have an entire summer to tour our charming city’s historic attractions which range from the time of the Pharaohs all the way to the Ottoman Empire. Where else are you going to find such a wide variety of monuments to see and history to experience? You can take a journey through history this summer and experience all the different eras Egypt has witnessed without having to leave the city. Not everyone is lucky enough to live in such a historically rich place and we need to learn to appreciate that more.

Road Trips

Cairo is huge! No seriously, it’s big, and no matter how long you’ve lived here there is no way you have actually been able to experience all of it. We tend to stick to the few neighborhoods next to our homes and work places and be content with that. With time on your hands, you could spend different days exploring all those different parts of Cairo you thought weren’t worth the drive. Go on a Friday morning where there is hardly any traffic and spend a day in Zamalek, check out Downtown, or visit Giza. You’ve got nothing but time and every inch of this city is worth it!

Treat yourself!

We’re always so busy with work and friends that we don’t get much time to ourselves. If everyone is being honest with themselves, they’d realize that self-care is probably one of the things we neglect the most. Take the chance and do something on your own. Go on a spa day; get a manicure or a massage. Just take a day every week and commit it to yourself. You can go shopping or even treat yourself to a fancy dinner. Alone time is precious. Whatever floats your boat and makes you happy, go out and do it!

Party

Sure, summer venues are great for parties but nothing can top Cairo’s night life. With all the different options and the variety, you can’t go wrong when you decide to spend a night out in town. Nothing like dancing and good music to make a night out a blast. It’s a great way to enjoy time with friends while letting your hair down and de-stressing after a tough week at work! We are sure the great night life places around here are planning a ball for the summer!

Activities

Parks, bowling, horseback riding. You have a lot more options than you think! All these ideas that exist but we never have time to do can be capitalized on during the summer, providing you and your friends with activities to do instead of just bumming around. In addition to the activities mentioned above, you can also try an escape room with puzzles and team work or maybe play some pool to add a little competitiveness!

Galleries

Art is a wonderful thing and we tend to underestimate how fun it can be. Nothing like a gallery exhibition to get those creative juices flowing and push you towards inspiration.  Many galleries around are worth bringing your attention to like Al Masar Gallery or Zamalek Art Gallery. Galleries sometimes host film screenings which would provide plenty of entertainment in unison with culture.

Music

Whether it’s big time concerts for famous bands and singer or small time underground type bands, music is a lot of people’s go to choice of entertainment. Find all the hidden gems of the Egyptian music scene by being more willing to try new things. Go listen to bands you’ve never heard of; see a genre you usually hate. Music is a form of art, and no exposure of art is ever bad. It will always stir up feelings and that’s the whole point!

Learn something

Most of us keep putting off learning new things because we think it takes too much time and we’re just being lazy. Don’t be! This summer, pick up that instrument you always wanted to play or that language you’ve been dying to speak! Attend a fashion styling class or pick up acting. Find something you have always wanted to do and stop postponing it. It will do you a lot more good than the tan you’re missing out on by not going to the beach. At least what you learn will actually last; tans fade.

Food!

Who doesn’t love food! Take this chance to try new cuisines from around the world by making it a point to taste different types of food right here in Cairo! Whether you have never tried Indian nor have no idea what Swedish meatballs taste like, you can discover the world while giving your taste buds a treat. All this while still being home!

Cairo is full of mystery and we are so used to it that we stopped noticing and appreciating it; what could be better than an entire summer unfolding these mysteries and exploring them more? You won’t only be exploring Cairo; you’ll also be exploring your interests and your hobbies! Staying in Cairo shouldn’t be a disappointment for the summer, rather an opportunity!