Jeddah
The colourful and frenetic fish market – west of the corniche – has at least 50 species of sea creature on display, ranging from hammerhead sharks to…
Must-see attractions in Middle East
Saudi Arabia
Al Shafa, 25km southwest of Taif, is the highest mountain in the region and is accessed by paved roads. The 10,000-sq-metre Daka Mountain Park sits on the…
Southeastern Iran
The Museum of the Holy Defence remembers the eight-year Iran–Iraq War through maps, gruesome photos, weapons, letters and intelligence documents from the…
Beirut
This activity centre and interactive science museum in the Souks shopping arcades is aimed at young children and offers a science museum that's very hands…
Tel Aviv
Nothing to do with Independence Hall on the other side of town, this beautiful seafront park is great for its Mediterranean views and plenty of grass to…
Oman
Built between 1560 and 1570, this is one of many hundreds of similar picturesque forts dotted around Oman. Although the fort is empty inside, it's easy to…
Tehran
East of the Niyavaran Palace this impressive two-floor library that was for the exclusive use of Farah Diba proves she had good design taste. Floor-to…
Musandam
Dwarfed by a huge new mosque (with a very old mosque alongside), Burka Fort still provides a good view of the bay halfway along the Khasab–Tibat road. It…
Dhofar
One of the prettiest springs sprinkled across the eastern Salalah Plain, this one ushers from a bare rock and is channelled through a zigzagging concourse…
Southeastern Iran
For most motorists, Deyhuk is simply the annoying point at which the Kerman–Mashhad highway narrows into a standard two-lane road – and turns a right…
Jerusalem
The Haas Promenade offers cypress-framed views across Jerusalem: picture the Old City with tower blocks rising behind and village-speckled valleys rolling…
Iran
Above the town, under the huge overhanging cliff, lie the ruins of Maku’s former citadel, where the Baha'i faith's Bab was imprisoned for nine months in…
Iran
Kang's foremost sight is the village itself, especially when seen from the southeast. Probably the best viewpoint to appreciate the vertically piled…
Riyadh
After visiting the umpteenth mall and restaurant, head a little further out towards Wadi Namar for a pleasant change. The 2km-long dam is surrounded by…
Dubai
With shops, restaurants, a waterpark, a beachfront with hammocks and a huge playpark, La Mer is Dubai’s newest beachfront destination. Opened in 2018 …
Kuwait City
Comprising more than 10km of winding paths, parks and beaches on Arabian Gulf St (sometimes referred to locally as Gulf Rd), the corniche is marked at its…
Sharjah
Don't think calligraphy is worthy of your time? Think again. The two galleries here showcase this swirling, beautiful art form at its best with works by…
Riyadh
Addiriyah Park is a favourite oasis in Riyadh, and its verdant terraced seating areas offer stunning views of Al Turaif, a historic district of Al…
Umm Qais
Housed in Beit Russan, the former residence of an Ottoman governor, this modest museum is set around an elegant and tranquil courtyard of fig trees. The…
Wadi Rum
There is little left of this building, erected on the Nabataean ruins of a water cistern. Nonetheless, legend has it that Lawrence stayed here during the…
Iran
This magnificent, crumbling stone cliff situated above a hairpin bend of the Shahan River (a tributary of the Qezel Owzan) once housed an ancient fortress…
Southeastern Iran
This Safavid-era ice house has preserved not just the stepped, conical adobe dome but also the tall mud walls that created winter shade over what would…
Iran
On the southern edge of town, this shrine is topped by a photogenic Khuzestani ourchin dome similar to that of Daniel’s tomb in Shush, though this one…
Saudi Arabia
We hope this immense fort-like palace will reopen one day. Impossible to ignore, the Qishlah (from the Turkish word for 'barracks') sits in the heart of…
Jebel Akhdar
Growing an abundance of pink Damask roses that bloom in spring (late March, early April), this village is linked to neighbouring villages by the…
Tehran
Still popularly known as the Shah Mosque, this handsome early-18th-century complex is looking all the better for recent interior restoration. One of the…
Tripoli
Used from the 13th-century right up until 1975, this historic hammam is an extensive complex that is undergoing an elegant restoration. There's a…
Saudi Arabia
With the feel of a cluttered antique store, the private museum of Khalid Bin Hamoud Al Matrod is set in a traditional Najd house. The rooms, centred…
Bur Dubai
Truly impressive and truly green, this living wall is touted as the Middle East's largest, measuring some 6m in height and 212m in length. Its green cred…
Doha
One of the best green spaces in the city, with lots of walkways and cycle lanes, plus manicured lawns, a children's play area and views of the Diwan, Doha…
Iran
When Qazvin took its turn as Iran’s capital, this attractive, colonnaded cube was Shah Tahmasp’s royal palace. Built in 1510, it was greatly remodelled in…
Tehran
If you’re staying in southern Tehran and need a break from the traffic, head straight for this pleasant, leafy park where you can take a boat trip on the…
West Bank
Located 2km beyond Buqi’in, this olive-oil factory practises fair-trade policy with its farmers. A tour of the factory includes a tasting, and if you want…
Bur Dubai
Step back in time to retrace history at the Dubai Creek House, part of the Al Shindagha Museum restoration project. The Birth of a Nation exhibit takes…
Beirut
The large and verdant Horsh Beirut could be the city's version of Central Park, but opening hours are irregular to the point of arbitrary, and it’s manned…
Riyadh
Sitting at the mouth of what was once Riyadh's western fringe in the neighbourhood of Ad Dirah, this reconstructed old city gate, made of mud and wood,…
Iran
Near the village of Vier (Viyar) lies this curious collection of 'stone quarry' inscriptions, the most renowned being those of two 3.5m facing dragons…
Saudi Arabia
A remnant of the Ottoman era, this small bridge made of stone could well be the oldest bridge in Saudi Arabia. Measuring 32m across and 6m high, it spans…
Abu Dhabi
This luxurious, exclusive beach club, spa and fitness centre is open to day visitors and offers an expanse of pristine beach with plenty of sun-loungers…
Beirut
The IFI holds the distinction of being the only Zaha Hadid-designed building in Beirut. The structure is distinctive in appearance too: it’s a…
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