Best Highlights Destinations in Middle East

24 city guides · 3-day highlights itineraries

3-day city guides covering the essential highlights every visitor should experience.

Middle East
🇦🇪 United Arab Emirates

Abu Dhabi

Sheikh Zayed Grand Mosque, Louvre Abu Dhabi, Ferrari World and desert safari…

Middle East
🇯🇴 Jordan

Amman

The safest Arab capital: the Roman Citadel on the highest hill (with the oldest human statues, 6500 …

Middle East
🇮🇶 Iraq

Baghdad

The city that was the largest in the world from 762–1258 CE (the Abbasid Islamic Golden Age), the Ho…

Middle East
🇱🇧 Lebanon

Bcharre

The hometown of Khalil Gibran (whose "The Prophet" (1923) has sold 100 million+ copies — the third b…

Middle East
🇱🇧 Lebanon

Beirut

The Arab world's party capital with Civil War bullet holes still in the walls: Lebanese mezze (30 di…

Middle East
🇸🇾 Syria

Damascus

The world's oldest continuously inhabited capital: the Umayyad Mosque (715 CE — the most architectur…

Middle East
🇶🇦 Qatar

Doha

The most dramatically transformed desert city in history: the Museum of Islamic Art (I.M. Pei 2008 —…

Middle East
🇦🇪 United Arab Emirates

Dubai

Burj Khalifa at dawn, the Gold Souk, a desert safari and the world's largest fountain for free…

Middle East
🇮🇱 Israel

Eilat

Red Sea coral reef snorkeling, Petra day trip, Timna copper mines and desert canyons…

Middle East
🇮🇱 Israel

Haifa

Israel's mountain-sea city — Bahá'í terraced gardens, Carmelite mystics, and Crusader Akko…

Middle East
🇮🇷 Iran

Isfahan

Iran's Safavid masterpiece — the blue-dome Shah Mosque, colour-shifting Sheikh Lotfollah, and a 33-a…

Middle East
🇸🇦 Saudi Arabia

Jeddah

Saudi Arabia's Red Sea port — Al-Balad UNESCO coral townhouses, world's tallest fountain, and the fl…

Middle East
🇰🇼 Kuwait

Kuwait City

The Gulf oil capital — Kuwait Towers, Bedouin weaving arts, and the story of the 1990 liberation…

Middle East
🇧🇭 Bahrain

Manama

Dilmun Civilisation & Pearl Kingdom…

Middle East
🇸🇦 Saudi Arabia

Mecca

Islam's Holiest City (Muslims Only)…

Middle East
🇸🇦 Saudi Arabia

Medina

Islam's Second-Holiest City…

Middle East
🇴🇲 Oman

Muscat

Arabia's Most Civilised Capital…

Middle East
🇸🇦 Saudi Arabia

Riyadh

Saudi Arabia's Desert Capital: Diriyah UNESCO, Edge of the World & Vision 2030…

Middle East
🇴🇲 Oman

Salalah

Arabia's Frankincense Capital: Monsoon Green Mountains, Blowholes & Ancient Trade Routes…

Middle East
🇾🇪 Yemen

Sana'a

Yemen's Ancient Capital: 14,000 UNESCO Tower Houses, World's Oldest Quranic Manuscript & Arabian Cof…

Middle East
🇦🇪 United Arab Emirates

Sharjah

UAE's Cultural Capital: Islamic Art, Wind Tower Heritage Quarter & Desert Fossils Near Dubai…

Middle East
🇮🇷 Iran

Shiraz

Persian Poetry Capital: Stained Glass Mosque, Persepolis & the City That Named a Grape Variety…

Middle East
🇮🇷 Iran

Tabriz

World's Largest Covered Bazaar (UNESCO), Blue Mosque Tilework, Kandovan Troglodyte Village & Kufte T…

Middle East
🇮🇱 Israel

Tel Aviv

Bauhaus White City UNESCO, Abu Hassan's Hummus, 14km Mediterranean Beach & Jerusalem 45 Minutes East…