Things to Do

Things to Do in Middle East

There are 1,433 attractions in Middle East. Hagia Sophia, massive domed church-turned-mosque with byzantine mosaics, is the most popular.

Most Popular By Name
Hagia Sophia
1
Hagia Sophia
Massive domed church-turned-mosque with Byzantine mosaics
Church
Topkapı Palace
2
Topkapı Palace
Former Ottoman imperial palace and museum in Istanbul
Palace
Yad Vashem
3
Yad Vashem
Israel's official Holocaust memorial and museum in Jerusalem
Monument
Sheikh Zayed Grand Mosque
4
Sheikh Zayed Grand Mosque
Large Abu Dhabi mosque noted for white marble architecture
Mosque
Baalbek Stones
5
Baalbek Stones
Massive ancient Roman temple stones in Lebanon
Archaeological Site
Dead Sea
6
Dead Sea
Hypersaline lake bordering Jordan, lowest Earth's elevation
Lake
Temple of Artemis, Jerash
7
Temple of Artemis, Jerash
Roman temple ruins within Greco-Roman Jerash site
Archaeological Site
Amman Citadel
8
Amman Citadel
Ancient hilltop fortress with archaeological remains
Archaeological Site
Mount Nebo
9
Mount Nebo
Biblical mountain viewpoint overlooking the Jordan Valley
Mountain
Aqaba Church
10
Aqaba Church
Historic Byzantine church near Aqaba's coastline
Church
Al-Maghtas
11
Al-Maghtas
Jordan River baptism site and pilgrimage complex
Archaeological Site
12
Kerak Castle
Crusader-era hilltop castle with strategic views
Castle
Gadara
13
Gadara
Ancient Hellenistic city with Roman ruins
Archaeological Site
Louvre Abu Dhabi
14
Louvre Abu Dhabi
Universal museum blending global art across striking dome
Museum
Museum of the Future
15
Museum of the Future
Futuristic exhibition space focusing on technology and innovation
Museum
Basilica Cistern
16
Basilica Cistern
Underground Byzantine water reservoir supported by columns
Palace
Aspendos
17
Aspendos
Roman theater renowned for exceptional acoustic preservation
Ruins
Bodrum Castle
18
Bodrum Castle
Fortified Crusader castle overlooking Bodrum harbour and museum
Amusement Park
Dolmabahçe Palace
19
Dolmabahçe Palace
Ottoman imperial palace blending European and Turkish styles
Palace
20
Maiden's Tower
Small islet tower with Ottoman-era history on Bosphorus
Building
Library of Celsus
21
Library of Celsus
Roman library ruin notable for ornate façade columns
Archaeological Site
Church of the Nativity
22
Church of the Nativity
Biblical basilica marking traditional birthplace of Jesus
Church
Hisham's Palace
23
Hisham's Palace
Umayyad archaeological complex with ornate early Islamic mosaics
Ruins
Western Wall Plaza
24
Western Wall Plaza
Open plaza facing the Western Wall, Jewish prayer site
Plaza
Sea of Galilee
25
Sea of Galilee
Freshwater lake central to New Testament events
Lake
Shrine of the Báb
26
Shrine of the Báb
Ornate terraced shrine on Haifa's slopes
Monument
Caesarea Philippi
27
Caesarea Philippi
Ancient Greco-Roman archaeological site with temple ruins
Archaeological Site
Farasan Islands
28
Farasan Islands
Archipelago in the Red Sea with rich marine biodiversity
Islands
Great Mosque of Samarra
29
Great Mosque of Samarra
9th-century mosque with distinctive spiral Malwiya minaret
Nature Reserve
Al-Askari Shrine
30
Al-Askari Shrine
Important Shia shrine and burial site in Samarra
Mosque
Temple of Jupiter (Baalbek)
31
Temple of Jupiter (Baalbek)
Massive Roman temple ruins in Baalbek archaeological complex
Religious Site
Byblos Castle
32
Byblos Castle
Crusader-era castle built atop ancient Phoenician ruins
Castle
Naqsh-e Jahan Square
33
Naqsh-e Jahan Square
Grand Safavid-era square surrounded by monumental buildings
Square
Nasir-ol-Molk Mosque
34
Nasir-ol-Molk Mosque
Colorful mosque famed for morning stained-glass light displays
Mosque
Shah Mosque (Isfahan)
35
Shah Mosque (Isfahan)
Masterpiece Safavid mosque renowned for blue tilework and dome
Mosque
Sheikh Lotfollah Mosque
36
Sheikh Lotfollah Mosque
Ornate Safavid-era mosque with intricate tilework
Mosque
Alamut Castle
37
Alamut Castle
Mountain fortress and Ismaili stronghold with dramatic ruins
Ruins
Istanbul Archaeology Museums
38
Istanbul Archaeology Museums
Complex of museums housing vast ancient Near Eastern collections
Museum
National Museum of Beirut
39
National Museum of Beirut
Lebanese museum showcasing Phoenician artifacts and archaeology
Museum
Zagros Mountains
40
Zagros Mountains
Extensive Iranian mountain range with folded geology
Mountains
41
Jordan Trail
Trail
Al-Khazneh
42
Al-Khazneh
Ornate rock-cut tomb facade in Petra's archaeological city
Archaeological Site
Amman International Stadium
43
Amman International Stadium
Major multiuse stadium hosting football and national events
Stadium
King Abdullah I Mosque
44
King Abdullah I Mosque
Large modern mosque and Amman skyline landmark
Mosque
Dubai Museum
45
Dubai Museum
Museum of Dubai's history in Al Fahidi Fort
Museum
Kackar Mountains
46
Kackar Mountains
Trail
Istanbul Railway Museum
47
Istanbul Railway Museum
Small museum preserving Turkey's historic locomotives and rolling stock
Museum
Iğdır Genocide Memorial and Museum
48
Iğdır Genocide Memorial and Museum
Memorial and museum commemorating victims of regional conflicts
Museum
Mount Ararat
49
Mount Ararat
Turkey's highest stratovolcano, associated with Noah's Ark
Mountain
Temple of Artemis
50
Temple of Artemis
Ancient Ionic temple once one of the Seven Wonders
Temple
Lake Van
51
Lake Van
Large saline lake in eastern Turkey
Lake
Mausoleum at Halicarnassus
52
Mausoleum at Halicarnassus
Ancient tomb in Bodrum; one of Seven Wonders
Ruins
Taurus Mountains
53
Taurus Mountains
Mountain range across southern Turkey, rugged limestone peaks
Mountains
Antioch
54
Antioch
Ancient Mediterranean city with Hellenistic and Roman heritage
Archaeological Site
Temple in Jerusalem
55
Temple in Jerusalem
Ancient sacred site in Jerusalem central to religions
Temple
Israel National Museum of Science, Technology, and Space
56
Israel National Museum of Science, Technology, and Space
Interactive science museum covering technology, space, and innovation
Museum
Kaaba
57
Kaaba
Cuboid shrine at Islam's holiest mosque
Shrine
Quba Mosque
58
Quba Mosque
Earliest mosque in Islam, historical Medina landmark
Mosque
Nineveh
59
Nineveh
Ancient Assyrian city ruins near modern Mosul
Ruins
Assur
60
Assur
Ancient Assyrian capital ruins on the Tigris River
Archaeological Site
Uruk
61
Uruk
One of world's earliest cities with Sumerian ruins
Ruins
Wadi Rum
62
Wadi Rum
Trail
Lake Urmia
63
Lake Urmia
Large Iranian salt lake currently facing severe shrinkage
Lake
Mount Damavand
64
Mount Damavand
Iran's highest peak and potentially active stratovolcano
Mountain
Jebel Shams
65
Jebel Shams
Trail
Mount Ararat
66
Mount Ararat
Trail
Socotra
67
Socotra
Island with unique endemic flora and dragon's blood trees
Island
68
Perim
Strategic volcanic island at Bab-el-Mandeb strait
Island
Temple Institute
69
Temple Institute
Museum and educational center dedicated to Jewish Temple artifacts
Museum
Palmyra Castle
70
Palmyra Castle
Ancient fortified citadel overlooking Palmyra's archaeological ruins
Castle
Citadel of Aleppo
71
Citadel of Aleppo
Medieval hilltop fortress dominating Aleppo's old city
Castle
Mount Hermon
72
Mount Hermon
Mountain range with snow-capped peaks and springs
Mountain
Church of the Holy Sepulchre
73
Church of the Holy Sepulchre
Christian church in Jerusalem housing crucifixion and resurrection sites
Church
Mount Carmel
74
Mount Carmel
Coastal mountain range overlooking Haifa and Mediterranean
Mountains
Mount of Olives
75
Mount of Olives
Ridge east of Jerusalem with major religious sites
Mountain
Selimiye Mosque, Edirne
76
Selimiye Mosque, Edirne
16th-century Ottoman mosque by Mimar Sinan
Mosque
77
Princes' Islands
Car-free Istanbul islands known for historic villas
Islands
Pontic Mountains
78
Pontic Mountains
Northern Turkish range along the Black Sea coast
Mountains
Anti-Lebanon mountains
79
Anti-Lebanon mountains
Mountain range along Lebanon–Syria border
Mountains
Mount Lebanon
80
Mount Lebanon
Lebanese mountain range historically home to cedar forests
Mountains
Qeshm Island
81
Qeshm Island
Iranian island with unique geological formations
Island
Museum of Philistine Culture
82
Museum of Philistine Culture
Small Israeli museum interpreting Philistine archaeology and culture
Museum
Mount Tabor
83
Mount Tabor
Biblical hill in Israel with pilgrimage significance
Mountain
Imbros
84
Imbros
Aegean island with olive groves and traditional villages
Island
Kish Island
85
Kish Island
Iranian resort island and free-trade tourist zone
Island
National Museum of Qatar
86
National Museum of Qatar
National museum in Doha showcasing Qatar's cultural history
Museum
Khor Al Adaid
87
Khor Al Adaid
Unique inland sea with tidal channels and sand dunes
Area
Lusail Stadium
88
Lusail Stadium
Qatar stadium built for 2022 World Cup
Stadium
Banana Island (Qatar)
89
Banana Island (Qatar)
Artificial island resort near Doha with luxury hotels
Island
Khalifa International Stadium
90
Khalifa International Stadium
Historic Doha stadium hosting athletics and football events
Stadium
91
Stadium 974
Modular stadium made from shipping containers
Stadium
92
Ahmad bin Ali Stadium
Rebuilt stadium in Al Rayyan with patterned facade
Stadium
Al Bayt Stadium
93
Al Bayt Stadium
Stadium with tent-like design and large spectator capacity
Stadium
Education City Stadium
94
Education City Stadium
Qatar stadium integrated in university campus complex
Stadium
Jameh Mosque of Isfahan
95
Jameh Mosque of Isfahan
Historic congregational mosque showcasing Persian Islamic architecture
Mosque
Anıtkabir
96
Anıtkabir
Mausoleum of Mustafa Kemal Atatürk in Ankara
Tomb
Cave of the Patriarchs
97
Cave of the Patriarchs
Ancient subterranean shrine and biblical patriarchs' tombs
Tomb
98
Halicarnassus
Ancient Carian city and Mausoleum of Halicarnassus site
Archaeological Site
Bozcaada
99
Bozcaada
Turkish Aegean island noted for vineyards and beaches
Island
Taksim Square
100
Taksim Square
Central Istanbul public square and transportation hub
Square