Middle East & Africa attractions

An ancient sanctuary surrounded by honking taxis, touts, and strolling families, Luxor Temple’s grandeur has endured more than 3,000 years on the East Bank of the Nile. Linked to Karnak Temple via the Avenue of Sphinxes, Luxor Temple boasts soaring colonnades, elaborate columns, statues, and images of Amenhotep III and Ramses II.

Built to control the Nile River’s annual floods, the Aswan High Dam transformed Egypt’s Nile Valley and created the vast Lake Nasser. The sheer scale of the dam is impressive, and at the top, you’ll find sweeping views of the lake and surrounding desert.

Chapman's Peak is a mountain on the Cape Peninsula with a 5.5-mile (8.8 kilometers) road, said to be one of the world’s most scenic drives. The road winds from Hout Bay to Noordhoek, clinging to the side of the steep mountain almost the whole way. Traveling this road’s 114 turns is a must-do in Cape Town.

The Burj Khalifa soars 2,717 feet (828 meters) high with more than 160 stepped floors that narrow as it climbs syringe-like to the sky. Designed to pay homage to the complex geometry of Islamic art, the Burj Khalifa brings a new meaning to the term skyscraper and is a highlight of the massive downtown Dubai complex.

Vast and beautifully preserved, complete with its original roof, the Temple of Horus (Edfu Temple still dominates the little Nile-side town of Edfu. Completed by Cleopatra’s father in the first century BC, it’s dedicated to the falcon-headed god Horus and is one of Egypt’s largest ancient temples.

With its bold blue color scheme, towering palms, and gigantic cacti, set around pools of water lilies and gardens filled with exotic plants, the Majorelle Garden (Jardin Majorelle) is one of the most idyllic spots in Marrakech. Owned by designer Yves Saint Laurent, it’s also one of the city’s most visited attractions.

Kom Ombo Temple, comprising a pair of mirror-image sanctuaries dedicated to the gods Sobek and Horus, dominates a gorgeous site at the edge of the Nile River. Inside the temple itself, a pair of hypostyle halls are decked in long lines of hieroglyphics, leading to more antechambers, ritual spaces, and even a secret passageway used by ancient priests.

Arguably the most popular nature park in Kenya, the Masai Mara National Reserve (Maasai Mara National Park) centers on the Mara River, which sustains life on the sometimes brutal plains of the Serengeti, supporting a range of mammals such as wildebeests, giraffes, zebras, lions, cheetahs, and elephants. During the dry season’s epic Great Migration, impressive numbers of animals flock here.

Dubai Marina is one of Dubai’s iconic leisure destinations. A purpose-built canal flowing into the Persian Gulf, its emerald-hued waters are flanked by wow-worthy skyscrapers, luxury yachts, smart restaurants, and numerous other attractions, including the high-end Dubai Marina Mall. Visitors stroll the scenic Dubai Marina Walk, enjoy sightseeing cruises and water sports, and shop and dine by the water—all in close proximity to the neighboring Jumeirah Beach Residence (JBR) district.

The ancient city of Petra was carved into Jordan’s red sandstone cliffs more than 2,000 years ago, and is today one of the New Seven Wonders of the World, a UNESCO World Heritage Site, and among the most iconic archaeological destinations globally. Renowned for its astonishing rock-cut monuments, the lost city is an undisputed highlight of the Middle East.

Overlooking the ocean with a pride of place on Casablanca’s waterfront, the Hassan II Mosque is a relatively recent addition to the city, and yet it has become one of its most famous landmarks. Everything about this mosque is on a grand scale, from having the world’s second-tallest minaret, which beams a laser toward Mecca, to being among the largest mosques in the world, with a capacity for more than 100,000 worshippers.

Abu Dhabi’s showstopping Sheikh Zayed Grand Mosque is one of the first sights that greets travelers crossing over from the mainland. It’s nothing short of spectacular: a gleaming expanse of white marble adorned with 82 domes, four sky-high minarets, and lashings of gold. There’s space for more than 40,000 worshippers—twice the crowd at a sold-out Madison Square Gardens concert—making it the largest mosque in the United Arab Emirates.

The instantly recognizable Burj Al Arab is Dubai’s poster child: a world-famous symbol of its wealth and architectural flamboyance. Rising 1,053 feet (321 meters) from a private islet, this sail-shaped icon offers luxurious all-suite accommodation, a sea-deck pool terrace, shops, and fine-dining restaurants. Uniting them like a gift bow is its lavish, gold-draped decor, crowned by a towering atrium of gilded pillars, marble, and crystals.

An outdoor market by day and packed to bursting with diners, shoppers, storytellers, and singers by night, Jemaa el-Fna (also written Djemaa el-Fna or Jemaa el-Fnaa) is the epicenter of Marrakech life, where locals and tourists come night after night to see the clash of colors, sounds, smells, and sights that make up this memorable location.

Set about 18 miles (30 kilometers) south of Cairo, Saqqara (Sakkara) was the burial place for the ancient Egyptian capital of Memphis, now in ruins. The site features a small sphinx and several pyramids—the most famous of which is the Step Pyramid of Djoser, which represented a major advance in building techniques.

During Egypt’s Old Kingdom period, Memphis, outside Cairo, was home to the pharaohs who built the Pyramids of Giza. But domestic architecture didn’t last like the pyramids did, so most of what remains of Memphis today is within the Mit Rahina open-air sculpture museum. Highlights include the alabaster Sphinx of Memphis and a colossal statue of Ramses II.

Located just south of the city, Nairobi National Park is the first game reserve in Kenya and the only protected area in the world that sits so close to a nation’s capital. During game drives in the vast wildlife park, you’re likely to spot black rhinos, lions, giraffes, and zebras, as well as many bird species, including ostriches and the colorful superb starling. Overnight camping offers an even more immersive experience.

The name of the Bahia Palace (Palais Bahia) nods to its greatness: "Bahia” translates as “Brilliance.” Part of Marrakech’s UNESCO-listed medina and located on the northern edge of the Mellah (the Jewish quarter), the palace was the 19th-century residence of Si Ahmed ben Musa (or Ba Ahmed), the Grand Vizier of Marrakech.

Measuring a mighty 4,132 miles (6,650 kilometers) from end to end, the Nile is the longest river in the world. It's also the lifeblood of Egypt, flowing through the heart of the Sahara desert and passing through cities including Aswan, Luxor, and Cairo, before emptying into the Mediterranean Sea at the vast Nile Delta. A Nile River cruise is a quintessential Egypt experience.

Sometimes known as the second pyramid, the Pyramid of Khafre (Pyramid of Chephren) towers 446 feet (136 meters) above the desert, its tip still encased in the white limestone that once decorated all three Giza Pyramids. It looks taller than the Great Pyramid of Giza, built by Khafre’s father Khufu, because it stands on higher ground.

The last surviving wonder of the ancient world, the Great Pyramid of Giza is also known as the Khufu Pyramid or Pyramid of Cheops, in honor of the pharaoh who built it around 2570 BC. The oldest, largest, and tallest of the three Giza pyramids, it is full of narrow tunnels and eerie chambers that are open to visitors.

With a history dating back to the 14th century, the Khan El-Khalili bazaar is Cairo’s signature shopping destination. It’s an intoxicating warren of streets, houses, and merchants selling everything from gold and spices to shisha pipes and toy camels, not to mention the inevitable scarabs, pyramids, and belly-dancer costumes.

Lined with brightly colored houses and lively streets, Bo-Kaap is as vibrant as it is culturally rich. The historic neighborhood, set just outside central Cape Town on the flanks of Signal Hill, is a dynamic melting pot of Malaysian, India, Sri Lankan, and African culture. It was one of the first settlements of freed slaves and Muslim immigrants in South Africa.

Palm Jumeirah is Dubai at its showiest. Shaped like a date palm, this stunning human-made island stretches into the Persian Gulf from Dubai, unfurling top-notch hotels, villas, beaches, malls, and entertainment along its spine, fronds, and outer crescent. Luxury-lovers and fun-seekers head for its showpiece attractions, from the Atlantis, The Palm hotel and Aquaventure World to the Palm Tower’s observation deck. And that’s not to mention its glamorous beach clubs, spas, and dining spots.

The brilliantly colored sands and stark rock formations of Wadi Rum make this UNESCO–listed desert wilderness a must-visit for most travelers to Jordan. Signature sights include the Burdah Rock Bridge, a natural arch; Khazali Siq, a narrow canyon; Jabal Umm ad Dami, the highest mountain in Jordan; and the scarlet Al Hasany Dunes.

The UNESCO-listed Kasbah of Aït Ben Haddou (Ksar of Ait Benhaddou) is one of Morocco’s most impressive historic landmarks and a popular film location for Hollywood movies. Sculpted from traditional mud bricks and fortified by walls of dark red pisé, this kasbah lies on the old trans-Saharan trade route, at the border of the High Atlas Mountains and Sahara Desert.

Set on Yas Island in Abu Dhabi, the race car–themed Ferrari World features 20 rides and attractions—everything from the toddler-friendly carousel of Ferrari prototype cars to cutting-edge racing simulators that will please older kids and teens. The largest indoor theme park in the world is also home to the world’s fastest roller coaster, the Formula Rossa, a hydraulic-powered thrill ride that sees visitors strapped into a Ferrari Formula One-like coaster car and launched at speeds of up to 150 miles (240 kilometers) per hour.

Blissfully serene compared to the Giza Pyramids chaos, Dahshur’s desert sands were once home to an impressive 11 large pyramids. Today, two survive, the Bent Pyramid and the Red Pyramid, both built by Pharaoh Snefru around 4,500 years ago. Unusually, travelers can explore inside both of them, as well as a smaller side pyramid.

The N9 road from Marrakech to Ouarzazate crosses the central High Atlas at the Tizi n’Tichka pass (Col du Tichka. Both that airy mountain crossing and the winding stretch of road around it are regulars on lists of the world’s best road trips. At 7,415 feet (2,260 meters above sea level, the high mountain views are spectacular.

The largest and most famous of Marrakech’s many mosques, Koutoubia Mosque (Mosquée Koutoubia) is also the city’s most prominent navigational landmark. Just a short stroll from Djemaa el Fna square, the mosque’s soaring minaret stands proud at the heart of the UNESCO World Heritage-listed medina.