The Palmach, an underground arm of the Haganah (a Jewish paramilitary force that predates the Israel Defense Forces), was founded in 1941 to secure a Zionist settlement in what was then Palestine. Today the innovative Palmach Museum transports visitors back in time with multimedia experiences, a photo gallery, archival library, and memorial.
Fringing eastern Old Cairo, Al-Azhar Park is the green lung of Egypt’s capital: a 72-acre (29-hectare) oasis of flora, fauna, and fresh air away from the city’s bustle. Wander the formal gardens, lakeside paths, and palm-shaded walkways, see 12th-century ruins, relax at fountains and restaurants, or admire the epic panoramas over the city and Cairo Citadel.
Housed in a beautifully restoredriad (a structure built around a courtyard), tucked between the Bahia and Dar Si Said palaces, the Tiskiwin Museum (Musée Tiskiwin) fascinates visitors. Crammed with North African art, handicrafts, and artifacts, the Maison Tiskiwin collection immerses visitors in the region’s vibrant cultural history.
Constructed in 1831 for Said bin Sultan, the fifth ruler of Oman’s Busaid dynasty, Mtoni Palace is best known as the childhood home of Princess Salme, the sultan's youngest daughter and author of Memoirs of an Arabian Princess from Zanzibar. Today the palace is in ruins, but it's still a great spot for travelers wishing to see what royal life was like in the 19th century.
Located just outside downtown Durban, Umgeni River Bird Park is home to hundreds of birds, with some 200 species from around the world represented here. Spanning 8.6 acres (3.5 hectares), the park is a perfect respite from the bustle of the city. The park has a conservation mindset and works to breed and repopulate endangered species.
The capital of Zambia’s remote Western Province, Mongu sits close to the Angolan border. It stands as the gateway to Liuwa Plain National Park, about 46 miles (75 kilometers) northwest of the city, but is perhaps best known for its Kuomboka ceremony. Held each April, the celebration marks the movement of the Lozi royal court from Lealui to Limulunga.
In the tiny Kingdom of Lesotho, craggy mountains soar, waterfalls tumble, and the people are warm. This is an off-the-beaten-path treasure—it houses one of only two ski resorts in Southern Africa, while various cultural sites allow you to discover the land's rich history. You might even find familiar elements, with Black Panther director Ryan Coogler citing Lesotho as one of his influences.
Located within the ancient city of Petra, the Byzantine Church (or Petra Church) was first constructed in the fifth century AD, on top of Nabataean and Roman ruins, and expanded in the sixth century AD before being destroyed by fire and earthquakes. It’s still being excavated, but visitors can view its well-preserved mosaics.
One of the oldest and largest mosques in the Southern Hemisphere, the Juma Mosque’s impressive minarets rise above the bustling streets and markets of Durban’s Indian Quarter. The spiritual center for Durban’s Muslims and one of the most popular attractions in the city, the mosque draws in visitors interested in its historical, religious, and architectural significance.
Sweeping from Muttrah Fish Market in the west to Riyam Park in the east, Muttrah Corniche lines Muttrah Bay on Muscat’s coast. Backed by the craggy Al Hajar Mountains and home to Muttrah Souk and Muscat cruise port; this popular waterfront is Muscat’s oldest commercial center and its most scenic and vibrant spot.
Located in southwest Muscat, the Sultan’s Armed Forces Museum—SAF Museum for short—chronicles Oman’s military history and development. Housed in the restored Bait Al-Falaj Fort, it immerses guests in the story of the country’s forces from medieval to present times, with weaponry, uniform, and vehicle displays.
One of Beirut’s main streets, Hamra Street (Rue Hamra, or simply Hamra) is the epicenter of the neighborhood of the same name and was a cultural hub during the 1960s and ’70s. While its nightlife glory days are behind it and the economic crisis has hit it hard, it still offers a wealth of cafés, stores, and pubs.
The township of Mondesa provides a glimpse into Namibia’s complex history. Located on the outskirts of Swakopmund, the settlement was initially used to segregate Black people when South African apartheid laws were extended to Namibia. Today, the settlement is home to a diverse community of residents from across Namibia.
The remnants of the powerful Asante Empire, an African kingdom that peaked in the 18th century, lie among these 10 dwellings and shrines in locations near Kumasi, Ghana. Made from mud, wood, and straw, the structures represent traditional West African architectural and spiritual heritage and are a UNESCO World Heritage Site.
Egypt’s rare porphyry was highly valued by the ancient Romans, and this former Roman quarry—once a thriving settlement of houses, temples, and workshops—was mined for its precious purple and white crystalline stone, used to decorate columns, sarcophagi, and temples. Relics and ruins of this activity remain at this archaeological site.
With three floors of exhibitions dedicated to Emirati women, the Women’s Museum at Bait Al Banat is one of Dubai’s most revealing cultural institutions. Founded in 2012 by Professor Rafia Ghubash, it showcases women’s art, photography, poetry, costume, and writings to tell the story of UAE women past and present.
Discover the rich history and culture of Oman at Bait Al Baranda, a museum housed in a 1930s villa. Its galleries showcase the land’s geology and archaeology, as well as the military and political past of Oman, providing an overview of this remarkable country. Named after its signature veranda, Bait Al Baranda also provides a comprehensive overview of Omani traditions and customs.
Set under Oman’s Jebel Akhdar mountains above the village of the same name, the Birkat al Mouz Ruins (Harat al Siybani) offer a snapshot into old Omani life. Here, collapsed mudbrick houses and a UNESCO-protected falaj irrigation channel climb to a crumbled watchtower with sweeping views over the ruins, palms, and village below.
Awash with blue paint, the Chefchaouen Medina is the maze-like historical heart of this Moroccan city beneath the Rif Mountains. Alleyways, staircases, and small squares allow visitors to get lost in the beautiful, distinctive neighborhood, while also serving as vivid photo backdrops thanks to their unique aesthetic. The extravagant appearance of the medina can make it hard to remember that this remains a residential area.
Just outside of Stellenbosch, Spier Wine Farm is one of the oldest wine farms in South Africa, dating back to 1692. Offering a wide range of wines and wine-tasting experiences, Spier is also home to several restaurants, shops, a hotel, and an extensive contemporary art collection. There are numerous ways to experience the estate.
While it may appear to be a fairly ordinary building from the outside, Osu Castle (Christiansborg Castle) is home to a dark and extraordinary past. Thousands of African captives were held in this 17th-century Danish trading post before being forcibly shipped across the Atlantic as part of the transatlantic slave trade. Later, the castle served as a British colonial seat of government and the office of the president of Ghana.
In a city famous for its indulgent hammam baths, Les Bains d’Orient stands apart. This luxurious spa is located at the entrance to Marrakech’s bustling medina but seems worlds away with its quiet steam rooms, calming massage treatments, and indoor and outdoor relaxation areas. Take a break from the chaos of the city’s sprawling souk in this spa’s serene confines.
The State Grand Mosque (Imam Abdul Wahhab Mosque) in Doha comprises 93 domes sitting atop a strikingly modern sandstone building. The neat, elegant design betrays its youthful age, but the scale of the mosque—Qatar’s largest—and its interior are nonetheless impressive. Multiple libraries, prayer rooms, ablution halls, and covered corridors fill out this expansive religious center.
A pair of headlands that separate the Knysna River Estuary (or Knysna Lagoon) from the Indian Ocean, the Knysna Heads are an iconic landmark along South Africa’s Garden Route. Home to residences, hotels, restaurants, a golf course, and a nature reserve, the Knysna Heads offers truly stunning views.
One of Abu Dhabi's most recognizable landmarks, the Etihad Towers is a mixed-use complex consisting of five massive towers that feature restaurants, retail shops, residences, and offices. The Conrad Abud Dhabi hotel and its observation deck café are big draws for visitors here.
Backed by the enormous Al Sahaba Mosque, Sharm el Sheikh’s Old Market is one of the city’s top souvenir shopping destinations. Vendors offer all the Egyptian signatures, from perfumes and jewelry to shisha pipes and colorful glass lanterns, as well as fake brands, carpets, and technology. Meanwhile, coffee shops and eateries provide space to rest and relax.
The term “yad vashem” comes from the Book of Isaiah and can be translated as “a place to memorialize.” Yad Vashem (World Holocaust Remembrance Center) in Jerusalem is the world’s most important Holocaust museum — a memorial to the 6 million Jewish lives lost. The complex comprises two museums, the Holocaust History Museum and an Art Museum, as well as an exhibition pavilion, learning center and a synagogue. The centerpiece is the history museum, housed within a triangular prism-shaped structure running through the center of campus. Nine underground galleries recount the story of the Holocaust from a Jewish perspective through artifacts, survivor testimonies, personal possessions and audio-visual presentations. A visit to the museum ends in the Hall of Names, a place where the names and stories of millions of victims are recorded. The Art Museum houses the largest and most diverse collection of Holocaust art in the world — some 10,000 works — mostly produced during the Holocaust period.
Eerie, musty, and compelling, the Catacombs of Kom el Shoqafa descend three stories into bedrock. Their design fuses ancient Egyptian, Hellenistic, and Roman elements in a way that’s pure Alexandria: Anubis, ancient Egypt’s jackal-headed deity of the dead, appears dressed as a Roman soldier and sporting a snakey appendage borrowed from a Greek god.
This traditional hammam experience is special because it takes place in one of the oldest riads and hammam complexes in Marrakech. Hammam Mouassine offers several treatments designed to make you feel your best. This isn’t a completely gentle affair since you’ll be scrubbed. But after this experience, you’ll feel smooth and rejuvenated, ready to hit the souks and medinas and take in the sights.
Home to about 85 shopping and food outlets, the Senzo Mall just south of Hurghada ranks as one of the largest malls on Egypt’s Red Sea coast. Flanked by palm-fringed fountains and offering everything from major fashion retailers to a food court, this indoor mall is a popular shopping and lifestyle destination for both locals and tourists.
