A 'living museum' in Leiden, the oldest of its kind in the Netherlands.

A true Valhalla for cactus and succulent lovers.

Birthplace of the "Cat in the Cradle" and a cluster of iconic, original windmills that let the Dutch tame the seas.

This centuries-old gothic monster has been converted into a sprawling, glossy bookstore.

These slanted cubic abodes are a creative if odd solution to a zoning pickle.

Hidden within a Netherlands crater is a stone bed that lets those who lie in it see the sky as a curved surface.

Amsterdam's former hotspot for public executions and dissections.

This city square is home to Amsterdam's oldest church and a statue honoring Dutch sex workers.

This small town in the Netherlands has no roads but instead, miles of canals and over 100 bridges.

If you dare visit this fort, fire-breathing hyenas might devour your camels.

This mysterious anthropomorphic statuette is on display at the National Museum of Oman.

Where artisans use centuries-old techniques to build traditional Arabian ships.

This beautifully restored fortification kept the city safe for centuries.

This lonely tomb is all that remains of a once-bustling ancient trade hub visited by Marco Polo.

Traditional architecture and ancient irrigation systems are on display in this gorgeous mountain village.

This bazaar is one of the oldest in the Arabian world.

This spectacular mosque houses the second-largest chandelier in the world.

A sinkhole and now a swimming hole, too, full of dazzling turquoise water.

Founded in 670, this ancient mosque is an architectural time portal.

An ancient Phoenician citadel once stood at the site where Queen Dido first landed, according to legend.

Some believe this abandoned Brutalist masterpiece inspired George Lucas's Sandcrawler.

The best-preserved Roman small town in North Africa.

The ancient heart of Tunis is an enormous maze of narrow streets and alleyways.

The largest and best-preserved Roman amphitheater in Africa was designed to seat 35,000 people.