Middle East

Things To See in the Middle East

353 Places

Aksaray, Turkey

Cappadocia

In this historic region, homes and churches are carved into ancient volcanic rock formations.

Added by jessiedevin

Denizli, Turkey

Pamukkale Water Terraces

Roman ruins top white travertine terraces formed by ancient hot springs.

Annetta Black

Added by Annetta Black

Istanbul, Turkey

Basilica Cisterns of Istanbul

A marvel of Byzantine engineering under the streets of Istanbul.

Annetta Black

Added by Annetta Black

Fethiye, Turkey

Lycian Rock Tombs

These tombs were built into the side of a mountain so that ancient angels could reach the dead.

SkareMedia

Added by SkareMedia

Örencik, Turkey

Gobekli Tepe

This hunter-gatherer architecture is believed to be the oldest religious complex known.

Added by CPilgrim

Denizli Merkez, Turkey

Pluto's Gate

A deadly ancient portal to the underworld.

Allison

Added by Allison

Çanakkale, Turkey

Troy

This famous city eluded concrete detection until the early 2000's.

EricGrundhauser

Added by EricGrundhauser

Myra Necropolis

A Lycian city of the dead carved into the hillside of Southern Turkey, complete with startlingly human touches.

Josh

Ocaklı Köyü, Turkey

Ani Ghost City

An abused and forgotten metropolis, abandoned for centuries.

Added by ekoptev

Bayatbademleri Köyü, Turkey

Termessos

Once described as the "Eagle's Nest," this ruined ancient city rests on a remote mountaintop.

Added by ariel1

Safranbolu, Turkey

Safranbolu, Turkey

Ottoman-era houses lovingly preserved.

Istanbul, Turkey

Tombili

A meow-velous tribute to a beloved street cat, made famous on the internet.

Kerry Wolfe

Added by Kerry Wolfe

Olympos Coastal National Park (Çıralı)

Roman ruins, natural methane fires and a lovely beach.

serflac

Added by serflac

Istanbul, Turkey

Obelisk of Theodosius

This remarkably well-preserved Egyptian plinth is pretty well traveled for a giant piece of stone.

Added by kirbyf

İkizler Köyü, Turkey

Armenian Cathedral of the Holy Cross

An ancient church on a tiny island covered in stone bible stories has controversially been turned into a museum.

philoursmars

Added by philoursmars

Çatalhöyük

The largest Neolithic ruins in the world hide a notably clean prehistoric metropolis.

EricGrundhauser

Added by EricGrundhauser

Balıklıgöl

A sacred lake with thousands of sacred carp and a biblical history.

Akyazı, Turkey

Suluklugol

Fantastic lake on the heart of a fault line.

Added by elfkkl

Harran Beehive Houses

The ancient abodes are a testament to human ingenuity amid harsh climates.

Max Cortesi

Added by Max Cortesi

Istanbul, Turkey

Kaiser Wilhelm Fountain

A fountain standing as a testament to a doomed alliance.

daneder

Added by daneder

Istanbul, Turkey

Viking Runes at Hagia Sophia

A small etching on the white marble parapet was written in runic script by a Viking mercenary.

Joel Cusumano

Added by Joel Cusumano

Istanbul, Turkey

Serpent Column

Ancient serpentine sacrifice holder that has stood the test of time.

Kuşadası, Turkey

Kuşadası

A charming beach town in Turkey captures all the colors of the rainbow.

Nikki Vargas

Added by Nikki Vargas

Istanbul, Turkey

Hagia Sophia Wishing Column

Legend says if you stick your thumb in the hole and it gets wet, your wish will be granted.

Luis Morato

Added by Luis Morato

Şehzadeler, Turkey

Manisa Relief

This mysterious cliffside carving of an ancient Hittite deity has baffled scholars for centuries.

Aika

Istanbul, Turkey

Golden Horn Chain

A section of the long chain that blocked enemy ships from entering Constantinople.

Luis Morato

Added by Luis Morato

Istanbul, Turkey

Theodosian Wall Stone Ladder

Climb a set of vertiginous stone steps to the top of this impressive ancient edifice.

Edward Denny

Added by Edward Denny

Uplistsikhe Cave Town

Ancient rock-hewn town that witnessed key events of Georgian history.

Added by Tawsam

Vardzia Cave Monastery

Underground monastery and fortress.

stanestane

Added by stanestane

Tbilisi, Georgia

Leaning Tower of Tbilisi

The charmingly disheveled clock tower of Tbilisi's puppet theater.

Added by Tawsam

Katskhi, Georgia

Katskhi Pillar

Small church on top of a huge rock column.

Added by Tawsam

Samegrelo-Zemo Svaneti, Georgia

Towers of Svaneti

Fortified homes of highland warriors that are still in use today.

stanestane

Added by stanestane

Gergeti Trinity Church

Take respite inside this jaw-dropping church while climbing the volcano where Georgia's Prometheus was once chained.

Added by laaber

Ananuri

This architecturally eclectic fortress witnessed centuries of bloody turmoil, including the massacre of its ruling clan.

Evan Nicole Brown

Added by Evan Nicole Brown

Baku, Azerbaijan

Yanar Dağ (Fire Mountain)

Mysterious hillside with a continuously burning natural fire.

Added by Tawsam

Qobustan, Azerbaijan

Mud Volcanoes of Azerbaijan

Home to nearly a third of the world's mud volcanoes, Azerbaijan is home to a messy, bubbling, and sometimes explosive landscape.

Dylan

Baku, Azerbaijan

Fire Temple of Baku

A shrine of fire worship built on top of a natural flame.

Added by Tawsam

Qobustan, Azerbaijan

Musical Stone of Gobustan

Resonant stone, that has been played since prehistoric times.

Added by Tawsam

Shaki, Azerbaijan

Palace of the Shaki Khans

Foreign invaders almost left this lovely Caucasus palace alone—almost.

AJK

Baku, Azerbaijan

The Maiden Tower

This mysterious but iconic tapered tower appears in many Azeri fairytales and legends.

Max Cortesi

Added by Max Cortesi

Garni Gorge

A geological oddity topped with a 2,000-year-old pagan temple.

michelle

Added by michelle

Lusarat, Armenia

Khor Virap Monastery

The most visited pilgrimage site in Armenia once held a saint in a pit for 13 years.

Added by hoppdanson

Shaki Waterfall

After visiting hours, this picturesque waterfall is essentially turned "off" to be used for hydroelectric power.

Added by armeniapedia

Yeghegnadzor, Armenia

Noravank Monastery

Nestled in a peaceful valley, this Armenian monastery may have been saved from Mongols thanks to the eyes of God.

racheldoyle

Added by racheldoyle

Sisian, Armenia

Zorats Karer

Called the "Armenian Stonehenge," this ring of menhirs pierced with holes may be a prehistoric astronomical observatory.

Added by haydegha0917

Palmyra

Mysterious lost empire of the Silk Road.

Added by heatherdoodle

Krak des Chevaliers

Ruins of the Crusaders' headquarters.

stanestane

Added by stanestane

Musyaf Castle

The Syrian headquarters of alleged hashish-smoking assassins.

serflac

Added by serflac

Map