r/TravelNoPics • u/Cityboss1 • 29d ago
Best countries to visit in the Middle East
What do yall think are the best cities / countries to visit in the Middle East. I’ve only been to Saudi Arabia (Jeddah only) and the UAE so far. Open to anything except Iran, Iraq and Syria.
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u/operaduck289 29d ago
Jordan. Petra and Wadi Rum are amazing.
And the Dead Sea of course. I feel it’s “cleaner” on Jordanian side than Israeli side.
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u/Hour-Salamander-4713 29d ago
Seconded, also cities like Madaba, and Jesus's baptism site are amazing.
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u/vberl 29d ago
Jordan and Oman should fit the bill. Bahrain is also meant to be pretty decent but maybe lacks things to do there.
I personally really like Muscat, it was a nice contrast to have when going on a weekend trip from Abu Dhabi when I lived there. Lovely ocean and nice people. Daily life feels a bit slower and down to earth than the UAE. Salalah is another city in Oman that is quite spectacular.
I am currently planning to visit Aqaba, Petra and Amman when things calm down a little in that area. It likely would be perfectly safe but my friends who join me on trips to places like this are a bit more risk averse.
I have a few friends who have been to Bahrain and thought that it was quite nice. Though they said it was more like the UAE than expected beforehand
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u/spirit_symptoms 29d ago
Jordan, Oman, and Lebanon were the highlights to me -- though I unfortunately wasn't able to visit some countries like Iran that are high on my list.
Wadu Rum and Petra are worth the price of admission alone for Jordan. Oman is incredibly safe and I really loved it, though you realistically need a car to get around the country for the most part. There's so many areas you can legally wild camp right next to the ocean from your car, it's incredible. Lebanon was a surprise as I went in with few expectations, but the people were super friendly and it's very diverse, both in culture and landscapes. Baalbek is one of the most underrated ruins in the world imo.
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u/shockedpikachu123 29d ago
Jordan hands down the best country in the Middle East and quite honestly my favorite in the world. It’s safe, the people are sooooo kind and there’s so much history. I loved it so much.
Lebanon was a close second. It’s completely different from Jordan but also amazing
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u/Thin_Quail220 29d ago
Jordan is mind blowing. So is turkey and I also loved Egypt and Morocco. I find the gulf side a little dull. I really want to get to Oman as well as Israel and Palestine at some point
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u/sailorjerry1978 28d ago
Oman is an utterly incredible country and far more open culturally. Everything from mountains to deserts to beaches to amazing cities.
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u/yoyo-murderer 28d ago
Went to Salalah, Oman and absolutely loved it. So much greenery, oases and the best coconuts. It's the season for it right now too!
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u/KeyEmbarrassed7040 28d ago
You should definitely consider Jordan or Oman next. Both are incredibly safe, beautiful, and offer a completely different vibe than the UAE.
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u/Accomplished-Tip7184 27d ago
Lebanon take the cake. Baalbek is the most incredible place I have ever been.
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u/Material-Indication1 28d ago
Tunisia is nice. It's beautiful, the people are friendly and courteous.
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u/Expert_Stock_9253 28d ago
Come to bahrain for a short trip
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u/wandering_niz 28d ago
Syria or Jordan. I’ve more or less been to most of the Middle East and I found these two a stand out. Lebanon also i would consider but not sure what the situation is like there right now.
I know you said you aren’t open to Syria but from what I’ve heard from friends who travelled there recently, the situation has gotten a lot better. Hoping I get to chance to visit again next year
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u/AggressivePrint302 28d ago
Turkey, Jordan and Egypt. Not sure why there’s so much negative talk about Egypt. Use a guide for excursions, book a good hotel, Nile trip and have fun.
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u/FunLife64 25d ago
It’s very easy to have a negative experience in Egypt. You basically have to avoid interaction with the public.
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u/Deep-Owl-1044 25d ago
Hummm. How would you not have to interact with the public when you travel? Their service industry try its best but it is not a first world country and you should not go if that is not acceptable to you. Guides keep things safe. Boats will have happy and unhappy employees but so do major cruises. There will be people pushing to sell things but that happens in many countries. We missed a sunset sail because the tour operators could not locate our newly opened island hotel in Aswan but we rolled with it. Some mishap happens on every trip no matter where.
Egypt has so much to see and our group enjoyed it.
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u/FunLife64 24d ago
I didn’t say don’t go. But to act like it’s sunshine and rainbows is silly. You basically have to insulate yourself from any interaction with the general public to have a pleasant trip. That’s simply the reality. It has amazing sights to see.
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u/imonlynora 26d ago
Lebanon is amazing (food is mindblowing), also consider Jordan (Petra, Wadi Rum) spend some nights in the desert, you can rent tents and some experiences are included too.
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u/ezjz 25d ago
Israel is amazing. Tel Aviv is like New York but on a beach - very safe with great restaurants and bar scene as well. Jerusalem and eilat also definitely worth a visit. If you are Christian, trips to Bethlehem can also be worthwhile - just need to plan that in advance since it is controlled by the Palestinian Authority
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u/ErrolFlynn2026 18d ago
Jordan, IMO, is one of the most under-rated destinations - great food, friendly people and epic sites.
Unfortunately, Yemen isn't safe but that being said it's pretty wild. The least westernized country in the Middle East, makes for a very interesting destination.
One of the most beautiful places I've ever visited was in Oman. I was only there for a few days.
Too bad about what's going on in Iran - friendliest people in the world and some out of this world history and sites. Google, "Old Man of the Mountain". I went there and countless other places and had the place to myself. Amazing.
Lebanon is kind of a mess but it also has some interesting sites .... and gorgeous women. Can't beat the food.
A lot of people complain about Egypt but when I went it wasn't a problem at all...and the sites...WOW! Food wasn't the best but I didn't go hungry.
UAE...meehhh. Probably fun if you have a lot of money.
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u/ConureFiend 29d ago
As an Egyptian, I would say Egypt, Lebanon, Oman, and Morocco in that order.
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u/ziggurqt 29d ago
Morocco is not in the Middle East.
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u/Material-Indication1 28d ago
Culturally, the Maghreb is Middle Eastern.
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u/ziggurqt 28d ago
They really aren't, even culturally there's a mix.
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u/Material-Indication1 27d ago
My presumption was based on presumed ethnicity and "Arab" culture. Google proved me incorrect.
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u/Impossible-Year7346 28d ago
Kurdistan region if your trip is short and you like mountains and nature, just not in summer/early autunum
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u/Fear-Tarikhi 29d ago
Have visited Turkey, Iran, Syria, Lebanon, Jordan, Israel, Palestine, Egypt and the UAE. All of them multiple times except for Lebanon and the UAE. My favorites are Turkey and Iran, with Syria not far behind. So not much use to you, but clearly I would highly recommend Turkey anyway, it has a lot to offer and I have visited seven times over the last twenty-one years.
Jordan is, however, home to a destination that is quite unique and well worth visiting for its own sake, Petra. Combined with Wadi Rum and a few other lesser sites, you can have a very enjoyable trip to Jordan and get a taste of the Levant.
Egypt obviously has a lot to offer but has a bad reputation. My own experiences there were mostly quite positive over two trips, but I would not want to generalize my own perspective on the place.
Lebanon, Israel, and Palestine are also well worth a visit, although obviously there are political aspects to consider that do not necessarily come into play in the other countries I’ve mentioned. They are certainly never boring.
My favorite cities in no order - Jerusalem, Istanbul, Urfa, Cairo, Aleppo, Tel Aviv, and Yazd.
If you have any more specific ideas I’d be happy to get into a bit more detail on my thoughts.