Beirut is the capital of Lebanon, a city that survived one of the longest modern Civil Wars (25 years, from 1966 to 1991). Today, despite many destroyed buildings, Beirut is one of the safest cities in the region. Now there is a steady economic growth and rapid growth of the middle class. Beirut can be called the most liberal and western city in the Middle East (outside of Israel).

Beirut is a deep, rich and contrasting history. It consists of dozens of districts that are very different from each other: the Hipster Gemmaizeh district, Hezbollah districts such as Burj al-Barajneh, the Hamra student district, the old Palestinian refugee camps, the Armenian burj Hammoud district, several Christian areas and much more! Beirut is one of the most culturally diverse cities in the world.

Beirut is a city that suits any traveler and every budget, with everything from underground parties to the most glamorous clubs, from local eateries to the best gourmet restaurants in the region.

Iran definitely deserves to go on a long and unusual journey. This is a whole world, having seen it once, it is already impossible to forget. Many travelers come here more than once, once falling in love with this country, it is already impossible to imagine their lives without traveling to its unexplored corners.

If you are going to Iran for the first time, do not forget to familiarize yourself in advance with the basic rules of conduct and features of life.

 

4. Qeshm Island, Iran

Located in the Persian Gulf, right in the Strait of Hormuz between Oman and Iran, Qeshm Island is an island with amazing geological formations and very rich wildlife. This is what most tourists come here for, but the most interesting part of the trip is immersion in the local culture, as it is the only place where the rapidly disappearing customs and traditions of the inhabitants of the Persian Gulf have been preserved.

Unlike the rest of Iran, people here for the most part refer to themselves as an ancient branch of the Sunnis – the Wahhabis.

Qeshm is a world different from the rest of Iran, and it can be seen in religion, architecture, food, and bright, unusual women's outfits that you won't find anywhere else.

5. Golestan, Iran

In a very remote part of Iran bordering the border of Turkmenistan, there is a region with an unexpectedly mystical landscape, home to a large Turkmen community that bears more resemblance to people from Kyrgyzstan than to other Iranians.

This region is called Golestan Province, one of the least visited provinces in Iran, the main feature of which is that most of its inhabitants are ethnic Turkmens, an ethnic Central Asian nationality originally from Turkmenistan.

From Central Asian cuisine such as pilaf and kurut, to style of dress, Mongolian facial features, and the nomadic life visible in their love of horses and yurts, Golestan is a world radically different from the rest of the Middle East.

6. Isfahan, Iran

Isfahan is Iran's most amazing city, and its mosques, consisting of giant domes and stunning ceilings with extravagant geometric shapes, are without a doubt the most impressive buildings in the Middle East.

As one of the most historic cities in the region, Isfahan has always been home to a large community of scholars and prestigious intellectuals, and its importance and influence in this part of the world has often been compared to Athens and Rome.

Today, by Iranian standards, Isfahan is a remarkably modern, clean, and dynamic city home to some of the most educated and vibrant people in the country.

Syria – the ruined history and treasury of the ancient world

7. Citadel of Aleppo, Syria

Before the war, Aleppo was the largest and most touristy city in the country.

Several thousand years older than Damascus, the Citadel of Aleppo was largely destroyed by the civil war, but since the city's liberation in 2017, reconstruction has already begun, Syrians are returning to their homes and life is slowly returning to normal. It is possible that in a few years the beautiful city of Aleppo will return to its original state and will still be able to show all its brilliance.

8. Damascus Old City, Syria

Everything here is very old. Damascus is indeed one of the oldest cities in the world – perhaps the oldest capital of the country – founded in the second millennium BC, and the capital of the Umayyad Caliphate from 661 to 750, one of the most important caliphates in history, stretching from Spain to Iran.

The most stunning place in Damascus is the Umayyad Mosque, which moved from the Temple of Jupiter during the Roman Empire to a Christian basilica dedicated to John the Baptist, and later became one of the largest mosques in the world.

Today, Damascus is a safe city, and fortunately the Old City remained the same for most of the war.

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9. Dead Sea, Jordan

The Dead Sea is the lake with the world's highest salt density, as well as the lowest point on Earth, it is located 430 meters below sea level. It also occupies territory in Israel, Palestine and Jordan.

A very high concentration of salt does not allow animals and plants to survive in this water, hence the name. Swimming in the Dead Sea is one of the most popular entertainments, because due to the high density of water, it is almost impossible to sink. In addition, along the coast there are several hotels and resorts where you can relax on their beaches and take mud baths.

10. Jerash, Jordan

If a trip to Lebanon with a visit to the ruins of Baalbek is too much for you, but you still want to go to the Middle East, perhaps you should visit Jerash, another of the greatest Roman ruins outside of Italy. This complex is built in the middle of a fertile valley consisting of green hilly hills with olive and fig trees.

This place was not chosen by chance, about 2000 years ago, the Romans wanted to make it a great city primarily due to the wealth of the local land.