Historic and archaeological sites: from Diriyah to the Pyramids

In Saudi Arabia

Things to do in Riyadh

Place	Why go	Before you go
Historic Diriyah (At-Turaif)	A UNESCO World Heritage Site and the birthplace of the first Saudi state, beside Bujairi Terrace and its restaurants and cafés.	Entry by ticket, priced by season
Masmak Fortress	The mud-brick fort where the unification of the Kingdom began, now a museum telling the story.	Free entry, Ad Dirah

Things to do in Jeddah

Place	Why go	Before you go
Historic Jeddah (Al-Balad)	A UNESCO World Heritage Site: coral-stone houses with wooden roshan windows, Nassif House and traditional souqs.	Best in the late afternoon and evening

Things to do in Abha

Place	Why go	Before you go
Rijal Almaa village	A heritage village over 900 years old, with multi-storey stone houses on the mountainside and a museum.	About 45 km west of Abha, via the Al Sammaa pass

Things to do in Taif

Place	Why go	Before you go
Shubra Palace	A historic palace built between 1904 and 1906 in a blend of Hijazi and Ottoman styles, now a museum of old Taif.	Central Taif
Souq Okaz	The site of the most famous Arabian market before Islam, where the Souq Okaz festival is held in its seasons.	North-east of Taif

Places to visit in Makkah

Place	Why go	Before you go
Jabal al-Nour and the Cave of Hira	The cave where the first revelation came to the Prophet ﷺ; the climb is a mountain trail that needs some fitness.	The trail is free; early morning is best
Jabal Thawr and the Cave of Thawr	The cave where the Prophet ﷺ and Abu Bakr (may Allah be pleased with him) sheltered on the Hijrah.	South of Makkah
The holy sites: Mina, Muzdalifah and Arafat	Many visit them outside the Hajj season; Jabal al-Rahmah stands in Arafat.	East of Makkah
Masjid al-Tan'eem (Masjid Aisha)	The nearest point outside the Haram boundary, where those in Makkah enter ihram for Umrah.	North of the Haram
Masjid al-Ji'ranah	Where the Prophet ﷺ entered ihram for Umrah; those in Makkah also enter ihram here.	North-east of Makkah

Places to visit in Madinah

Place	Why go	Before you go
The Prophet's Mosque and Al-Rawdah	Visits to Al-Rawdah need a permit through the Nusuk app, with slots released in advance.	The permit is free
Quba Mosque	The first mosque built in Islam; whoever performs ablution at home and then prays in it earns the reward of an Umrah.	About 3.5 km south of the Prophet's Mosque
Mount Uhud and the Martyrs' cemetery	The site of the Battle of Uhud, with the martyrs' cemetery and the Archers' Hill facing it.	North of Madinah
Masjid al-Qiblatain	Where the qibla changed from Jerusalem to the Kaaba.	North-west of Madinah
The Seven Mosques	Small mosques at the site of the Battle of the Trench, the best known being Masjid al-Fath.	Near Mount Sal'

Things to do in AlUla

Place	Why go	Before you go
Hegra (Mada'in Salih)	More than 100 Nabataean tombs carved into the rock, and Saudi Arabia's first UNESCO World Heritage Site (2008).	Official tours only, from SAR 95 a person
Dadan and Jabal Ikmah	Capital of the ancient kingdoms of Dadan and Lihyan, and Jabal Ikmah with so many inscriptions it is called an open library.	Tours from SAR 60 an adult
The Old Town	Lanes of mud-brick houses and a walkway of restaurants, cafés and shops.	Free to walk; guided tours are ticketed

Things to do in Al-Ahsa

Place	Why go	Before you go
Al-Ahsa Oasis	The largest standalone oasis in the world, on the UNESCO World Heritage list since 2018, with millions of palms and springs.	Around Hofuf and Al-Mubarraz
Ibrahim Palace	A historic fort in the heart of old Hofuf, also known as Bayt Al-Bay'a.	Al-Kut district, Hofuf
Jawatha Mosque	One of the oldest mosques in Islamic history, where the first Friday prayer after the Prophet's Mosque was held.	North-east of Hofuf
Al-Uqair beach and historic port	A historic port on the Gulf and a quiet beach for families.	About an hour from Hofuf

Abroad

Things to do in the UAE

Place	Why go	Before you go
The Heart of Sharjah	Restored souqs and heritage houses that tell the city's story.	Central Sharjah
Mleiha and the Faya site	Traces of people who lived in the desert more than 200,000 years ago, added to the World Heritage list in 2025.	Sharjah's central region
Dhayah Fort	A hilltop fort overlooking palm groves and the sea.	North of Ras Al Khaimah
Al Bidya Mosque	The oldest mosque in the UAE, with small clay domes at the foot of the mountain.	Al Bidya, north of Fujairah
Fujairah Fort	One of the oldest forts in the UAE, with a heritage village beside it.	Fujairah city
Al Ain Oasis	A shady palm oasis with ancient falaj channels, one of Al Ain's World Heritage cultural sites.	Central Al Ain

Things to do in Dubai

Place	Why go	Before you go
Al Fahidi and Dubai Creek	Heritage houses with wind towers, and an abra ride across the Creek to the Deira souqs.	The district is free; the abra costs a few dirhams

Things to do in Turkey

Place	Why go	Before you go
Göreme Open-Air Museum	An archaeological complex carved into the rock, on the World Heritage list.	Göreme
Derinkuyu underground city	A deep, many-levelled city dug in ancient times for shelter.	South of Göreme

Things to do in Istanbul

Place	Why go	Before you go
Hagia Sophia	A mosque and landmark about 1,500 years old.	€25 for foreign visitors on a separate route; free for prayer
The Blue Mosque (Sultan Ahmed Mosque)	Facing Hagia Sophia, with six minarets and blue tiles.	Free; closed to visitors at prayer times
Topkapi Palace	The Ottoman sultans' palace on the Bosphorus point, home to the Sacred Relics.	Ticketed, including the Harem
Galata Tower	Views over the Golden Horn and the old city.	Ticketed

Things to do in the UK

Place	Why go	Before you go
Edinburgh Castle	A castle on a volcanic rock above the old town.	Edinburgh
The Roman Baths in Bath	Ancient Roman baths in an elegant Georgian city.	Bath
Stonehenge	A giant stone circle thousands of years old.	Salisbury
Oxford and Cambridge	The two great university cities and their historic colleges.	Near London

Things to do in London and Harrods

Place	Why go	Before you go
Buckingham Palace	The King's residence and the Changing of the Guard.	Watching the Changing of the Guard is free on set days

Things to do in Jordan

Place	Why go	Before you go
Petra	The Nabataean city carved in rose-red rock, one of the New Seven Wonders of the World; its best-known monuments are the Treasury and the Monastery.	Allow at least a full day
Jerash	One of the best-preserved Roman cities in the world: colonnaded streets, theatres and arches.	About an hour north of Amman
Ajloun Castle and cable car	An Ayyubid castle on a hilltop, and a cable car opened in 2023 over the Ajloun forests.	Northern Jordan
The Amman Citadel	Roman and Umayyad remains with views over old Amman.	Central Amman
The Roman Theatre	A theatre seating thousands in the heart of downtown.	Downtown

Things to do in Azerbaijan

Place	Why go	Before you go
The Old City (Icherisheher)	A walled city on the UNESCO World Heritage list, with the Palace of the Shirvanshahs and the Maiden Tower.	Central Baku
Gobustan	Rock carvings thousands of years old on the World Heritage list, with mud volcanoes nearby.	About an hour south of Baku
The Palace of the Sheki Khans	An 18th-century palace with stained-glass windows, on the World Heritage list.	Sheki, north-west Azerbaijan

Things to do in Bahrain

Place	Why go	Before you go
Bahrain Fort (Qal'at al-Bahrain)	An archaeological site on the UNESCO World Heritage list, home to civilisations since Dilmun.	North Bahrain; loveliest at sunset
The Pearling Path in Muharraq	A heritage trail on the World Heritage list that tells the story of pearl diving.	Muharraq

Things to do in Qatar

Place	Why go	Before you go
Al Zubarah Fort	A historic fort beside an old pearl-trading town, on the World Heritage list.	North-west Qatar

Things to do in Kuwait

Place	Why go	Before you go
The Grand Mosque	Kuwait's largest mosque, with Islamic ornament and a wide dome.	Kuwait City
Failaka Island	An island with Greek ruins and older remains from the Dilmun era, and quiet beaches.	By ferry from Ras Salmiya, about 1.5 hours

Things to do in Egypt

Place	Why go	Before you go
The temples of Karnak and Luxor	Towering columns and colossal statues from the age of the pharaohs, at their finest under the evening lights.	East Bank, Luxor
The Valley of the Kings	The pharaohs' tombs cut into the mountain, their carvings and colours still preserved.	West Bank, Luxor
Abu Simbel	Two temples carved into the rock; at dawn on 22 February and 22 October each year, sunlight reaches deep inside the Great Temple.	South of Aswan, about 3 hours by car
The Citadel of Qaitbay	A historic fortress on the sea, built on the site of the ancient Lighthouse of Alexandria.	At the tip of the Eastern Harbour
Wadi Al-Hitan	Whale fossils millions of years old in the desert, on the World Heritage list.	Fayoum

Things to do in Cairo

Place	Why go	Before you go
The Pyramids of Giza and the Sphinx	The Great Pyramid is the only surviving wonder of the ancient world, and the Sphinx has guarded the plateau for thousands of years.	Giza, west of Cairo
The Citadel and the Muhammad Ali Mosque	A historic citadel on the Muqattam hills with wide views over Cairo, home to the Muhammad Ali Mosque and its famous domes.	Al-Qal'a district
Al-Azhar Mosque	One of Cairo's oldest mosques and universities, a beacon of learning for more than a thousand years.	Near Khan el-Khalili

Things to do in Malaysia

Place	Why go	Before you go
George Town	A historic town of street art and old houses, on the World Heritage list.	Penang Island
Historic Melaka	The old port city, with Jonker Street and an evening river cruise, on the World Heritage list.	About 2 hours from Kuala Lumpur

Things to do in France

Place	Why go	Before you go
Nice and the Promenade des Anglais	A long promenade on the Baie des Anges, in a city on the World Heritage list.	Nice
Èze village	A stone village perched on a rock above the sea, with enchanting views of the coast.	Between Nice and Monaco
The Loire Valley châteaux	Royal châteaux such as Chambord and Chenonceau among gardens and rivers, on the World Heritage list.	About 2 hours from Paris
Mont-Saint-Michel	A rocky island crowned by a medieval town, surrounded by the tides.	Normandy, about 4 hours from Paris

Things to do in Paris

Place	Why go	Before you go
The Eiffel Tower	The symbol of Paris; go up by lift or stairs, and watch it sparkle every hour after sunset.	Book in advance on the official website
The Arc de Triomphe and the Champs-Élysées	The world's best-known avenue for shopping and cafés, ending at the Arc de Triomphe and its view from the top.	8th arrondissement
The Palace of Versailles	The palace of the kings of France, with the Hall of Mirrors and vast gardens.	About 40 minutes from Paris by train

Things to do in Georgia

Place	Why go	Before you go
The Old Town and Narikala Fortress	Lanes of colourful houses with wooden balconies, and a cable car up to Narikala Fortress with views over the city.	Central Tbilisi

Things to do in Spain

Place	Why go	Before you go
The Royal Palace	One of the largest royal palaces in Europe, with grand halls and wide gardens.	Central Madrid
The Alhambra	The masterpiece of Andalusian architecture in Granada, with the Generalife gardens, on the World Heritage list.	Tickets are limited and sell out, so book early
The Great Mosque of Córdoba	One of the greatest monuments of Islamic civilisation in Andalusia, with its famous arches.	Córdoba
Plaza de España and the Alcázar of Seville	A grand square with fountains and bridges, and the Alcázar palace with its Andalusian gardens.	Seville

Things to do in Italy

Place	Why go	Before you go
The Colosseum and the Roman Forum	The ancient world's most famous amphitheatre, beside the ruins of the heart of ancient Rome.	Book your ticket in advance
The Trevi Fountain	The world's best-known fountain, with its marble statues.	Central Rome
The Pantheon	A Roman monument with a stunning dome that has stood for nearly two thousand years.	Central Rome
The canals of Venice and St Mark's Square	A city on the water where you travel by boat and gondola.	North-east Italy
The Leaning Tower of Pisa	The famous leaning tower, about an hour from Florence.	Pisa

Things to do in Switzerland

Place	Why go	Before you go
The Chapel Bridge	A covered wooden bridge from the 14th century, the symbol of Lucerne.	Central Lucerne
Chillon Castle	A castle on a rock in the lake near Montreux.	Montreux

Things to do in Austria

Place	Why go	Before you go
Schönbrunn Palace	The imperial summer palace with vast gardens, on the World Heritage list.	West of central Vienna
Hohensalzburg Fortress	A hilltop fortress above the old town, reached by funicular.	Salzburg

Things to do in Bosnia

Place	Why go	Before you go
The Gazi Husrev-beg Mosque	One of the finest Ottoman mosques in the Balkans, built in the 16th century.	Baščaršija
Mostar's Old Bridge	An Ottoman stone bridge over the Neretva river, on the World Heritage list.	Mostar
Počitelj	A stone Ottoman village on a hillside above the river.	Between Mostar and Kravice

Things to do in Oman

Place	Why go	Before you go
Al Baleed Archaeological Park and the Land of Frankincense Museum	The ruins of historic Al Baleed, part of the Land of Frankincense World Heritage sites.	Salalah
Nizwa Fort and souq	A historic fort with a traditional souq for khanjars and Omani halwa.	Nizwa

Things to do in Morocco

Place	Why go	Before you go
Jemaa el-Fnaa square	The beating heart of Marrakech, with its markets and street food.	The old medina
The Koutoubia Mosque	A historic mosque whose soaring minaret is the symbol of Marrakech.	Near Jemaa el-Fnaa
The Bahia Palace	A palace of Moroccan decoration and inner gardens.	The old medina
Fes el-Bali and Al-Qarawiyyin	One of the largest old medinas in the world, and Al-Qarawiyyin, one of the world's oldest universities.	Fes
Chefchaouen	The blue town with quiet lanes among the Rif mountains.	Northern Morocco

Things to do in Thailand

Place	Why go	Before you go
Old Phuket Town	Streets of colourful Sino-Portuguese buildings.	Central Phuket
The Grand Palace	The historic royal palace complex with its gilded architecture.	On the Chao Phraya river

Things to do in Indonesia

Place	Why go	Before you go
Garuda Wisnu Kencana park	A cultural park with a giant statue and traditional performances.	Southern Bali
Borobudur	A vast 9th-century monument on the World Heritage list.	Near Yogyakarta

Things to do in Germany

Place	Why go	Before you go
Neuschwanstein Castle	A fairy-tale castle on a hill among the mountains, one of the world's best-known castles.	Timed tickets, so book early
The Brandenburg Gate	The symbol of Berlin and of German reunification.	Central Berlin
The East Side Gallery	The longest surviving stretch of the Berlin Wall, covered in murals.	East Berlin

Things to do in Greece

Place	Why go	Before you go
The Acropolis and the Parthenon	Athens' ancient citadel on a hill, on the World Heritage list.	Book early and go in the morning before the heat
Cape Sounion	The ruins of an ancient temple on a cliff above the sea, with a magical sunset.	About 1.5 hours from Athens
The old town of Rhodes	A fortified medieval city on the World Heritage list.	Rhodes

Things to do in the Netherlands

Place	Why go	Before you go
A canal boat tour	The loveliest way to see Amsterdam's houses and bridges; the canal ring is on the World Heritage list.	Central Amsterdam
Zaanse Schans	Historic windmills and green wooden houses on the river.	About 20 minutes from Amsterdam
The Kinderdijk windmills	A group of historic windmills on the World Heritage list.	Near Rotterdam

Things to do in the Czech Republic

Place	Why go	Before you go
The Charles Bridge	A historic stone bridge over the Vltava with its famous statues.	Central Prague
Prague Castle	One of the largest ancient castle complexes in the world, with city views.	Hradčany
Old Town Square and the Astronomical Clock	A historic square and a medieval astronomical clock.	Central Prague
Karlovy Vary	The spa town of hot springs and elegant colonnades among the forests, on the World Heritage list.	About 2 hours from Prague
Český Krumlov	A medieval town on a bend of the river, on the World Heritage list.	Southern Czech Republic

Things to do in the Maldives

Place	Why go	Before you go
The Old Friday Mosque (Hukuru Miskiy)	A historic 17th-century mosque built of coral stone.	Malé

Things to do in Japan

Place	Why go	Before you go
Nijo Castle	The shogun's castle, with floors that sing as you walk on them, on the World Heritage list.	Central Kyoto
Gion	Old wooden lanes that keep the spirit of old Kyoto.	East Kyoto
Osaka Castle	A historic castle in a wide park, with a museum and views from the top.	Central Osaka

Things to do in South Korea

Place	Why go	Before you go
Gyeongbokgung Palace	The largest royal palace in Seoul, with the changing of the guard at its gate; entry is free for visitors wearing hanbok.	Closed on Tuesdays
Bukchon Hanok Village	Traditional Korean houses with curved roofs between the palaces, still lived in by their owners.	Open to tourists from 10 am to 5 pm

Things to do in China

Place	Why go	Before you go
The Great Wall at Mutianyu	One of the loveliest and least crowded sections of the Wall: up by cable car, down by toboggan.	About 1.5 hours from Beijing
The Forbidden City	The palace of China's emperors with its halls and vast courtyards, on the World Heritage list.	Book ahead with your passport; closed on Mondays
The Bund	A riverside promenade of historic buildings facing the glittering towers of Pudong.	Central Shanghai
Zhujiajiao water town	An old town of canals and stone bridges, explored by boat.	About an hour from Shanghai
The Terracotta Army	Thousands of life-size clay soldiers guarding the tomb of China's first emperor.	Xi'an
The Great Mosque and the Muslim Quarter of Xi'an	One of China's oldest mosques, in Chinese architectural style, surrounded by a famous market and halal restaurants.	Central Xi'an

Things to do in Russia

Place	Why go	Before you go
Red Square and the Kremlin	The historic heart of Moscow with its fortress, walls and colourful domes, on the World Heritage list.	Central Moscow
The Moscow Metro stations	Stations like palaces with chandeliers and mosaics, an art tour underground.	Across the city
Moscow Cathedral Mosque	One of the largest mosques in Europe, with golden domes and minarets.	Near Prospekt Mira station
The Catherine Palace	A lavish palace with the famous Amber Room and wide gardens.	Pushkin, south of Saint Petersburg
The Kazan Kremlin and Kul Sharif Mosque	A historic fortress on the World Heritage list, with Kul Sharif Mosque and its blue minarets at its centre.	Capital of Tatarstan, about 1.5 hours by air from Moscow

Things to do in Vietnam

Place	Why go	Before you go
Hoi An Ancient Town	Old merchant houses and colourful lanterns lighting the river at night, on the World Heritage list.	About 45 minutes from Da Nang
The Old Quarter and Hoan Kiem Lake	Hanoi's old lanes and shops, and a calm lake in the heart of the city.	Hanoi
The Imperial City of Hue	The citadel and palaces of Vietnam's emperors, on the World Heritage list.	Hue, about 2 hours from Da Nang

Things to do in Sri Lanka

Place	Why go	Before you go
Sigiriya rock	A fortress on top of a towering rock in the jungle, with water gardens and ancient paintings, on the World Heritage list.	Central Sri Lanka, about 4 hours from Colombo
Galle Fort	A fortified town on the sea with its walls and old houses, on the World Heritage list.	South coast

Things to do in the Philippines

Place	Why go	Before you go
Intramuros	The old walled city with its ramparts and Fort Santiago.	Central Manila

Things to do in Kazakhstan

Place	Why go	Before you go
Hazrat Sultan Mosque	One of the largest mosques in Central Asia, with white domes.	Astana

Things to do in Uzbekistan

Place	Why go	Before you go
The Registan	Three historic madrasas with blue mosaic façades, loveliest when lit at night.	Central Samarkand
Bibi-Khanym Mosque	One of the largest mosques of the Silk Road, with a huge turquoise dome.	Near Siyob Bazaar
The Po-i-Kalyan complex	The towering Kalyan Minaret, its mosque and the Mir-i-Arab Madrasa, the historic heart of Bukhara.	Bukhara
The Ark of Bukhara	The old fortress of the emirs of Bukhara, with its high walls.	Bukhara
Lyabi-Hauz	A square around an old pool, lined with madrasas and cafés.	Bukhara
Itchan Kala in Khiva	A complete walled city of minarets and palaces, like an open-air museum.	Khiva, western Uzbekistan
The Hazrati Imam complex and the Uthman Quran	A mosque, madrasas and a library holding one of the oldest Qurans in the world, attributed to the time of Caliph Uthman ibn Affan.	Old Tashkent
The Tashkent Metro	Stations decorated with marble and chandeliers, an art tour underground.	Tashkent

Things to do in Portugal

Place	Why go	Before you go
Tram 28 and Alfama	An old yellow tram climbing between the lanes of Alfama and its views over the river.	Central Lisbon
Belém Tower	A stone tower on the Tagus from the age of discovery, on the World Heritage list.	Belém, west Lisbon
São Jorge Castle	A castle on Lisbon's highest hill, with views over the whole city.	Alfama
Pena Palace	A colourful palace on a forested hilltop, like something from a children's story, on the World Heritage list.	Sintra, about 40 minutes from Lisbon
The Ribeira district	Colourful houses stepping up the bank of the Douro, on the World Heritage list.	Central Porto

Things to do in Hungary

Place	Why go	Before you go
The Parliament Building	One of Europe's most beautiful buildings on the bank of the Danube, with guided tours of its halls.	Pest; tours by advance booking
Buda Castle and Fishermen's Bastion	A historic palace on the hill, and white towers with an enchanting view of the city and the river.	Buda
The Chain Bridge	Budapest's best-known bridge, linking Buda and Pest and lit up at night.	City centre

Things to do in Poland

Place	Why go	Before you go
The Main Square and the Old Town	One of the largest historic squares in Europe, with the Cloth Hall and cafés, on the World Heritage list.	Central Kraków
Wawel Castle	The castle of Poland's kings on a hill above the Vistula.	Kraków
The Wieliczka Salt Mine	Passages and chambers carved in salt underground, with underground lakes, on the World Heritage list.	About 30 minutes from Kraków
Warsaw's Old Town	Squares and colourful houses faithfully rebuilt, on the World Heritage list.	Central Warsaw
Malbork Castle	The largest brick castle in the world, on the World Heritage list.	North Poland, near Gdańsk

Things to do in Albania

Place	Why go	Before you go
Butrint National Park	The ruins of an ancient city among the woods and the lagoon, on the World Heritage list.	Near Ksamil
Berat	The town of a thousand windows, its white houses stepping up the hill, on the World Heritage list.	Central Albania
Gjirokastër	A stone town with a large castle above the valley, on the World Heritage list.	South Albania

Things to do in Norway

Place	Why go	Before you go
Bergen and Bryggen	Colourful wooden houses on the harbour, and a funicular up to the Fløyen viewpoint.	Bergen

Things to do in Finland

Place	Why go	Before you go
The Suomenlinna sea fortress	A fortress on linked islands off Helsinki, reached by ferry, on the World Heritage list.	About 15 minutes by ferry

Things to do in Iceland

Place	Why go	Before you go
Thingvellir National Park	A valley between two continental plates, on the World Heritage list.	About an hour from Reykjavík

Things to do in Sweden

Place	Why go	Before you go
The Old Town (Gamla Stan)	Cobbled lanes and colourful houses on a small island, beside the Royal Palace.	Central Stockholm
Drottningholm Palace	The royal family's residence with its wide gardens, on the World Heritage list.	West of Stockholm

Things to do in Armenia

Place	Why go	Before you go
Republic Square	The heart of the capital with its pink buildings and its dancing fountains on summer evenings.	Central Yerevan
Garni Temple and the basalt columns	An ancient temple with Greek-style columns above a gorge, with basalt columns below that look like organ pipes.	About 40 minutes from Yerevan

Things to do in Kyrgyzstan

Place	Why go	Before you go
The Burana Tower	An 11th-century minaret on the Silk Road, part of a World Heritage listing.	About an hour from Bishkek

Things to do in Tunisia

Place	Why go	Before you go
The Medina and Al-Zaytuna Mosque	Lanes and traditional souqs around the ancient Al-Zaytuna Mosque, on the World Heritage list.	Central Tunis
Sidi Bou Said	A white village with blue doors and windows on a hill above the sea.	About 30 minutes from central Tunis
The ruins of Carthage	The remains of the ancient city and its Roman baths on the sea, on the World Heritage list.	North-east of Tunis
The Great Mosque of Kairouan	The Mosque of Uqba ibn Nafi, one of the oldest and most revered mosques in North Africa, on the World Heritage list.	Kairouan
The El Jem amphitheatre	A huge Roman amphitheatre, one of the largest still standing, on the World Heritage list.	El Jem, between Sousse and Sfax

Things to do in South Africa

Place	Why go	Before you go
Bo-Kaap	Colourful houses and historic mosques in the old Muslim quarter.	Central Cape Town

Things to do in Kenya

Place	Why go	Before you go
Fort Jesus, Mombasa	A historic fort on the old harbour, on the World Heritage list.	Mombasa
Lamu Old Town	Narrow lanes and Swahili stone houses with a deep Arab and Islamic character, on the World Heritage list.	Lamu Island

Things to do in Zanzibar

Place	Why go	Before you go
Stone Town	Lanes, carved wooden doors and houses of Omani and Arab character, on the World Heritage list.	West of the island

Things to do in the Seychelles

Place	Why go	Before you go
The Vallée de Mai	A rare palm forest, home of the coco de mer, on the World Heritage list.	Central Praslin

Things to do in Mauritius

Place	Why go	Before you go
Le Morne Brabant	A majestic mountain over the turquoise lagoon; from the air you see the underwater waterfall illusion. On the World Heritage list.	South-west of the island

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The information is for guidance only; ticket prices and opening hours are set by each attraction and may change, so check them on the official website before you go.