Middle East Bucket List: 13 Family-Friendly Travel Experiences

Looking for a new adventure for your family? These amazing experiences in the Middle East may be just what you need! We love to travel as a family and experience new cultures. There are so many places to explore together, the options sometimes seem endless.

This Middle East travel bucket list pulls together noteworthy experiences in an often overlooked part of the world. We’ve indicated age ranges when applicable, though, of course, this may vary by family.

Some of these adventures we’ve already done with our kids, some are still on our personal bucket list!

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Middle East Bucket List

The Middle East is packed with history: Petra, in Jordan, is one of the seven “New Wonders of the World”. Israel has important landmarks for three major religions packed into one turbulent city. Abu Dhabi and Dubai pack in family-friendly activities as well- from jaw-dropping architecture to resorts and amusement parks.

We try to slow travel when we can and never visit somewhere just to check it off a list, but we find travel bucket lists are great for organizing your plans and inspiring more family travel.

As you know, this is a volatile area of the world, so please check alerts and government travel restrictions before traveling to the Middle East.

Interested in bucket list travel? Check out our lists for North America, Europe, Asia and Africa!

1. Sleep Under the Stars in Wadi Rum

The Wadi Rum desert in Jordan is stunning. You can ride a camel, climb rock arches, and sleep under the stars. We did a day jeep trip while we were in Jordan but didn’t get a chance to sleep overnight in this beautiful desert, as it was a cold time of year.

2. Float in the Dead Sea

Floating in the Dead Sea is a strange experience- the sea is over 30% salt, so you are extremely buoyant. The mud is supposed to be wonderful for your skin, so you slather it all over yourself and then float in the sunshine.

You can enter the Dead Sea from the Jordanian or the Israeli side, as the middle of the sea forms part of the border between the two countries. I visited the Jordanian side, we could see drones patrolling the Israeli border.

We visited with the kids but didn’t warn them enough about not touching their eyes with salty hands. There were a few tears, and the kids were generally not impressed.

3. Climb the Burj Khalifa

The Burj Khalifa, in Dubai, UAE, is the tallest skyscraper in the world since it was completed in 2009. With 163 floors and a total height of 2,722 ft, (829.8 m), it replaced Taipei 101 (with 101 floors at 1,667 ft, 508.0 m), which previously held the title of the world’s tallest building.

Construction on this iconic building began in 2004, but it first opened to the public in 2010. It has become a symbol of the Emirate and stands as the centerpiece of Downtown Dubai. It was developed by the same firm that designed the Sears Tower in Chicago, which also once held the record for the world’s tallest building.

There are many ways to see this incredible building, including viewing it from the surrounding city, from your dinner table along the boardwalk around Dubai Fountain to visiting one of its many observation decks, lounges, and restaurants.

While the views from the upper floors are stunning, don’t miss the light shows that happen every evening once it begins to get dark on the outside of the building and the Dubai Fountain below.

4. Visit the Holy City of Jerusalem

The Holy City for Jews, Muslims, and Christians, there is a ton of history packed into Jerusalem. Visit the old city, the Western Wall, the Dome of the Rock, The Church of the Holy Sepulcher, and the Al Aqsa Mosque.

Consider a day trip to Bethlehem to see the Church of the Nativity (it is easiest to take a tour), or a day trip to the Dead Sea. Bethlehem is in Palestine, and a visit can be combined with a visit to a refuge camp (and the Banksy Off the Wall Hotel). We thought this was a really important opportunity to talk to our kids about both sides of the conflict.

It’s worth noting that everything in Israel (restaurants, public transportation) shuts down for the Sabbath from Friday late afternoon to Saturday night. Holy sites generally require that shoulders and knees be covered.

5. Get Cultural at Louvre Abu Dhabi

Just five miles outside of the center of Abu Dhabi, built on the shore of Saadiyat Island, the Louvre Abu Dhabi straddles the waters of the Persian Gulf.

The building is made up of a cluster of smaller minimalist structures on the water that are united under a large porous dome, covered with geometric forms that filter and diffuse the sunlight.

Inaugurated in 2017, the Louvre Abu Dhabi represents a unique partnership between France and the UAE and is France’s largest cultural project abroad.

With over 700 works of art in its permanent collection, from prehistoric to present day, and another 300 on loan, it is currently the highest-visited museum in the Arab world.

There is also a Children’s Museum, which caters to all ages, and is very interactive. We spent our time moving between the permanent galleries (which are fantastic), a temporary exhibit that interested us, and the Children’s area. Plan to bring the whole family and be ready to spend the day!

6. Visit the Ancient City of Byblos, Lebanon

The ancient Phoenician port city of Gebal was called Byblos by the Greeks. This UNESCO-listed coastal Mediterranean town, about 20 miles north of Beirut, is one of the world’s oldest continually inhabited cities.

First settled over 7,000 years ago, you will find Bronze Age temples, a Roman Road, Perisain fortifications, Byzantine churches, and many other historical sites.

Byblos, an early Greek word for papyrus, got its name from the fact papyrus was exported through Byblos to the Aegean. The English word bible is derived from the word byblos, meaning the papyrus book.

You can also visit Byblos Castle, originally the Castle of Gibelet, built by the Crusaders in the 12th century. Take a tour of the ruins of ancient civilizations, including the Temple of the Obelisks, the Temple of Baalat Gebal, and the Roman Theater. Explore the old souq, enjoy the local food, and relax along the waterfront.

7. Visit the Sheik Zayed Grand Mosque

This mosque in Abu Dhabi, UAE is one of the grandest in the world. It is massive- the equivalent of four football fields. Construction began in 1996 and took 12 years to complete.

An international collaboration, the mosque combines Persian, Mughal, and Moorish architecture. The Grand Mosque includes 82 domes and has the world’s largest hand-knotted carpet.

There is no charge to visit the mosque, but you will need to reserve a time. Visit early to beat the heat.

There are free guided tours available- don’t miss these tours! You’ll be inside the main space, while others crowd around ropes on the outside.

Women will need to cover up- you can bring your own headscarf, or the mosque provides black abayas in a couple of sizes to borrow. Men are also requested to dress conservatively.

8. See the Jeita Grotto in Lebanon

The Jeita Grotto is a system of two separate caves that are interconnected by a series of natural limestone tunnels. Located in the Nahr al-Kalb river valley, about 11 miles (18 km) north of Beirut, Lebanon, these tunnels are over 5.5 miles (9 km) long.

The lower cave was inhabited in prehistoric times but was not rediscovered until 1836. You can only visit by boat, as the underground river that flows through provides fresh drinking water to more than a million people in Lebanon.

The upper galleries were discovered in 1958 some 200 ft (60 m.) above the lower cave. There is now an access tunnel and a series of walkways for tourists to safely view this incredible wonder, without damaging the natural landscape. In this cave, you will find the world’s largest known stalactite.

9. Visit the Ruins of Petra in Jordan

I grew up with the Indiana Jones movies, and ever since I realized Petra was a real place I wanted to visit!

I explored Petra and other places in Jordan for the first time on a G Adventures tour in 2013 and it was just as magical as I’d hoped. Waker didn’t have time off from work, and I knew (hoped) we’d be starting a family soon, so I joined the tour solo, and loved it!

I met lots of friendly people and saw a lot more on the tour than I could have managed in the same amount of time on my own.

Petra is absolutely a bucket list family adventure! We returned in 2022 and explored as a family.

Petra at night is spectacular. There is a musical concert in front of the Treasury (the most well-known facade), and the walkways and treasury area are lit by candlelight.

10. Hegra (Mada’in Salih) in Saudi Arabia

Mada’in Salih was the first site in Saudi Arabia to be a UNESCO World Heritage Site.

Dating back to the 1st Century, it was built by Nabateans, the same culture as its more famous cousin, Petra. Here you’ll find similar-style structures, without the crowds.

Meaning “Cities of Salih”, the site was the Kingdom’s southernmost city and second largest after Petra. Because of the arid climate, and the lack of resettlement after the site was abandoned, Mada’in Salih is remarkably well preserved.

The Quran says that the area was settled by the Thamudis, a people thought to have been punished by god, and was therefore considered by many to be a cursed place. It is only recently that the government has been trying to develop the site for tourism.

One of the most well-preserved structures is the Tomb of Lihyan, son of Kuza. Qasr al-Farid (The Lonely Castle) is the largest tomb, cut out of a lone outcropping of rock.

11. Visit a Falcon Hospital in Abu Dhabi

Falconry is the raising, training, and caring for falcons used in sport. Practiced as early as four thousand years ago, the sport flourished in the Middle Ages and was brought to Western Europe and Asia.

In the 17th century, due to the invention of the shotgun, the sport went into decline and is now an elite sport kept alive through falcon clubs. These expensive birds are well-cared for, with their own passports, and often fly on private jets.

The Falcon Hospital in Abu Dhabi is the world’s largest care center for these birds. You can take a tour and learn all about falcons, their care, their history, and their importance to Emirate culture.

We saw an operation on a bird’s wing and even held a hooded falcon.

12. Lost City of Ubar, “Atlantis of the Sands” in Oman

Like the fabled City of Atlantis, which was swallowed by the sea, this city was swallowed by a sinkhole and shifting sand dunes. There is still some debate among scholars as to whether the city that was found in the late 1990s is the actual lost city.

Today, the archeological site of Ubar in Al Shisr is directly inland about 105 miles (170km) from the coastal town of Salalah (also worthy of a visit). North of Ubar is the beginning of the Empty Quarter, the harshest and (arguably) most beautiful part of the Arabian Desert.

A UNESCO cultural site since 2000, Ubar was an oasis and a major trading town for its frankincense on the Incense Road thousands of years ago. Today, while the legends are intriguing, there is not a lot to actually see here- we hear there is a stone wall and a large sunken area.

13. Tour Iran

Iran is a tricky place for Americans to visit politically, and the State Department currently warns strongly against it. I’ve heard amazing stories from other travelers who found the local people warm and inviting. My Pinterest is filled with images of mosques and tile work in Iran, I’d absolutely love to visit!

Unsure about visiting? Check out this article from Intrepid Travel (from 2018). Even when the situation is a bit more stable, Americans, Brits, and Canadians can only visit on a guided tour.

Plan to book a tour at least three months ahead as the visa process can be quite long. Note that debit cards and credit cards will not work in Iran.

There are some tours for younger travelers like this tour for ages 5+ from Shiraz to Tehran. I would probably wait until the kids are older and opt for a longer tour like this one from Intrepid Travel for ages 15+.

There You Have It

There are so many enchanting places to visit in the Middle East, we hope this list inspires you to visit a few more of them!

We visited a lot of these locations on our Family Year Out, which started as one year, and turned into three.

Did we miss any travel adventures that are on your family bucket list? We’re always willing to add new ideas or destinations!

We also have a list for North America that includes the US, Canada, Mexico, and the Caribbean. We didn’t forget Central and South America, where are you headed next?