Falling during the 9th month of the Islamic calendar, Ramadan is a time when Muslims express their religious devotion by fasting from sunrise until sunset. While this makes for quieter days, the evenings are full of festivities and feasting. Here’s our list of 5 destinations that come to life during Ramadan.
Abu Dhabi, UAE
The coastal capital of the UAE has been drawing more and more visitors with its dynamic mix of cultural offerings, from historic to modern; its expansive dining options; and its unique desert attractions. As one of the safest cities in the world, it’s a huge draw for families.
Where To Go
Abu Dhabi’s Sheikh Zayed Grand Mosque is one of the world’s largest mosques and an architectural masterpiece that beautifully combines Islamic architecture and design.
A symphony in concrete, water and the subtle play of reflected light, the incredible structure was inspired by the region’s rich architectural traditions and the museum’s unique location, where the Arabian sky meets the sands of Saadiyat Island and the waters of the Arabian Gulf.
Qasr Al Watan is a working Presidential palace and a majestic cultural landmark that invites the world to discover the rich legacy of knowledge and tradition that has shaped the UAE's journey.
Wahat Al Karama is a timeless tribute that honours the Emirati martyrs who sacrificed their lives in service of their country. The Memorial, designed by British artist Idris Khan, is the centerpiece.
Where To Stay
For the utmost luxury
For design enthusiasts
For beach lovers
For the best views
For architectural excellence
For opulence
Istanbul, Turkey
Istanbul is the cultural capital of Turkey. Spread across two continents (Asia and Europe), Istanbul is a city of layers and contrasts. Historical sights like the Hagia Sophia and Topkapi Palace brush up against buzzing bars and lively cafes. Ottoman-era mosques are a short walk from contemporary art museums and galleries. And traditional carpet shops are around the corner from trendy boutiques, Istanbul is a city of old and new coexisting.
Where To Go
The Blue Mosque (Called Sultanahmet Camii in Turkish) is an historical mosque in Istanbul. The mosque is known as the Blue Mosque because of blue tiles surrounding the walls of interior design.
Hagia Sophia is an important monument both for Byzantine and for Ottoman Empires. Once a church, later a mosque, and now a museum at the Turkish Republic.
A labyrinth of colourful covered markets, the Grand Bazaar is one of the largest and oldest covered markets in the world.
The space utilized for the museum was once a ceremony hall for a Palace. Many of the sections of the museum contain notable influences from the palaces well kept setting, making it an impressive art sanctuary dedicated to displaying the culture of Islamic art from various periods.
Dolmabahçe Palace, the elegant palace of the Bosphorus, is one of the most magnificent symbolic structures of the Ottoman Empire's changing 19th century identity.
Where To Stay
For palatial Ottoman elegance
For sustainability and wellness
For a boutique experience
For ultimate luxury
For exclusivity
Shiraz, Iran
Shiraz was one of the most influential cities in the medieval Islamic world and was the Iranian capital during the Zand dynasty, when many of its most beautiful buildings were built or restored. It is one of the oldest cities of ancient Persia, the city of poets and beautiful gardens.
Where To Go
Known as the 'Pink Mosque', the Nasir al-Mulk Mosque is a space where light and worship intertwine. The mosque comes to life with the sunrise and a kaleidoscope of colours dance throughout the day like whirling dervishes.
Literally translating to Paradise Garden, Eram Garden is one of the nine UNESCO inscribed cultural heritage sites as Iran's Persian Gardens.
A dreamy mausoleum honouring Persias most famous poet.
The bazaar has beautiful courtyards, caravansarais, bath houses, and old shops which are deemed among the best places in Shiraz to buy Persian rugs, spices, copper handicrafts and antiques.
King Darius the Great founded the city in 518 BCE. Looking at today’s ruins, you can see the wealth of the Persian Empire reflected in its construction. At the time, Persepolis was the richest city under the sun.
Where To Stay
For architecture lovers
For a luxury boutique stay
For authenticity
For old world charm
Marrakesh, Morocco
Marrakech is a city of many faces. Its more obviously exotic side is found within the blush-pink ramparts of the ancient medina, with its technicoloured tangle of souks and the famously rambunctious Jemaa el Fna night market. The fashionable neighbourhoods of Hivernage and Gueliz are where contemporary galleries, hip local restaurants and elegant boutiques reside alongside the colourful Jardin Majorelle and Art Deco-style gems.
Where To Go
The Jemaa el-Fna Square is one of the main cultural spaces in Marrakesh and has become one of the symbols of the city since its foundation in the eleventh century.
Blending both Art Deco and Moorish influences, the Jardin Majorelle is one of the most enchanting and mysterious gardens in Morocco. In 1980, Yves Saint Laurent and Pierre Bergé, purchased the Jardin Majorelle to save it from destruction, ultimately decideding to live in Jacques Majorelle’s villa, which they renamed the Villa Oasis.
The Bahia Palace (Palais de la Bahia) is one of Marrakech’s most imposing buildings. It was constructed at the end of the nineteenth century, and was intended to be the most impressive palace of all times.
Koutoubia often appears as the visual symbol of the city of Marrakech.
Where To Stay
For celebrity sightings
For palatial feels
For a traditional Riad
For the love of colourful interiors
For bucolic feels
Cairo, Egypt
The dense metropolis of modern Cairo, is peppered with wonders and wisdom of the ancients. Buzzing with grand 19th-century boulevards, ancient mosques, Coptic churches, Arab settlements, a 10th-century palace-city, to name a few. Meanwhile in the desert, the world famous pyramids await.
Where To Go
Site of the world famous Giza pyramids and Great Sphinx - synonymous with Egypt itself.
A famous bazaar and souq in the historic center of Cairo, Egypt. Established as a center of trade in the Mamluk era and named for one of its several historic caravanserais.
This Ottoman mosque is the largest to be built in the first half of the 19th century, with its animated silhouette and twin minarets, it is the most visible mosque in Cairo.
The Egyptian Museum is the oldest archaeological museum in the Middle East, and houses the largest collection of Pharaonic antiquities in the world.
Called the Hanging Church because it was built on the southern gate of the Roman Fortress, the Hanging Church is one of the oldest Coptic churches in Egypt and the history of a church on this site dates to the third century.
The Prince Mohamed Ali Palace in Manial has been preserved as an Antiquities Council directed historic house museum and estate, reflecting the settings and lifestyle of the late 19th- and early 20th-century Egyptian royal prince and heir apparent.
Where To Stay
For ultimate luxury
To spot the glitterati
For a boutique stay
For sophisticated elegance
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