The Arab world is spoken about as being in the Middle East, but in many ways, it’s also in the middle of the world with Africa to the south, Europe to the north, and Asia to the east. If you ignore the Americas, Australasia, and East Asia, the Arab world sits a short flight away from nearly anywhere. Yet with so many incredible places to visit at just a stone’s throw, it seems that travelers from the Arab world can’t seem to get away from tourist hotspots like Paris, London, Amsterdam, and Dubai. To give you some holiday ideas for hidden gems just a short flight away from the Middle East, we put together a list of lesser-known destinations for your Christmas or New Year’s holiday that you may not have thought about.
Tbilisi, Georgia
A popular folk story that Georgians tell their children is that when God was creating the world, he divided up the world between its peoples. He gave the Arabs Arabia, the Native Americans America, the Indians India, and so forth, but he forgot about the Georgian people and they were left a landless people. Realizing he made a mistake, they say that God then apologized and offered a bit of heaven for the Georgians to live in, which is now the country of Georgia, a piece of heaven on earth. Looking at the incredible natural beauty of Georgia, it’s tempting to believe this folktale. However, away from Georgia’s natural beauty, the country and in particular its capital city of Tbilisi have a rich artistic and culinary culture to explore. With a heavy chance of snow and the promise of beautiful ancient churches and a festive Christmas Market, Tbilisi is in our opinion a much better place to have a classic festive Christmas in Europe than London, Paris, or Berlin.
Cape Town, South Africa
If thick winter jackets and hot chocolate aren’t your things, you can always jet off for a warm Christmas not far from the Middle East. While Christmas lands in winter in Europe, in the southern hemisphere summer, is in full swing. South Africa and in particular Cape Town partly for this reason has become a great Christmas and New Year’s destination attracting visitors from around the world. With beautiful landscapes to explore, wildlife safaris to be taken outside the city, and some incredible beaches to relax by, Cape Town has no shortage of things to do. Despite the warm weather, Cape Town still gets into the festive spirit with a famous Carols by Candlelight event running at the city’s botanical gardens, lively Christmas markets, and the Festival of Lights in the center of the city. Likewise, with an impressive nightlife scene and some incredible nightclubs, if you want to party this New Year’s Eve, Cape Town may also be for you.
Budva, Montenegro
I’m sure pictures of the idyllic seaside town of Budva pop up on your social media feeds time and time again, but I’m also sure all the pictures you’ve seen are from hot summery days. However, Budva is arguably just as beautiful in winter with snowcapped mountains in the background; going in winter also has the added benefit of fewer tourists, which often makes the small town too busy to enjoy. With some beautiful buildings to explore in the old town and Balkan food to enjoy, there are plenty of relaxing things to do. However, Budva is also world famous for its bars and nightclubs and is sure to be a great place to mark the new year.
Bukhara, Uzbekistan
For something different, the city of Bukhara in Uzbekistan is a treasure trove of fascinating monuments and a unique culture. The historic center of Bukhara has become a UNESCO World Heritage Site due to the amazing tile-work, mosques, and schools from when the city played an important part as a trading point along the Silk Road. Winter in Uzbekistan is no joke though, so if you head off in winter be sure that cold climates are for you. However, it will make for a memorable holiday, that is without a doubt.
Granada, Spain
For a holiday in Europe but with an Arab flair, Grenada in Spain and its iconic Alhambra may be a great destination this Christmas or New Year’s. Built during the Emirate of Granada in Al Andalus, the Alhambra is a stunning palace that is iconic in Islamic architecture. You can spend hours wandering its halls and courtyards and the surrounding city of Granada is equally rich in things to do, with beautiful streets lined with cafes and restaurants serving the best of Spanish food. For a relaxed New Year’s or Christmas, Granada is hard to beat.
Lamu Island, Kenya
Kenya’s all-year-round perfect weather makes it the perfect getaway if you’re looking to go somewhere a bit warmer over the festive period. While Kenya is rich in places to go and things to see, the island of Lamu is the perfect destination for a short trip. Known for its strong Swahili culture, the port town of Lamu has been inhabited for 700 years and is a fascinating place to explore. Just outside Lamu, there’s a wealth of incredible beaches to explore and it’s a great place to then take a wildlife safari from. It won’t make for the most exciting New Year’s, but it’s sure to be one of the most relaxing and enjoyable trips you could take this festive period.
Valletta, Malta
Right in the middle of the Mediterranean, the island nation of Malta and its capital city Valletta is a unique and wildly underrated holiday destination. With ancient streets and fantastic rustic cafes, you can spend days just soaking up the city walking along its streets. Malta is also famous for its unique Christmas customs, and the decorations that line the city’s streets are something to behold. If you want to beat the crowds and avoid the expensive hotel rates in summer, Malta is a great place to visit in winter.
Tallinn, Estonia
If you’re looking for a proper snowy Christmasy experience, the city of Tallinn in Estonia may be for you. With picturesque churches, Christmas decorations lining the streets, and world-famous Christmas markets, Tallinn is a great Christmas destination if you can bare the cold. From Tallinn’s Old Town to the Alexander Nevski Cathedra and numerous museums, Tallinn is a compact city with plenty to do. However, with temperatures often below freezing, winter in Estonia is serious business and only for those who really love the cold.
Zanzibar, Tanzania
Turning to the Southern Hemisphere again for its warm temperatures over the festive period, the Zanzibar Archipelago in the African nation of Tanzania has a treasure trove of unbeatable beaches and warm water to swim in. With a characteristic old town to explore and several nature reserves, this small area is rich with things for visitors to do. For a truly relaxing holiday this Christmas or New Year’s, Zanzibar may be for you.
Florence, Italy
Arguably Europe’s most attractive city, Florence is a maze of atmospheric medieval streets and imposing cathedrals dotting the skyline. During the Christmas period, you can go ice skating at the Firenze Winter Park or simply just enjoy the Christmas lights that spring up throughout the city. However, visiting at this time of the year means you can also avoid the crowds and visit museums like the Accademia Gallery and look at pieces of art like Michelangelo’s David without having to squeeze between hordes of selfie-taking tourists.
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We’ve all heard the hype about the enormous fireworks celebrations in London lighting up the whole city as the clock strikes midnight for New Year’s Eve and celebrations going on until the early morning along Paris’ Seine river, but we’ve also heard the sore disappointment of friends who went in person. Likewise, we’ve all heard nightmare stories of famous Christmas markets that turn out to be inescapable tourist traps with twenty-dollar hot chocolates.
Often, the most well-known destinations aren’t the nicest to visit, and it’s the lesser-known cities, towns, and villages that leave us with our fondest holiday memories. The world is big and full of incredible places to explore, so if you’re thinking of jetting off for a holiday outside the Middle East for Christmas or New Year’s, think about going somewhere a little less known.