On any given day this sprawling market houses literally tons of government-regulated gold, gems, and precious metals.

This artificial archipelago was supposed to resemble a map of the world.

A preposterously luxurious hotel with gold-plated iPads, Rolls Royce chauffeurs, and a staff that trains by watching "Downton Abbey."

Planned as the world’s first zero-carbon city, it had lofty ideals—but is only 5 percent completed and aiming for 50 percent carbon-neutral.

This indoor ski resort has a mountain contained inside a mall.

Billed as the "largest natural flower garden in the world" this Middle Eastern show field has little competition at 45 million flowers.

Whitewashed mosque contains the world's largest carpet.

A faithful reproduction of Al-Jazari's enormous water clock.

Over the dunes of the Empty Quarter, the mysterious music of the desert.

A recently-abandoned international exhibition center.

A former salt mine is now a cool picnic spot for families and asthmatics.

This Ottoman bridge is a rare covered bridge with shops, and considers itself the only bazaar bridge in the world.

Wash down heaping platters of meze with raki at one of the city's best taverns.

This family-owned canteen has been selling goat milk ice cream since 1933.

Homesick Syrian refugees head to this restaurant for a taste of Damascus.

Come for the whole sides of slow-roasted lamb, stay for the regional Kurdish specialties.

Eat your way through history.

A little-known caravanserai hidden among farmhouses in the Turkish countryside.

One of the newest mosques in a city filled with thousands.

This church houses the tomb—but not the remains—of St. Nicholas, the likely progenitor to Santa Claus.

Natural rock formation, or biblical artifact that saved Earth's wildlife two by two?

This ancient abandoned church in a remote part of Turkey is in danger of falling over.

This beautiful train graveyard is one of the largest collections of steam locomotives in the Mediterranean and Europe.

An underground network of massive stone arches and their skylit vaults support ruins of portico structures above.