Across the Middle East and Africa, the holidays are marked by celebrating orange-pink sunsets on the beach, holiday shopping under the glow of fairy lights, and watching movies beneath starlit skies. The pleasant weather and abundant daylight of the holiday season make this an excellent time to embrace the festive spirit and explore. Before you pack your bags for an Africa or Middle East getaway, check these itineraries.
As always, check for travel guidelines and closures before planning your trip.
Dubai
Enjoy festive foods, decorate a gingerbread house, hear live music, and shop for Christmas ornaments at Dubai‘s annual Christmas market in Madinat Jumeirah. Join Santa on an abra, a traditional wooden dhow boat, on the canals of Madinat Jumeirah and admire the heritage-style architecture decked out in festive decor.
Many restaurants in the area offer Christmas brunches and dinners in December. While you’re in Dubai, visit the fascinating Theater of Digital Art to experience famous artworks through immersive multisensory and virtual reality installations.
There’s no better season to put on your hiking boots and drive 90 minutes to the foothills of the Hajar Mountains in Hatta. Here you’ll find marked trails with a range of hikes (from beginner to difficult) that bring you across secret wadis (valleys), ruins, and jagged peaks — with mountain goats for company.
Amman
Amman is especially beautiful in December, with Christmas trees adorning cafés and malls and Christmas markets and tree lighting events springing up around the city. The Boulevard, Abdali is a popular locale for getting into the holiday spirit — with live entertainment, carnival games, and stalls selling baked goods and handmade gifts.
During the day, take an art walk through the hip neighborhood of Jabal al-Weibdeh, an open canvas for murals. Home to cafés, boutiques, and art studios, it offers a look into the evolving Jordanian culture.
To rest your legs, settle in at an outdoor table at the charming Rumi Cafe. Then visit Dar Al-Anda, a gallery housed in two restored 1930s villas, to stroll through modern and contemporary artworks from throughout the region.
Leave the city to visit the UNESCO World Heritage Site of Bethany Beyond the Jordan, a 70-minute drive from Amman. The archaeological site, where the Bible says that Jesus was baptized, consists of churches, caves, and pools.
Cairo
Enjoy Cairo’s Christmas concerts at venues like the Cairo Jazz Club. Later, treat yourself to a Christmas dinner at JW Steakhouse Restaurant at Cairo Marriott Hotel. Or choose a festive Middle Eastern meal with live entertainment at Bab El-Sharq or Italian fare with live music and Nile views at Vivo, both at The Nile Ritz-Carlton, Cairo.
At the stately Cairo Opera House, expect holiday-themed productions such as “The Nutcracker” by the Cairo Opera Ballet Company.
In the mood for holiday shopping? Spend some time at Loft Gallery — housed in a 1930s-era home — to browse or buy antique furniture, rustic homeware, vintage designs, and all manner of curiosities. Shop the sales and pose for photos by the Christmas trees at Mall of Egypt and Cairo Festival City Mall.
Cape Town
Welcome the holiday season in Cape Town on the last Sunday of November at the Festival of Lights on Adderley Street, featuring live concerts, stalls of Christmas treats, and holiday shopping. Join December’s four-day Kirstenbosch Carols by Candlelight celebration, and sing along to live entertainment.
To enjoy Cape Town’s fantastic weather, spend a day among more than 2,500 species of indigenous flora at the Kirstenbosch National Botanical Garden. Wander through the sculpture garden, walk the spectacular Centenary Tree Canopy Walkway, and relax with tea, picnic fare, and home-baked cakes at on-site Fyknos.
Watch a movie under the stars at The Galileo Open-Air Cinema, and check their schedule for Christmas movie screenings. Or visit the V&A Waterfront for concerts and Christmas shows.
Zanzibar
Soak in the sights, sounds, and smells of Zanzibar on a holiday season wander through Stone Town alleyways.
At the Princess Salme Museum, founded by historian Said el-Gheithy, learn about the life of a pioneering princess from the late 19th century.
For holiday gifts, make a quick stop at the Cultural Arts Centre Zanzibar to browse traditional and modern art, handicrafts, and jewelry created by local artists, and participate in community-run workshops.
Stroll along the Indian Ocean at the Forodhani Gardens and sit on a bench to people-watch. Stay until after sunset when vendors at the Night Market set up shop, and indulge in Zanzibar pizza, seafood or meat skewers, coconut bread, and fresh sugarcane juice.
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