The World’s 100 Best Castles & Fortresses · 2026

The Best Castles & Fortresses in the Middle East

12 of the 100 castles in The World’s 100 Best Castles & Fortresses 2026 are in the Middle East, in 6 countries. The highest placed is Mamure Castle in Anamur, Turkey, at number 5 in the world. Aleppo Citadel in Aleppo, Syria (number 9) and Nimrod Fortress in Nimrod, Israel (number 34) follow.

Turkey

Mamure Castle stands on the Mediterranean shore at Anamur, with walls reaching the water. Bodrum Castle was built by the Knights of Saint John between the town's two harbours. Kilitbahir Castle guards the narrowest point of the Dardanelles and has a cloverleaf inner citadel.

Syria, Lebanon and Israel

The Aleppo Citadel rises on a 50-metre hill in the Old City and is entered over a stone bridge. Krak des Chevaliers stands above the Homs Gap. Byblos Citadel is a Crusader-era castle on the Lebanese coast, and Nimrod Fortress sits on the slopes of Mount Hermon.

Oman and Iran

Nizwa Fort has a circular tower beside the souq. Bahla Fort is built of mud brick above an oasis, and Al Hazm Fort has a falaj channel running inside. In Iran, Rudkhan Castle is reached by about 1,600 steps through forest, and Babak Fort stands at about 2,300 metres.