The capital at the meeting of the Niles
Khartoum, with Omdurman and Bahri, sits where the Blue and White Nile meet. It suffered heavily in the fighting from 2023, but Omdurman's souq, the Mahdi's tomb and the Friday Sufi dhikr remain at the centre of Sudanese identity.
The Red Sea coast
Port Sudan is now the main gateway and working capital, with a seafront Corniche and some of the least visited reefs and wrecks in the Red Sea. Just south, Suakin is a ruined coral stone island that was the region's great port for centuries.
Ancient Nubia and Kush
North of Khartoum, the pyramids of Meroe stand in clusters among the dunes, with the temples of Naqa and Musawwarat nearby. Further north, Karima lies beneath the sacred mountain of Jebel Barkal, close to the painted tombs of El Kurru and the pyramids of Nuri.
Out of reach for now
Darfur's Jebel Marra, Dinder National Park and the Gezira farmlands are all part of Sudan's story, but current fighting and advice put them out of reach. Kassala, near the Eritrean border, with its granite Taka Mountains, has been a refuge for many displaced families.
Before you choose
Every destination here falls under government advice against all travel to Sudan. Read that advice first, then use our places to visit and the free trip planner to plan carefully.