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Ta’if
City in Makkah Province, Saudi Arabia

Ta’if

Taif is a city and governorate in Mecca Province in Saudi Arabia.

Plan a trip to Ta’if→From Jeddah

Located at an elevation of 1,879 m (6,165 ft) in the slopes of the Hijaz Mountains, which themselves are part of the Sarat Mountains, the city has a population of 563,282 people in 2022, making it one of the most populous cities in the kingdom.

Get in

Getting to Ta’if

For more information entering the country, see the Saudi Arabia article. Given Ta'if's highly mountainous geography, almost no highways pass through the city. The only exception is Highway 15, which connects Ta'if to Mecca. Approaching Ta'if, the scenery along it is breathtaking. If you're in Mecca and plan on driving to Ta'if, just go along Highway 15. You'll reach Ta'if in less than an hour.

  1. 01
    Ta'if International Airport

    The airport offers flights to Pakistan, Turkey, Egypt, the United Arab Emirates, and several major cities around Saudi Arabia.

  2. 02
    SAPTCO Station
See

Worth seeing

Ta'if has been often been called the "best summer destination" in Saudi Arabia. Indeed, this couldn't be any more right because there are a plethora of things to see and do in Ta'if.

  1. 01
    Souk Okaz

    Was once the largest and best known open-air market in the Islamic world.

  2. 02
    Abdullah Al-Suleiman Palace

    An abandoned, historical palace.

  3. 03
    Al-Kateb House

    A historical building that includes a number of Islamic decorations and Roman pillars.

  4. 04
    Bab Alrea

    One of Ta'if's biggest exports is rose oil, and it forms an important part of the city's economy and identity.

  5. 05
    Al Gadhi Rose Factory

    The largest rose oil factory in the city (and probably the whole of Saudi Arabia), it has been run and owned by the Al-Gadhi family for more than a hundred years.

  6. 06
    Ikrima Dam

    A dam situated in the Wadi Leh valley.

Do

Things to do

Ta'if has plenty of museums that can allow you to learn more about Saudi history.

  1. 01
    Sharif Museum

    A privately owned museum featuring a vast collection of artifacts from all over.

  2. 02
    Shubra Palace

    A former royal residence, built in 1858, now a museum.

  3. 03
    Asalat Al-Madi Museum

    A privately owned museum that offers the visitor a chance to study and learn more about the history of the Hejaz region.

  4. 04
    Al Kar Tourist Village

    Hop on a cable car and feast your eyes on the fantastic scenery of Ta'if!

  5. 05
    Saiysad National Park

    A national park characterised by lush forests and rivers, a rarity in Saudi Arabia.

  6. 06
    Al Shafa Mountain Park

    A village in the mountains (2,200 - 2,500 meters above sea level).

Eat

Where to eat

  1. 01
    Koshary Albashawat
  2. 02
    Buffalo Wings & Rings

    A branch of the Buffalo Wings & Rings restaurant.

  3. 03
    Vitamin Palace
  4. 04
    The Hat

    Fast food restaurant with two branches in the city.

  5. 05
    Queen Taste

Text adapted from Wikipedia and Wikivoyage, CC BY-SA 4.0. Photograph: Wikimedia Commons (see file page), Wikimedia Commons.