Stand at the triple arches of Bab Alrea and the old city opens behind you, while the rose oil factories that scent the Yemeni corner of Masjid Al-Haram in Mecca work on just beyond. Ta'if sits high on the slopes of the Hijaz Mountains, and the moderate summer weather that earned it a reputation as Saudi Arabia's best summer destination is the first thing you notice after the heat of the coast.
This guide suits travellers who want mountains, history and agriculture rather than a stopover: rose plantations, old palaces, dams in the wadis, and parks that stay green through the Arabian summer. It covers the sights worth your time, then strings the best of them into a single day.
Top things to do in Ta'if
1. Souk Okaz
Once the largest and best known open-air market in the Islamic world, Souk Okaz now hosts poetry recital competitions, arts and crafts exhibitions and similar events. It is the historic market the city is known for, and the programme of events is what makes a visit worthwhile rather than the stalls alone.
Check what is scheduled before you go, since the site is at its best when an event is running. It pairs naturally with the other historical sights in and around the old city.
2. Al Gadhi Rose Factory
The largest rose oil factory in the city, and probably in the whole of Saudi Arabia, Al Gadhi Rose Factory has been run and owned by the Al-Gadhi family for more than a hundred years. It is hugely popular among Emirati visitors, some of whom buy the oil by the litre, and the rose oil produced in Ta'if is of top quality.
Come in spring, when the city blooms with red and pink roses and the plantations are working. A 12-gram bottle costs $430 (1,600 SAR), so decide your budget before you arrive.
3. Shubra Palace
A former royal residence built in 1858, Shubra Palace is now a museum. It is the most substantial of the city's museum offerings and the clearest way to see how Ta'if's royal past is presented today.
Combine it with the other museums if you want a fuller picture of the region's history, and with Bab Alrea if you are already exploring the old city.
4. Al Kar Tourist Village
Al Kar Tourist Village is where you hop on a cable car and take in the scenery of Ta'if. The cable car network is said to be the largest in Saudi Arabia and the Middle East, and you can rent a car for yourself or share with others.
This is a sightseeing stop rather than a full day out, so pair it with one of the mountain parks nearby. You can call ahead on +966 9200 22757.
5. Al Shafa Mountain Park
Al Shafa Mountain Park is a village in the mountains, sitting at 2,200 to 2,500 metres above sea level. It offers views you may not otherwise see in large parts of Saudi Arabia, which is the reason to make the trip.
Go for the scenery rather than facilities, and treat it as a half-day outing combined with the cable car at Al Kar Tourist Village.
6. Saiysad National Park
Saiysad National Park is characterised by lush forests and rivers, a rarity in Saudi Arabia. If you want green landscape rather than mountain views, this is the park to choose.
It works well as a slower afternoon, and pairs with the other parks if you are spending more than a day in the city.
7. Al Rudaf Park
Al Rudaf Park is a highly popular spot with visitors throughout the year. Its main attraction is a huge lake covering an area of 13,000 sqm.
Because it draws visitors in every season, plan around the busier times if you want a quieter walk by the water.
8. King Abdullah Park
King Abdullah Park is a sprawling park that opened in 2013, covering an area of 150,000 sqm. It is among the most visited places in Saudi Arabia and is an easy, open space to build into a day.
Set aside enough time to walk it properly rather than treating it as a quick stop.
9. Al Shalal Park
Al Shalal Park on Al Amir Sultan in Alkhaldia is an expansive theme park with multiple amenities for children, and is often considered one of the most important recreational places in all of Saudi Arabia.
This is the obvious choice if you are travelling with children, and it sits comfortably alongside a visit to King Abdullah Park.
10. Green Mountain Resort
Green Mountain Resort on Alhada Rd is an expansive theme park with multiple amenities for children. It is a family-oriented stop rather than a historical one.
You can reach the resort on +966 55 570 8888, and it combines well with the Al-Hada road route if you are coming from or heading towards Al-Hada.
11. Sharif Museum
Sharif Museum is a privately owned museum featuring a vast collection of artifacts from all over. You can even take part in auctions here, which sets it apart from a standard museum visit.
Call +966 55 570 0008 to check arrangements before travelling out to it.
12. Asalat Al-Madi Museum
Asalat Al-Madi Museum is a privately owned museum that offers you a chance to study and learn more about the history of the Hejaz region. It is the most directly historical of the city's museums.
Visit it alongside Shubra Palace if the region's history is your main interest.
13. Abdullah Al-Suleiman Palace
Abdullah Al-Suleiman Palace is an abandoned, historical palace. Its appeal lies precisely in that state: it is a building to look at and photograph rather than one with displays inside.
Pair it with Bab Alrea and Al-Kateb House, which are close in character and best seen as part of the same wander through the older parts of the city.
14. Al-Kateb House
Al-Kateb House is a historical building that includes a number of Islamic decorations and Roman pillars. The mix of decorative traditions is what makes it worth a stop.
Look at the pillars and the decoration together rather than rushing past, and combine it with the other historical buildings nearby.
15. Bab Alrea
Bab Alrea is a triple-arched gate to the old city. It is a compact sight, but it frames the old city and gives your walk a starting point.
Use it as the beginning or end of a historical circuit that takes in Abdullah Al-Suleiman Palace and Al-Kateb House.
16. Ikrima Dam
Ikrima Dam sits in the Wadi Leh valley, and you can take a stroll here if you wish. Ta'if has numerous dams because the city is home to many wadis, and this is one of the easiest to visit.
Combine it with Samnan and Samnin Park, which sits in the same valley.
17. Samnan and Samnin Park
Samnan and Samnin Park is a park situated in the Wadi Leh valley. It is a straightforward green stop in the same valley as Ikrima Dam.
Visit the two together so you are not making the trip out to the valley twice.
18. Al-Salmaqi Dam
Al-Salmaqi Dam is one of the historical dams in the city. It is a site to see for its historical interest rather than for facilities.
Include it if you are working your way through the city's dams, and pair it with the other wadi and dam stops.
19. Al-Waht and Al-Waheit
Al-Waht and Al-Waheit is a pre-Islamic archaeological site located in the west of Taif. It is the oldest site in this list and the one that reaches furthest back in the city's history.
Because it lies to the west, plan it as a separate outing rather than folding it into a walk around the old city.
If you only have one day
Morning: Start at Bab Alrea, the triple-arched gate to the old city, then walk to Abdullah Al-Suleiman Palace and Al-Kateb House while the light is still soft. If the season is right, follow with Al Gadhi Rose Factory, where the roses are being worked and the oil is sold by the bottle.
Afternoon: Head for the mountains. Take the cable car at Al Kar Tourist Village for the scenery, then continue to Al Shafa Mountain Park for the views from the village at 2,200 to 2,500 metres. If you would rather stay closer to the city, spend the afternoon at King Abdullah Park or Al Rudaf Park instead.
Evening: Finish at Souk Okaz, the historic open-air market, where poetry recitals, arts and crafts exhibitions and other events are held. If nothing is scheduled, close the day at Shubra Palace, the former royal residence built in 1858 that is now a museum.
Frequently asked questions
When is the best time to visit Ta'if?
Summer is the season the city is known for, since it enjoys moderate weather during summer unlike most of the Arabian Peninsula. Spring is when the city blooms with red and pink roses and the rose plantations are at their most active.
What is Ta'if known for producing?
The city is the centre of an agricultural area known for grapes, pomegranate, figs, roses and honey, and it is very active in the manufacturing of traditional attar. Its rose oil is of top quality, and the Yemeni corner in Masjid Al-Haram in Mecca is scented with Al Gadhi rose oil.
How do I get to Ta'if?
Ta'if is served by Taif International Airport. The city is also connected to the nearby resort town of Al-Hada via Highway 15, the Taif – Al-Hada Road.
Are there museums in Ta'if?
Yes. Sharif Museum is privately owned and holds a vast collection of artifacts from all over, and Asalat Al-Madi Museum is also privately owned and focuses on the history of the Hejaz region. Shubra Palace, a former royal residence built in 1858, is now a museum as well.
Decide which season suits you, pick the rose factory or the mountain parks as your anchor, and start planning your days around the old city gates and the wadis.