The Best Travel Guide to Taif

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Saudi Arabia

Taif

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Overview

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Taif The guide was updated: 2022-10-11

Rose fragrance fills the air in Taif, a scenic Saudi town whose fertile lands are dotted with abundant rose and fruit orchards. Nestled amidst the Shafa Mountain range not far from Mecca, Taif historically used to be a major commercial hub for countries of the Arabian Peninsula but has now transformed into a popular summer holiday destination with well-developed infrastructure, magnificent natural beauty, and a mild climate, in pleasant contrast to much of the country.

Facts

Population:	688,693 (2020 estimate)
Currency:	1 riyal (SAR) = 100 halalas
Search Accommodation:	Hotels »
Emergency numbers:	Emergency 999 Traffic Accidents 993 Ambulance 997
Newspapers:	Saudi Gazette Al Jazeera
Opening hours:	The working week is generally from Sun–Thu with some businesses open Saturday mornings. Government Offices: 7.30am–2.30pm. Banks: 9.30am–4.30pm. Private Businesses: 8am–noon and 4–8pm. Some shops close 4 times a day for half hour prayers, and often work "split days" closing for a few hours between noon and 4pm.
Tourist information:	Saudi Commission for Tourism and National Heritage B.O.Box 66680 Riyadh 11586 Saudi Arabia +966 11 8808855 Tourism Call Center 19988

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Section in Taif

Ta'if's number one attraction is, perhaps, its natural beauty. No visit to the area is complete without exploring the Shafa Mountains and taking a ride on the cable car - one of the most ambitious projects of the kind on the entire peninsula. Some of the most scenic areas full of parks, gardens and fruit farms include Al-Hada and Al-Shifa, conveniently connected to each other via a two-way road. The town of Ta'if holds a few interesting locations, such as the famous Shubra Palace, historic Turkish Fort, informative National Museum and cultural Souk Okaz.

Shafa Mountains & Cable Car

Shafa Mountains & Cable Car

An overwhelming number of travelers come to Ta'if for the beautiful vistas and attractions in the mountainous areas surrounding the city. Al-Hada and Al-Shifa are two locations with public parks, gardens and agricultural zones not to be missed. A cable car journey up to the Al-Hada Mountain starts down in Al-Kurr Village and takes visitors all the way up to the mountaintop, where an upscale restaurant and hotel are located.

Souk Okaz

Souk Okaz

Souk Okaz is a historic marketplace dating back to the pre-Islamic era, when Arabian intellectuals gathered here to share ideas and discuss various issues. The Souk today (in addition to being a market) hosts a number of events, including seminars and lectures, that ring back to its glorious past.

Rose Farms and Factories

Rose Farms and Factories

Ta'if is known as the "City of Roses" - roses have been farmed here for hundreds of years, and visitors to the area today have the unique opportunity of visiting one of the factories where the delicate flowers are processed and turned into perfumes, aromatic rose water and other products. One of the factories open to visitors is Al Gadhi Rose Factory:

Shubra Palace

Shubra Palace

The Palace is an attraction inside and out - the building itself is a fine example of old Ta'if architecture; it also contains the the Ta'if Regional Museum. The museum's exhibits provide a brief excursus into Saudi royal history (King Abdul-Aziz and, later, King Faisal both resided here).

King Fahad Garden

King Fahad Garden

King Fahad Garden is a popular recreation spot in the city that boasts a well-developed infrastructure - the garden contains large green spaces, a lagoon with an artificial waterfall, a number of cafés and restaurants as well as a few souvenir shops.

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