AlUla Old Town

AlUla Old Town is a historic site in AlUla, Saudi Arabia, where hundreds of mud-brick houses stand shoulder to shoulder along a maze of narrow lanes. People come to walk through a town that still feels lived in, to watch local craftspeople at work and to get a sense of how daily life here unfolded over the centuries. Allow yourself to wander without a plan. The lanes lead past rows of old houses and into traditional markets, and each turn shows another corner of the town. When you want a break, the Old Town has restaurants and cafés serving local flavours, among them Tawfaria, Palm Park, Entrecôte, Café de Paris, Jazzin, Archi and AlUla Dates. The site is open 24 hours a day and there is no minimum age, so families can come with children of any age. The town dates to the 12th century AD and grew up near trade routes used by caravans carrying incense and spices. It later became a resting place on the pilgrimage route from Damascus to Mecca. A fortress, 45 metres high, served as a watchtower and defence, and the town once had 14 gates to protect those living inside.