Beit Nassif

Beit Nassif is a historic mansion in Al Balad, the old quarter of Jeddah, Saudi Arabia. It was once a residence of King Abdulaziz, the founder of modern Saudi Arabia, and it is now a cultural museum. People come to see how a grand house of old Jeddah looked and to connect with a chapter of the country's story. Inside, you can walk through the large rooms and look at the historical artifacts on display. Outside, the building shows the traditional style of the district, with coral-stone walls and roshan, the carved wooden bay windows that are a signature of old Jeddah houses. At the entrance stands a neem tree, said to be more than 130 years old, which has long watched over the doorway and is well worth a pause. The museum is open from 08:00 to 18:00, and visitors of any age are welcome, including young children. The house dates to the late nineteenth century and sits in the heart of Jeddah's historic district, one of the best-known architectural landmarks of the old city. Its link to King Abdulaziz gives it a place in national history, while its coral-stone construction and wooden screens reflect the building traditions of the Red Sea port. A visit pairs naturally with an unhurried walk through the surrounding streets of Al Balad.