AlUla Old Town

البلدة القديمة بالعلا

An old mud-brick village inhabited since the 12th century, with about 900 houses built against the mountainside. The restored heritage street has cafés and craft shops.

The AlUla Old Town (البلدة القديمة بالعلا) lies at the foot of the mountains on the west side of the AlUla valley. It dates back to the 12th century and was an important rest stop on the pilgrimage route linking Damascus and Mecca. Residents lived here until the 1980s, when they moved to the new town. The old town is made up of about 900 houses built of mud brick and stone, packed closely together. The outer houses’ walls form a natural city wall, and within the town there are more than ten gates and narrow alleys. The Musa bin Nusayr Castle on the hilltop overlooks the whole old town and the surrounding date-palm oases. After restoration, the “Heritage Corridor” at the old town’s entrance, next to the AlJadidah district, has cafés, restaurants and craft shops. On winter evenings, when the lights come on, the street is bustling. The old town is free to visit, and you can also book a guided tour to learn its history. The nearby AlJadidah art district has street murals and galleries and is worth visiting alongside. Transport: the old town is in AlUla itself, and a taxi from the city center takes about 5 minutes.

AlUla Old Town

Opening hours

Nearby sights

Places to eat nearby