Nasseef House

بيت نصيف

The most famous coral-stone mansion in Balad's old town. King Abdulaziz stayed here when he entered Jeddah in 1925, and today it is a museum showing life in old Jeddah

Nasseef House was built between 1872 and 1881 by the prominent Nasseef merchant family. Four stories high, it is one of the grandest traditional residences in Balad's old town. The house is built of coral stone and timber beams, with large carved wooden oriel windows on the exterior. Inside, wide staircases with ramps were said to let camels carry goods upstairs. In front of the house once stood a tall tree, the only one in the old town at a time when trees were scarce, which earned it the local nickname 'the house with a tree'. In 1925, King Abdulaziz (Ibn Saud) stayed here after entering Jeddah and received visitors from many places. The house later became the family library and is now open as a museum and cultural centre. Its displays include old photographs, traditional furniture, clothing and everyday objects. Upstairs, you can observe how the rawshan wooden screens ventilate and light the interior, and the rooftop overlooks the old town. Admission and opening hours are confirmed on site and may change during restoration work in the old town. It is near Souq Al-Alawi, the main street of the old town, and is a good starting point for a walking tour.

Nasseef House

Opening hours

Nearby sights

Places to eat nearby