Nestled in the northwestern region of Saudi Arabia, AlUla is a destination rich in history, culture, and natural beauty. As one of the country’s most captivating destinations, it offers visitors a unique blend of ancient heritage sites, stunning landscapes, and modern luxury. Here’s everything you need to know about visiting AlUla and making the most of your trip. So read on to discover what to do in Al Ula and everything else that will help you plan a perfect trip (based on the problems we encountered and things we wish we knew before).

What to do in Al Ula: an ultimate guide full of honest tips

I decided to include in this post now only things you can do in Al Ula, but also everything that went wrong and I wish I knew before my trip. Hopefully, this helps you plan an awesome and memorable trip to Al Ula- this uniquely beautiful destination in Saudi Arabia.

What to do in Al Ula: top attractions

It might be a small town, but there are a lot of things to see and do in Al Ula. I’m listing all the best places to visit and activities worth doing.

Hegra (Madain Salih)

The first UNESCO World Heritage site in Saudi Arabia, Hegra, it’s a large, well-preserved town with tombs with intricate facades carved into sandstone outcrops by the Nabateans. It’s a testament to the region’s ancient civilizations and offers a glimpse into their architectural prowess. This is a similar town to Petra, but smaller. I loved this place. You cannot self-drive there, but there are a few options to visit Hegra:

You drive there with your car (or taxi) and leave the vehicle at the parking. Then you join a private tour in one of the vintage Land Rovers (they are super cute). It costs 1000 SAR for 7-seater (takes around 2-3 hours) and you need to book it in advance. It is offered by the official Al Ula tourism board.
You prebook and private or small-group tour and visit Hegra without rush at your convenience.
You prebook a bus tour offered by the offered by the official Al Ula tourism board. It costs 95 SAR per person and takes 3 hours.

Elephant Rock (Jabal AlFil)

This natural rock formation resembles an elephant with its trunk touching the ground. It’s especially mesmerizing at sunset when the rock glows under the golden hues of the sun. You can visit it from 4pm. There are a couple of snack and drink trucks and sittings dug in the ground. After sunset, it becomes very romantic with all the lights.

what to do in Al Ula

AlUla Old Town

Wander through the labyrinthine streets of this ancient settlement, with its mud-brick houses and a historic souq. The Old Town offers insights into the region’s past and its traditional architecture. It’s beautifully organised with many restaurants, shops and cafes. Make sure to wander around beyond the main street, as there are quite a few charming places, including palm parks.

what to do in Al Ula

Dadan and Jabal Ikmah

Explore the ancient city of Dadan, once the capital of the Dadanite and Lihyanite kingdoms, and Jabal Ikmah, often referred to as an open-air library due to its numerous inscriptions and rock art.

Maraya Concert Hall

A modern architectural marvel, Maraya is the world’s largest mirrored building, reflecting the surrounding desert landscape. It hosts various cultural events, concerts, and art exhibitions. It’s located near Our Habitas and Banyan Tree hotels.

Hike to the hidden oasis of AlUla

For nature lovers, hiking through AlUla’s canyons and valleys leads to hidden oases with lush palm groves and ancient water channels. Guided hikes, such as the Hidden Valley Trail, offer an immersive experience where you can witness the unique rock formations and local flora.

Take a helicopter or hot-air balloon flight over Al Ula

One of the most unforgettable ways to see Al Ula is from above. A hot air balloon ride is a perfect activity to see all the rock formations from a different perspective. This activity is especially popular during the winter at Tantora Festival. You can also take a helicopter flight. The choice is yours.

How many days you need to visit Al Ula

Al Ula might be small, but don’t be fooled by its size. There are many things to do in Al Ula to fill three or four days. The attractions are scattered around with 20-30 minutes of driving between them, sometimes. You could rush, but believe me, some places are so beautiful that you want to soak in all that.

Dining in AlUla: top restaurants

AlUla’s culinary scene is a delightful fusion of traditional Saudi flavors and international cuisines. Here are some top-rated restaurants to consider:

Harrat at Banyan Tree: It’s a Middle Eastern and Arabic restaurant. Harrat is praised for the food quality and stunning views. It’s an ideal spot if you want an upscale dining experience.
Somewhere AlUla: This restaurant was our favourite. It serves a blend of Mediterranean and Middle Eastern dishes, mainly Lebanese.
Suhail AlUla: A fine-dining establishment specializing in Middle Eastern and Arabic cuisine, Suhail offers a sophisticated ambiance and a menu that celebrates local flavor
OKTO at Harrat viewpoint: It’s a Greek restaurant uphill with amazing views. I guess it’s stunning at sunset.
Tama restaurant: It serves Middle Eastern and Arabic dishes. Tama provides a contemporary dining experience with a focus on fresh, local ingredients. If you go on a weekend, you might need to pay 400 SAR per person in advance for the spending. The setting is lovely, but I’m not so sure about the food.

Accommodation: best hotels in AlUla

One of the top things to do in Al Ula is visiting or staying at some of the most picturesque hotels:

Banyan Tree AlUla: This resort is a luxurious retreat with private villas nestled among the stunning rock formations of Ashar Valley.
Habitas AlUla: A sustainably designed resort, Habitas offers individual cabins that blend seamlessly with the desert surroundings. The resort emphasizes wellness, adventure, and cultural experiences, making it a favorite among travelers seeking a holistic retreat. Even if you don’t stay there, you can book a day pass. We spent a day there walking around- quite a place, I must say!

what to do in Al Ula

Caravan by Habitas AlUla: This a unique glamping experience (and luxurious) well-appointed caravans equipped with modern comforts. It’s perfect for those looking to combine adventure with luxury.
Cloud7 Residence AlUla: This hotels is modern and pretty. Our room, although small, had a Livingroom and a kitchenet that was better equipped that any other we’ve ever seen with a coffee machine, hob and juice maker, for instance.
Dar Tantora The House Hotel: Unlike the other hotels above, this boutique is located in the heart of AlUla’s Old Town, which might be a great choice too, if you want many coffee places and restaurants handy.

what to do in Al Ula

How to get to Al Ula

Getting to AlUla is becoming increasingly convenient, with multiple travel options available. The most direct way is by air, with Prince Abdul Majeed Bin Abdulaziz Domestic Airport serving AlUla. The airport receives domestic flights from Riyadh, Jeddah, and Dammam through airlines like Saudia, flynas, and Flyadeal, as well as seasonal international flights from select destinations. Qatar now is directly connected with Al Ula as well.

Another option is traveling by road; AlUla is approximately a 7-hour drive from Riyadh, 3.5 hours from Medina, and 6 hours from Jeddah. We flew with Qatar Airways from Qatar. I think it could be a great option if you would like to have a stopover in Qatar as they offer amazing stopover options with luxury hotels as for less than 40$.

Moving around Al Ula: all the problems we encountered

Exploring Al Ula and its surroundings can be approached in a couple of ways:

Self-Drive: Renting a car offers flexibility and allows you to explore at your own pace. The roads in and around Al Ula are generally well-maintained, and major attractions are signposted in English and Arabic. However, some sites may require driving on unpaved roads, so renting a vehicle with good ground clearance is advisable. This is what we originally planned, but upon arrival things didn’t go as expected. So, keep on reading to find out.
Guided tours and taxis: If you prefer a structured experience or are uncomfortable driving independently in an unfamiliar region, joining guided tours can be your best choice. There are also taxis and drivers you can hire. I’m talking more about it below.

Car rental

There are two car rental desks at the airport: Budget and Lumi (local provider). We tried prebooking a car online through various websites like Discover Cars, Rental Cars etc., but Al Ula was not showing to have any cars available or an option at all. Someone we know, who frequently travels to Saudi Arabia told us that he always rents a car from Budget. So we emailed them regarding booking a car.

The only well known international website that has a car rental booking option (as far as I am aware) is Expedia. Renting a car in Al Ula before your arrival is a convenient way to explore the region’s rich historical sites and natural wonders at your own pace. I really wish we had known that certain cards are not accepted and had one from a different country, because having a car available in Al Ula makes a huge difference and I really recommend it.

Problems we encountered with the car rental that disturbed out trip:

Once we arrived, we proceeded to the desk and everything seemed to be fine. However, we were unable to pay the deposit, which is normally done by holding an amount on a credit card. We tried multiple cards (Visa and Mastercard) from 3 different banks and all without success. I need to add that, after first failed attempts, we used these cards to purchase a couple of things at the airport to double check if they work. All was OK.

We were not the only ones with this problem, though. In the end, quite a few people were unable to rent a car, including us. It appeared that none of the cards issued in Qatar worked there. I am not sure about other countries, but it’s worth having a possibility of withdrawing cash on arrival to pay for the deposit. For us it was impossible, as we planned to drive and drop off the car in Madinah and they were unable to return the deposit if we paid cash.

This led us to taking a taxi from the airport (75 Saudi riyals- SAR) and rearranging the whole trip as we lost our flexibility. So if you are keen on self-drive, make sure to prebook your car and have different options of paying deposit on arrival.

Taxis

In Al, Ula, we ended up taking Ubers and taxis everywhere, resulting in spending much more than expected. On top of that, sometimes it was possible to pay by card for a taxi, then the next day not due to some “issues”. We were driven around to various cash machines to withdraw cash. And this was also not a straightforward task as not all ATMs worked. Lots of time and money wasted. There are also Ubers in Al Ula that you can order though an app the same way as everywhere else. However, they are sparse, so we often had to wait long or got cancellations last minute. So, again, having a car is such an advantage.

Best time to visit Al Ula

The majority of Saudi Arabia is a desert, which means that summers are scorching hot. Al Ula is located in the desert experiencing extremely hot summers and warm winter. We visited in winter and despite that it was warm during the day, especially in the sun, the nights were cool. However, summer months, I’d say from May till October, the heat might be unbearable.

The ideal time to explore Al Ula is during the cooler months, from November to February, when daytime temperatures are pleasant for outdoor activities, averaging between 20°C to 25°C (68°F to 77°F). Nights can be cooler, so pack layers. I had to wear at times 3 layers to manage outside. Visiting during this period also aligns with various cultural festivals and events, enhancing your experience.

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A few other awesome places in the region you might like:

Use my favourite travel resources to plan your dream trips

Booking.com for searching best prices on accommodation.
Travel Payouts is my favourite platform for monetizing the blog.
Discover Cars is a great website as they search both local and international car hire services, so you can choose the best deal for yourself. Make sure though, that the company has a good reputation and reviews.
Get Your Guide is my place to go for searching and booking tours and excursions, especially when I travel solo.
World Nomads and EKTA travel insurance. I like them because they have quite extensive coverage of different activities.
Jack’s Flight Club is a service that can save you hundreds of dollars on flights, it works especially well in Europe.
Trivago where you can search and save on hotels.
Klook for all sorts of bookings- offers discounts.
Go City is a perfect site for booking bucket list experiences and attractions all in one to avoid paying for multiple tickets. Easy and saves money. You can even save 50%.
Trip Advisor– amazing for good quality recommendations.
Skyscanner is a perfect website for searching flight routes and comparing prices.