Taif has long been dubbed the Garden of Hijaz or the City of Roses.

Set on a gorgeous mountain top city, 1800m above sea level, the millenia-old city is flush with a rich and fascinating history. And of course, some of the most fragrant florals in the world – roses.

Located just a 1.5 hour drive from Jeddah, not only does Taif lie at the crossroads of two of the most important historical roads of the Arabian Peninsula, where it played an integral role in trade, but can be traced back through religious text as well. One of these ancient roads is the historic Frankincense Road that originated in Yemen more than 3000 years ago, linking the Mediterranean with eastern and southern sources for luxury goods like spices and incense.

What makes Taif special?

Due to the geographical location of Taif, some of the most beautiful and fragrant roses in the world grow in this mountain paradise.

The microclimate created by its altitude is the biggest factor as to why the fragrant roses grown here are so coveted. There are over 900 farms that produce over 300 million of the most fragrant roses in the world each year. In fact, luxury brands from Givenchy to Jimmy Choo purchase attar (rose oil) and rose water to use in their products from Taif.

Bin Salman Farm is one place where these 30-petal wonders bloom and are harvested. They also have an attar processing facility that guests can visit to see the process up close. In addition to a tour of the farm and facility, guests are able to visit the cafe and store after watching the distillation process take place and purchase a little bottle of paradise to take home.

Areas of Historical & Cultural Interest

As a cultural and historic hotspot, it makes sense that Taif is littered with museums.

One of which is the National Museum; here over 30,000 artifacts are displayed from different ancient collectibles, antiques, manuscripts, stone carvings to local art and old photographs. The second is the Shubra Palace Museum, previously used as a summer residence of King Abdulaziz until his passing in 1953. It was then used as the headquarters of the Ministry of Defense and Aviation until 1995 when it was converted into the Kingdom’s first palace museum. Today it is home to some traditional weapons, jewelry, crafts and more that are part of the fabric of the nation's history. Lastly, another interesting and worth-while stop is the Green Village Museum. At the Green Village Museum you will find jewels and clothing from the royal family over the years as well as antiques, swords and even ancient currency.

Is Taif family friendly?

Whilst there is an incredible rich history in Taif, there are also more modern attractions for you and your family to visit. With many play parks and fairs, Taif is a great location for families with children.

Al Shafa Park sits on top of the Sarawat Mountains and provides outdoor adventure activities. The AlKar Tourist Village can be seen on the drive to Taif from Jeddah and is a multilevel park that you wouldn’t expect to find! To access the park, you can use the Teleferic Cable Car -making it an adventure in itself. From there, you have access to a full water and adventure park fit with slides, cabanas for rent and a restaurant to enjoy a day with the family.

Taif Season

The new and impressive Taif Season is a must-visit for locals and visitors alike. Souk Okaz has eleven pavilions showcasing native food, art and goods from the UAE, Kuwait, Bahrain, Oman, Iraq, Egypt, Jordan, Lebanon, Morocco and Tunisia. Souk Okaz itself is a historical Souk that historians believe dates back to over 1,500 years. Historically, it attracted poets, historians and tribes and was a place where valuable items from all around the known world could be showcased.

Maya Chlach