Taif

Nestled high in the Al Sarawat Mountains east of Makkah, Taif (also written as Ta’if) is a verdant city that abounds with green grass, lush trees and blooming flowers.

Cool spring rains and dry mild summers help make Taif a top destination for both foreign visitors and Saudis – including the royal family.

This resort town has a number of inviting attractions. Visit Taif’s rose fields, which produce exquisite rose water and rose oil.

Parks and nature reserves are ideal for strolling, picnicking and seeing wildlife. You can also visit museums in Taif that exhibit excellent assortments of artifacts. In the nearby Al Hada region, cable cars stop at Al Kar Tourist Village, known for its water parks.

Taif is about 100km (or 62 mi) east of Makkah. The roughly two-hour drive offers stunning vistas on an ascension from an elevation of 280m to 1880m.

Famed for fruits and flowers, Taif is a wonderful place to pick up peaches, grapes, dates and pomegranates, as well as rose oil and honey. Visitors often relish the city’s signature dish of saleeg, a savory rice pudding topped with meat.