AlUla Old Town Experience

Travel back through time Wander the maze of historic alleys and hundreds of houses built of mud brick, lined up next to each other like an impenetrable fortress. This is AlUla's Old Town, its winding paths seeped with memories whose origins date back almost a millennium. With every step, feel history become instantly and movingly tangible and experience the heritage that fills Old Town's thriving streets with life. let the unique environment amaze you as it seamlessly blends history with modernity. Take in the ancient ambiance while learning all you can about this region. Let our knowledgeable guide lead you on this journey of discovery, where you’ll uncover the past and create memories that will last a lifetime.

In the 12th century, AlUla Old Town became an essential settlement along the pilgrimage route from Damascus to Makkah. The city gradually replaced Qurh, to the south of AlUla, and is favourably mentioned by travellers from the 12th to the 20th centuries, when modern AlUla was constructed nearby. The houses were designed to be attached to one another, providing fortification, which hints at defence being a priority for the city's early inhabitants. At one point, the city was accessed by 14 gates, which were opened in the morning to welcome travellers, pilgrims and other visitors, and closed each evening. The ancient city’s recent occupation has enabled researchers to begin to gather oral histories, painting a picture of what life was like inside its walls. These stories will one day be available to visitors who can look forward to tapping into AlUla Old Town’s living memory. Get a glimpse into AlUla’s not-so-distant past on the AlUla Old Town Tour. A Rawi (guide) will lead you through AlUla Old Town, where pilgrims, travelers, and permanent settlers congregated through the ages. Inhabited from before the 12th century up until the early 1980s, AlUla Old Town offers researchers unique oral histories and living memory that the area’s other heritage sites cannot. With 900 houses, 500 shops, and 5 town squares, you can explore a maze of remnants of original stone and mudbrick buildings and enjoy views of an AlUla Castle dating back to the 10th century. The guest will learn about Old Town’s settlers and pilgrims, as well as their motives and methods in the city’s construction.