Major city · Saudi Arabia
Ta'ifالطائف
Go for 1–2 nights between April and September: at 1,879 m it is cooler than Jeddah or Mecca, and the rose farms, cable car and mountain parks fill a full day.
Ta'if sits at 1,879 m in the mountains above Mecca, so it is the one Saudi city that works as a summer escape rather than a winter one. Two nights covers the old centre, the rose distilleries, Al Hada and Al Shafa; one night is enough if you only want the cool air and a cable-car ride on the way between Jeddah and Mecca.
More ways in
Local time, weather, currency, airports
- Weather
- see forecast
- Currency
- SAR
- Best months
- Apr–Sep (rose harvest Apr–May)
- avoid Jun–Aug are still the busiest; the city is quiet and cold in Dec–Feb
- Airport
- TIF
- Nights
- 1–2
Rules in force · 5
- Saudi Arabia ↗Apply for the tourist eVisa only on the official visa portal (visa.visitsaudi.com); lookalike sites charge extra.
- Saudi Arabia ↗Dress modestly in public: loose clothing covering shoulders and knees; women are not required to wear an abaya but should cover up.
- Saudi Arabia ↗Alcohol is banned: do not bring it in, and do not buy it from anyone.
- Saudi Arabia ↗Shops close for about 20–30 minutes at prayer times; plan around them.
- Saudi Arabia ↗Makkah is closed to non-Muslims; checkpoints on the approach roads turn cars back.
What is in this basic guide9 covered · 4 not yet ▾
In this guide
Not in this guide yet
- Walking areas with bag rules
- Day plans checked against opening hours
- Airport-to-bed timings and the last safe connection
- Field-checked times and prices
Official sites
Emergency numbers for Ta'if911 ▾
Tap a number to call from your phone. These are the numbers listed in this guide; a row marked check has not been verified.
EssentialsQuick answers and what things cost
Essentials
Quick answers and what things cost
Quick answers
The questions people ask first about Ta'if, one line each. Tap a card for the full answer.
- Cash or card?SAR (riyal) is pegged to the US dollar at about 3.75.Saudi Arabia-wide
- SIM or eSIMSTC, Mobily and Zain sell tourist SIMs at arrivals; passport and fingerprint registration are required.Saudi Arabia-wide
- Tap waterTap water is desalinated and treated; most people drink bottled water, sold everywhere for SAR 1–2.Saudi Arabia-wide
- TippingRestaurant: 10% if no service charge; small change at cafés.Saudi Arabia-wide
- Plugs & powerSockets C/F/G. US/Canada (A/B): adapter · UK/Ireland (G): fits · Australia/NZ (I): adapter. 230 V: US 120 V-only devices (hair dryers) need a converter; most chargers are dual-voltage.Saudi Arabia-wide
- SafetyTa'if is a low-crime city and visitors rarely meet trouble; the real risks are mountain-road driving…
Show all 12 answers
- RestroomsWestern toilets with a hand shower in malls, hotels and mosques; squat toilets at older fuel stations.Saudi Arabia-wide
- Emergency numbers911 Unified emergency · 999 police · 997 ambulance
- Sundays & holidayscheckShops close for 20–30 minutes at each of the five daily prayers (not required by law since 2024, but many still do — check); Friday midday is closed.Saudi Arabia-wide
- Your embassyFind your embassy's 24-hour line before you fly.
- AirportTIF Ta'if International Airport (One terminal, about 25 km (16 mi) east of the centre; domestic flights plus Pakistan, Turkey, Egypt and the UAE.TIF Ta'if International Airport (One terminal, about 16 mi (25 km) east of the centre; domestic flights plus Pakistan, Turkey, Egypt and the UAE.
- Getting aroundThe city spreads over roughly 800 km² (309 sq mi) of mountain terrain, so a car is the practical way to move: rent at TIF or use Uber, which operates in Ta'if.The city spreads over roughly 309 sq mi (800 km²) of mountain terrain, so a car is the practical way to move: rent at TIF or use Uber, which operates in Ta'if.
Cost cheat-sheet
Typical prices for the everyday things, as ranges. Your currency is shown next to the local price.
- CoffeeCoffee or teaSAR 10–25
- Taxi, about 5 km (3 mi)Taxi, about 3 mi (5 km)Taxi or Uber across the centreSAR 25–60
- Museum or sight ticketPark or museum entrySAR 0–50
- Budget bedBudget hotel double room, a night, per roomSAR 200
- Mid-range bedBudget hotel double room, a night, per roomSAR 300
- High-end bedBudget hotel double room, a night, per roomSAR 450
A day, not counting the bed: Budget SAR 250 · Mid SAR 550 · High SAR 1,100
Local prices, with USD next to them (rates 2026-09 (approximate); change it in the header). Ranges are desk estimates: check locally. Every price and the budget calculator →
DecideWhat it is known for, and when the weather works
Decide
What it is known for, and when the weather works
At a glance
What the city is known for, how you fly in, and where to find the phrases.
- Airports
- TIF Ta'if International Airport (One terminal, about 25 km (16 mi) east of the centre; domestic flights plus Pakistan, Turkey, Egypt and the UAE. Check current routes.)TIF Ta'if International Airport (One terminal, about 16 mi (25 km) east of the centre; domestic flights plus Pakistan, Turkey, Egypt and the UAE. Check current routes.)
Best months at a glance
From the guide's best and avoid lists
Jan
Avoid
23°C (74°F)74°F (23°C)
Feb
Avoid
25°C (78°F)78°F (25°C)
Mar
not flagged
28°C (82°F)82°F (28°C)
Apr
Best
31°C (87°F)87°F (31°C)
May
Best
34°C (93°F)93°F (34°C)
Jun
Care
36°C (97°F)97°F (36°C)
Jul
Care
36°C (96°F)96°F (36°C)
Aug
Care
36°C (97°F)97°F (36°C)
Sep
Best
35°C (95°F)95°F (35°C)
Oct
not flagged
31°C (88°F)88°F (31°C)
Nov
not flagged
27°C (80°F)80°F (27°C)
Dec
Avoid
24°C (76°F)76°F (24°C)
Best: Apr–May, Sep. Mixed: Jun–Aug. Avoid: Dec–Feb. Month by month →
Warmest Jun (36°C (97°F)97°F (36°C)), coolest Jan (9°C (48°F)48°F (9°C) low), wettest May (35 rain days), driest Feb (1). Averages, not a forecast.
Weather and climate
Ta'if: next 7 days
Loading forecast…
Forecast: Open-Meteo (CC BY 4.0), model data for this point.
Air quality
Loading…
Model estimate (CAMS via Open-Meteo), not a street-level station; readings near busy roads run higher.
Jan
23°C (74°F)74°F (23°C)
9°C (48°F)48°F (9°C)
10 rd
Feb
25°C (78°F)78°F (25°C)
10°C (51°F)51°F (10°C)
1 rd
Mar
28°C (82°F)82°F (28°C)
13°C (55°F)55°F (13°C)
12 rd
Apr
31°C (87°F)87°F (31°C)
16°C (61°F)61°F (16°C)
34 rd
May
34°C (93°F)93°F (34°C)
19°C (67°F)67°F (19°C)
35 rd
Jun
36°C (97°F)97°F (36°C)
23°C (73°F)73°F (23°C)
4 rd
Jul
36°C (96°F)96°F (36°C)
24°C (74°F)74°F (24°C)
2 rd
Aug
36°C (97°F)97°F (36°C)
24°C (75°F)75°F (24°C)
17 rd
Sep
35°C (95°F)95°F (35°C)
21°C (70°F)70°F (21°C)
9 rd
Oct
31°C (88°F)88°F (31°C)
16°C (61°F)61°F (16°C)
16 rd
Nov
27°C (80°F)80°F (27°C)
13°C (55°F)55°F (13°C)
23 rd
Dec
24°C (76°F)76°F (24°C)
10°C (50°F)50°F (10°C)
5 rd
High / low, both scales · rd = rain days
Arrive & moveAirports are listed under At a glance; this is how to move once you are in
Arrive & move
Airports are listed under At a glance; this is how to move once you are in
Getting around
The city spreads over roughly 800 km² of mountain terrain, so a car is the practical way to move: rent at TIF or use Uber, which operates in Ta'if. Many central attractions are within walking distance of each other and the mild climate suits long walks. There is no railway; SAPTCO buses link Jeddah and other cities.
See & doDay-trips, door to door
See & do
Day-trips, door to door
Day-trips
Al Hada and Al Kar cable car
goDoor to door: About 1 h (check)
Drive or taxi west on the Al Hada road, about 30–40 min
Cable car runs down the escarpment; check operating days and hours before you go.
Al Shafa mountain village
goDoor to door: About 1.5 h (check)
Drive south-west from the centre, about 1 h
2,200–2,500 m; bring a jacket even in summer.
Souk Okaz
cautionDoor to door: About 1 h
Drive east of the city, about 30 min
Mostly active during festival seasons; check the programme before driving out.
Door to door: About 3 h by bus; 2 h or more by car (check)
Car via Highway 40 and the non-Muslim cutoff, or SAPTCO bus
Too far for a comfortable return day; sleep in Jeddah instead.
Eat & sleepWhich area to sleep in
Eat & sleep
Which area to sleep in
Where to sleep
Areas, not hotels: pick the one that fits your arrival time and plans.
City centre (Al Balad / Taif's Heart Mall)
Walkable old market, Bab Alrea and most mid-range hotels; best for a first visit without a car.
Al Hada road
Al Hada is a separate resort town west of Ta'if; staying there means a car or taxi for everything (check the drive time).
Airport road / Alqayam Al Asfal
Big international hotels near TIF; convenient for a late arrival, far from the sights.
PracticalWhat a day costs, what to watch out for, and the pocket card
Practical
What a day costs, what to watch out for, and the pocket card
Cost per day
- Budget
- SAR 250–450 excl. bed
- Mid
- SAR 450–900 excl. bed
- High
- SAR 900+ excl. bed
Trip budget
| Mid-range hotel double room1 × 2 nights × SAR 550 | SAR 1,100 |
| Food, local transport, entries2 × 2 days × SAR 550 | SAR 2,200 |
| Rental car, one day, compact1 × SAR 250 | SAR 250 |
| Uber across the city, one trip1 × SAR 40 | SAR 40 |
| eSIM, about a week of data2 × SAR 60 | SAR 120 |
| Buffer 10%Price creep, a taxi you did not plan, one splurge | SAR 371 |
| Trip total≈ SAR 1,020 per person per day, bed included | SAR 4,081 |
2026 estimate in riyals; flights excluded. Your choices stay in this browser.
Prices of common things
| Coffee or tea | SAR 10–25 |
| Koshary or a fast-food meal | SAR 20–45 |
| Mid-range restaurant main | SAR 60–120 |
| Taxi or Uber across the centre | SAR 25–60 |
| Rental car, one day | SAR 150–450 |
| Rose oil, 12 g bottlecheck | about SAR 1,600 |
| Park or museum entry | SAR 0–50 |
2026 estimate; check locally.
Watch out
Safety
- Non-Muslims may not enter Mecca, so the direct Highway 15 route from Jeddah is closed to you: take the signed non-Muslim cutoff off Highway 40 that links to Highway 15 and bypasses Mecca (check the junction and route number before you drive).
- Highway 40 between Jeddah and Mecca jams badly during Hajj and Ramadan travel peaks.
- Mountain roads to Al Hada and Al Shafa are steep, foggy and unlit in places; avoid driving them after dark if you are new to them.
- Alcohol is illegal nationwide; do not carry it or expect it in hotels.
- Dress and public-behaviour rules apply as elsewhere in Saudi Arabia; check the national guidance before you pack.
Emergency numbers
- Unified emergency
- 911
- Police
- 999
- Ambulance
- 997
Pocket card
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Ta'ifالطائف
Pocket card · Voykit
My bed tonight
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إلى هذا العنوان، لو سمحتTo this address, please
Emergency
- Unified emergency911
- Police999
- Ambulance997
Embassy
No embassies in Ta'if; most are in Riyadh, with consulates in Jeddah. Check your own country's list before you travel.
My embassy: —
Fare anchors (2026 estimate)
- TIF airport → city centre, taxi: SAR 80–150, about 30 min (check)
- SAPTCO bus Jeddah → Ta'if: SAR 50–200, about 3 h (check)
- Al Kar cable car: check the official price and hours before you go
Say or show
- السلام عليكم — Hello (as-salaamu alaykum)
- شكراً — Thank you (shukran)
- كم السعر؟ — How much is it? (kam al-si'r?)
- أين التلفريك؟ — Where is the cable car? (ayna al-telefreek?)
- هل يمكن الدفع بالبطاقة؟ — Can I pay by card? (hal yumkin al-daf' bil-bitaqa?)
- أحتاج طبيباً — I need a doctor (ahtaaj tabeeban)
Deep diveWhat this guide covers so far, and its sources
Deep dive
What this guide covers so far, and its sources
Not a trip line yet
This is a basic guide: no airport-to-bed contract, walking clusters or day plans are published for Ta'if. Airport, fare and schedule details are unverified; check the operators before you fly.
What we know, and what is coming
On this page
- Best months: Apr–Sep (rose harvest Apr–May) · avoid Jun–Aug are still the busiest; the city is quiet and cold in Dec–Feb · month by month →
- 1 airport and 3 areas to sleep in
- Weather: a 7-day forecast and monthly averages
- Cost per day in 3 bands
- 4 day-trips, door to door
- 5 things to watch out for, with emergency numbers
Coming as the guide grows
- Airport-to-bed contract for TIF: taxi and ride-hail bands, rental desks, late-arrival hotel rung.
- Four walking clusters with anchors: Al Balad and Bab Alrea, the rose factories, Al Hada, Al Shafa.
- Place pages with verified hours for Al Kar cable car, Shubra Palace, Souk Okaz and the main parks.
- Rose-harvest timing fixture for April–May so the farm pages can go green.
Sources
- officialTa'if city (official)
- officialTa'if International Airport — GACA
- officialSAPTCO
- officialSouk Okaz — Saudi Ministry of Tourism
- secondaryWikivoyage: Ta'if, revision 5327875 (CC BY-SA 4.0)