✦ Top pick
AlUla Old Town is the best all-rounder for its scenery and easy access; choose Rijal Almaa for the most photogenic mountain village, or Ushaiger if you want the closest heritage escape from Riyadh.
Saudi Arabia's headline sights are its deserts and holy cities, but its quietest pleasures are small: mud-brick towns baking gold at sunset, stone villages stacked up green mountainsides, and oasis settlements ringed by date palms. As the country opens to tourists, these places are easier to reach than ever, yet most still feel genuinely local rather than staged.
This list ranks eight of the prettiest, spread from the Nabataean north to the Asir highlands and the Gulf coast. Each entry tells you what makes it worth the trip, the specific things to see and eat, and how to get there from the nearest airport or city.
Distances in Saudi Arabia are large, so treat this as a menu rather than a single loop. Pair AlUla with a northern trip, and cluster Rijal Almaa, Al-Habala, and Dhee Ayn into a southern mountain run through Asir and Al Bahah.
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1tours from $236AlUla Old Town Google
A honeycomb of some 900 mud-brick and stone houses layered below a hilltop citadel, AlUla Old Town was inhabited until the 1980s and is now beautifully restored as a walkable heritage quarter. Lanes of restored houses hold cafes, craft shops, and small galleries, and the whole town glows amber at golden hour. It sits within reach of Hegra, Saudi Arabia's first UNESCO World Heritage Site, and the much-photographed Elephant Rock, making it the natural base for the country's most spectacular landscapes. Climb to the citadel for the classic view over the old town and the palm oasis beyond.
- Sunset from the AlUla Fort citadel
- Restored lanes and craft shops of the Old Town
- Day trips to Hegra's Nabataean tombs and Elephant Rock
Best for First-time visitors and photographers
Getting there Fly into AlUla (ULH) from Riyadh or Jeddah (about 1.5-2 hours), then 15 minutes by car or taxi to the Old Town
2Rijal Almaa Google
Set in a green valley below the Asir escarpment, Rijal Almaa is a cluster of tall stone-and-slate tower houses studded with quartz that glints in the sun. Many facades are painted inside in the geometric Al-Qatt Asiri style, a folk art recognized by UNESCO, and the restored village museum lets you climb through several floors of one of these forts. The setting, mist rolling off the mountains and terraced slopes all around, is among the most cinematic in the country. Come for the architecture and the cool highland air, a relief from the lowland heat.
- Multi-story stone tower houses with quartz detailing
- Al-Qatt Asiri painted interiors
- Rijal Almaa heritage museum village
Best for Photographers and culture travelers
Getting there Fly to Abha (AHB), then about 1 hour by car west through the mountains (taxi or rental recommended)
3Dhee Ayn (the Marble Village) Google
Dhee Ayn is a cluster of ancient stone houses built atop a gleaming white marble hill, framed by banana plantations and a spring that gives the village its name. Roughly 400 years old and abandoned only in recent decades, its dark stone dwellings contrast sharply with the pale rock beneath, an unusual sight in the Arabian mountains. A short walk leads up through the houses and past the palms and greenery fed by the perennial water source. It is one of the most striking heritage villages in the Al Bahah highlands and an easy stop on a scenic drive.
- Stone houses set on a white marble outcrop
- The natural spring and banana terraces
- Views over the Tihama foothills
Best for Road-trippers and hikers
Getting there Fly to Al Bahah (ABT), then roughly 1-1.5 hours by car toward Al Mekhwah; best reached by rental car
4Ushaiger Heritage Village Google
One of the oldest towns in Najd, Ushaiger is a restored maze of mud-brick homes, palm-shaded lanes, and narrow covered passageways built to trap shade and cool air. Wooden doors painted in blue and ochre, small mosques, and old wells give a vivid sense of central Arabian life before oil. It makes a rewarding half-day escape from the capital, quieter and more authentic than many staged sites. Time your visit for late afternoon when the mud walls warm to a deep gold.
- Restored mud-brick houses and shaded alleys
- Traditional painted wooden doors
- Old mosques and palm groves
Best for A day trip from Riyadh
Getting there About 2-2.5 hours by car northwest of Riyadh via Shaqra; easiest with a rental car or private driver
5Dumat Al-Jandal Google
This ancient oasis town in the far north wraps around the ruins of Marid Castle and the Umar bin Al-Khattab Mosque, whose distinctive tapering stone minaret is one of the oldest in Islam. The old quarter of Al-Dir'iyah spreads out below in tightly packed stone houses, with a palm oasis and salt lake nearby. Layers of Nabataean, Roman, and early Islamic history make it a rewarding stop for anyone drawn to archaeology. It is remote, so few tourists make it here, which is part of the appeal.
- Marid Castle ruins
- Umar bin Al-Khattab Mosque and its ancient minaret
- The old stone town and palm oasis
Best for History buffs and off-the-beaten-path travelers
Getting there Fly to Sakaka (AJF), then about 45 minutes by car southwest to Dumat Al-Jandal
6Farasan (Farasan Islands) Google
The main town on the Farasan archipelago is a low-slung coastal settlement of coral-stone houses, quiet harbors, and turquoise shallows that draw snorkelers and birdwatchers. Look for the ornately carved Al-Najdi House, a merchant's mansion whose plaster detailing is the town's showpiece, and the Ottoman-era fort on the hill. Beyond the town, mangroves, empty white beaches, and shallow reefs make this one of the Red Sea's most peaceful escapes. Bring a mask; the water is clear and warm most of the year.
- The carved Al-Najdi merchant house
- Coral-stone old town and Ottoman fort
- Snorkeling and beaches on the archipelago
Best for Beach and marine-life lovers
Getting there Fly to Jazan (GIZ), then a car ferry (roughly 1-1.5 hours) from Jazan port to Farasan; check the ferry schedule ahead
7Al-Habala Google
Al-Habala clings to a cliff edge in the Asir mountains, its name derived from the ropes (habal) that villagers once used to lower themselves to the terraced dwellings on the rock face. A cable car now descends the dramatic escarpment to viewpoints over the old hanging village and the deep valley below. Even from the clifftop the panorama of layered peaks, often wreathed in cloud, is worth the drive. Combine it with Rijal Almaa and Abha for a full Asir highlands loop.
- Cable car down the escarpment
- Views of the cliffside hanging village
- Cool, misty Asir mountain scenery
Best for Dramatic views and a mountain day out
Getting there Fly to Abha (AHB), then about 45 minutes to 1 hour by car south; rental car or taxi recommended
8Tarout Island Google
One of the oldest continuously inhabited places on the Arabian Gulf, Tarout is dominated by the crumbling Tarout Castle, a fortress with roots reaching back thousands of years. Around it, the historic Al-Rifaah and Deira quarters hold weathered coral-stone houses and the elegant Beit Al-Qurashi mansion. Palm groves and a fishing harbor give the island a slow, lived-in feel very different from the nearby oil cities. It is an easy add-on for anyone flying into Dammam.
- Ancient Tarout Castle
- Beit Al-Qurashi and the old Deira quarter
- Palm groves and traditional harbor
Best for A short heritage stop in the Eastern Province
Getting there Fly to Dammam (DMM), then about 45 minutes to 1 hour by car north to Qatif and across the causeway to Tarout
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✦ Good to know
Before you go
Getting aroundMost of these towns are far apart and poorly served by public transport, so a rental car or private driver is the practical way to reach them. Domestic flights link Riyadh and Jeddah to regional airports like AlUla, Abha, Al Bahah, Jazan, and Sakaka.
When to goThe southern mountains (Asir and Al Bahah) are cool and often misty even in summer, making June to September pleasant there. For AlUla, the Gulf, and northern oases, visit October to March to avoid extreme heat.
Dress and etiquetteDress modestly with shoulders and knees covered; women no longer need an abaya but should keep clothing loose and conservative. Always ask before photographing local people, especially women.
Book aheadAlUla's marquee sites like Hegra require timed tickets through the official Experience AlUla platform, so reserve before you arrive, particularly in peak winter months.
Saudi Arabia's small towns reward the traveler willing to go beyond the big cities, trading crowds for painted mountain houses, marble-topped villages, and oasis forts. Pick a region, base yourself near its airport, and give each place time to slow you down. Whether you start with AlUla's golden lanes or the misty heights of Asir, these are the corners of the kingdom that stay with you long after you leave.
Frequently asked questions
Which small town in Saudi Arabia is best for a first visit?
AlUla Old Town is the best introduction: it is beautifully restored, easy to reach by a short domestic flight, and sits beside world-class sights like Hegra and Elephant Rock.
What is the most photogenic village in Saudi Arabia?
Rijal Almaa in the Asir mountains is widely considered the most photogenic, with its quartz-studded stone tower houses, painted Al-Qatt Asiri interiors, and misty valley setting about an hour from Abha.
Which heritage village is closest to Riyadh?
Ushaiger Heritage Village is the easiest escape from the capital, roughly 2 to 2.5 hours' drive northwest, and makes a rewarding half-day trip into old Najd.
How do you get to the Farasan Islands?
Fly to Jazan (GIZ), then take the government car ferry from Jazan port, a crossing of about 1 to 1.5 hours. Check the current ferry timetable in advance, as sailings are limited.
Are these towns suitable for a road trip?
Yes, especially the southern cluster: Rijal Almaa, Al-Habala, and Dhee Ayn can be linked into a scenic mountain loop through Asir and Al Bahah, ideally with a rental car over two or three days.
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