joellebohringerInterested in planning a trip to Al Ula? Explore the 10 best things to do in Al Ula, along with all of the best budget tips!
Al Ula, a small desert city in northern Saudi Arabia has taken the world by storm due to large marketing campaigns.
Yet, there still isn’t a lot of information about what to do in Al Ula, especially if you are travelling on a budget!
If you are looking to travel to Al Ula on a budget, this guide of the 10 best affordable things to do is for you!
Read More: The Ultimate Saudi Arabia Travel Guide
What is Al Ula
Al Ula is an ancient city in northwestern Saudi Arabia. Prior to 2017, little was known about Al Ula, as the more conservative Saudi Regime did not put emphasis on pre-Islamic civilizations.
However, now that the site is open to the public, there is an incredible amount of history and beauty to explore. Al Ula was home to four ancient civilizations: the Dadanites, Lihyans, Nabataeans, and Minaeans. All of these groups left their marks throughout the desert landscape in the forms of beautiful architecture and petroglyphs spread throughout the desert of Al Ula.
How to Get to Al Ula
There is a small airport in Al Ula that caters flights from Dubai, Doha, Riyadh, Jeddah, and Dammam. However, flights are quite expensive in and out of Al Ula. I personally reccomend flying to Madinah and driving to Al Ula and back with a rental car.
You can also take a bus to Al Ula from Medinah, but it is a long process. You can book your tickets here. Tickets between Madinah and Al Ula cost about 117 Riyals ( about $31).
Read More: The Ultimate Saudi Arabia Travel Guide
Getting Around Al Ula on a Budget
Everything in Al Ula is very spread out, so I highly reccomend renting a car. Even if you are not a very confident driver, driving in Al Ula is very easy, with almost no traffic.
If you fly or take the bus to Al Ula, you can rent a car at the airport or from a number of smaller car rental outlets. The official Visit Al Ula site has contact information for local car rentals here.
If you absolutely don’t feel comfortable driving or cannot drive, you can also use the ride-hailing app Careem to get around to different sites.
Is Al Ula Expensive?
Al Ula has been curated to be a premier luxury destination, so honestly, it is pretty expensive. There are few budget hotels and dining options.
However, they do exist, and I’ve listed them all below. Overall, Al Ula is possible on a budget, but not an ultra-low budget. I would budget a minimum of $100 per day for a visit to Al Ula.
Bookings in Al Ula
Most of the main sites in Al Ula – Hegra, Dedan, Jebel Ikmah, and Al Ula Old Town – all require advanced paid bookings to visit. You cannot just show up and see the sites.
Oftentimes, the tours can sell out quite quickly so I reccomend booking in advance. All of the booking links are listed below.
The awesome thing about the tours is that they are very comfortable and luxurious! All of the tours include a local, English speaking guide who is highly informative. There is also free snacks and juice before every tour.
Where to Stay
Budget: Recently Saudi Arabia has allowed individuals to rent out holiday homes and apartments, similar to Airbnb. This has greatly improved the availability of budget accomodation in Al Ula.
I personally have stayed at both Al Ula Winter and Naseem Country House. I especially love Naseem Country House. The rooms are very basic, but it is located in an absolutely beautiful orange grove and run by a local family.
It is important to note that the budget accommodations are located about 15 miles from the main attractions in another part of Al Ula, so it is important to have reliable transport.
- Al Ula Winter (from $60 per night)
- Naseem Country House (from $95 per night)
- Sarah’s Country Cottage (from $120 per night)
Mid-Range: These stay offer resort-like experiences with swimming pools and breakfast, but with the luxury resort price tag
- Sahary Al Ula (from $160 per night)
- Caravan by Habitas AlUla (from $240 per night)
- Cloud 7 Residences (from $240 per night)
Luxury: Habitas and Banyan tree are uber-luxury properties and are by far the most popular resorts in all of Al Ula.
- Habitas Al Ula (from $360 per night)
- Banyan Tree Al Ula (from $470 per night)
The 10 Best Things to Do in Al Ula
Hegra
Hegra, also known as Mada’in Salih, is the second largest city of the ancient Nabatean empire. The city existed during the 1st century AD, and was built by the same people that built Petra in Jordan. It is home to 131 beautiful tombs cut into rock, and it is a must see while visiting Saudi Arabia.
The basic tour costs 95 SAR (about $25) and lasts about 3 hours. It must be booked in advance and can be booked here.
Dedan
Dedan is an archeological site of the ancient Dedanite and Lihyanite Kingdoms. Today, excavation is still underway, but you can book a tour that takes you to see the archaeological site as well as numerous tombs carved into the mountanside.
All tours to see Dedan are combined with a visit to see Jebal Ikmah.
Jebal Ikmah
Jebal Ikmah is a mountain and oasis located about 5km from Al Ula City. Known as the “open library”, the mountain was a crossroad for traders for more than 2000 years. Here, thousands of traders left messages carved into the rock, with the earliest messages dating from the 6th century BC.
The scale of the messages is absolutely breathtaking. Messages showcase the evolution of language and expression, as messages are written in images, Aramaic, Dadanitic, Safaitic, Thamudic, Minaic, Nabataean, and Arabic.
Tickets must be booked ahead of time here. The tour combines Dedan and Jebel Ikmah and costs 60 SAR (about $16) per person for a 2.5 hour tour.
Elephant Rock
Elephant rock is one of the most iconic sites in Al Ula. Located in a stunning desert landscape, this giant rock formation has become a tourist site in itself. There is lots of free seating available where you can relax and enjoy the views. I reccomend visiting at sunset for the best experience.
There are some cafes nearby where you can purchase food and drinks. The site is free of charge and no reservations are required.
Al Ula Old Town
Before becoming a popular tourist destination, Al Ula was home to ancient villages and kingdoms. The Al Ula Old Town, which was inhabited for nearly a 1,000 years from the 12th century until the 1990s, gives you a perfect glimpse into traditional Saudi life.
A tour here will take you through the winding, ancient streets of the Al Ula Old Town. You’ll also get the chance to climb to the top of the Al Ula Castle and look over the expansive Old Town.
You must pre-book tickets to explore the old town. They cost 70 SAR (about $19) and can be booked here.
Harrat Viewpoint
The Harrat Viewpoint gives stunning views over the entire area of Al Ula. I highly reccomend visiting Harrat Viewpoint at sunset. It is free to visit, but it requires a car to access, as the drive takes you through winding mountain roads for about 40 minutes to reach the viewpoint.
There is a (fairly pricey) restaurant on the top of the viewpoint, or you can just visit for the views.
Maraya
Maraya, the world’s largest mirrored building, is another site that many people are very interested in seeing in Al Ula. Yet, it can be quite difficult and expensive to visit.
It is not open to the public, so you must have a reservation at its very expensive restaurant or tickets to one of the building’s occasional concerts to access the site.
As a budge traveller, I have never personally visited Maraya, as I cannot justify the cost of dining at the venue’s restaurant, Maraya Social. However, if you are interested in visiting, check out the official visitors page to make a reservation or see if there is a concert to attend.
Old Town North Shopping Area
While most of the Old Town is still preserved as a historical site, part of the city has been converted into a shopping and restaurant area.
The area is completely free to visit, and there are some affordable restaurants and shops. The area is best visited in the evening, and you can park for free here. From there, golf carts will transport you free of charge into the Old Town Area.
Check out Madrasat Aldeera
Madrasat Aldeera is a brand new cultural facility run by the Saudi Government. Their aim is to offer free of charge workshops in traditional arts and crafts for visitors and locals alike.
They offer workshops in traditional Saudi handicrafts such as palm weaving, and the workshops are free of charge! You must book the workshops ahead of time here.
Enjoy Outdoor Dining
Al Ula has a number of amazing restaurants that allow you to enjoy the beauty of this area while trying traditional Saudi and Arabic cuisine. Read below for a list of my favorite budget restaurants in Al Ula.
Where to Eat
One of the most difficult things about travelling on a budget in Al Ula is finding affordable dining options. Luckily, I’ve visited so many times that I’ve found the best hidden budget restaurants in the city that still allow you to have an incredible Al Ula experience. Obviously, as this is a budget travel blog, my restaurant list does not include any of the very expensive fine-dining restaurants located in Al Ula, but it does include all of my favorite restaurants under $30 per person!
Budget ( less than $15)
- Jolt Cafe ($): This small cafe is almost completely unknown to foreign tourists, but it is my favorite restaurant in Al Ula. It is located in a beautiful palm tree oasis, and they serve light lunches and dinners for less than $15 per person. It is the restaurant I would most reccomend if you are looking for an incredible outdoor dining experience at a budget price!
- Kudu ($) : Kudu is a Saudi Arabian fast food chain that offers burgers, wraps, and more at standard fast food prices. It is by far the most affordable food option in Al Ula if you are looking for a quick and cheap bite to eat!
- Zalata ($) : Zalata offers traditional Saudi pastries and light-bites in Al Ula Old Town North. You can get a light lunch for around $10 here.
- Noug ($): Noug is a coffee shop and camel milk store located in Al Ula Old Town North. You can grab a cup of delicious coffee and try fresh camel milk for less than $10.
Mid Range ( less than $20)
- Al Nakheel ($$) : Al Nakheel is a full service restaurant located in Al Ula’s Old Town North. They have beautiful outdoor dining, and it is one of the more affordable full service restaurants in Al Ula. You can eat a full meal here for less than $20, which is pretty good by Al Ula standards!
- Salt at Elephant Rock ($$): Salt is a high-end burger chain that originated in Qatar. They serve burger combos for about $15 and are located at Elephant Rock. It is a great option for affordable eats while you enjoy the sunset at Elephant Rock.
Fancier (less than $30)
- Heart of the Oasis ($$$): Heart of the Oasis is a beautiful restaurant located in a palm tree Oasis. It is a mid-range budget restaurant, and mains cost about $15-$20 here. However, it is a great experience if you want a truly memorable dining experience in Al Ula without paying fine dining prices.
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