General information about Abha city
If you want to spend a vacation in one of the heavens on earth to enjoy the picturesque nature on the one hand and want to have the best integrated tourism and entertainment services on the other hand, then you should head to the city of Abha in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, as this city is characterized by a unique natural charm that makes those who visit it once repeat their visit many times.
Abha city location
Abha is located in the southwest of the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, and is the capital of the Asir region. It includes many green natural parks, gardens, valleys, and towering mountains.
The origin of its name
It is believed that the main reason behind naming it this name is its location between the foothills of valleys and mountains.
The city of Abha has been given several names throughout its ancient history. Some sources have mentioned that it was called Haifa or Eva during the era of the Kingdom of Saba, while other sources have mentioned that its name was Manazir.
Tourism in Abha city
The tourism sector had a share of the prosperity and development that occurred in the city, and Abha became one of the first distinguished tourist destinations in the Kingdom, in addition to being the most famous summer resorts in the entire Arabian Peninsula.
Perhaps the ability of Abha city to attract millions of visitors annually from all over the world and the amount of magic that the city of Abha captivates the eyes of visitors is due to its diverse natural terrain and the essence that combines the majesty of the mountains with the vast green spaces on the one hand, and the amount of archaeological treasures that consist of historical and heritage landmarks that tell a lot and a lot about the antiquity of the region and tell about the rich cultural heritage of the Saudi people on the other hand.
Best tourist places in Abha
Within the lines of this article, we will try to take you on a tour to get to know the best tourist places in Abha, such as parks, museums, and restaurants that attract visitors from inside and outside the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, which you will love to try.
Parks of Abha City
Abu Khayal Garden
Abu Khayal Park is located in Al-Shifa district. It is one of the most famous tourist places in Abha. The reason behind its fame is that it is an integrated and excellent tourist destination in terms of the type of tourist and entertainment services it provides to its visitors, as the park contains all the elements of entertainment and various types of games that suit all tastes and ages.
Activities to do
Sit and relax in the green spaces and among the trees and watch the beautiful colorful birds and pets.
Visitors can do many sports activities such as walking, jogging, or enjoy cycling and can even try horse riding.
The park has many large shaded family seating areas.
Visitors can try a variety of local and international dishes and varieties in one of the restaurants located on site. Or have a cold or hot drink in one of the cafes.
There are many areas designated for children to play, which contain many fun and safe games for children.
Working hours
From 12:00 PM to 1:00 AM, all days of the week.
Cloud Park
One of the most famous tourist places in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, located in the village of Souda, 15 kilometers from the city center of Abha, it attracts many visitors from locals and tourists to enjoy doing many activities in the embrace of its unique nature, where its visitor feels as if he is flying or standing in the middle of the sky and among the clouds.
Activities to do
Visitors can walk, jog or take a walk with the family and sit and relax in the arms of the picturesque nature.
Visitors often enjoy many exciting adventures such as exploring the rock caves in the area or attempting mountain climbing.
When visiting the park, make sure to go to Al-Soudah village and see its old roads and houses built in the traditional architectural style.
Dam Lake Park
It is located on King Abdulaziz Road in Al-Sadd district, and is one of the most famous tourist attractions in Abha city. Thousands of visitors, both locals and tourists, visit it to enjoy many fun activities suitable for all ages and tastes.
Activities to do
Visitors can take a family outing in the lap of picturesque nature and next to the colorful and fragrant flower beds, which will leave a lot of joy and happiness in the soul.
Enjoy a delicious meal at one of the restaurants on site.
There are many areas dedicated to fun games.
Visitors can enjoy taking a tour of the lake by boat.
Working hours:
24 hours a day, 7 days a week.
Cliff Rida Reserve
The reserve is located in the Azizah Abha area, about 15 km from the center of Abha city. It is considered one of the most entertaining and famous tourist places in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, as it extends over a vast area, which provides you with the enjoyment of many picturesque green natural landscapes.
Activities to do
This is the perfect place for lovers of colorful nature with diverse terrain, where trees and green plants extend over the mountain tops, and they will be lucky if they come across a number of different types of plants or rare animals that this reserve is home to.
Visitors can do many physical activities such as walking, running, climbing and descending.
The most important museums in Abha
Al-Raqidi Museum
One of the historical tourist places in Abha
Al-Raqidi Museum, or as some call it the Quarter Century Museum, is considered one of the most important museums in the city of Abha. It is located next to Mount Dhara and contains 2,000 pieces of rare and ancient manuscripts and antiquities.
Working hours
All days of the week from 4:00 pm to 11:00 pm.
Al-Muftaha Archaeological Palace
One of the most famous tourist places in Abha, located inside Al-Muftaha Palace.
The palace houses weapons dating back to the 16th century, as well as many ancient artifacts dating back to the Jurassic period.
The museum contains many historical monuments and relics that tell the visitor many stories about the history of the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia.
Al-Jahl Archaeological Museum
The best historical tourist places in Abha, which tell stories of the region’s antiquity. It is a private museum, meaning that the Al-Asimi family owns it and supervises the work of tourist guidance.
It was built in the traditional style, looking like old city houses, decorated with cat engravings and motifs taken from the architectural culture of the Asir region.
The museum is located 16.1 km from Al-Soudah Park. The museum displays heritage artifacts that depict examples of the culture and art of the ancient Asir region. These 14,000 artifacts are distributed over approximately 23 exhibition halls, the most famous of which is a hall containing 83 modern paintings.
Tourists can enjoy delicious traditional meals in a hall dedicated to serving local dishes and items, presented by productive family teams in an attempt to enhance the tourists’ experience of harmony with the country’s culture.
In the documentary film screening hall that narrates the history of the region, its heritage and information about its culture, the visitor becomes able to weave real images in his imagination of the magnificence of the Saudi cultural heritage.
The museum provides integrated services such as service facilities such as mosques and special facilities for people with special needs.
Best restaurants in Abha city
Mashraq Restaurant
Mashraq Restaurant is one of the restaurants specialized in breakfast, offering the best dishes and the most delicious items such as fresh baked goods, falafel, pizza, in addition to fast food.
One of the most important features of the restaurant
High food quality
Speed of application submission
The restaurant prices are reasonable.
Working hours:
Daily from 6 am to 1 am.
On Friday, work is divided into two shifts.
First period from 6 am to 11.30 am
The second period is from 1 pm to 1 am.
Mahrani Restaurant
The restaurant is located on King Abdulaziz Road in Al Rabwa district.
One of the best Indian restaurants in Abha, it has a large number of visitors, whether locals or tourists, as the restaurant provides visitors with integrated and excellent hospitality services.
Restaurant Features
It offers many varieties and Indian dishes with their original and delicious ingredients such as curry, tandoori and biryani.
It also offers its visitors a variety of traditional Indian sweets and appetizers.
The restaurant offers a private and warm atmosphere, making it a suitable destination for large families.
The service in the restaurant is excellent in terms of speed of serving the order, cleanliness, etc.
Working hours:
All days of the week from 12:30 pm until 12:30 am.
Visit us restaurant
One of the best restaurants in Abha, it provides a comfortable and pleasant atmosphere for visitors to have a unique and unforgettable dining experience.
The restaurant specializes in serving delicious Lebanese meals and dishes such as Fattoush, Kebab, Hummus, Tabbouleh and Shawarma.
The restaurant offers a wide range of delicious Lebanese sweets in addition to a varied menu of appetizers.
Working hours:
Daily in two shifts
The first is from 6:30 am to 10:30 am
The second is from 12:30 pm to 11:30 pm.
Craving Club Restaurant
Craving Club is located near Abha. It is an American restaurant that combines the American atmosphere with the taste of delicious food, leaving a comfortable impression on the soul that inspires calm and allows visitors to have an unparalleled dining experience.
The restaurant offers many delicious dishes such as pizza, burgers, and delicious chicken dishes. Craving Club also offers a long list of delicious soups.
In addition, the restaurant offers a variety of meals for children.
Working hours:
Daily from 11 am to 1.30 am.
On Wednesdays, Thursdays and Fridays, from 11 am to 2 am.
In conclusion, we see that the city of Abha is one of the best natural tourist destinations in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, as it provides many opportunities and diverse options to enjoy the picturesque nature on the one hand and explore the heritage and culture of the region on the other hand.