Al-Balad Tour: Jeddah's Heritage Unveiled

Discover the hidden gems of Jeddah’s historic district, Al-Balad. Explore ancient coral-stone houses turned museums, art galleries, and coffee shops on this private tour.

Duration: 4 hours
Cancellation: 24 hours
Highlights
  • Bab Jadid - Among the most ancient gates of the historic town. The tour guide will greet you here.
  • Al-Balad - Explore the historic homes and visit museums, art galleries, cafes, and the traditional markets of the town.
  • Biet Nassif - Nassif House Museum is one of the most notable residences in the old town.
  • Al Shafei Mosque - The…
What's Included
  • Museum fees
  • Tea and coffee
  • Bottled water
  • Snacks
What's Not Included
  • Private transportation
Additional Information

Discover the heart of Jeddah in Al-Balad, the city’s most iconic archaeological and heritage district. Recognized as a UNESCO World Heritage Site since 2014, Al-Balad offers a unique journey through time, where cultures have intertwined for centuries. On my tour, you’ll explore the stunning coral-stone architecture of historic houses, many of which have…

Location
Bab Alfurdhah
الملك عبدالعزيز
I will meet you at Bab Alfurdhah gate, which is a huge stone-built gate.
Cancellation Policy

For a full refund, cancel at least 24 hours before the scheduled departure time.

Customer Ratings
5.0
(46 Ratings)
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Olivia_v
Feb 15, 2025
The guide Ayat is... - The guide Ayat is excellent very nice She takes very good care of each of us very comprehensive and knows very well what a tourist needs
Review provided by Viator
Brucer7
Jan 23, 2025
A friendly, knowledgeable and welcoming tour guide! - Ayat was a great tour guide and provided a wonderful introduction to the old town. She had a lot of knowledge and delivered it in a friendly and interesting way. The tour moved at the perfect pace and I would highly recommend it.
Review provided by Tripadvisor
Sarakb2912sr
Dec 28, 2024
Best Tour! - What an amazing experience. It was super fun! Loved the atmosphere and learning about the history of Al-balad! Impressive historic buildings and details! Ayat shared lots of info and made the trip very enjoyable and fun! Absolutely highly recommended!!!
Review provided by Tripadvisor
Lucah874
Dec 28, 2024
Do it! - Al Balad has been one of the highlights of my trip to Saudi Arabia so far. Ayat is an incredibly professional, knowledgeable and reliable tour guide. Her english is really good and overall she is a very warmhearted and dedicated person. Because she has an official license, there is absolutely no reason to worry. Don't search any longer, Ayat is your guide!
Review provided by Tripadvisor
Cruiser14325557511
Dec 27, 2024
Unforgettable Al-Balad tour with Ayat - Ayat’s tour of Al-Balad was the highlight of my trip to Jeddah! Her deep knowledge and passion for the city brought this UNESCO World Heritage Site to life. She shared fascinating stories about the coral-stone architecture, guided us through iconic landmarks, and revealed hidden gems I’d never have found on my own, like charming coffee shops and art galleries. Ayat’s personal connection to the area made the tour feel authentic and enriching. If you want a memorable and insightful exploration of Jeddah’s history and culture, don’t miss this experience. Felt like we were touring Jeddah with an old friend, that’s how personable she was. Highly recommended!
Review provided by Tripadvisor
Yang
Dec 7, 2024
Amazing tour with Ayat - Had a great time with Ayat! She is very friendly, very knowledgeable and adaptable. She was able to tailor the program for our interest. She gave us a lot of tips on the city, the culture and the food. We enjoyed the old town tour tremendously with her! And would highly recommend! One tip - would suggest one to walk by yourself first in early afternoon so can take nice pictures. By the time the tour start, it may get dark quite quickly.
Review provided by Viator
Jamesg
Nov 29, 2024
Great tour and guide - We went on the historical tour of Al Balad and it was very interesting and eye-opening. Ayat was our guide and she was great as she has good knowledge of the old town. Also, she was very patient with me in that I am collecting footage from multiple countries for a movie and she waited for me to get all the required video shots. We learned a lot on the tour. At the end of the tour, we wanted to go to a fish restaurant and Ayat walked us all the way there as we didn’t think that we could find it— she was very helpful right to the end.
Review provided by Viator
Paul
Nov 17, 2024
Highly recommend for both the tour and a fantastic guide - Ayat was the perfect guide for us. Her English was fantastic, very knowledgeable of the Al Balad area and history, and organized a range of experiences that provided a good sense of what the old town offers. It is evident that she is very interested in and passionate about the unique history, rich culture and amazing architecture of the area which makes it a joy and delight to be with her as she shared it with us. It is fantastic to see how much is being done to bring back this important and unique piece of Saudi culture and history. Well worth the time and no one better to show you around than Ayat!
Review provided by Tripadvisor
Kitajimasae
Nov 11, 2024
If you want to see locals life in Jeddah , this is your to take. - I had a lovely and memorable time with Ayat . I spent 11 days in Saudi Arabia ,(Riyadh , Alula , Medina , Red Sea area and Jeddah .) I feel so lucky that I could spend the last day with her. Until I came to Jeddah , I was a tourist , seeing only things for foreigners. But with Ayat , finally I could see life in ‘ Saudi Arabia’ which is interesting and beautiful. She speaks perfect English. She is very sweet and soft. At the same time,She is very professional and experienced. Further more she is very flexible ! The tour itinerary was very interesting and if we want to deviate from it , she is there to adopt it. Without her , i could not go to one restaurant where there was a long line of locals waiting .She remained until I got a table until late . I was really touched by the kindness. I strongly suggest her tour !
Review provided by Tripadvisor
Damimopa
Nov 11, 2024
A must in Jeddah - Excellent tour guide! Ayat was knowledgeable, engaging and very helpful. Did a great job of introducing the old town and explaining social context of sites we saw. A definite must to a Jeddah visit. Thank you!
Review provided by Tripadvisor
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up to 15 guests
1 Adult
February 2025
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