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
(49 Ratings)
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Lindseyg909
Apr 22, 2025
The Heart and Soul of the Coral City - Al Balad is a beautiful and fascinating place and being guided by Ayat added another dimension in the historical and cultural context she provided. Ayat has post-graduate qualifications in Interior Design so she has a keen appreciation of the architecture and decorative crafts on display and she communicates her enthusiasm fluently and with warmth. It was great to try some of the local specialities and to have recourse to a local expert. Highly recommended.
Review provided by Tripadvisor
Lo_cv643
Apr 17, 2025
Very Good guided tour - Ayat is a very good guide, the best way to discover the historic district is with Ayat. She knows very much about everything.
Review provided by Tripadvisor
Cosmopolitan311479
Feb 22, 2025
discovering the heart of Jeddah - I had a wonderful tour with Ayat, with many stops for tasty treats. The tour gave me a new appreciation for the city, there is so much more here than just the beach and the malls. Highly recommended.
Review provided by Tripadvisor
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
From $120
up to 15 guests
1 - Adult
Cancellation: Free cancellation up to 24 hours before the start of your experience (local time).