--- title: "Top 10 Things To Do in Abha, Saudi Arabia | Wimup" description: "The 10 best things to do in Abha: Rijal Almaa, the peak at Al Soudah, Al Muftaha art village, the Tuesday Market, Habala by cable car and the green-lit mountain." url: https://wimup.com/city/abha type: City guide updated: 2026-10-23 publisher: Wimup (https://wimup.com) --- # Top 10 Things To Do in Abha Abha, Saudi Arabia · Asia · By Wimup Editorial, 10 min read Abha is the capital of Aseer, at about 2,270 metres on the Sarawat escarpment in Saudi Arabia's southwest. It is the kingdom's cool, green corner: terraced slopes, fog, painted interiors and stone tower villages. Saudis come in summer to escape the heat; come with a car. ## Quick answer Spend a morning at the Tuesday Market and the galleries of Al Muftaha, then drive up to Al Soudah, near the kingdom's highest peak, and down the escarpment to the stone towers of Rijal Almaa. Take the cable car to Habala's cliff village on day two, walk the lake or the cloud forest of Al Sahab, and end on Green Mountain after dark. ## Quick facts - **Best months:** Jun · Jul · Aug · Sep - **Ideal length:** 2–3 days - **Budget per day:** $70–150 - **Language:** Arabic; English at hotels and main sites - **Getting around:** Car hire, taxis & cable cars - **Tourism board:** [Official site](https://discoveraseer.com/en?utm_source=wimup.com&utm_medium=referral) ## The 10 best things to do in Abha ### 1. Walk Rijal Almaa Heritage village · Rijal Almaa, Aseer About 60 stone, clay and wood tower houses stacked on a slope 45 km west of Abha, on UNESCO's tentative list. The fort museum, run by villagers since 1985, holds the best Al-Qatt interiors in the region. - **Time:** Half day - **Cost:** Ticketed - **Best at:** Morning - **Tip:** Drive down via Al Soudah Links: [Website](https://www.visitsaudi.com/en/aseer/attractions/rijal-almaa-of-aseer?utm_source=wimup.com&utm_medium=referral) ### 2. Stand on top of Al Soudah Mountain · Al Soudah, Abha Jabal Soudah, officially 3,015 m and long counted the kingdom's highest peak, rises about 20 km from the city through juniper and fog. Go up for the cliff-edge views over Tihama, and pick up local honey at the stalls on the way back. - **Time:** 2–3 hrs - **Cost:** Free roads - **Best at:** Morning - **Tip:** Bring a warm layer Links: [Website](https://www.visitsaudi.com/en/aseer?utm_source=wimup.com&utm_medium=referral) ### 3. See the art at Al Muftaha Village Art village · Al Muftaha Village, Abha An arts quarter founded in 1989 in restored Asiri houses, with studios, galleries, murals and the 3,500-seat Talal Maddah Theater. It is where to see Al-Qatt painting made today, and to join a workshop. - **Time:** 1–2 hrs - **Cost:** Free - **Best at:** Late afternoon - **Tip:** Galleries open late in the day ### 4. Browse the Tuesday Market Market · Souq Al Thulatha, near Al Muftaha Village, Abha Souq Al Thulatha has traded for about two centuries and now opens daily, busiest on Tuesdays. Come for Asiri honey, silver, pottery, baskets of herbs and the old social theatre of a highland market. - **Time:** 1 hr - **Cost:** Free - **Best at:** Tuesday morning - **Tip:** Taste honey before you buy Links: [Website](https://visitsaudi.com/en/aseer/attractions/souq-al-thulatha?utm_source=wimup.com&utm_medium=referral) ### 5. Ride the cable car to Habala Cliff village · Al Habala Park, Aseer A village set into a cliff face about 40 minutes from Abha, reached by rope ladders until a cable car opened in the 1990s; the name comes from the Arabic for rope. The ride down is the reason to go. - **Time:** Half day - **Cost:** Cable car ticket - **Best at:** Afternoon - **Tip:** Hours shorten off season Links: [Website](https://visitsaudi.com/en/aseer/attractions/al-habala-park?utm_source=wimup.com&utm_medium=referral) ### 6. Go up Green Mountain at night Viewpoint · Green Mountain (Jabal Thera), Abha The hill over the city centre is ringed with green lights visible across Abha after dark, with cafes and lit paths on top. Ride the cable car from the Abha Palace Hotel via Abu Khayal, or drive up. - **Time:** 1–2 hrs - **Cost:** Free; cable car ticketed - **Best at:** Night - **Tip:** Cafes stay open late ### 7. Walk the Al Basta district Old town · Al Basta, Abha One of Abha's oldest quarters, with narrow lanes of stone houses, carved wooden doors and windows, and small shops and cafes. It is the best picture of the city before the boom years. - **Time:** 1 hr - **Cost:** Free - **Best at:** Evening - **Tip:** Check it is open before going Links: [Website](https://discoveraseer.com/en/places/hy-albsth?utm_source=wimup.com&utm_medium=referral) ### 8. Visit Shada Palace Museum · Shada Palace, central Abha A four-storey stone and mud tower from the late 1920s that served as the regional seat of government. It is now a small heritage museum of household objects, crafts, coins and early photographs. - **Time:** 45 min - **Cost:** Check before you go - **Best at:** Morning - **Tip:** Pair it with Al Basta ### 9. Walk round Abha Dam Lake Lake · Abha Dam Lake, Abha A reservoir in the valley west of the centre, built in King Faisal's era and now ringed with paths, family areas and kayak hire. Herons and ducks work the shallows; the water holds the best reflections at dawn and dusk. - **Time:** 1 hr - **Cost:** Free - **Best at:** Sunset - **Tip:** Light shows run in season Links: [Website](https://discoveraseer.com/en/places/bhyrh-sd-abha?utm_source=wimup.com&utm_medium=referral) ### 10. Stand in the clouds at Al Sahab Park Park · Al Sahab Park, Abha A mountain park above the city whose name means clouds, which drift through it most afternoons. Two viewpoints sit close together on the ridge, and the hamadryas baboons that live here come close. - **Time:** 1 hr - **Cost:** Free - **Best at:** Afternoon - **Tip:** Do not feed the baboons Links: [Website](https://discoveraseer.com/en/attractions/al-sahaab-national-park?utm_source=wimup.com&utm_medium=referral) ## Best art & heritage in Abha The forts, rooms and stages that keep Aseer's art and building traditions alive. 1. **Al-Qatt Al-Aseeri Museum (Fatimah Museum)** (Museum · Abha · Abha): A family home turned museum of the painted interiors UNESCO listed in 2017; entry is free. [Website](https://visitsaudi.com/en/aseer/attractions/fatima-museum?utm_source=wimup.com&utm_medium=referral) 2. **Shamsan Castle** (Fort · Abha · Shamsan): An Ottoman-era stone fort at about 2,200 m that guarded the northern approach; lit at night. [Website](https://discoveraseer.com/en/attractions/shamsan-castle?utm_source=wimup.com&utm_medium=referral) 3. **Abha Art Street** (Galleries · Al Muftaha · Al Muftaha): A short strip of galleries, cafes and restaurants beside Al Muftaha. 4. **Talal Maddah Theater** (Theatre · Al Muftaha · Al Muftaha): The 3,500-seat stage of the King Fahd Cultural Center, named in 2019 for the singer. 5. **Al Mushait Palaces** (Palaces · Dhahban · Dhahban): Restored clay palaces in Dhahban, about 35 km out, tied to the region's allegiance to King Abdulaziz. [Website](https://discoveraseer.com/en/attractions/al-mushait-palace?utm_source=wimup.com&utm_medium=referral) ## Best restaurants in Abha Asiri cooking first, then the terraces where the view is the main course. 1. **Bab Al Turath** (Asiri · Abha · Abha): Asiri food in rooms styled on old Aseer homes: jareesh, saleeg and madhbi chicken, 50 to 100 riyals a head. [Website](https://sa.gaultmillau.com/en/restaurants/bab-al-turath?utm_source=wimup.com&utm_medium=referral) 2. **Al Hosn Al Turathi** (Asiri · Abha · Abha): A former police station painted in Al-Qatt, serving mifa bread, areeka and haneeth. 3. **Happy Dose** (Breakfast · Al Manhal · Al Manhal): The breakfast stop for areeka with honey and ghee, on King Fahd Road. 4. **Nahran** (Mediterranean · Abha Al Jadidah · Abha Al Jadidah): The Abha Palace Hotel's fifth-floor dining room, with big windows over the dam lake. [Website](https://sa.gaultmillau.com/en/restaurants/nahran-abha-palace-hotel?utm_source=wimup.com&utm_medium=referral) 5. **Aala Bali** (Lebanese · Al Shifa · Al Shifa): Lebanese plates on a terrace in Abu Khayal Park. [Website](https://sa.gaultmillau.com/en/restaurants/aala-bali?utm_source=wimup.com&utm_medium=referral) 6. **La Scene** (Cafe · Al Shifa · Al Shifa): Breakfast to late evening on a terrace over the city, best after dark. [Website](https://sa.gaultmillau.com/en/restaurants/lascene?utm_source=wimup.com&utm_medium=referral) 7. **Joy Venue** (Terrace · Al Dabab · Al Dabab): A terrace on the Al Dabab ridge where the scenery beats the food; the entry fee comes off the bill. [Website](https://sa.gaultmillau.com/en/restaurants/joy-venue?utm_source=wimup.com&utm_medium=referral) ## Best parks & viewpoints in Abha Four places to stand at the edge of the escarpment without leaving town. 1. **Abu Khayal Park** (Park · Al Shifa · Al Shifa): Terraced gardens, wooden bridges and the mid-station of the city cable car. [Website](https://discoveraseer.com/en/places/hdykh-abo-khyal?utm_source=wimup.com&utm_medium=referral) 2. **Al Dabab Walkway** (Walkway · Al Dabab · Al Dabab): A ridge path through the fog with views west over Tihama. [Website](https://discoveraseer.com/en/places/mmsha-aldabab?utm_source=wimup.com&utm_medium=referral) 3. **Sky Village** (Family park · Abha · Abha): A free-entry mountaintop with paid rides and food stalls. [Website](https://discoveraseer.com/en/experiences/skay-flg?utm_source=wimup.com&utm_medium=referral) 4. **Aqabat Shaar** (Scenic road · Abha · Abha): The tunnelled mountain road down to Tihama, a drive for its views. ## Best heritage villages in Abha Rijal Almaa and Habala lead the list; these four are the quieter villages round Abha. 1. **Al Masqi Village** (Village · Al Masqi · Al Masqi): Over 450 mud and stone houses and an old mosque, about 33 km south. 2. **Bin Hamsan Village** (Village · Khamis Mushait · Khamis Mushait): A heritage village in Khamis Mushait with its own small museum. 3. **Al Salihiyah Heritage Village** (Village · Khamis Mushait · Khamis Mushait): Traditional buildings and hospitality rooms on the Khamis Mushait side. 4. **Al Akkas Heritage Village** (Village · East of Abha · East of Abha): Narrow alleys and old buildings in a village east of Abha. ## Best cable cars in Abha Aseer built cable cars where roads give out. Three lines worth riding. 1. **Abha city cable car** (Cable car · Abha · Abha): From the Abha Palace Hotel over downtown to Abu Khayal and on to Green Mountain. 2. **Al Soudah to Rijal Almaa** (Cable car · Al Soudah · Al Soudah): The line down the escarpment from Al Soudah to the tower village. 3. **Al Habala cable car** (Cable car · Al Habala · Al Habala): The short drop from the clifftop park to the old village. [Website](https://visitsaudi.com/en/aseer/attractions/al-habala-park?utm_source=wimup.com&utm_medium=referral) ## Best hikes in Abha Juniper forest, fog and steep ground. Hire a guide for anything off the main paths. 1. **Jabal Soudah trails** (Hike · Al Soudah · Al Soudah): Several routes up the peak, two to six hours, of moderate difficulty. 2. **Aqabat Al Qurun** (Hike · Al Soudah · Al Soudah): A moderate to hard guided route through juniper with views off the edge. 3. **Aseer National Park** (Park · Aseer · Aseer): The kingdom's first national park, opened around 1980, with forest and valley trails. ## Best day trips in Abha North into the juniper forests, east to the twin city, south to the Red Sea. 1. **Tanomah** (Day trip · Tanomah · Tanomah): Juniper forest and near-constant fog about 120 km north, under two hours by car. 2. **An Namas** (Day trip · An Namas · An Namas): A highland town with a reservoir for kayaking in summer, on the road to Tanomah. 3. **Khamis Mushait** (Day trip · Khamis Mushait · Khamis Mushait): The larger twin city, about 26 km east, with the airport between the two. 4. **Jazan and Farasan** (Day trip · Jazan · Jazan): Down to the Red Sea coast, about 200 km, for the free ferry to the Farasan Islands. ## Festivals & annual events in Abha (2026) - **Qemam festival** (Jan): The Ministry of Culture's festival of mountain folk performance, staged at Shamsan Castle and heritage villages. - **Saudi Founding Day** (22 Feb): A public holiday marking the first Saudi state, with heritage dress and events across Abha. - **Ramadan** (Moveable): Days are quiet; evenings run late at Al Muftaha and the markets. - **Eid al-Fitr** (Moveable): The end of Ramadan, a public holiday that fills the parks and viewpoints. - **Eid al-Adha** (Moveable): The feast at the end of the Hajj, and one of Abha's busiest weeks for visitors. - **Sound of Abha Fest** (Jun – Aug): Open-air concerts through the summer; the 2026 edition ran from 1 June to 31 August. - **Aseer Summer Season** (Late Jun – Sep): The region's summer programme of shows, markets and family parks; 2026 ran 25 June to 1 September. - **Saudi National Day** (23 Sep): Green flags, fireworks and a public holiday for the kingdom's unification in 1932. ## Must-try dishes in Abha, Saudi Arabia - **Haneeth**: Lamb slow-roasted in a sealed pit or clay oven, over rice. - **Areeka**: Wholewheat dough kneaded with dates, honey and ghee, for breakfast. - **Aseeda**: Thick wheat porridge, often with soup or yoghurt. - **Mifa bread**: Fermented bread baked in the mifa oven, served with most meals. - **Jareesh**: Cracked wheat cooked soft with meat and spices. - **Saleeg**: Rice simmered in milk and broth until creamy, under chicken. - **Asiri honey**: Mountain honey sold by the jar at the Tuesday Market. - **Khawlani coffee**: The local highland bean, UNESCO-listed in 2022, poured light. ## Abha transport & airports - **Abha International Airport (AHB)** (AHB): Between Abha and Khamis Mushait, about 20 minutes by car. Saudia, flynas and flyadeal fly to Riyadh, Jeddah and Dammam; Jeddah is about 70 minutes. - **Intercity bus** (BUS): SAPTCO runs long-distance coaches from Abha to Jeddah, Riyadh and other cities. They are slow, so most visitors fly in. [Website](https://www.saptco.com.sa/?utm_source=wimup.com&utm_medium=referral) - **Car hire and taxis** (CAR): Al Soudah, Rijal Almaa, Habala and the villages need a car. Hire at the airport; mountain roads are steep and fog is common, so drive by day. - **Cable cars** (CABLE): Lines run across the city to Green Mountain, down from Al Soudah to Rijal Almaa and at Habala. Hours vary by season. ## Abha at a glance - **Country:** Saudi Arabia - **Region:** Capital of Aseer Province, in the Sarawat Mountains - **Population:** 334,290 in the city, 422,243 in the governorate (2022 census) - **Founded:** An old highland market town; the Tuesday Market is about 200 years old - **Nickname:** Arab Tourism Capital 2017 - **Language:** Arabic; English at hotels and main sites - **Currency:** Saudi riyal (SR, SAR), pegged to the US dollar - **Time zone:** UTC+3, no daylight saving - **Calling code:** +966 17 - **Airports:** Abha International (AHB), about 20 minutes by car - **Power:** 230V, 60Hz, plug type G - **Emergency:** 911 ## Interesting facts - Al-Qatt Al-Asiri, the wall painting of Aseer's women, joined UNESCO's intangible heritage list in 2017. - Jabal Soudah is officially 3,015 m, but a 2018 survey put Jabal Ferwa a few metres higher. - The Arab Tourism Organization named Abha its Arab Tourism Capital for 2017. - Habala was reached by rope ladder until its cable car opened; the name comes from the Arabic for rope. - Aseer receives the highest rainfall in the kingdom, which is why its slopes stay green. ## Abha travel FAQ ### How many days do you need in Abha? Two days covers the city, Al Soudah and Rijal Almaa. Add a third for Habala, the villages and a slow evening on Green Mountain. ### When is the best time to visit Abha? June to September, when the highlands stay far cooler than Riyadh or the coast and the Aseer Summer Season is on. Summer brings afternoon fog and rain. Winters are quiet and can be cold at night. ### How do you get from Abha to Rijal Almaa? Drive about 45 km west, down the escarpment road, in roughly an hour. A cable car also runs down from Al Soudah. Organised tours from Abha combine the village with the peak. ### Do you need a car in Abha? Yes, for almost everything outside the centre. Al Soudah, Rijal Almaa, Habala and the heritage villages are spread across the mountains, and public transport does not reach them. ### What should you pack for Abha? A warm layer. At about 2,270 m, evenings are cool even in summer, and fog rolls in on Al Soudah and Al Sahab. Dress modestly at markets and heritage sites. ## Nearby guides - [Asmara](https://wimup.com/city/asmara.md): Eritrea · 10 picks - [Jeddah](https://wimup.com/city/jeddah.md): Saudi Arabia · 10 picks - [Djibouti City](https://wimup.com/city/djibouti-city.md): Djibouti · 10 picks - [All of Asia →](https://wimup.com/asia): 99 cities Part of the [Saudi Arabia guide](https://wimup.com/country/saudi-arabia.md) · [Asia](https://wimup.com/asia.md) ## Sources - [Abha tourism board](https://discoveraseer.com/en?utm_source=wimup.com&utm_medium=referral) - [Walk Rijal Almaa (official site)](https://www.visitsaudi.com/en/aseer/attractions/rijal-almaa-of-aseer?utm_source=wimup.com&utm_medium=referral) - [Stand on top of Al Soudah (official site)](https://www.visitsaudi.com/en/aseer?utm_source=wimup.com&utm_medium=referral) - [Browse the Tuesday Market (official site)](https://visitsaudi.com/en/aseer/attractions/souq-al-thulatha?utm_source=wimup.com&utm_medium=referral) - [Ride the cable car to Habala (official site)](https://visitsaudi.com/en/aseer/attractions/al-habala-park?utm_source=wimup.com&utm_medium=referral) - [Walk the Al Basta district (official site)](https://discoveraseer.com/en/places/hy-albsth?utm_source=wimup.com&utm_medium=referral) - [Walk round Abha Dam Lake (official site)](https://discoveraseer.com/en/places/bhyrh-sd-abha?utm_source=wimup.com&utm_medium=referral) - [Stand in the clouds at Al Sahab Park (official site)](https://discoveraseer.com/en/attractions/al-sahaab-national-park?utm_source=wimup.com&utm_medium=referral) - [Al-Qatt Al-Aseeri Museum (Fatimah Museum) (official site)](https://visitsaudi.com/en/aseer/attractions/fatima-museum?utm_source=wimup.com&utm_medium=referral) - [Shamsan Castle (official site)](https://discoveraseer.com/en/attractions/shamsan-castle?utm_source=wimup.com&utm_medium=referral) - [Al Mushait Palaces (official site)](https://discoveraseer.com/en/attractions/al-mushait-palace?utm_source=wimup.com&utm_medium=referral) - [Bab Al Turath (official site)](https://sa.gaultmillau.com/en/restaurants/bab-al-turath?utm_source=wimup.com&utm_medium=referral) - [Nahran (official site)](https://sa.gaultmillau.com/en/restaurants/nahran-abha-palace-hotel?utm_source=wimup.com&utm_medium=referral) - [Aala Bali (official site)](https://sa.gaultmillau.com/en/restaurants/aala-bali?utm_source=wimup.com&utm_medium=referral) - [La Scene (official site)](https://sa.gaultmillau.com/en/restaurants/lascene?utm_source=wimup.com&utm_medium=referral) - [Joy Venue (official site)](https://sa.gaultmillau.com/en/restaurants/joy-venue?utm_source=wimup.com&utm_medium=referral) - [Abu Khayal Park (official site)](https://discoveraseer.com/en/places/hdykh-abo-khyal?utm_source=wimup.com&utm_medium=referral) - [Al Dabab Walkway (official site)](https://discoveraseer.com/en/places/mmsha-aldabab?utm_source=wimup.com&utm_medium=referral) - [Sky Village (official site)](https://discoveraseer.com/en/experiences/skay-flg?utm_source=wimup.com&utm_medium=referral) - [Intercity bus (official site)](https://www.saptco.com.sa/?utm_source=wimup.com&utm_medium=referral) - Rankings are Wimup editorial picks. Prices, durations and budgets are editorial estimates, not live quotes; check the official site before you go.