Al Faisaliah Garden is an oasis in the heart of Al Hawiyah. Stroll along the tree-lined paths and enjoy a picnic in one of the gazebos. Playgrounds and sports courts make the park popular with local families. On weekends, stallholders set up in the park and sell snacks like “yugmish” bread stuffed with meat and sweet “kulfi” ice cream sticks.
Head into the city and get lost in Taif Souq. It’s one of the largest in Saudi Arabia and is a great place to buy handicrafts and local products like rosewater, pistachios and honey. When you’ve finished shopping, enjoy a glass of mint tea at a café in the historic centre. The district will charm you with its sun-drenched squares, bubbling fountains and honey-hued buildings.
Shubra Palace occupies a beautifully restored house in the Taif historic centre. The building has been reimagined as a local history museum where you can view Islamic artefacts. A wealthy businessman commissioned the house in 1905 and insisted on lavish features like Italian marble floors and ornate lattice windows.
Getting there
Al Hawiyah is in Makkah Province, a 20-minute drive from Taif’s city centre. Taxis are a fast and easy way to get around. Taif International Airport is a 15-minute drive away.