AlUla is a heritage and desert destination in northwest Saudi Arabia — home to Hegra, the kingdom’s first UNESCO World Heritage Site, plus a 1,000-year-old Old Town, a vast date-palm oasis, the rock formation Elephant Rock, and the mirrored concert hall Maraya. The best time to visit is the cooler months (October to April). Two to three days is ideal, and it is possible as a long day trip from Madinah (~3.5–4 hours each way). This guide covers what to see, what is free, the real ticket prices, when to go, and how to get there and around.
What is AlUla? (location and meaning)
AlUla is an ancient oasis city in the Al Madinah Province of Saudi Arabia, roughly 335–340 km north of Madinah and about 300 km south of Tabuk. The name “AlUla” is often said to derive from the ancient settlement of Dedan; its long history runs through the Dadanite and Lihyanite kingdoms, the Nabataeans (who carved Hegra), and the Islamic era.
For most visitors, AlUla means four things:
- Hegra — the UNESCO Nabataean tomb city.
- AlUla Old Town — the medieval settlement and market street.
- The Oasis — 2.3 million date palms and 200,000 citrus trees.
- The desert icons — Elephant Rock, Harrat Viewpoint, Maraya.
If you have heard AlUla called the “cursed” or “forbidden” city, that is a separate story about Hegra’s ancient past — explained here: Is AlUla cursed?
What to see in AlUla
| Place | What it is | Entry |
|---|---|---|
| Hegra (Madain Saleh) | Saudi’s first UNESCO site; 100+ Nabataean tombs | SAR 95 / person (guided) |
| AlUla Old Town & Market Street | ~1,000-year town, 14 gates, AlUla Fort | Free |
| AlUla Oasis | Date-palm oasis, ~6 km of trails | Free |
| Elephant Rock (Jabal AlFil) | 52 m rock formation; sunset spot | Free |
| Maraya | World’s largest mirrored building | Exterior free; interior from SAR 95 |
| Dadan & Jabal Ikmah | Ancient kingdoms + rock inscriptions | SAR 60 / person (guided) |
| Harrat Viewpoint | Volcano summit with panoramic views | Free |
| AlJadidah Arts District | Street art, cinema, cafés | Free |
| AlManshiyah Plaza | Market, cafés, old railway station | Free |
Full detail on the UNESCO site: Hegra (Madain Saleh) guide & tickets. For Maraya: How to visit Maraya.
Things to do in AlUla: sample itineraries
AlUla in one day (from Madinah)
- 06:00 depart Madinah → arrive ~09:30.
- Morning: Hegra guided tour (SAR 95, pre-booked).
- Afternoon: Old Town + lunch, then the Oasis trails.
- Sunset: Elephant Rock.
- Evening: return to Madinah (~22:30).
AlUla in two days
- Day 1: Hegra + Old Town + Oasis.
- Day 2: Dadan & Jabal Ikmah (SAR 60), Maraya, Harrat Viewpoint, AlJadidah.
AlUla in three days
- Add Elephant Rock at sunset, a desert/Harrat drive, the arts district, and any seasonal event (Dates Season, AlUla Moments).
What’s free vs what needs a ticket (official prices)
This is the honest cost of an AlUla visit. ~60% of the classic itinerary is free.
| Place / experience | Price | Booking |
|---|---|---|
| Hegra Day Tour (guided, shared) | SAR 95 / person | Pre-book (experiencealula.com) |
| Hegra Premium (private 4×4, up to 7) | SAR 1,000 / vehicle | Pre-book |
| Dadan + Jabal Ikmah (guided) | SAR 60 / person | Pre-book |
| Dadan + Jabal Ikmah (audio) | SAR 90 / person | Pre-book |
| Dadan + Jabal Ikmah Premium (private 4×4) | SAR 1,000 / vehicle | Pre-book |
| Old Town guided tour (Rawi) | SAR 70 / person | Optional |
| Oasis Heritage Trail guided | SAR 35 / person | Optional |
| Maraya Tour (interior, guided) | From SAR 95 / person | Pre-book |
| Elephant Rock | Free | None |
| AlUla Oasis trails | Free | None |
| Old Town Market Street | Free | None |
| AlJadidah Arts District | Free | None |
| Harrat Viewpoint | Free | None |
| AlManshiyah Plaza | Free | None |
The bottom line: Hegra (SAR 95) is the only mandatory ticket for the classic day. Add Dadan/Ikmah (SAR 60) and the optional guided Old Town (SAR 70) and Oasis (SAR 35) and the maximum is about SAR 260 per person — everything else is free.
Best time to visit AlUla
- Best overall: October–April. Mild days, cold nights, comfortable for walking the sites. This is also AlUla’s event season.
- Summer (May–September): very hot; sightseeing is best confined to early morning. Some experiences (e.g. Sharaan 4×4) pause in summer.
- Events: AlUla runs seasonal programming through the cooler months — Dates Season (harvest), Peregrina, AlUla Moments and the AlUla Skies Festival. Check the official calendar before you book.
Where to stay in AlUla
AlUla’s accommodation ranges from luxury desert resorts to town hotels:
- Ashar Valley resorts: Banyan Tree AlUla, Our Habitas AlUla, Caravan by Habitas, Ashar Tented Resort.
- Heritage and boutique: Dar Tantora The House Hotel (Old Town), The Chedi Hegra.
- Town/resort options: Shaden Resort, Cloud7 Residence, and hotels around AlJadidah.
Staying in Ashar Valley also gives drive access to Maraya and the valley’s restaurants.
How to get to AlUla
- By air: AlUla International Airport (ULH) has flights from Riyadh, Jeddah, Dammam, Dubai and Doha (seasonal schedules). Airport taxis are limited and first-come-first-served.
- By road from Madinah: ~335–340 km, 3.5–4 hours via the AlUla–Madinah highway (Hwy 15 north). A private car is the common choice; see Madinah to AlUla private taxi (coming soon).
- From the airport: pre-book a transfer; see AlUla airport taxi (coming soon).
Getting around AlUla
- There is no Uber in AlUla. Public ride-hailing is not available.
- Darb AlUla is the local on-demand app, but limited.
- Hop-on-hop-off shuttles (Red/Green/Yellow, from Winter Park) run seasonally.
- Private car or taxi is the dependable option — especially for Hegra (Winter Park), Maraya (gated Ashar Valley) and Elephant Rock. See AlUla taxi & local transport.
AlUla travel tips
- Pre-book Hegra — it is guided entry only, and peak slots sell out.
- All official heritage tours depart Winter Park, and the ticket does not include transport from your hotel to Winter Park. Plan that leg.
- Respect the heritage sites — closed-toe shoes, no loud behaviour at the tombs, follow the Rawi guides.
- Bring sun protection and water year-round; desert temperatures swing hard between day and night.
- Maraya: free outside; book the official tour or an event ticket for the interior.
FAQs: AlUla travel
What is AlUla known for?
Hegra, Saudi Arabia’s first UNESCO World Heritage Site, plus AlUla Old Town, the date-palm oasis, Elephant Rock and the mirrored Maraya concert hall.
How many days do you need in AlUla?
Two days covers the essentials (Hegra, Old Town, Oasis, Elephant Rock); three days lets you add Dadan/Ikmah, Maraya, Harrat and an event.
What is the best time to visit AlUla?
October to April, for comfortable temperatures and the event season.
Is AlUla free to visit?
Much of it is — Old Town, the Oasis, Elephant Rock, AlJadidah, Harrat and AlManshiyah are free. Hegra (SAR 95) is the main paid ticket.
How much are AlUla tickets?
Hegra SAR 95 per person; Dadan + Jabal Ikmah SAR 60; the Maraya Tour from SAR 95; guided Old Town SAR 70; guided Oasis SAR 35. Elephant Rock, the Oasis trails and Old Town Market Street are free.
Can you do AlUla as a day trip from Madinah?
Yes — it is a long day (~3.5–4 hours each way, ~16 hours total), best done with a pre-booked private car that waits at the sites.
Is there Uber in AlUla?
No. Pre-book a private car or use the limited Darb AlUla app.
Is AlUla the same as Hegra?
No. Hegra is the UNESCO site within the wider AlUla region.
Continue planning
- The UNESCO site: Hegra (Madain Saleh) guide & tickets
- The “cursed city” story: Is AlUla cursed?
- Maraya: How to visit Maraya
- Getting around: AlUla taxi & local transport
- From Madinah: Madinah to AlUla private taxi (coming soon)
- From the airport: AlUla airport taxi (coming soon)
Sources: Experience AlUla (experiencealula.com), Visit Saudi (visitsaudi.com), Royal Commission for AlUla (rcu.gov.sa). Prices verified 2026-09-17; confirm on the official platform before booking.