Al Balad, Jeddah

Al-Balad is the historical district of Jeddah, Saudi Arabia's second-largest city. Al-Balad, which dates back to the 7th century, was once the heart of Jeddah. Many Saudi cities include a historic neighborhood known as Al Balad, which is characterized by the aroma of exotic spices and the melodious call to prayer. The most evocative of all is Balad in Jeddah, Saudi Arabia's cosmopolitan harbor city — a maze of narrow passageways connecting historic coral-stone merchants' houses, home to oud dealers, clove-scented traditional bakeries, and the large, dazzling Souq Al Alawi.

Many of the area's massive, crumbling palaces have been meticulously renovated since it was recognized as a UNESCO World Heritage site in 2014, including the grand 106-room Nasseef House – now a museum and cultural hub featuring art and photography exhibitions as well as academic lectures. Furthermore, galleries, mangour wood-crafting studios, and hip cafés are reviving once-dormant structures, offering an area founded in the seventh century a bright future.

Location: Al Balad, Jeddah, Saudi Arabia
Entrance fee: N/A
Best time to visit: Sunset and after the first evening prayer
Hours: Mondays - Sundays: 9: 00 am - 23:59 pm