Al Ahsa in a Day

This weekend we took a trip to Al Ahsa. I’ve wanted to visit for a long time now as I am a bit of a history geek and I love old places and old buildings where you can imagine a journey back in time. Al Ahsa was granted UNESCO world heritage status in 2018 due to its historical and cultural importance in Saudi Arabia. The bad news is that some of the places of interest in Al Ahsa are temporarily closed such as the National Museum. The good news is that this means you can really see all of the best bits of Al Ahsa in a day for a whistle-stop tour or two at a more leisurely pace.

We haven't gone on a mini road trip for a long time so when we left the house I was careful that we had everything; kids, masks, water, you know the drill. We were almost at Al Ahsa (1.5 hours driving) when my son shouts 'Oh no, I forgot my shoes!" You couldn't make it up, could you? We were in stitches and laughed all the way to Al Ahsa. Being the good mum I am, I was not going to let a little thing like that spoil our mini adventure so I let him take my shoes and I crafted some make-shift shoes out of things I found in the glove compartment of the car. I spent the day sightseeing in Al Ahsa wearing stripey penguin socks and no shoes.

As a result of our trip I have put together an itinerary for you based on our own and what I feel is the most efficient way around the main sights that are open at this time if you are traveling in from the Khobar, Dhahran, Dammam triangle or already in Al Ahsa. All of these places can be easily found on google maps. This whole tour of Al Ahsa would take you from 9am until 5pm approximately.

Sahood Fort

Sahood Fort is used as barracks for the Saudi Armed Forces according to Wikipedia and its origins are unknown but believed to be built in the seventeenth century. There is parking all the way around it and although you can’t see inside it as it is temporarily closed, it was a nice little stroll around it. The kids liked it because it looked like a giant sandcastle.

Ibrahim Palace

A Unesco Heritage site, Sadly this was closed to go inside but it is still worth a stop and I will aim to visit when it opens. It was built during Ottoman times, around 1556, and was renovated in later years. Construction began with the mosque and later enlarged into a castle that was a Turkish military barracks. Later it was seized by King Abdul Aziz Al Saud in 1913. It combines military and Islamic architecture with the traditional features of this region. Around the corner was a mosque and as we were leaving we could hear the most beautiful Adhan. There was a little play park nearby if the kids need to stretch their legs at this point and parking was available. I only wish there was a little coffee shop on the corner to just take time, sit and enjoy this lovely area.

Qaisarriah souq

While this is open from 8 am to have a wander, the majority of shops will only be open in the early evening onwards so it may be preferable to go when it is bustling. Since we were enjoying a history tour rather than a shopping trip and introducing the children to a traditional Arabian souq, it was nice to go when it was empty but I will return with a bunch of shopping friends one evening this winter insha’Allah. The souq was believed to have been constructed in the early 1800’s, however, some historians and locals have claimed that the souq dates back as far as 600 years ago. It is one of Saudi Arabia's oldest markets that is still in use today and is another heritage site that led to Al Ahsa's world heritage status in 2018.

Coffee break

180 Degrees Coffee or Sakura coffee may be choices with a nice aesthetic.

Al Majassa Palace

This is apparently an archaeological site located in the south of Al Taraf. It was a castle surrounded by a wall and watchtowers. This palace has a historical significance as it witnessed the arrival of King Abdul Aziz to Al Ahsa before and after conquering Al Ahsa. We thought it would be fun for the kids to see some old ruins but we were disappointed since the area had so much trash all over the place. You could skip this place altogether or just jump out for a quick look on route to Jabal Arbar.

Jabal Arba’ or Four Mountains

Make sure you have cold drinks or water for exploring here. The sight is pretty awesome and the kids love to take a trek around the mountains and climb up on the smaller rocks.

Lunch at Qara Hill

Head to Qara hill and have lunch at either Nooba or Saraya Restaurant. Walk off lunch with a stroll in Judas caves also known as Land of Civilisations; tickets are 50 SAR per person. There are educational displays and souvenir shops here too.

Pottery Shop

This wonderful little shop is still on my to-do list. We missed out due to the kids needing a run around instead. If you do make it though it looks like a great place to buy some traditional style pottery souvenirs.

Jawatha Park and Mosque

Here you will find the earliest known mosque to be built in Eastern Arabia that is still in use today, however, it is surrounded by Go Karting and a family park. I must admit, it made me feel a little sad that such history is in the middle of amusements but it’s worth checking out and kids in your group will enjoy the park for a while before heading home. Please note that this park doesn't open until 4pm.

I hope this helps you navigate this lovely historical area. You can maximize your experience and understanding of the local history and culture by finding a local guide. If this Itinerary crams too much into one day for your liking then cut out a stop or two that aren’t of interest to you or spread it over two days by doing Jabal Arba and Land of civilizations on another day altogether.