High city

Good to know

• Tourist attraction
• 2 kmfrom Abha center
• Wheelchair accessentrance
• Parking
• Good for kids
• 4.5 / 5122 reviews
• Abha

Views Among the Clouds

Abha itself sits at roughly 2,270 metres above sea level, earning the city its nickname as the "City of Fog." The High City exploits that altitude to spectacular effect. From its elevated terraces and walkways, you look northwest over the green sprawl of Abha and southeast toward the steep, hazy drop of the Tihama escarpment — those dramatic escarpment slopes with their deep valleys and winding roads that plunge toward the Red Sea coastal plain. On days when moisture from the coast pushes inland, low clouds gather around the complex itself, and you find yourself having coffee with a view literally swallowed by white mist before it lifts to reveal the landscape again.↗↗↗

Dining and Atmosphere

The complex hosts six restaurants and nine international cafés, offering everything from traditional Saudi dishes to global cuisines with a mountain backdrop. Whether you settle into an indoor lounge or take a seat on an outdoor terrace, the experience is defined by the cool breeze, the sense of elevation, and the gradual shift of light across the valleys as the day fades. WadiTrip and other operators describe it as the perfect setting for a warm cup of Arabic coffee surrounded by scenic beauty — an experience that has made the site a natural gathering point for locals and visitors alike.↗↗↗

Family Fun and Events

Two dedicated children's play cities combine entertainment with educational themes, making the complex a popular family destination. Beyond everyday leisure, The High City serves as a hub for artistic, cultural, and musical events — particularly during the Abha summer season when the region welcomes tourists escaping the intense heat of Saudi Arabia's lowland cities. Inaugurated by the Emir of Aseer in June 2020, the project was conceived as a significant tourism addition to the region and regularly draws between 4,000 and 8,000 visitors per day during peak season.↗↗

Architecture and Setting

The design language here respects the region's heritage. Traditional Asiri building elements — the stone-and-wood vocabulary of mountain villages — are woven into a modern complex layout that includes residential villas, resort accommodations, and hotel lodges. The result is a district that feels rooted in its landscape rather than imposed upon it, and which serves as both a gateway for overnight stays and a place to spend an unhurried afternoon.↗↗↗

Practical Information

The High City sits on King Abdulaziz Road directly opposite Asir National Park, making it easy to combine the two on the same outing. There is no single set of opening hours since each venue within the complex operates independently, though the grounds are accessible year-round. The best times for photography and atmosphere are late afternoon through sunset, when the sky glows over the escarpment, or foggy mornings when the view shifts moment to moment. Plan one to two hours for a café stop and stroll; add more time if you want to dine or attend an event.↗↗

Getting there is straightforward: taxis and ride-hailing services from any part of Abha reach the complex in a short drive. From Abha International Airport the journey takes roughly 30 minutes. Weekend and summer-season evenings can bring heavy traffic to King Abdulaziz Road, so arriving earlier in the evening helps if you want a view-facing table. The site has a wheelchair-accessible entrance and parking, and accepts credit and debit cards as well as mobile payments.↗↗

One tip worth following: bring a light layer even in summer. At this altitude, once fog rolls in or evening wind picks up, temperatures can drop quickly, and the exposed viewpoints feel noticeably cooler than the city streets below.