Eastern Province · Saudi Arabia
Hofuf travel guide
Hofuf is a city in Eastern Province, Saudi Arabia, home to about 661,000 people.
- Best months
- November to March
- Nearest airport
- HOF14 km · Al-Ahsa International Airport
- Currency
- SARSaudi riyal
- Time zone
- Asia/Riyadh
- Language
- Arabic
About
About Hofuf
Al-Hofuf (Arabic: ٱلْهُفُوف al-Hufūf, sometimes spelt Hofuf or Hufuf), also known as Al-Hasa or Al-Ahsa is the seat of the Al-Ahsa Governorate, and the second-largest city in the Eastern Province of Saudi Arabia, after the capital, Dammam.
Wikipedia contributors, CC BY-SA 4.0; excerpted.
Things to do
What to see and do in Hofuf
See
- Jawatha Mosque
- Jabl-e Gara
- Qasr Ibrahim
- Al-Oqair Beach
Do
Reserve a Mazra (a farm house) and spend a day or two with date palm trees. All facilities including private swimming pools available.
Wikivoyage contributors, CC BY-SA 4.0; excerpted.
Where to stay
Hotels in Hofuf
2 hotels within 25 km of the centre, as recorded in Wikidata. Each name links to its encyclopedia article where there is one.
| Hotel | Opened | From centre |
|---|---|---|
| Garden Plaza Hotel | 3.6 km | |
| OYO 416 Bonais Hotel OYO Rooms | 2.3 km |
When to go
The best time to visit Hofuf
The most comfortable months for a city stay in Hofuf are November to March. July is the warmest month, with average highs of 45 °C; March is the wettest, with about 20 mm of rain.
Comfortable means average daytime high between 18 °C and 29 °C and under 80 mm of rain in the month. Averages for 1991–2020 over the surrounding area, a grid square about 50 km across, so a coast or a nearby mountain can make the town itself warmer or cooler. Data: CRU TS v4.10, Climatic Research Unit, University of East Anglia (Open Database License).
Getting there
Getting to Hofuf: airports and arrival
The nearest airport with scheduled flights is Al-Ahsa International Airport (HOF), about 14 km from the city centre in a straight line; King Fahd International Airport (DMM, 125 km) and Bahrain International Airport (BAH, 145 km) are also within reach.
Getting in
Hofuf is around 3 h from Riyadh and 1.5h from Dammam by train. Saudi Railway Organisation runs four trains per day in each direction.
Getting around
Taxi service is available in downtown Hofuf, at SAPTCO bus station and at train station. Hard to find on road (Saudi Riyal 10 -20 per trip to get around in the city). Many car rental services are also available. You need your ID and driving license (Saudi Riyals 70 to 200 per day per 200 km). Southeast Asians provide an on-call cab service (this is usually through a personal contact that you can call later). These cabbies can take you within the city and to anywhere in the Gulf region.
Wikivoyage contributors, CC BY-SA 4.0; excerpted.
HOF · Al-Ahsa International Airport
DMM · King Fahd International Airport
BAH · Bahrain International Airport
Local knowledge
Eating, drinking and staying safe in Hofuf
Eat
Only shawarma, snacks and beverages are available in small shops nearby the cave. Since moving around takes at least 4-5 hours to enjoy the location, you will derive more enjoyment if you can carry own food, especially if you are a vegetarian. Check out Alsaid Coffee for some pricy but authentic coffee house atmosphere in the Souq. Great place to chat especially in late hours when people are going out again.
Wikivoyage contributors, CC BY-SA 4.0; excerpted.
Questions
Hofuf: questions travellers ask
When is the best time to visit Hofuf?
The most comfortable months for a city stay in Hofuf are November to March. July is the warmest month, with average highs of 45 °C; March is the wettest, with about 20 mm of rain.
Which airport is closest to Hofuf?
The nearest airport with scheduled flights is Al-Ahsa International Airport (HOF), about 14 km from the city centre in a straight line; King Fahd International Airport (DMM, 125 km) and Bahrain International Airport (BAH, 145 km) are also within reach.
What currency is used in Hofuf?
Saudi riyal (SAR).
Nearby
Destinations near Hofuf
Sources: city facts from Wikidata and Wikipedia; airports from OurAirports; climate from CRU TS v4.10 (University of East Anglia Climatic Research Unit), 1991–2020 monthly means, 0.5° grid; places to stay, guest scores and amenities from each operator's own public pages. How this guide is made.