visit jeddah or riyadh

Delusional Bubble

Your travel guide to the fantastic unknown places around the world.

Jeddah or Riyadh, Which One Should You Visit?

Jeddah and Riyadh are both beautiful cities, and among the best reasons to visit Saudi Arabia . They are known for their rich cultural heritage and diverse attractions. They are two of the most popular cities in the country and attract many tourists from around the world. In this post, we will compare Jeddah and Riyadh on five different subjects to help you decide which city you should visit.

Table of Contents

Jeddah has a humid subtropical climate, which means that it has hot and humid summers and mild winters. The city is known for its high humidity levels, which can make it feel quite uncomfortable during the summer months. The city receives a significant amount of rainfall during the winter months, which helps to cool things down and provide some relief from the heat. Jeddah is located on the coast of the Red Sea, which helps to moderate its climate.

Riyadh has a hot desert climate, which means that it has very hot summers and mild winters. The city can be quite hot during the day, with temperatures reaching up to 50 degrees Celsius (122 degrees Fahrenheit) in the summer. However, the evenings are usually pleasant, with temperatures cooling down to around 30 degrees Celsius (86 degrees Fahrenheit). Riyadh is located inland, which means that it is not influenced by the moderating effects of the sea.

Tourist attractions

Jeddah is home to a number of interesting tourist attractions, including the Jeddah Corniche, a popular promenade along the Red Sea. The Corniche is a popular spot for locals and tourists alike, with plenty of cafes, restaurants, and parks to enjoy. The city is also home to the historic Al-Balad district, which is known for its traditional architecture and vibrant markets. The district is a great place to experience the local culture and try some traditional Saudi cuisine. Jeddah is also home to several museums and art galleries, including the Jeddah Regional Museum of Archaeology and Ethnography and the King Fahd’s Fountain.

Riyadh is known for its modern skyline and shopping malls, as well as its cultural attractions. One of the city’s most popular attractions is the Misk Art Institute, which is a contemporary art museum that features exhibitions by local and international artists. The city is also home to the King Abdulaziz Historical Center, which is a museum dedicated to the history of Saudi Arabia. The center features exhibits on the country’s cultural heritage, as well as a number of interactive displays. Riyadh is also home to a number of parks and gardens, including the National Park, which is a popular spot for picnics and outdoor activities.

Jeddah is known for its lively nightlife, with a range of clubs, bars, and restaurants to choose from. The city is home to a number of music festivals and events throughout the year, including the Jeddah World Music Festival and the Jeddah Jazz Festival. There are also a number of live music venues and clubs that feature local and international acts.

Riyadh has a more subdued nightlife scene, with fewer options for entertainment. However, the city is home to a number of restaurants and cafes that stay open late, offering a range of international cuisines. There are also a number of cinemas and theaters in the city that show movies and stage plays.

Both Jeddah and Riyadh are generally considered to be safe cities, with low crime rates. However, it is always a good idea to take precautions when traveling to a new place, such as staying in well-lit areas and avoiding walking alone at night. It is also a good idea to familiarize yourself with local customs and laws, as some behaviors that may be acceptable in your home country may be considered inappropriate or illegal in Saudi Arabia.

Cost of living

Jeddah and Riyadh have a similar cost of living, with both cities ranking as more expensive than many other cities in the region. However, prices for goods and services can vary depending on where you are in the city. Housing costs, in particular, can be quite high in both cities, with rentals for a one-bedroom apartment in the city center ranging from around 4,000 to 8,000 Saudi Riyals (around $1,000 to $2,000) per month. Prices for food and other necessities, such as clothing and transportation, are also higher in both cities compared to other parts of the country.

In conclusion, both Jeddah and Riyadh are interesting cities to visit, each with its own unique characteristics. Jeddah is known for its humid climate, rich cultural heritage, and lively nightlife, while Riyadh is known for its hot desert climate, modern skyline, and cultural attractions. Ultimately, the city that you choose to visit will depend on your personal preferences and interests. If you enjoy hot and humid weather and are looking for a city with a vibrant nightlife scene, then Jeddah may be the city for you. On the other hand, if you prefer a more subdued atmosphere and are interested in exploring the country’s cultural heritage, then Riyadh could be a good choice.

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One thought on “ Jeddah or Riyadh, Which One Should You Visit? ”

Thank you for the introduction to these two interesting cities with much to offer. I learned a lot about them from your post.

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A week in saudi : travel guide to riyadh and jeddah.

When I recently got the opportunity to visit Saudi, I was super thrilled cos its a destination that has been high on my bucketlist due to its epic landscapes, rich heritage and vibrant culture. From the commercial centre of Jeddah – home to the UNESCO Old Town and one of the world’s few Formula 1 tracks – to the breathtaking Red Dunes and mesmerizing Diriyah in the capital, Riyadh, Saudi – to the magnificent desert and history in Al Ula – Saudi has so much to offer in terms of tourism.

I spent my week in Riyadh and Jeddah so I will only be covering these two destinations in my blog post. However if you are planning a trip I would highly recommend you add Al Ula , its so high on both mine and Anush’s bucketlist, we will definitely be planning a trip back to visit the Al Ula!

So without further adieu here is my quick travel guide to Riyadh and Jeddah.

Do you need a visa to go there ?

In 2019, Saudi opened its borders to tourism for the first time ever with the launch of their E-Visa program . Open to 49 countries in markets including North America, Europe and Asia, the E-Visa allows citizens of these countries to apply for a 90-day tourist visa. If you are not from any of the eligible countries you can get a visa on arrival (if you hold a multiple entry US, UK or Schengen visa in the tourist or business category) or apply at your local consulate prior to your trip.

How many days ?

1 week minimum to 10 days – you can split your time across Riyadh, Jeddah and Al Ula. All these destinations are accessible by a quick domestic flight.

How to get around ?

We got around using pre arranged taxis with drivers. Go Zahid arranges this all over Saudi.

Things to know :

• Dress code for women : Saudi does not require you to wear a hijab, it is optional. It is only mandatory when you are entering mosques. Modest dress code is advisable wherein you are expected to cover your chest, shoulders, midriff. Anything below the kneees is acceptable length wise. I packed a ton of maxi dresses, abayas, loose trousers and blouses, kaftans, scarves. Its a great idea to always have a scarf on you – both for the weather as well as incase you want to visit a mosque.

Some of my Saudi outfits :

• No alcohol is served anywhere in Saudi.
• Language : Arabic is the official language of Saudi Arabia and the primary language used in all dealings and public transactions.English serves as an informal second language in the Kingdom and is spoken by a large section of its society.
• Saudi Arabia’s national currency is the Saudi riyal (SAR).
• Local delicacies to try – Shakshuka, Kabsa, Hummus, etc. Kabsa is considered the national dish of Saudi. The flavorful rice is topped with roast chicken, meat, or even fish, and a tomato and chili salsa is often served on the side to brighten it up.

Riyadh is the birthplace of modern Saudi Arabia, where old- world charm meets 21st-century vision. Riyadh translates to “the Gardens,” a reference to the area’s past that dates to the 14th century, when the land was revered for its fertile soil, many canals and trees.

Today, Riyadh Province, also known as Al Wosta, is home to the country’s capital: a modern metropolis with a thriving financial and business center and a growing cultural scene. Riyadh’s blend of medieval and millennial makes for a beguiling cultural union — one where Arabia’s first roots can be traced, and where its bold future can be envisioned.

The city’s fascinating, centuries- old history can be found within its atmospheric souqs, compelling museums and ancient architecture, but it’s also a modern metropolis, with glittering high-rises and a burgeoning contemporary art scene.

Where to stay in Riyadh ?

• Fairmont Riyadh
• Four Seasons Riyadh

Things to do in Riyadh

1 ) catch the sunrise at Red Dunes in Riyadh. Also go dune bashing & sandboarding here!

2 ) enjoy a traditional family style Saudi meal at Najd Village.

3 ) visit the historical Diriyah – the birthplace of Saudi! Diriyah was the capital of the Kingdom in the 15th century.

4 ) enjoy an epic view of Riyadh city from the Sky Bridge.

5 ) spend an evening at the Boulevard Riyadh.

6) visit Masmak Fort – a clay and mudbrick fort in the old city of Riyadh.

7) stroll around the ultra modern King Abdullah Financial District and also visit the Grand Mosque here.

8) go abaya shopping!

Where to eat in Riyadh ?

• Najd Village

They say “Jeddah’s different.” And its so true, I absolutely loved it!  The Red Sea is still central to it all – for trade, for diving among pristine reefs, and for fishing for Jeddah’s legendary seafood.The city where Eve was laid to rest (according to local lore) is a beguiling mix of old and new, and one that remains gloriously different

Historic Al Balad in Jeddah with its charming traditional architecture is currently a UNESCO heritage site. The structures, which are characterized by Roshans (large protruding wooden windows) and lower coral stone houses, are among the rare vestiges of this style of architecture found in the world. The city’s heart is still intact in Al Balad, the magical historical quarter that has undergone a renaissance in recent years. The historic downtown area of Jeddah originally built in the 7th century.

Where to stay in Jeddah ?

• House Hotel Jeddah
• Park Hyatt Jeddah

Things to do in Jeddah 

1) explore the historic Al Balad in Jeddah – the magical historical quarter that was originally built in the 7th century. Catch the sunset at Historical Nights Cafe!

2 ) visit the Al Tayebat city museum to admire the buildings, all constructed using elements of traditional Hejazi architecture.

3) stroll along the beautiful waterfront of Jeddah along the Red Sea – the Jeddah Corniche.

4) visit the stunning Al Rahma floating mosque in Jeddah.

Where to eat in Jeddah

• Angelina Cafe
• Restaurants at the House Hotel Jeddah

Thanks for stopping by! xoxo

Photo credits ( of the ones of me in them ) :   @jamesrelfdyer and @bratociewicz

Asia , Saudi , travel guides

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Destination KSA - Your Guide to Saudi

Riyadh vs Jeddah

By Destination Team

Both Riyadh vs Jeddah are brilliant cities in their own way that have immensely contributed to my life and the life of many. But, I think it’s time to really seal the deal! Which city is better?

Let’s have a look at some of the categories we can make a comparison on.

So, I think you guys have realized that both cities are pretty great in their own separate sense. One city has more of something than the other but it compensates in other categories. They’re both leaning towards further development in the options mentioned above. Riyadh shall be Riyadh vs Jeddah shall be Jeddah because of their individual traditions of existence. It’s up to us to appreciate both sentiments and find the good in everything even if it sometimes may be hard to do.

Read more  How to spend your Founding Day weekend in Riyadh

Now the question is: what do you guys think? Are there any categories we’re missing out on? Do you agree with what we stated? Comment and let us know!

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Besides the Obvious

Jeddah or riyadh: tips to choose.

Written by:

Saudi Arabia is an amazing country. But distances are long from one point to another, from one city to the next, from a landmark to the hotel. So probably you need to choose where to spend your time. The choice between visiting Jeddah or Riyadh as a tourist in Saudi Arabia depends on individual preferences and interests. In the article, we will give you some tips to choose Jeddah or Riyadh. 

How is Jeddah?

Jeddah is on the Red Sea coast. It is known for its historical significance, diverse culture, and vibrant atmosphere in the old town, Al-Balad. The city has a rich heritage, with attractions such as the mentioned historic district, the King Abdulaziz Historical Center, and the famous Jeddah Corniche. Jeddah is also a hub for art and creativity, with numerous galleries and street art displays. As a tourist, you can expect historical landmarks,  amazing ancient architecture, and authentic Arabic street life and souks. 

How is Riyadh?

Riyadh, the capital city of Saudi Arabia, is situated in the heart of the country and is known for its modern infrastructure, skyscrapers, and business districts. Tourists visiting Riyadh can explore attractions such as the Kingdom Centre Tower, the National Museum, and the historic Masmak Fortress. 

Riyadh also offers a glimpse into Saudi Arabian culture, with traditional markets like Souq Al Zal and cultural events. Nevertheless, tourists may rather expect modern architecture, expensive luxury hotels, shopping malls, and the best of international cuisine in fancy restaurants. 

What kind of tourists enjoy Jeddah?

Jeddah is suitable for a variety of tourists, and the city caters to different interests and preferences. Here are some types of tourists who may find Jeddah particularly appealing:

Cultural enthusiasts in Jeddah

Jeddah has a rich history, and cultural enthusiasts can explore the city’s historic district of Al-Balad, which is home to traditional architecture, ancient mosques, and historic sites. The King Abdulaziz Historical Center is also a key attraction.

Art and design lovers in Jeddah

Jeddah has a thriving arts scene, with numerous galleries, public art installations, and creative spaces. The city hosts various cultural events, making it an excellent destination for those interested in contemporary and traditional art.

History buffs in Jeddah

Jeddah’s historical significance, dating back centuries, appeals to history enthusiasts. Exploring landmarks such as Al-Balad and the Masmak Fortress provides a glimpse into the city’s past.

Beachgoers in Jeddah

Jeddah is located on the Red Sea coast, offering beautiful beaches and a pleasant climate. Tourists who enjoy seaside activities  may consider that Saudi Arabia is a muslim country with some strict codes that can influence activities such as swimming, snorkeling, or simply relaxing by the water. Regardless that, if you enjoy strolling or biking by the sea, Jeddah can be very appealing. 

Food connoisseurs  in Jeddah

Jeddah is known for its diverse culinary scene, offering a wide range of local and international cuisine. Food enthusiasts can explore traditional markets, street food stalls, and upscale restaurants to savor Saudi Arabian flavors.

Adventure seekers  in Jeddah

Jeddah’s coastal location allows for various water-based activities, and adventure seekers can enjoy diving, snorkeling, or other water sports in the Red Sea.

What kind of tourists enjoy Riyadh?

Shopping enthusiasts in riyadh.

The city boasts modern shopping malls and traditional souks, providing a diverse shopping experience. Tourists who enjoy shopping for traditional crafts, spices, textiles, or luxury goods will find Jeddah’s markets enticing.

Business travelers in Riyadh

As a major economic hub in Saudi Arabia, Jeddah attracts business travelers. The city hosts conferences, exhibitions, and business events, making it a suitable destination for those with professional purposes. Riyadh as the capital and the economic hub of Saudi Arabia, makes it a frequent destination for business travelers attending conferences, meetings, and trade events.

Architecture fans in Riyadh

The cityscape of Riyadh is characterized by impressive modern architecture, including iconic structures like the Kingdom Centre Tower. Visitors interested in contemporary urban development and skyscrapers will find Riyadh intriguing.

Museum and Art fans in Riyadh

Riyadh is home to cultural institutions such as the National Museum and the King Abdulaziz Center for World Culture (Ithra), where art exhibitions, performances, and educational programs take place.

Luxury Travelers in Riyadh

Riyadh boasts upscale hotels, fine dining restaurants, and luxury shopping experiences. Travelers seeking a high-end and luxurious experience can explore the city’s premium offerings.

Gourmets in Riyadh

Riyadh offers a diverse culinary scene, with a mix of traditional Saudi Arabian cuisine and international dining options. Food enthusiasts can explore local markets, traditional restaurants, and trendy eateries.

City Explorers in Riyadh

Travelers who enjoy exploring modern urban environments, attending cultural events, and experiencing the energy of a bustling city will find Riyadh to be a vibrant destination.

Let’s choose: Jeddah or Riyadh

The truth is both cities offer unique experiences. Tourists may consider their interests and preferences, such as historical sites, cultural experiences, shopping, or coastal attractions, when deciding between Jeddah and Riyadh. Additionally, the purpose of the visit, whether for business, leisure, or a combination of both, may influence the choice of destination. Both cities have their unique charm, and some tourists might even choose to visit both to get a comprehensive experience of Saudi Arabia’s cultural and historical diversity.

Budget to choose Jeddah or Riyadh

Your economy is a critical factor in choosing between Jeddah and Riyadh. Low budget travelers such as backpackers or others may consider that Jeddah is cheaper than Riyadh and you can just stay in Al -Balad to get amazed with the local culture. Otherwise to be in Riyadh means to moving kilometers everyday paying forexpensive taxis and get tickets to enjoy ad hoc activities. 

Modern stuff or rather history to choose Jeddah or Riyadh

If you like modern, futuristic, or contemporary art, architecture, or way of life you may choose Riyadh since you can get there to the best of the near future. On the contrary in Jeddah, where you have the best of Saudi history within walking distance from your accommodation. Of course, in both cities, you have modernity and access to history and tradition. Here we just try to let you know where to focus on one thing or the other would be the best for you.

Innovation or tradition to choose Jeddah or Riyadh

The old Riyadh almost disappeared so the city’s identity is based on innovation. You can have the best of the indoor activities or the most interesting fusion restaurants in spectacular hotels where you can spend your money for good. In Jeddah you will be able to enjoy the city life at takeable walking distances in streets or promenades where to join the locals in a much more  social way. 

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Useful information about Jeddah or Riyadh

You may consider your interests and preferences and get informed about how is each city and what they can offer.

Yes, you can go both to Jeddah and Riyadh but they are very far from each other. You can consider fly from one to the other.

Both cities are very interesting. You cannot say that one is better than the other. Maybe one of those is just better for you since it matches your interests.

Best experiences in J eddah and Riyadh

This place has everything a visitor needs to have a great experience. Its natural beauty draws visitors from around the world- along with its numerous important sites and cultural heritage. As far as things to do in the place go, there are plenty of activities available for visitors.

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Travel Babbo

A Family Travel Blog

A Week in Saudi

By Eric Stoen on December 15, 2021 • Last Updated May 16, 2022 This post may contain affiliate links. Read my Disclosure here .

Visiting Saudi: An Introduction

For me, Saudi was always the Schrodinger’s Cat of countries: I simultaneously wanted to visit and didn’t want to visit. I’ve had friends over the years who lived there with their families as ex-pats and it seemed fascinating – a wealthy country mostly hidden from the world, with no tourism beyond Muslims visiting the holy city of Mecca. But Saudi always seems to make headlines for the wrong reasons.

I turned down an invitation to visit two years ago – right after Saudi started issuing tourist visas for the first time. But COVID changed everything. When I was invited this year, I jumped on it. I truly love the Middle East, I wanted to travel again in a normal way (Saudi’s virus rates are low and its vaccination rates high), I wanted to see Saudi’s modernization with my own eyes, and I wanted to talk to the people. When there’s a country where citizens don’t elect their leaders, that’s where I want to travel deeper and meet the people beyond the headlines. Plus, the takeaway from my friends who went two years ago was that yes, Saudi wants tourism, but there’s not a lot to do. Has that changed?

I accepted an invitation to visit Jeddah and Riyadh with absolutely no requirements of positive coverage, and this blog post wasn’t a requirement.

Flying to Saudi

I left Los Angeles on a Sunday afternoon, flew 16 hours or so to Doha, Qatar, had a layover for six hours, and then flew two more hours to Jeddah, on the Red Sea. This was the simplest itinerary I could find, I love flying Qatar Airways , and if I’m going to have a layover anywhere, Doha’s amazing airport is a good place to do it. Other options were Paris, Frankfurt and London, but they weren’t perfect – there are a lot more flights into Riyadh from Europe than into Jeddah. My flight arrived just a little late.

At the airport in Jeddah I put my backpack through the arrival x-ray and I was immediately flagged for having a “professional” camera – my standard DSLR, which at this point pales in comparison technologically to my cell phone. My passport was taken and I was told to go to “the office” after picking up my checked bag. I did that, my checked bag was x-rayed to make sure I didn’t have more camera equipment, and after a little explanation of why I was in Jeddah, I got my passport back. Note to Saudi: if you want to encourage tourism, maybe don’t hassle people with cameras. If you’re just coming in with your cell phone you’ll be fine.

Jeddah dates back to the 7th century. It was always the gateway to Mecca (an hour away by car) and as more pilgrims have come through, the city has grown from half a million people in 1974 to 4.7 million now. It’s also Saudi’s primary port – the largest port on the Red Sea.

Jeddah’s most interesting sites are the old town (Al-Balad), a UNESCO World Heritage Site, the waterfront/corniche, and the Tayebat Museum , which details the history of Islam and the history, architecture and culture of both Jeddah and Saudi. I genuinely enjoyed spending two days in Jeddah seeing the sites, and as this is the start of Saudi tourism, there aren’t a lot of other visitors yet. It’s a good time to go.

Where to Stay and Dine in Jeddah

We stayed at The Venue . I love the location, and being able to walk along the waterfront in the morning. The hotel was ok. There are several hotels that look nicer, including the Rosewood and Park Hyatt , and there are others being built, including a Shangri-La and Raffles. Just be aware that Jeddah is attracting a lot of major events, from film festivals and food festivals to Formula One races, so be sure to book your hotel well in advance.

Our best dinner was at the Park Hyatt , with a view of the world’s tallest fountain (see my Instagram Stories Highlight ). Our best lunch was at Angelina .

From Jeddah we flew one hour to Riyadh. Our highlights over four days:

Riyadh Season

Riyadh Season encompasses activities, venues and events at sites throughout the city, all open during the cooler months of the year (it’s not fun being outside in the Middle East in the summer). We spent two nights at two Riyadh Season locations, the Winter Wonderland amusement park and Boulevard Riyadh, a mash-up of Las Vegas, New York and Universal Orlando. Winter Wonderland was a lot of fun, with carnival rides and games, and Boulevard was extremely impressive. There’s a Cirque du Soleil show there, an hourly fountain show, musical performances, and activities like the world’s widest slide, but really Boulevard is about wandering around a place that’s visually amazing at every turn. Plus there are excellent restaurants and quick food options throughout.

The Diriyah Biennale

The inaugural Diriyah Biennale just opened and we were lucky to be invited to the opening celebration. It will be held every two years for three months, showcasing Saudi and international artists. Definitely check it out if you visit when it’s taking place.

The Museum of Happiness

The Museum of Happiness lives up to its name – a dozen or so themed, colorful rooms, designed to inspire positive thoughts…and designed for Instagram. I don’t know that I would have had much fun in the museum if I was traveling solo, but with a group of friends? It’s perfect!

The Red Sand Dunes

An hour east of Riyadh are the Red Sand Dunes. I’ve loved desert excursions throughout the world, which usually include some combination of dunes, camels, dune bashing, ATVs, falconry, sand boarding, desert meals and spectacular vistas. This sunrise trip (through Ghazi Tours ) included coffee, dune bashing, ATVs, sand boarding and amazing dunes. It’s maybe my favorite morning ever in the desert, simply because the dunes were stunning and there was no one else around. Seriously, visit Saudi before it becomes too touristed!

And after I returned home, I received a DM inviting me to try paragliding at the Red Dunes next time, so that’s an option too.

The Sky Bridge

At the top of Kingdom Center, more than twice as high as the Four Seasons’ rooms, is the Sky Bridge . It’s not super exciting, but it’s a good chance to see the best view in Riyadh – even better than the rooms at the Four Seasons. Go in the late afternoon for the best light.

Where to Stay and Dine in Riyadh

We stayed at the Four Seasons Hotel Riyadh . Everything about the hotel is perfect, from the breakfast buffet to the service to the rooms. It’s the 11th Four Seasons I’ve stayed at and one of the best. It’s not cheap though – anywhere between $400 and $1000/night depending on when you’re visiting. Opt for a bed/breakfast rate if you can, since otherwise the breakfast buffet is over $50.

We had a lot of amazing meals in Riyadh, and they were mostly Saudi – a nice change from visiting neighboring countries where it’s hard to find local cuisine. I don’t want to visit the Middle East and eat at a western chain restaurant! Our best meals were at Alnakheel at Boulevard , Najd Village (where you take off your shoes and sit on the floor) and Off White .

What to Wear When Visiting Saudi

I received a lot of comments on my Instagram Stories questioning head coverings for women. Head coverings aren’t mandatory, for visitors or for Saudis. A lot of Saudi women still completely cover their heads, but more and more we met Saudis who are opting out.

As far as dress, Saudi is still a conservative country. Don’t wear shorts and don’t have uncovered shoulders, and maybe leave the graphic t-shirts at home. Otherwise Western dress is fine. I wore jeans every day and plain t-shirts and polos (from Unbound Merino ). I also brought a sweatshirt for cool evenings and a puffy jacket for the morning at the desert, although I shed it quickly. I got by with just one pair of shoes – athletic shoes from OluKai. Super-easy to pack light for Saudi.

What We Didn’t Do

This trip centered on Jeddah and Riyadh. I’d love to also see AlUla and the Edge of the World , which look amazing.

What’s Going on in Saudi

Saudi’s committed to bringing in major events. For a calendar of everything going on right now, click here .

Final Thoughts

Saudi impressed me. I don’t know what I expected – probably uninteresting cities without much to do. But I loved seeing how Jeddah’s preserving its history, both in the city and in museums, and I really enjoyed everything going on in Riyadh. The desert experience was excellent, and Riyadh Season blew me away – especially Boulevard. The food everywhere was excellent – better than I’ve had in neighboring countries.

The people everywhere were amazing – from guides and drivers to media to random people who started conversations with us, everyone was warm and welcoming. And I received dozens of DMs on Instagram from Saudis who were genuinely interested in what I thought of their country, asking for both positives and negatives. I’ve never experienced that when posting from anywhere else.

The road system is annoying. In both Jeddah and Riyadh it seemed like we often had to go several km out of our way just to make u-turns. Jeddah has virtually no stoplights and I didn’t see overpasses – the roads just snake. Riyadh is a little better, but still traffic didn’t seem efficient compared to other cities of a similar size. Riyadh’s metro is about to open which may help a little, but Saudis love their cars.

Saudi’s modernizing quickly, both in terms of infrastructure and in its policies. Now’s a good time to go – there are very few places in the world where it’s possible to be one of the first tourists!

My Photos from Jeddah and Riyadh

As professional cameras were frowned upon, I shot almost everything in Jeddah and Riyadh with my iPhone. I also took a lot of short videos, which can be seen on my Saudi Instagram Highlight.

Saudi – Your Turn

If you’ve traveled to Saudi, please comment below with what’s worthwhile that we didn’t get to. I’m tempted to head back and explore some more while it’s still untouristed – and while my one-year tourist visa is still valid.

More from Travel Babbo

December 17, 2021 at 11:14 am

Since my dream of visiting Saudi Arabia will never be realized, I travel vicariously through those who post about their travels. Your pics were great and I enjoyed your commentary. Thanks for the “trip!”

July 18, 2022 at 8:26 am

Thanks for this great overview of the highlights of your trip to KSA. I lived there for a few years growing up — 30 years ago — and am just getting ready to visit Riyadh for work next week. Your post really surfaced some of the great things to see. Thank you!

July 23, 2022 at 1:56 am

Thanks Tom! Have a great trip back!

September 1, 2022 at 7:27 am

Can you tell me if it is allowed to go to Mecca and Medina if you are not a Muslim ? We are a family from Denmark, 2 adults and 2 children, we would very much like to see Mecca and maybe Medina also, but we are not Muslims, and we do not know if these places are for Muslims only. Thank you very much.

September 1, 2022 at 8:03 am

It is my understanding that non-Muslims may not enter Mecca, and can only access portions of Medina. I’ve heard reports of non-Muslims visiting both cities, but I don’t think the government has officially said that that’s ok. I made no attempt to see either city.

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Places to visit in Saudi Arabia – 15-day itinerary

By Joan Torres 31 Comments Last updated on April 11, 2024

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Allowing Westerners to get in is going to be a game-changer for the country because it means that Saudi will be open, more and more tourists will have the chance to discover its beauties and, therefore, the country will evolve positively and more progressive rules will be implemented. 

For all the visa-related information, read how to travel to Saudi Arabia .

All right, the first thing you need to know is that there are many awesome things to do in Saudi Arabia and it actually has a massive touristic potential that goes way beyond desert, camels, and Bedouins. 

I mean, just look at its dimensions – it’s massively huge, really – with an area 4 times bigger than Spain, so the country is home to large geographical contrasts, ranging from high, green mountains to sand dunes and coral reefs. 

After spending 2 weeks traveling around, I have compiled all the places to visit in Saudi Arabia in a 2-week itinerary. 

In this Saudi Arabia travel itinerary you will find:

Table of Contents

• How to organize your trip
• How to access blocked websites
• 10-12-day itinerary
• Additional Places (2-3 days)
• More information

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How to organize your Saudi Arabia itinerary

Most likely, your Saudi itinerary will start in Riyadh or Jeddah, from where you will start planning your journey. 

Read: How to find the right accommodation in Riyadh

The problem with Saudi Arabia, however, is that the distances are too big, plus the 2 main cities are located in the middle, which means that, if you want to visit both the south and the north, you will have to do some really crazy detours. 

Just for you to have an idea, imagine you want to visit Riyadh , Jeddah, Al-Ula and Jizan, which are the 4 greatest places to visit in Saudi Arabia in my opinion:

Riyadh to Jeddah: 954km Jeddah to Jizan: 714km Jizan to Al-Ula: 1,382km Al-Ula to Jeddah: 676km

That’s 3,726km in less than 10 days, only for moving from one city to another. 

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Then, how to plan what to do in Saudi Arabia?

Moving around by car.

If you are willing to drive long distances, you can rent a car, no problem, but just be aware that, in Saudi, most rental car companies (not to say all), offer limited daily mileage , around 250-300km, so if you drive all around the country, the final quote can be a bit expensive. 

Moving around by plane

Probably the most feasible option. I personally took 2 flights, from Riyadh to Al-Jawf and from Jizan to Jeddah and it saved me a lot of time. There is a very budget airline called flyadeal and, if you book in advance, you should get good rates. 

In any case, there is not a single place to visit in Saudi Arabia made for walking or moving around by public transportation, so even if you fly in, you will have to rent a car at the destination itself. 

How to access blocked sites in Saudi

Something you should know is that, in Saudi, the internet is censored.

This means that some websites might be blocked and inaccessible for regular internet users.

Moreover, because of this censorship and, since there is no freedom of speech, the Government reserves the right to monitor your internet activity.

Therefore, if you want to access blocked sites and navigate anonymously, you will need something called a VPN (Virtual Private Network) and for that, I use – and strongly recommend – ExpressVPN , the VPN that works best for Iran.

If you have no clue about VPNs, read my tutorial: What is it and how to find the right VPN for Saudi Arabia

Get this epic travel guide to Saudi Arabia!

My friends Sian & Bob have recently published a full guidebook to Saudi Arabia, containing loads of actionable advice and a great overview of each one of their regions. A great introduction to the country, this must be the only available travel guide to Saudi Arabia !

Places to visit in Saudi Arabia – 10-12 Days itinerary

This Saudi itinerary covers the following things to do:

• Riyadh – The capital, which is surprisingly interesting.
• Jeddah – The second largest city has the most beautiful Old Town in the Gulf.
• Abha – Spectacular mountains and colorful heritage villages.
• Jizan – Mountain villages and Yemeni-like culture.
• Al-Ula – A replica of Petra and Wadi Rum but without tourists.

Visiting Mecca and Medina – Why aren’t included in the Saudi Arabia itinerary? Good question. The Saudi tourist visa specifies that you can go anywhere in the country except Mecca and Medina, the two holiest places on Earth for Muslims. ”I understand, but I know that some Westerners have sneaked in successfully” Yes, but let me tell you something: those holy places receive thousands and thousands of visitors every day, so they can’t check everybody who gets in, especially if you dress like them. However, entering without their permission is not only illegal but also extremely disrespectful, let me tell you why: According to their interpretation of the Quran, whoever goes to Mecca or Medina needs to have their soul and body cleansed, and that involves following some rituals and protocols before getting in, similar to going to a regular mosque but even more extreme. Christians entering Mecca won’t follow any of those rituals and, according to Saudis, that could lead to something bad. Yes, it is a superstitious thing but you are in their country and in their holy place, so if you want to be a responsible tourist, you shouldn’t go there. You can, however, visit both cities but there is a line several meters before the holy place which you are not allowed to cross. 

Map of the things to do in Saudi Arabia

Riyadh – The country’s capital (3-4 days)

As the capital, Riyadh has the largest number of flight connections from Europe, Asia and many places around the world , so it makes sense for it to be your first place to visit in Saudi Arabia. 

The first thing you need to know about Riyadh is that it has nothing to do with the fancy, oil-rich, Dubai-style and Maserati-filled capital you may think of, but it is actually a crowded city, full of dust, and not very clean precisely. 

Nevertheless, Riyadh is rich in culture and history, more than any other capital in the Arab Peninsula, so I actually liked it a lot, plus it has some wonderful natural beauties, as well as ruined cities, just outside of the city. 

Things to do in Riyadh

In the Old City – Don’t forget to check Masmak Fort, the place that held the famous Riyadh Battle ; the National Museum; Deera Square, where public executions take place; and Imam Turki bin Abdullah Mosque, one of the largest mosques in Saudi. 

Outside of Riyadh – Visit the Red Sand Dunes, the Edge of the World, the Camel Trail and Ad Diriyah. 

In the modern part – At sunset, you must climb the Skybridge tower. 

For more information, I have written a full mega-guide:

How to visit Riyadh in 3 days – A complete guide

Where to stay in Riyadh

These are just a few options. For a proper district breakdown, check: Best areas to stay in Riyadh

Budget Hotel –   OYO 150 Al Hamra Palace Al Aswaq – Simple but clean and comfortable. In Saudi, aparthotels are very common and the cheapest accommodation. 

Mid-Range –   Mada Suites – For travelers with a higher budget, this aparthotel is a really good value for money choice. 

Affordable Luxury – Crowne Plaza – This 5-star hotel is cheaper than many other luxury options in the city. 

Jeddah – The most progressive city (3 days)

Established in the 7th century AD as the gateway for Muslims going to Mecca who arrived by sea from mostly Africa, Jeddah is the second largest city in the country and, in relative terms, the most progressive place to visit in Saudi Arabia. 

Here is where you find the most liberal young hipsters in Saudi, who mainly hang out in the modern cafés, which are growing day-by-day, and organize the many underground, clandestine parties Saudi is famous for. 

Things to do in Jeddah

Al Balad – Besides being the preferred place for expats to live, Jeddah is also home to Al Balad, a UNESCO World Heritage site and the most beautiful Old City from all the Gulf Monarchies, composed of buildings with colorful windows and narrow streets with a great local life that turns into a bustling and vibrant area right before sunset. 

The Red Sea – Moreover, since Jeddah is settled on the shores of the pretty untouched Red Sea, Jeddah has a great coastline with great beaches, Silversands for example, is a mixed gender beach where women can wear bikinis. 

Al Wahba Crater – If you have time, I also recommend going on a day trip to Al Wahba Crater, a crater around Taif area, which is believed to be caused by a meteorite. 

The Floating Mosque – Last, don’t forget to check out the Floating Mosque (north corniche), a beautiful mosque on the sea which gets pretty busy after the main Friday prayer. 

Where to stay in Jeddah

Budget –  OYO 125 Al Hamra Palace – It is the same one I recommend in Riyadh, basically, because they are the best decent budget option in town. 

Mid-range – Shada Executive Hotel – This beautiful hotel has a great design concept, it is in a relatively good location and is one of the best-rated hotels in town. 

Affordable luxury – The Hotel Galleria By Elaf – One of the best, cheapest and best-rated 5-star hotels in Jeddah. 

Abha – Epic ancient buildings and monkeys (2 days)

My Couchsurfing host had canceled my request upon my arrival in Abha, so I headed to the center of town in order to figure out where I could stay.

I was walking around with my backpack, without many expectations to be honest, until I found a great traditional market, the first one I had visited in which the different stalls were not Indian or Pakistani-run, but 100% local Saudi, both men and women, who were selling from dates to all sorts of fruits and homemade meals. 

There were also many honey-stalls, some of them selling literally tens of types and there I learned that Abha is worldwide famous for its honey and, in fact, it is considered the best one in Asia. 

If you want to read more content about this region, read: where in the Middle East is safe ?

You will have a great time in that market but the main reason you should visit Abha is that it is located in a secondary dimension from the rest of Saudi Arabia and that is in a mountainous area filled with lush green hills, wild monkeys (yes, there are loads of monkeys) and some striking local architecture. 

Moreover, Abha is a real off the beaten track region , so making random Saudi friends is fairly easy and I actually met a great group who showed me around their mountains and villages. 

But perhaps, Rijal Almaa Heritage Village is the place Abha is most famous for and one of the best places to visit in Saudi Arabia. 

Many centuries ago, Rijal Almaa was the main stopover for people coming from Yemen to Mecca and Medina, so the village turned into an important trading center. 

The main peculiarity about Rijal Almaa is that it was never totally under total Ottoman rule, so they managed to keep their traditional architecture which, as you may see from the photos, is similar, if not the same, to the architecture you find in Yemen. 

The colorful Heritage Village is still under restoration and it will take a while to be finished because it is mainly been restored from the villagers’ pockets.

Today, Rijal Almaa is in the tentative list for becoming a UNESCO World Heritage site.

It contains a museum, as well as many viewpoints from where you can take great pictures.

Where to stay in Abha and Rijal Almaa

Be aware that accommodation here is more expensive than in the big cities.

Budget – Shatha Abha Furnished Units – The cheapest option in Abha.

Mid-range – The View – Relatively fancy, super spacious rooms with great views of Abha’s lake. 

Affordable Luxury – Blue Inn Boutique – There are not many 5-star hotels in Abha, but I recommend this one because it is quite affordable for what you get. 

Jizan – Welcome to Yemen (2 days)

Jizan, WOW. 

If Abha is a secondary dimension, then Jizan is in a different universe because the mountains here are not only more dramatic but the Yemeni-like culture is totally different from any other place to visit in Saudi Arabia. 

They eat Yemeni food and, in the villages, you will find many people dressing in the traditional Yemeni way, which often involves wearing a janbiya , the Yemeni dagger, and a hat made of flowers. 

These Yemeni-like people are really friendly and you can ask them for a picture, no problem at all. In fact, they will like it because it’s not every day that a random foreigner asks for a photo. 

Jizan is also very close to two Against the Compass destinations (just across the sea): Somalia and Eritrea

While Abha is very much off the beaten track, it attracts a lot of domestic tourism, but barely Saudis visits Jizan, which means that you will be a particularly exotic element here. 

Jizan is a province, with Jizan City as its capital. The city is not very exciting, other than having a really average-looking corniche, quite boring in my opinion, but it is a great base to explore the region. 

The places you should not miss are Fayfa and Absiyah , two mountain villages which are around 100km east of Jizan, where you will find the famous hills with those terrace fields (Southeast Asia style) Jizan is famous for. 

Read: Syria travel guide

There are many different villages to explore and I recommend to drive around randomly. By the way, the local market where you will meet those Yemeni-like people bargaining for a dagger takes place every day in a different village, so do find out where will it be held on the day of your visit.

Where to stay in Jizan

Budget – El Eairy – The most budget option. Seriously, despite the bad rate on booking (Saudis are very demanding), it is not that bad for one or two nights. I stayed here and it was fine. 

Mid-range – Nozol Ghayda – For people on a mid-range budget, this is a good value for money option. 

Affordable luxury – Novotel Jizan – There are only two 5-star hotels in Jizan and this is the best-rated. I came here to have some nice coffee in the morning and it was great. 

Al-Ula – Like Petra and Wadi Rum but without tourists (2-3 days)

I will be honest here. 

This is the only place from this Saudi Arabia itinerary that I didn’t go to. 

And the reason is that Madinah Saleh , the most jaw-dropping thing to do in Saudi Arabia, was closed during my visit, as the place had suffered from vandalism and they had restricted the entrance until they figure out what to do with the place. 

Nowadays, however, Madinah Saleh is fully open to visitors!

In any case, what is Madinah Saleh?

Madinah Saleh, or Hegra, was an ancient city founded by local tribes 5000 years ago, but it was not until the 2nd century BC that the Nabateans, the same guys that built Petra, made it a great city, in a fear of the Romans conquering Petra, so it could serve as the new capital. 

Still, the Romans conquered both cities, Hegra and Petra, but the more than 100 tombs carved from the giant desert rocks still remain and it is particularly more stunning than Petra because it is located in the middle of literally nowhere. 

For more information, I recommend you read this guide to Madinah Saleh from Blue Abaya . 

Besides Madinah Saleh, there are other things to do around Al-Ula

The desert around Al-Ula – Is a replica of Wadi Rum but with no Bedouins trying to sell you expensive desert tours. 

Al Deerah Heritage Village (Old Town) – Another great highlight, Al Deerah is a 2,000-year-old mud-based ghost town.

Where to stay in Al-Ula

Mid-range – Sahary Al Ola Camp – A beautiful desert-themed hotel located in the middle of the beautiful desert. 

What to do in Saudi Arabia – Extending your itinerary: Al Jawf & Hofuf (2-3 extra days)

Since I had some spare days left, I decided to also visit Al Jawf and Hofuf, located in the far north and far east respectively. 

To be honest, they are not the greatest touristic places but I enjoyed my time because I went there with a great group of people and also, I had to go because I was working on a project for a local company, so they wanted to show me around and take some photos. 

Is it worth it to go? Well, I will show you the photos, give you some explanation and then you decide. 

Hofuf – Great temples and mosques – (1 day)

Hofuf is 327km from Riyadh, so if you leave early in the morning, you could visit it on a day trip, that’s what I did. 

It is located in the eastern part of Saudi, in Al Ahsa region, relatively close to Dammam, an unattractive industrial city with no particular touristic interest. 

In Hofuf, however, there are a few sites worth checking out.

Things to do in Hofuf

Ibrahim Palace – Beautifully restored, this 500-year old Ottoman building used to serve as both an Islamic building and a military fortress, and elements fulfilling these functions can be seen all around. 

Jabal Qarah – In the middle of Hofuf, there is a small rocky hill named Qarah made of utterly strange rock formations.

Most of the site has been restored, very badly, and it seriously looks like shit because they have added loads of artificial elements, losing the total sense of a natural place and, unfortunately, as I expected, the locals freaking love it. 

Only because of that refurbishment, I would tell you to skip it but if you get off the main trail, climb the walls, you will see that half of it hasn’t been restored yet, so it is a great place to watch the sunset and take some cool shots. 

Jawatha Mosque – Apparently, this was the second mosque that Prophet Muhammed ever prayed at on a Friday and what I like about it is that it is very humble. 

The souq – The souq of Hofuf is composed of narrow lanes with traditional wooden facades and many of the shops are run by local Saudis, so it was pretty cool to visit. 

Where to stay in Hofuf

Budget – Al Masem Hotel – The classical budget aparthotel in Saudi. 

Mid-range (traditional hotel) – Al Koot Heritage Hote l – We visited this hotel because it is one of the very few hotels in Saudi Arabia which is decorated in the most traditional way and tries to sell a cultural experience. The food here was also great. 

Top-end – Al Ahsa InterContinental – The best-rated 5-star hotel in Hofuf. 

Al Jawf – The most northern region (1 or 2 days)

Well, if you check the map, you will see that Al-Jawf is crazy far, more than anywhere else, and it is in fact 1,147km away from Riyadh. 

I personally came here by plane from Riyadh but, like I said, I went there to work on a project, so they paid all my expenses. Still, if you happen to be in Tabuk, a northern city that has the greatest desert landscapes in the country, Al-Jawf is pretty close. 

So, is it worth it to go or not?

I had loads of fun because there I was received by two young Saudi ladies who wore the niqab and spent the whole day with them. I went for coffee with one of them in a café (just the two of us), they invited me to their house, fed me and, of course, showed me around their province.

It was a great cultural experience, one that very hardly any male can tell. 

Anyways, other than my interactions with the local women, Al Jawf is rich in archaeological sites, as well as a local culture which sometimes seems to have closer relation with Jordan than Saudi itself, especially when it comes to food, as I just ate Arab Levantine dishes such as makluba and  dolma and you will be surprised to know that the region is very rich in olive oil. 

Actually those ladies gifted me with 1 litre of local olive oil. 

Many Saudis also claim that Al Jawf is home to the most hospitable people in the country but I would not know what to say about that, as I was treated like a royal guest everywhere I went. 

Things to do in Al-Jawf

Rajajil columns – Some very weird 6,000-year old stone columns built by pagans. They believe that each rock represents a man. 

Za’abal Castle – More a fort than a castle, located on the top of a hill from where you get stunning views of the valley. 

Marid Castle – An Assyrian 1,800-year old castle with traces of Romans and Nabateans. This is the top place to visit in Al-Jawf region. 

Where to stay in Al-Jawf region

Budget – Ghoson Al Zaitoun Furnished Units – The most budget classic aparthotel.

Mid-range – Dana North – Spacious rooms and the best location for travelers with a higher budget. 

More information to complement your Saudi itinerary

📢 In my Travel Resources Page you can find the list of all the sites and services I use to book hotels, tours, travel insurance and more.

All guides and articles for traveling in Saudi Arabia destination

• Travel Guide to Riyadh
• Where to Stay in Riyadh
• Solo Female Travel Guide to Riyadh
• Is it Ethical to Visit Saudi Arabia as a Tourist
• Hitchhiking and Backpacking in Saudi Arabia
• VPN for Saudi Arabia
• Travel Guide to Saudi Arabia

Travel Itineraries to other countries in the Middle East

• Iran Itinerary
• Iraq Itinerary
• Travel Guide to Oman
• Travel Guide to Lebanon
• Syria Itinerary

You will also be interested in: Where in the Middle East is safe? and The most beautiful places in the Middle East .

31 comments

Great rundown of places for a first-time itinerary! I was excited to hear that they were allowing regular tourists to visit, so now I’m trying to think of a good time for me to do so. That said, I’ll probably wait until Madain Saleh is open for visiting, as that is definitely a place I want to visit when I go there.

Hello, my friend and I are going to Saudi in January 2020 for 10 to 12 days. We really want to go to Jizan and the surrounding mountains and villages. Did you feel it was safe when you went yourself? How close did you go to the Yemeni border? Also, How did you move around, did you arrange a guide/driver? would you have any recommendation for that? Finally, did you consider going to the Farasan Islands by ferry from Jizan? Thanks for this great blog post, we found plenty of very useful information! François

Hi François, I went as close to Yemen as Jizan and Fayfa. It was safe. In Jizan, I met up with a local Couchsurfer and they showed me around with their car. The rest of Saudi was mainly by hitchhiking and locals I met on the way. I would suggest you rent a car. I did consider going to the islands but didn’t have time unfortunately.

By the way, I just wanted to quickly update you on the status of Madain Saleh, it is open this January for the winter festival on weekends only, then it will close again until they figure out how to open it to tourists. More info at https://experiencealula.com/en/Pages/default.aspx and bookings at https://book.experiencealula.com/

thanks for the update!

I really love your travel blog here and it gave me a very good start and overview for my plannings!

Now I am planning a trip to beautiful Saudi Arabia and visiting Madain Salih would be my main reason to visit also the north! But now I am wondering if this would be possible in the middle of march 2020!? I saw the news that the sight is closed for maintanance reasons till the end of 2020 – only open during a festival from december till beginning of march.

Will it be worth to go there or is there a way to visit this wonderful sight?

I would los to see this place!

Thank you and kind regards from Austria,

Hey Florian, I just updated the article accordingly and, as you say, it will only be opened until March 7th. After that, there is no official source saying what will they do with the site. I think that not even they know what will happen. If Madinah Saleh is your only and main reason to visit Saudi, I would suggest you postpone the trip. For me, it was a big disappointment not visiting Madinah Saleh but as you can see, there are loads of things to do in Saudi

Hi, I have tried to get a visa via the recommended site, however, the price they mentioned is very far away from the US170 and they claim that you need to buy a visa from them in order to get the visa? Do you know how to get a visa for US170 without having to get an insurance too as I do have one already covering KSA too? Bertil

Hi, today we returned from a trip of one month in KSA and it was wonderful. I have loads if fresh information. The country is very safe, even on the road visiting Najran as close as 15 km from the Yemeni border. People are extremely friendly and helpful. For shorter legs we took the Saptco bus and flying with fyadeal never was expensive. But we could not visit Madain Saleh. There are lot of other places worth a visit.

Thanks for your report 🙂 I also couldn’t visit Madinah Saleh, a pitty, but yeah, Madinah Saleh is just one of the many wonders in Saudi

Good morning Thanks to the new visa regulation we are allowed to visit Your country and therefore we ask for your assistance to study the following itinerary: 13 DAYS group of 11 pax TOUR iNCLUDING : fly to jIDDAH – AL MADINAH – AL ULA – MADAIN SALHI – AL WAJH on the coast- DUBA on the coast , AYNUAH – – HUMAYD – TABUK flay to italy via Riyad Duration 12 days Using 4×4 cars which will be driven by us One car will have to be driven by your guide/driver expeert of the area while other 2 car by our clients (2 cars driven by us 1 car driven by tour guide/driver . We nweed to arrange all overnights in hotels,private houses when available or tented camps but always of mediun cost , not de luxe – You can include il your quotation ( no meals that will be paid locally) Ariport Transfer upon arrival andeparture CAR RENTAL FOR 4X4 SELF DRIVEN CARS ALL ACCOMODATION AS REQUESTED ONE DRIVER – GUIDE WHO WILL FOLLOW OUR GROUP FO THE WHOLE 12 DAYS We intend to promote this tour and receive many groups from January 2020 on april /may according to temparature . Hope to receive as soon as possible tour reply and info abd suggestions about our project Faithfully Vittorio Kulczycki

Please let me knmown if you received my message vittorio >KUlczycki

Hello Vittorio. I am not a tour operator but this is just a travel blog, sorry!

Hi Torres, thank you for your feedback about Saudi Arabia. I enjoyed your blog about your trip. You went to the most beautiful places in Saudi and you mad the right chose. I do work with a Saudi travel agency called Taiba Flocks. Also, thank you for writing about Saudia because many western people have bad thoughts about Saudi, and no one can judge them because we know how the media impact everything. And you all welcome to Saudia.

thank you for sharing. It is very difficult to find some relevant information about traveling around KSA and some great sights to see. Sadly even some expats living there have no clue about the country. Nevertheless we are flying to Jeddah in a month and we will try to enjoy our stay as much as possible. Since we have just 10 days, we want to cover just a small part of the KSA and so far it looks like we are going to the south (security situation permiting). Our preferable way of travel would be a rental car and we would like to camp in the wild as much as possible. Do you think it would be possible? I assume that in the middle of nowhere we would just turn off the road and pitch the tent and in case we are in inhabited area like in the mountains we would ask locals.

Thanks for your feedback, Michael

Hi Michael, yes, it would be possible, In fact, random camping is a very common practice in these region

Thanks Joan, we are looking forward to new middle east adventure. Together with Kuwait, the KSA is the very last country in the region we haven’t been to yet. So exciting! One more question – do you think we would need a proper offroad car (Toyota Landcruiser or so) to drive around southern mountains or is common SUV good enough? In Oman we always rented a big proper one which would alow us to get deep in some wadis, but mostly any car is fine, high clearance is a plus.

Thanks, Michael

Hey Michael, at least for all the places mentioned in this article, there is no need to get a 4×4, but it depends on where you wanna go!

Hi Joan, I’m so glad I found your well written blog about KSA as there isn’t that much info on internet for travelers who like to travel on their own. We’re 4 Slovak guys planning to go for a week (can’t stay longer unfortunately due to family reasons) to Saudi Arabia flying into Riyadh and departing from Jeddah (to save time). As Madinah Saleh is closed we’ll skip the north because of lack of time (I visited Petra together with my wife last year), so we’ll might focus on Riyadh, Jeddah , probably Dhee Ayn, Marble Village and eventually Jizan. We plan to rent a car but that issue with limited daily mileage concerns me a lot. I googled through different renting websites but couldn’t find an offer for unlimited mileage. Do you eventually know which company could offer such? What I considered as well was taking some bus/train at least between Riyadh and Jeddah, but I can’t really find some direct connection. I have a question as well in regards of that eVisa, found several websites offering to handle the touristic eVisa, none of them is governmental though. Most of them don’t even have the final price stated until you fill out the data…a fact I don’t like that much. The link you provided in your blog, that price of 170 USD is a final one everything included? Thanks in advance. BR Martin

Hi Martin, When I was in KSA, I asked many locals about the mileage issue and they said that that was the general rule in KSA. As per the evisa, the one linked in my blog is the official one. I don’t know how much it costs now, as it has changed since the last time I applied

Hi there This blog is so good! Thank you so much much for all the info and ideas. Ive booked my flight into Riyadh for next month and can`t wait to travel Saudi Arabia 🙂 My plan is to end up in Hail and then somehow cross by land boarder into Jordan. I tried booking a bus with JETT and SAPTCO , but both websites don`t seem to have a bus service between Saudi Arabia and Jordan anymore. Does anyone have any ideas or Links on how I could travel into Jordan by road ? Maybe from Hail or any other destination in Saudi Arabia

If there is no bus, would it be possible and safe to hitch hike with a truck or ride share with locals. Would people be able to take me legally across the border into Jordan. Unfortunately I don`t speak Arabic 🙁 Any help would be appreciated, thanks Markus

Just wondering the best way to travel from Abha to Jizan? Did you fly into one of the cities and drive/bus from there?

Love your blog!

you should be able to find a bus to Jizan from Abha, or a shared taxi. Otherwise, hitchhiking is also feasible

Hi Joan! Thanks for putting this post together! I have a question regarding your Fayfa/Jizan/Abha pics above: There is the one with a man sitting in front of a beautiful door looking over the fields. Do you know the name of the building or where exactly it is? Thanks, Anton

Hey Anton, unfortunately, I couldn’t tell, as we were just driving around randomly, However, it is in one of the highest points in Haifa and by the way, there are many view points like this one where you can see similar views. Cheers,

Hi Joan I really would like your help, because still can`t find a bus to take me from Saudi Arabia to Jordan. Do you know if I could cross the border hitch hiking? Ive got a German passport and visas are okay.

Thanks Markus

Dear Saudi tours agents . Can someone of yours know about non Muslims visiting the city of Medina and the city off Mecca ?

Flyadeal is not specially cheap. The rates difference to Saudia is insignificant. And you can’t buy well in advance as tickets are only made available a couple of months before the flight.

Wow! Beautiful photos. It would be really nice if you had also shared the coordinates of the phots or the name of the lookouts where photos were taken. Incredible photos and great details.

Your 15-day itinerary of Saudi Arabia is a treasure trove of cultural and scenic diversity! From the urban landscapes of Riyadh and Jeddah to the natural beauty of Abha and the historical wonders of Al-Ula, your guide covers it all. It’s fascinating to see how travel in Saudi Arabia, a country without permanent rivers, revolves around road trips, showcasing its vast and varied terrain. This guide is a brilliant resource for anyone wanting to explore the rich tapestry of experiences Saudi Arabia has to offer. Thank you for sharing your adventures and insights!

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The Complexities of Traveling to Saudi Arabia

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As the largest country in the Middle East , the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia has a rich and diverse landscape: It’s home to the ruins of the Nabatean Kingdom in Al-'Ula, the Rub' al Khali desert, luxurious beach resorts in Jeddah , and the mountains of Taif, where roses bloom alongside groves of the most sought-after dates in the world. The capital, Riyadh, offers a fascinating juxtaposition of ancient souks and modern skyscrapers, along with natural wonders like the cliffs of Edge of the World park just outside the city.

Historically, however, the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia hasn’t been a tourist destination for Americans.

Until 2019, visas were only issued for official business purposes or for religious pilgrimages to Mecca . Conservative laws and dress codes were enforced by the mutawa (religious police) who made arrests for playing music, wearing too much makeup, or being seen in public with a member of the opposite sex. These laws began to change in 2017 when Mohamed bin Salman became the Crown Prince of Saudi Arabia and launched Saudi Vision 2030 , a campaign to modernize the country and reduce the reliance on oil revenue. He stripped the power of the mutawa, and women were issued drivers' licenses for the first time. Additionally, movie theaters were built, international music festivals held, and tourist visas became available to visitors from 49 countries, including Americans.

These changes make it an exciting time in the Kingdom, with young Saudis enjoying newfound freedoms to connect with one another and with foreign visitors in public spaces that were for so long segregated. Around the world, social media feeds are being filled with images of this “new Saudi Arabia” as part of a massive marketing campaign by the Ministry of Tourism—it's just part of their plan to invest at least $800 billion by 2030 on everything from transportation infrastructure to entirely new cities.

Despite the intrigue of the newly opened country, there are also many things that haven’t changed and should be considered before booking a flight: significant gender disparity remains, alcohol is still illegal, and queer travelers will find a litany of laws that prevent them from existing as they would at home or, in some cases, at all—so-called “decency mandates” prevent men from wearing women's clothes for example, and trans travelers whose passports don't match their gender identity will likely be denied entry to the country. Even in situations where it might feel like no one is enforcing these rules, know that the government routinely monitors visitors' social media accounts, and compliance is expected for the entirety of your trip.

For some Americans, the cultural clashes feel too great to overcome. “Saudi Arabia is a controversial country to visit, and poses a real dilemma for many travelers,” says Justin Francis, co-founder and CEO of Responsible Travel. For Francis, however, that isn't necessarily a reason not to visit. “I strongly believe it is possible to travel responsibly in destinations with poor ethical records. Frankly, it would be hard to name a single destination with a clean record on the environment, animal welfare, and human rights.”

Anu Taranath, professor, racial equity consultant, and author of Beyond Guilt Trips: Mindful Travel in an Unequal World , also encourages people to look at their travel decisions from a wider perspective. “Well-meaning Americans become quite vexed when considering going to places where they know a bit about what’s happening to a certain population, but that same conversation, I haven’t seen about home,” says Taranath. “The U.S. has a terrible record of preserving the dignity of Black folks, so would we tell people not to visit? It’s a conversation that never seems to come up.”

She suggests that tourists can use their trips, instead, as opportunities to widen their own perspectives about the world. “It’s an incredible privilege,” she says. “My responsibility is to move through these places with care and grace and learn about lives that are not like mine."

Darrell Wade, co-founder and chair of travel group Intrepid, visited the Kingdom last year, and while he doesn’t feel the country is ready in terms of infrastructure for the brand's organized trips, he would personally return and thinks that the opening of tourism is a good thing for locals and visitors. “I think travel is always a positive force for change," says Wade. “As travelers, we learn about new cultures and ways, whilst the hosts of our destination countries also get to meet new people and learn from them.”

Booking a trip to a country whose laws and values may not align with your own is a personal decision. For those considering a visit to Saudi Arabia, these are some of the key issues American travelers may wonder about, with logistical pointers to keep in mind on the trip itself.

Nada al Nahdi  of Qairawan travel group in Jazan

Women's rights and modesty 

As part of the effort to introduce a more moderate version of Islamic law, in 2018 women were granted the right to drive, have a passport , travel abroad, live independently without the permission of a male guardian, and, most visibly, they are no longer required to cover their hair with hijab, nor wear the abaya robe or the niqab full face covering. Yet there are still some modesty requirements. It's important to note that most restrictions impact local women more than they do visitors, but travelers are still expected to abide by most laws.

Modesty is legally defined and required for locals and visitors, and what’s considered appropriate often depends on the venue. Some Saudi women in larger cities still wear an abaya, but many forgo any kind of head cover. Similar to religious sites throughout the world, there are expectations when entering a mosque: both men and women must be covered to the ankles and wrists and shoe-less, and women should cover their hair.

In general, women should wear loose-fitting clothes that don't show skin above the knee or elbow, and men shouldn’t go shirtless or wear tank tops. Shorts are uncommon across the board. 

Wearing clothing considered too revealing or anything that features offensive logos or slogans can result in a fine of 100 SAR/$26 (doubled for subsequent violations). What’s considered offensive isn’t limited to showing too much skin, pornographic images, or drug-related or profane slogans, it is also illegal to try to promote a religion other than Islam. That means wearing a crucifix or any other religious iconography should be avoided.

Olga Aymerich, a research officer for the United Nations in Iraq, was among the first to travel to the Kingdom when tourist visas became available in 2019. She says she observed that the way women dressed varied widely, even between neighborhoods of large cities like Jeddah and Riyadh, so she wore an abaya over her clothes, either open or closed, to avoid standing out. “I just felt more comfortable that way,” she says, adding that she didn’t cover her hair except when visiting religious sites.

Ellie Quinn detailed her time in the Kingdom on her blog, The Traveling Quinn , where she suggests female travelers purchase a robe-like abaya online ahead of time or at any mall upon arrival—good quality, black abayas made with a breathable material are generally available for around $25 (100 SAR), though you'll also find colorful and patterned options.

At gender-segregated public beaches, women swim in burkinis (which look like wetsuits) or in their abayas, and men keep their shirts on. However, at a growing number of private beaches, guests can wear bikinis and swim trunks. It’s a good idea to call ahead to find out what the specific dress codes are as some beaches in Jeddah, at the other end of the spectrum, do not allow abayas. 

Gender segregation

Today, unrelated men and women can legally interact with one another in some some public spaces, like malls and coffee shops—yet there are still gendered spaces, from female-only gyms to restaurants in smaller villages that have separate entrances and dining rooms for families and men.

Even at the Ritz-Carlton Riyadh, where Wade recently stayed with his wife, the duo learned that the swimming pool and spa were for men only. “When I asked if there were special hours for women, or another complex somewhere, I just got a ‘Sorry, there are no facilities for women’,” Wade says. He hopes—and expects—that this will change with the greater arrival of international tourism.

As public interactions between men and women are slowly becoming normalized, physical affection between couples still needs to be kept strictly behind closed doors. That means avoiding touching of any kind between opposite genders when in public. Holding hands, kissing, or hugging in public are considered “acts of a sexual nature,” and could incur a 3,000 SAR fine (about $800) for the first offense and a 6,000 SAR for a repeat offense. It is one of 19 public decency offenses punishable by fine , along with things like failure to pick up after your pet (100 SAR/$26) and littering or spitting (500 SAR/ $133). 

When meeting someone of the opposite gender, it is customary to place a hand to heart, rather than extending it for a handshake. Conversely, those of the same gender will often greet one another with a hug or a kiss on each cheek. In Bedouin tradition, some men touch noses. Visitors should follow the lead of the local.

Travelers in the Saudi Arabian desert

LGBTQ+ issues

In Saudi Arabia, same-sex marriage is not recognized and homosexual acts are punishable by law, as are any activities seen as disrupting public order and religious values. Social media posts depicting a homosexual relationship can be prosecuted as a cybercrime—making it especially important that queer travelers who decide to visit set profiles to private before arriving. 

Some may question why LGBTQ+ visitors would want to visit any of the 69 U.N. member countries that criminalize homosexuality at all. Stefan Arestis and Sebastien Chaneac, who run the travel blog The Nomadic Boys to help inspire and inform gay travelers , have traveled to many of them, including Singapore , Malaysia, and Dubai. The couple have yet to visit the Kingdom, and whether or not to go is a topic of debate between them.

“It’s easy to have an attitude of ‘OMG, I would never dare go to a place that wants to throw me in jail, better to boycott them and spend my hard-earned dollars in a place that welcomes me’," says Arestis. “This way of thinking risks doing more harm than good. It’s more productive to get out there and support the local LGBTQ community ."

Meanwhile, Chaneac isn't convinced it's safe for them to do so. “The opening of tourism is a great thing, because with more tourism, there will be more LGBTQ+ visibility, and that could start to change things," says Chaneac. "But when you’re a gay person, you have to think of other things, like whether the law is on your side.”

Arestis notes that in most places that criminalize homosexuality like Dubai, travelers benefit from a double standard and are rarely penalized for violating local law—but Saudi Arabia is different and the penalties are known for being much more severe and should be taken at face value. “We suggest going back in the closet,” says Arestis. 

Parvez Sharma, a gay Indian-American filmmaker who traveled to Saudi Arabia to complete the hajj, an experience he chronicled in the 2015 documentary A Sinner in Mecca, feels this pilgrimage is a beautiful and essential activity for Muslims like himself, but sees that as separate from general tourism.

“People save their entire lives to make the pilgrimage—for Muslims, we have to disregard our feelings [about the Saudi government] and focus on the religious aspects of the journey," Sharma says. He says he wouldn't visit if he didn't have the religious obligation. 

According to the private, conservative societal norms, no one will ask about sexual orientation. “There is a thriving gay scene, very underground, and it would be fascinating to see," says Arestis. "If you are not a public figure online, then there is nothing stopping you from going. You just have to be careful and set your social media as private, and perhaps have a rehearsed girlfriend in case it comes up. But people need to understand that if something happens, if they have an interaction, if they are caught meeting or kissing [someone of the same gender], there is no one to protect them.”

Journalism, photography, and freedom of speech

Put simply, Saudi Arabia is a monarchy, where democratic principles of freedom of press and speech do not apply. According to Reporters Without Borders, a group that advocates for press freedom around the world, over 30 editors, writers, and photographers are currently imprisoned for statements in articles, photographs, and even social media posts that were seen as critical of the government. American intelligence agencies have concluded that the government of Saudi Arabi orchestrated the murder of U.S.-based Saudi journalist Jamal Khashoggi, a notable dissident of the regime.

While tourists will not likely be writing critical op-eds while in the Kingdom, it is important to note that it is illegal to criticize the government, the royal family, or the Muslim faith in any way, either verbally or on social media. Politics, religion, and sex should not be discussed in a public setting or online, and cursing at someone or using foul language is a fine-able offense, as is using rude gestures.

“It's important to remember you’re a guest,” says Francis. “You’ve chosen to visit, so [you have to] play by the rules of your host country. It’s natural to want to ask questions, but you won’t be helping local people by interrogating them—free speech doesn’t exist here, and you could put them in a very difficult position.”

The most common offense that visitors are cited for in the Kingdom is unauthorized photography : Photographing a person (especially a woman) without permission or taking photos of an accident or crime is illegal and can result in a hefty fine (1,000 SAR/ $266). It is important to be particularly cautious in crowded areas like traditional markets, where it is easy to inadvertently take a photo of someone.

An ancient city in Al Jouf, Saudi Arabia

Other things to keep in mind when planning a trip to Saudi Arabia

Restrictions for non-Muslim visitors

Mecca is the one city that remains off-limits to non-Muslim tourists. Mecca and Medina are the two holiest cities for Muslims who visit for the Umrah and Hajj pilgrimages. The latter is obligatory for every Muslim who is financially and physically able to make the trip, so roughly 2 million pilgrims travel to Mecca for the Hajj each year, and these visits require a religious visa.

For other travelers interested in visiting a religious site, Jeddah is a better option, as it is home to the only four mosques in the country that allow non-Muslim visitors to enter: Al Taqwa Mosque, the Al Rahma Mosque on the Red Sea, Moroccan-style King Fahd Mosque, and the King Saud Mosque, a nearly 10,000 square meter structure designed by Egyptian architect Abdel Wahed Al Wakil, who is considered the most prominent living authority on modern Islamic architecture.

Prayer timing and Ramadan

Throughout Saudi Arabia, some shops and restaurants will close for 15 to 30 minutes during the five prayer times each day though the latest laws do allow many to stay open at this time. Prayer times change throughout the year according to sunrise and sunset, so check the daily prayer times online or in the local newspaper and plan around them. Playing music during prayers, even in the car or home, is illegal.

It is best to avoid visiting during Ramadan when it is forbidden to eat, drink, or smoke in public from sunrise to sunset. Many shops and restaurants close during the day or operate on shortened schedules, and some tourist attractions shutter for the month. The dates of Ramadan are based on the lunar calendar and change each year.

Nightlife has a different meaning in Saudi Arabia, as alcohol is illegal. The cities come alive after dark, and many coffee shops, shisha patios, and dessert cafes are open until 2 a.m. or later. Families walk the corniche or have evening picnics in the parks, and malls bustle with activity. Restaurants are generally open late to accommodate the lifestyle.

Tour guides

The best way to enjoy the history, culture and natural beauty of Saudi Arabia is to come prepared with a good understanding of the local laws and customs and a willingness to abide by them—a local guide can help you do that, particularly if you don't speak Arabic, and most hotels can provide recommendations of people for hire. Aymerich suggests hiring a new guide in each destination to make sure you’re getting the benefit of hyper-local insights and so you don’t get stuck with someone you’re not happy with for the entirety of your trip. Guides can also arrange for transportation if you want to get out of the city to explore more far flung locations.

To help single female travelers navigate Saudi Arabia, Nada al Nahdi , a Yemeni-Indonesian female traveler and blogger, who was born and raised in the Kingdom, and local Esraa Rayes organize female group travel throughout the country via their company, Qairawan . 

Due to the pandemic, there are no more visas issued on arrival, but e-visas are quickly approved for American travelers. The online application includes the option to purchase mandatory insurance for 140 SAR/$37 and pay the visa fee of 300 SAR/ $80. The e-visa typically is emailed within minutes and is valid for one-year with multiple entries and stays of up to 90-days at a time. ( Proof of vaccination and a negative PCR test, taken no more than 72-hours prior to traveling to the Kingdom, are also required as of January 2021.)

“The visa process was so easy, but that was the only thing that was well organized,” Aymerich said, adding that visitors should be prepared to be amenable to changes in their itineraries once they're in the country. “You need to be flexible, willing to ask people for advice, and a little bit lucky. If you are looking for an easy trip, this isn’t it—but if you’re ready for an adventure, to experience new things, there is so much to see in Saudi Arabia, and the people are wonderful and excited to share their culture.”

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11 Cool & Unusual Things to do in Jeddah, Saudi Arabia (2024 Guide)

Are you planning a trip to the Middle East and looking for the best things to do in Jeddah? If so, then you need to look no further than right here!

Jeddah, a vibrant city located on the Red Sea coast of Saudi Arabia, offering an exciting blend of ancient history and modern attractions .

Whether you’re a culture enthusiast, an adventurous traveler, or simply looking for a relaxing getaway, Jeddah has something for everyone !

From exploring the bustling souks and indulging in local cuisine to diving into the crystal-clear waters of the Red Sea and admiring stunning architecture, there’s no shortage of things to do in Jeddah.

Join me on a journey of discovery and uncover the best experiences this dynamic city has to offer!

⭐ Make the most of Jeddah with this amazing 6-hour Jeddah tour , including guide, lunch and air-conditioned vehicle.

✏️ Post content

Where is Jeddah?

When to travel to jeddah, where to stay in jeddah, how to get around in jeddah, 1. scuba diving in jeddah, 2. visit jeddah’s souq, 3. landmarks in the city – best places to visit in jeddah, 4. jarir bookstore, for book lovers, 5. jeddah for foodies, 6. atallah happy land park, one of the most popular jeddah attractions, 7. al-shalal theme park, one of the fun things to do in jeddah, 8. go on a shopping spree in jeddah, 9. visit al rahma mosque, one of the beautiful places in jeddah, 10. marvel at king fahd’s fountain, 11. hike moon valley, more things to do in jeddah, saudi arabia, don’t forget travel insurance.

Jeddah is a major urban center of western Saudi Arabia, and one of the top Middle East destinations to visit.

It’s the second-largest city after Riyadh, the capital city of Saudi Arabia. Also, the largest city in Makkah Province and the largest seaport on the Red Sea.

Did you know that Jeddah is the principal gateway of two of the holiest cities in Islam, Mecca , and Medina?

The city is a mix of monuments, open-air art sculptures, cafes, shopping districts, and the largest waterfront area filled with restaurants and resorts.

If you are planning a trip to Saudi Arabia , try something different by visiting Jeddah city and experiencing the beauty of ancient architecture mixed with the latest luxuries.

Jeddah has a hot and dry type of climate. Rainfall is sparse and temperatures can soar high in summers.

The best time to visit Jeddah would be in January and February when the temperatures are relatively cool.

The city of Jeddah has numerous hotels ranging from luxurious to economical, depending on the choice and budget of travelers.   

⭐ Looking for the best hotels in Jeddah? Click here for latest prices and availability .

Most chains of hotels in Jeddah provide small minivans called ‘water taxi’, which are quite inexpensive and will take you around the place.

TIP : It’s better to fix a price with the taxi driver for the trip in advance and not to opt for the meter method of payment. It will cost you less.

Another word of caution : Use only officially recognized taxis (with the sign TAXI) to avoid getting into trouble with the authorities.

Buses can be a great way to enjoy the local flavor of the city and enjoy the haunting Arabian music if you don’t have a tight schedule for the day. Meet the locals, talk to them and become a traveler instead of a tourist.

Best things to do in Jeddah, Saudi Arabia

Yes! Being on the coast of the Red Sea, the flora and fauna are similar to what you can see on the Red Sea’s Coast in Egypt . If you like scuba diving , Jeddah is one of the best spots!

The corals are untouched and a sight to behold as you get underwater to experience the most amazing feeling ever. The water temperatures vary with the seasons, so pack a swimsuit to dress accordingly.

Looking for what to do in Jeddah? Then visiting Jeddah’s Souq should be one of them.

Immediately south of King Fahd Rd, the marketplace is divided into subsections, each populated by different immigrants.

Breathe in the delicious scent of coffee and let the colors of mixed cultures and languages fascinate you.

Going to Jeddah and not buying nuts and dates is not possible .

Try Khayyam Al Rabie Est to get some of the finest choices of dates and nuts for discounted prices. Do you know the store has fairy lights and stocks around 50 different varieties of dates?

Al Balad gives you a taste of the ancient marketplace, multi-stored brick and mud-buildings that sell just about everything.

Experience the magic of the Floating Mosque or check out the entrance of Mecca. The city is full of places to see and explore.

Are you a book lover by any chance? If yes, then don’t miss the Jarir Bookstore, one of the most interesting places to visit in Jeddah .

It boasts of the city’s widest collection of books. Read about the cultural heritage and grab some latest releases from your favorite authors.

Jeddah has several restaurants and cafes that cater to region-specific taste buds with extra care and attention.

If looking for things to do in Jeddah at night or where to eat in Jeddah , and fancy some Indonesian food, Wong Solo, near the start of Al Balad, is the perfect place for you.

Of course, if you want a quiet meal, stay away from the lunch buffet (10 A.M. to 2 P.M.). But if you love the mad rush and are looking to interact with other tourists, you know when to go.

Experience the Middle Eastern style dining in Al Nakheel Restaurant. Designed as a traditional tent, it allows the sea breeze to enter from the sides.

Evenings are undoubtedly the best time to enjoy some of the finest choices in their menu. One of the best things to do in Jeddah for expats too!

Street food is something you cannot miss in Jeddah . Hop over to the Balad Street Food for some mouthwatering shawarma or falafel wraps for just SR4. Or try out some Middle Eastern dishes like Kabsa, Madfoon, or Matazeez.

Imagine ice-skating indoors while the sun blazes outside. Wouldn’t it be a wonderful experience?

Shop, dine, play, and watch live shows in 6D theatres. One of the best things to do in Jeddah with family!

Are you a fan of roller coaster rides? Do you want to gather courage and try one?

This park has the largest double-looped roller coaster on the Asian Continent. What a way to make the world go upside down, literally.

Now, you could be a fan of forests and wildlife instead. Where do you find a forest in a desert city?

Try the Amazon Ride in the park that is spread over 1,800m² with a lagoon and has a waterfall of 15m high. See the life-size figures of animals with full sound and light effects. It sure would be a novel experience.

Don’t we all love to buy things, small and big, cheap and expensive like gifts, treasures, and memories?

Jeddah has more than 25 shopping malls which have amazing food courts. The malls are both new and old, and you can try to hop over to as many as you can within your schedule or have lunch in one of the popular restaurants in Jeddah .

Al Rahma Mosque is one of the unique Jeddah tourist places to visit! Its entire foundation is under the sea, a feature that scored it the floating mosque nickname!

An icon of the city, the mosque stands in sheer beauty in a great location of Jeddah’s waterfront spiraling through the skies with its white minaret.

Besides floating on the sea, the architectural details of this mosque are equally impressive!

From the white marble exterior, the stained-glass roof, and the beautiful touches of Islamic art on the inside, this Islamic and contemporary architectural mosque is one of the best places to see in Jeddah, Saudi Arabia.

Also known as Jeddah Fountain, King Fahd’s Fountain is one of the most impressive tourist attractions in Jeddah.

With a height of 260 metres (853 ft), King Fahd is the highest fountain in the world and is listed in the Guinness World Records for the same honor.

The fountain is beautiful all day long but it fully comes to life at night when over 500 high-light LEDs are lit creating an awe-inspiring moment.

If you want your breath to be taken away, this is one of the fun places to go in Jeddah!

Are you an outdoor enthusiast and looking for where to go in Jeddah? Look no further than Moon Valley.

Located in Jabal al Jadib, Moon valley boasts beautiful landscapes and rock formations that any outdoor lover would love to explore.

The place also offers camping opportunities for those who want to sleep under the stars.

Whether you’re an avid hiker or want to admire the city’s beautiful landscapes, hiking Moon Valley is one of the fulfilling Jeddah activities you have to participate in.

Looking for more fun places in Jeddah to add to your list of things to do, below are more suggestions of what to see in Jeddah.

• South Obhur Beach . One of the best places to visit in Jeddah for a relaxing afternoon.
• Khuzam Palace . This is one of the historical places to see in Jeddah.
• Fakieh Planetarium . One of the fun Jeddah places for people interested in space.
• The Escape Hotel . This is one of the most thrilling things to do in Jeddah
• Asfan fort . Another historical place to visit in Jeddah.
• North Gate of Jeddah

As you can see, there are lots of activities and things to do in Jeddah, that truly make this a destination city.

I always travel with insurance , even if I travel inside my own country. 

No matter how well you plan and research a trip, there are always things that happen beyond your control. I had to use it several times and it saved my trip! 

Have you been to Saudi Arabia? Do you know other activities in Jeddah? Share below!

Pin this to your travel pinterest boards ↓.

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Sara Rodríguez

A passionate traveler with a mission: Help you plan your next trip easily and enjoy it to the fullest.

In this travel blog you will find everything you need to get inspired and organize your next adventure. Read more about my story here.

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Best Of Saudi Arabia | The Perfect 12-Day Itinerary

If you are planning a trip to Saudi Arabia, your flight will most probably land either in Jeddah or Riyadh. It doesn’t really make a difference from where you will start your exploration journey, since the places you will be visiting are pretty much standard. With that in mind, you can easily reverse the order of the cities, based on the optimum inbound/outbound flights found.

Here below you will find the perfect 12-day itinerary, covering the very best of Saudi Arabia, for all first-time visitors to the Kingdom.

Road-Trip Distances Around Saudi

Every road itinerary in Saudi is shaped around 4 distinct areas: Jeddah, Riyadh, Abha, and AlUla. The distance between these cities is pretty huge, so I can hardly propose driving the whole way. Indicative distances here below:

• Jeddah – Riyadh (950 km, 9-10h): I find this to be the most useless drive, as there is nothing interesting to see between these two cities. You can skip this part entirely.
• Riyadh – AlUla (1.060 km, 11h): This is an interesting drive that is worth doing if time is not a big issue for you. We personally “invested” 3 days on this route, driving from Riyadh to Buraidah (400 km, 4h), from Buraydah to Haʼil (280 km, 3h), and from Haʼil to AlUla (430 km, 5h). We found both Buraidah and Haʼil an interesting add-on to our trip, so this is a big YES for me.
• AlUla – Jeddah (690 km, 7-8h): I don’t see any good reason for driving all this way unless your intention is to make a stop at either Madinah or Umluj. We have done the drive for Madinah (330 km, 4h) so no regrets!
• Jeddah – Abha (720 km, 10h): This is still a big question mark for me. Our initial intention was to drive this route, visiting Taif, Al Bahah, and Thee Ain Ancient Village along the way. I still think it’s an interesting drive to consider, but unfortunately, I cannot speak out of my own experience.

Day 1: Explore Jeddah

Jeddah is the second largest city in Saudi and the main gateway for Muslim pilgrims heading to Makkah. Despite its religious significance, it is also the most progressive city in the entire Kingdom.

I recently read an interesting debate about the name of Jeddah. Based on an old legend, Jeddah (translating into “grandmother” in Arabic) was named after our universal grandmother, Eve. This legend is supported by the fact that Jeddah is considered to be the burial place of Eve. Her Tomb is located in a cemetery close to Jeddah’s Old Town. In an effort to prevent pilgrims from visiting Mother Eve’s Cemetery, the religious authorities sealed the tomb with concrete back in 1975, making it no longer visible. The cemetery is most of the time closed, but even if you manage to get inside you stand no chance of tracing Eve’s grave.

Some people argue with this old legend saying that Jeddah was initially pronounced “Juddah”. Juddah translates into “seashore” in Arabic, signifying the city’s location next to the Red Sea.

The absolute minimum time you should spend in Jeddah is one full day for sightseeing the main points of interest. Let your first stop be the lively corniche! The Corniche of Jeddah has a lot of green rest areas and offers its visitors opportunities for walking, running, setting a picnic outdoors, or simply enjoying scenic views over the Red Sea. As it’s quite big in length, you’d better focus on interesting zones such as the  Jeddah Sculpture Museum , or the “Art Promenade”. The latter is the best spot for gazing over the famous Al Rahma Floating Mosque from a close distance.

While in Saudi, you will soon realize that not many things are happening during the day. The heat has forced people to minimize their outdoor activities in the daytime, with most marketplaces and Souqs turning operational in the early afternoon. With that in mind, the best time to visit Jeddah’s Old Town, the world-famous  Al Balad  district, is before sunset. At this time of the day, Old Jeddah turns into a bustling and vibrant area, full of life!

Al Balad is famous for its unique architecture based on the use of coral stone (extracted from the nearby reef in the Red Sea). Another noticeable feature of this Hejazi architecture is the elegant rawasheen (wooden windows and balconies) adorning the buildings’ facades. As part of the country’s Vision 2030, and in an effort to preserve Al Balad’s identity and heritage value, a lot of historical buildings are currently undergoing heavy renovation. This might not allow you to see them at their full grandeur, but you will still get a very good feel of how wealthy and prosperous the merchants of Old Jeddah used to be.

Some places you should not miss while in Old Jeddah:

• The Nassif House  was constructed in the late 1800s for Omar Nassif Efendi, the governor of Jeddah at that time. The very same house served as the residence of King Abdulaziz (the founder of Saudi Arabia) while in Jeddah. A fun fact about this house is the existence of a pathway that allowed the King to ride his horse all the way up to his office on the second floor! Bait Nassif has also been nicknamed the “House with the Tree”, thanks to a beautiful neem tree that stands at its very entrance! It is said that, up until the 1920s, this was the only tree in the entire Jeddah! Over the course of the years, the Nassif House has served as a library, a cultural center, and a museum.
• The Al-Shafi’i Mosque (Masjid Of Al-Imam Al-Shafi’i), is the city’s oldest mosque, counting over 1.400 years of age. Non-Muslims are allowed to enter the mosque outside of prayer times. Before entering, make sure that you are dressed modestly and that you have taken your shoes off!
• The traditional Souq Al Alawi , where you can find genuine Arabian jewelry, traditional dresses, perfumes, as well as local herbs, spices, and textiles.
• The Bab Makkah , a three-arched gate that has been marking for centuries the start of the pilgrimage journey to Makkah.
• Al Saidi Bakery is most probably the oldest bakery in Jeddah, baking traditional bread for almost 100 years! You can find it very close to Nassif House. From there, let the smell of the freshly baked bread show you the way!

Your last stop of the day should be at King Fahd’s fountain , the tallest fountain in the entire world! It is located on the shore of the Red Sea, and at a close distance from Al-Hamra’s Corniche. The height of its water reaches a maximum of 312 meters, making it even taller than the Eiffel Tower (without its antenna). At night the fountain is beautifully illuminated, while the fact that the water changes colors is making it a mesmerizing sight that should not be missed.

Day 2: Jeddah - Abha (flight)

The city of Abha is the capital of the Asir Province in the South of Saudi Arabia. Due to its mountainous location, and contrary to the rest of the country, Abha enjoys pleasant weather all year round. And this is precisely what makes it extremely popular in the summertime when Saudis are trying to escape the extreme temperatures experienced in the rest of the Kingdom. Abha is also well-known for the beautiful landscape above the clouds!

Using a flight for this part of your trip will save you a whole lot of time! Upon arrival in Abha, you can walk around the city center and admire interesting sites, such as:

• The historical village of Al-Muftaha is located at the very heart of Abha. Al-Muftaha counts over 260 years of age, however, for many years it was left in an extreme state of neglect. Thanks to the efforts of the Saudi government, restoration work was completed giving the village a new life and purpose! Ever since, it has been serving as a regional cultural center, with lots of art galleries and exhibition spaces. Overall, it is acting as a platform for local creativity. The colorful houses have been maintained exactly like the original ones and are a fascinating example of traditional Asir architecture. At the time of my visit, Al-Muftaha was, unfortunately, not open due to restoration work done all over Abha.
• For museum lovers, Shada Palace is the place to go (if open). It is one of the few traditional buildings still standing in Abha, originally built for a ruling governor, and now housing a handicrafts museum. This mud-walled tower definitely stands out from the modern buildings surrounding it.
• Art Street is another favorite gathering place for locals. A street lined up with trees, and what more full of art and life. Shops, galleries, cafes, restaurants, and street art, all in one place. Stroll, stroll, stroll, and people watch as others stroll, stroll, and stroll! Don’t miss the Souq Al Thulatha (Tuesday Market) , which is just around the corner! The market is open on all days of the week, but it attracts the best merchants of the region every Tuesday!
• The Abha Dam Lake is a peaceful place with pretty nice views. It is definitely worth a quick stop. You can get here within a 10’ drive from the city center.
• The High City is most probably the highest viewpoint in Abha, offering its visitors mesmerizing views over the valley and the surrounding mountains. But apart from a viewpoint, it is mainly a recreational area and a get-together spot for local Saudis. The High City gives a more European flavor to Abha with its elegant (and pricey) coffee shops and restaurants. Normally, a cable car is connecting the High City with another popular location, the Green Mountain (more on this below). However, at the time of our visit (again), this was not operational (maintenance work in progress).
• Next stop, Jabal Al Akhdar , or else the iconic Green Mountain of Abha. Not really a mountain, but a hill, Jabal Al Akhdar took its name from the green lights used to illuminate it at night. Definitely, an amazing spectacle for visitors and locals alike. You can get to the mountain’s summit either by hiking your way up or by using the cable car. I am not sure about the cost of the cable car since we could not use it, but there is an entrance ticket of 20 SAR (5€) to the Green Mountain itself. The entrance fee can be redeemed at any restaurant on site, but again restaurants in tourist places are rather expensive. The view from the top is worth taking the ride, but the mountain itself is way more impressive (when illuminated) from a distance! Opening Hours: After 2 p.m.
• Khamis Mushait is a nearby city in close proximity to the Abha airport. It hosts the heritage village of Dhafer Bin Hamsan which is covering an area of 15.000 square meters and offers its visitors the opportunity to explore the ancient social lifestyle within its grounds. The city’s Souq Al Khamis (Thursday Market) also boasts some of the best gold and silver Bedouin jewelry in the region.

Day 3: Abha - Al Sahab Mountain Park - Al Sawda - Rijal Alma - Abha (130 km / 3 hours)

No visit to the South of KSA can be complete without heading to Rijal Alma. Rijal Alma is yet another heritage village of Saudi Arabia that has been gradually transformed into a major tourist attraction. Hidden in the mountains of the country’s southwest Asir region, this small village is characterized by Yemen-style architecture. This makes absolute sense, considering its strategic location and proximity to Yemen itself.

Rijal Alma historically served as one of the most important trade centers in the Arabian Peninsula. As such it was strongly influenced both culturally and architecturally by the foreign travelers that passed through. The village’s iconic stone buildings (also known as forts) are decorated by skilled painters in fascinating color combinations and designs.

In an effort to preserve the heritage of the region, most of these buildings have gone through a thorough restoration driven by the locals themselves. In that direction, a Heritage Museum has also been established onsite, displaying over 2,800 exhibits collected among the local families.

How to Get to Rijal Alma

Rijal Alma can be reached by car within just 1.5 hours from the city of Abha. Do just note that the road before reaching the village is extremely steep and sharp, making the drive down a bit scary.

On your way to Rijal Alma, it is worth making two quick detours at:

• Jabal Sawda (or else “Al Sawda” ), is the highest peak in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia. This is one of the best viewpoints, famous for its spectacular misty landscape. Al Sawda peak is easily accessible by car, just 30 mins from the center of Abha.
• El Sahab Park , for more views of the surrounding mountain peaks. “Sahab” literally translates into “cloud”, and that is exactly what this place is all about. A wonderful viewpoint above the clouds!

Day 4: Abha - Riyadh (flight)

I highly recommend using a domestic flight for this part of the route to quickly and comfortably reach Riyadh. Assuming that you can afford one day only in the Kingdom’s capital city, here are the most important points of interest you should target visiting:

• Al Masmak Fort: Dominating the center of the Old City, Al Masmak Fort is the exact spot where the Battle of Riyadh took place. This is literally the place where the first page in the history of modern-day Saudi Arabia was written. Al Masmak is nowadays serving as a Museum, and is open for public visits free of charge.
• The Deera Square: Right across Al Masmak Fort, lies Deera Square, the site where public executions were performed until very recently. For that very reason, Deera is commonly known as “Chop Chop Square”.
• The Imam Turki Bin Abdullah Grand Mosque , one of the largest mosques in Saudi Arabia, is located right on Deera Square. If you are dressed up decently, you can ask for permission to get inside. The prayer hall is simply enormous and can accommodate up to 17,000 worshippers!
• Al Murraba Palace: Al Murraba was built by King Abdulaziz to serve as his personal residence. It also has a historical significance being the very first building constructed outside the Old City of Riyadh. Today, the palace is a “living museum”, housing some of King Abdulaziz’s personal items, archives, and other royal antiques. Among these, the Rolls Royce presented to the King as a gift by Winston Churchill.
• The National Museum of Saudi Arabia . A stone’s throw away from Al Murraba Palace, you will find the crown jewel of Riyadh, the National Museum of Saudi Arabia. Consisted of eight different Exhibition Halls, presenting (with the use of multimedia technology) different stages of the Arabian Peninsula’s evolution. Geographical, historical, cultural, and heritage-related elements, all beautifully blended together. I personally found pretty impressive the halls exhibiting models of the two Holy Cities and Mosques, displaying Hajj rituals, and pilgrimage routes from ancient to recent years. Entrance to the museum is free of charge.
• The Sky Bridge at Kingdom Center . The Kingdom Center is Saudi Arabia’s fifth-tallest skyscraper and one of the most iconic buildings in Riyadh. On its very top sits the 65 meters long Sky Bridge, a viewing platform offering breathtaking views over Riyadh’s skyline. The ticket price for the Sky Bridge is 69 SAR.
• Ad Diriyah . The historical city of Diriyah, dating back to 1446 CE, is one of the oldest heritage sites in Saudi Arabia. It served as the first capital of the newly founded Kingdom, as well as the home of the country’s ruling House of Saud. Diriyah’s historical center (At-Turaif), demonstrates the traditional mud-and-brick Najd architecture and was recognized as a World Heritage Site by UNESCO in 2010. Ever since, and in an effort to be transformed into the new Saudi Arabia’s cultural capital, it has been undergoing various restoration and preservation works. This is one of the most ambitious projects for the Kingdom, aiming to make the historic Diriyah one of the most important tourist attractions and cultural destinations in the entire world.

Day 5: Riyadh - Desert Safari - Sunset at the Edge of the World (or at the Camel Trail) - Riyadh

If you can afford one extra day in Riyadh and are up to some adventure, then book yourself a half-day desert safari tour. Such a tour will take you via a 4×4 car to Riyadh’s desert for unlimited fun while sandboarding, quad biking, and dune bashing!

As an alternative or even a combination of the abovementioned activity, head to either the Edge of the World (Jebel Fihrayn) or the Camel Trail. These are two of the best viewpoints of the Tuwaiq Mountain offering jaw-dropping views of the dunes, and ancient camel tracks of the Arabian Desert.

The Edge of the World is located approximately 90 kilometers (and 2 hours) away from Riyadh. It is basically a 300 meters high cliff overlooking the vast desert. Being here makes you literally feel like standing on the edge of the world! Whether you are going with your own vehicle or via a tour, you will need a 4×4 car, and good driving skills to avoid getting stuck in the sand. In the last years, and due to an accident of a person falling off the cliff, this particular site was shut down for safety reasons. At the time of our visit, it was not clear whether the Edge of the World was reopened or not. You’d better check with some local tour operators before heading there.

The best alternative to the Edge of the World (and 100% accessible) is the so-called Camel Trail . This site is way closer to Riyadh but still requires a 4×4 vehicle. The Camel Trail is a historical trail that was used by pilgrims that were making their way toward Makkah. What to expect here? Breathtaking views from the top of the mountain, of course, and the opportunity to descend down via the historic trail if you are up for some extra challenge.

Day 6: Riyadh - Shaqra - Ushaiger Heritage Village - Buraydah (400 km / 5 hours)

Visitors to Saudi Arabia have the chance to learn about the Kingdom’s history and distinctive architecture by visiting one or more heritage villages that are scattered around the country. This is by far the ideal way to step back in time and see how everyday life in Saudi Arabia was some hundred years ago.

Those landing in Riyadh should, by all means, plan a full-day trip in the mud villages of Shaqra and Ushaiger , located less than 2.5h away from the Kingdom’s capital city. Most buildings remain in ruins, yet some others have been renovated by the owners themselves, in an effort to keep their heritage alive. While wandering around the narrow streets and winding alleyways, be on the lookout for any doors left open! These will give you access to the houses’ rooftops for unparalleled views over the surrounding oasis and farmlands.

My personal recommendation, and if you are following this suggested itinerary, is not to return back to Riyadh after visiting Shaqra and Ushaiger but to head towards Buraydah for your overnight.

Buraydah is the capital of Al Qassim province. Its strategic location in the heart of Saudi Arabia makes it an important connection hub for travelers moving between different regions in the country. Buraydah is called the city of dates for the production of high-quality dates, as well as the biggest date festival in the world.

Time permitting, you can make a quick visit to Buraydah Museum, Aloqilat Museum, and Al Musawkaf Market.

Day 7: Buraydah - Madinah (525 km / 6 hours)

Buraydah is also famous for the world’s largest camel market, the Al Qassim Camel Market which is located in short proximity to the city itself. For taking part in this very unique and truly Saudi experience, you will need to wake up early in the morning as the market comes into life already at 5-6 am.

Your next stop, over 500 km away, is the holy city of Madinah . Home to the Prophet’s Mosque (Masjid Al-Nabawi), which is one of the largest mosques in the world, and the second holiest after Masjid Al-Haraam in Makkah. The Prophet’s Mosque was built by Prophet Muhammed in the year 622 CE when he migrated to Madinah. A Green Dome marks the exact location of the “Sacred Chamber” where the Prophet’s real home and also his final resting place is.

The mosque alone is a grand spot of utmost grandeur. It stands out from a distance thanks to its sparkling white marble, the numerous minarets, and of course its dazzling green-colored dome. The courtyard of the mosque is covered with lots of giant umbrellas aiming to provide shade to the worshippers. Moreover, its floor has been renovated using Thassos Snow White marble, a high-quality material that reflects the sunlight and keeps a low temperature throughout the day. In this way, pilgrims can walk barefoot without feeling any heat. The exact same marble has been used in the Great Mosque of Makkah, surrounding the Holy Kaaba.

The Prophet’s Mosque, as well as the area in its vicinity, is known as Haram and is closed to non-Muslims. However, non-Muslims can visit the rest of the city and even stay here for the night.

Day 8: Madinah - AlUla (340 km / 4 hours)

Another lengthy drive till you reach the spectacular AlUla. In addition to ruins of ancient civilizations, AlUla offers its visitors stunning natural landscapes from eroded mountains to desert oases and a lot more.

For your first day, I suggest you take it easy and head to one (or more) of the following unique locations:

• No ticket is needed to enter the site, while parking is complimentary for all visitors, as well.
• There are several food places on site, but they only open in the early afternoon. With that being said, afternoon visits ONLY can be combined with a light dinner (comfort food on offer, such as burgers, shawarmas, hot dogs, pancakes, etc.) while sitting around a bonfire.
• This site is ideal for night stargazing, so the most adventurous ones can also consider it as their camping spot!
• The Harrat Viewpoint: The Harrat Viewpoint is a lookout point and seating area at the top of the Harrat Uwayrid volcanic mountain. From here you can enjoy epic views over Dadan, AlUla Old Town, and AlUla Oasis, surrounded by majestic red mountains. The best time of the day to get up here is shortly before sunset so that you can get the best views of the sky’s orange glow, as the sun is disappearing into the horizon. Entrance to the site is free of charge, while parking is also complimentary for all visitors.
• The Maraya: The magnificent Maraya concert hall is not just a state-of-the-art construction, but also the world’s largest mirrored building! The name “Maraya” itself translates into exactly that: a “mirror” or a “reflection”. Maraya is a multi-purpose venue, housing concerts, annual festivals (such as the Winter Tantora festival), international events, and business conferences. Touristic visits are not allowed, so if you do not hold a ticket or invitation for an event or concert, your only chance to admire this amazing building is by making a reservation at the Maraya Social restaurant (open for dinner from Wednesday to Saturday).

Days 9-10: AlUla

Ever since Saudi Arabia opened up to tourism, AlUla, hosting the first UNESCO World Heritage site in the country, was promoted as the #1 must-visit destination for international travelers.

To date, numerous archaeological sites have been identified in the broader area, while the excavation of even more is still ongoing. Amazingly, the very first inhabitants of the Arabian Peninsula carved a whole city out of rock in this very place. Madain Saleh (also known as Hegra) , was a principal city of the Nabataean Kingdom and served as its former capital, second only to Petra in Jordan.

What comes as a big surprise is that despite its historical significance, AlUla was deliberately neglected by locals for centuries. Reason being the clear statement made by Prophet Muhammed in the Quran that this place had been cursed by Allah and should be avoided by all means.  To be more specific, Allah decided to punish the Thamud people, original inhabitants of the area, for their sins. As a consequence, the land of Thamud was severely hit by earthquakes, destroyed, and abandoned.

The Saudi government, in line with Saudi Arabia’s Vision 2030 program, urges people to start visiting AlUla. The efforts to revive AlUla’s past role as a thriving hub of trade and cultural exchange target at offering visitors a unique travel experience, including a combination of outdoor adventures, wellness, heritage, and entertainment.

What is very important to know is that independent visits to the various heritage sites are strictly forbidden. You will have to book your tours and experiences through the official  Experience AlUla website  and be accompanied at all times. Not only that, but you have to make your bookings well in advance, as there is a limitation on the daily slots. Check the instructions sent to you upon ticket reservation to have a clear understanding of:

• The exact pick-up location . For most tours and experiences, you will be picked up at the Winter Park. Yet, there are still a few tours and experiences that have set a different meeting point.
• The meeting time . You are usually prompted to be at the meeting location at a specific time – well before the official commencement of the tour. Make sure to respect the given timeframe.
• Avoid booking back-to-back tours . If there is a delay in the first one, you may easily miss the next one. I think that two tours per day are pretty sufficient.

It is worth looking at the map to understand the location of each site, as they are pretty much scattered around the broader area. Even if you will not be driving to the actual sites yourself, you will still need a car, a driver, or a taxi to drop you off and pick you up from meeting locations. Taxis are neither reliable nor on time when you need them, so you should not risk missing a tour just because of that.

Day 11: AlUla - Jeddah (flight) OR Wadi Disah - Tabuk

• Option (1): If you don’t want to drive all the way to Jeddah (pretty meaningless as you will waste over 7 hours behind the wheel to cover the 700 km of distance), you can consider using a domestic flight instead. Al Ula is served by the Prince Abdul Majeed Bin Abdulaziz Domestic Airport, located 34 km away from the city center. The airport provides direct (but not that frequent) flights to both Jeddah and Riyadh. If you take this option, you can spend a lazy rest of the day at Silver Sands Beach nearby Jeddah.
• Head back to AlUla and get a flight to Jeddah
• Drive for another 3 hours to Tabuk and get a flight to Jeddah from there

Day 12: Tabuk - Jeddah - (departure flight)

I leave this day free of schedule so that you can better organize the logistics of your departure from the Kingdom.

Ready To Go?

On the most practical part, and while setting aside the itinerary  itself, I totally urge you to also go through my previous post titled  “The Ultimate Survival Guide For Travelling To Saudi Arabia” . Through this post, I am sharing with you essential information on the entry requirements, as well as the evolution of the tourism industry in the country from the past, through the present, to the future!

If you feel you cannot organize such a trip alone, then you can always join me on one of my future trips! As a point of reference, I will be posting my most up-to-date travel dates at the end of each blog post!

Join Me In Saudi Arabia

Next Travel Dates:  17-28 November 2022

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GeographyPin

Your 12-day itinerary of Saudi Arabia is a treasure trove of cultural and scenic diversity! From the urban landscapes of Riyadh and Jeddah to the natural beauty of Abha and the historical wonders of Al-Ula, your guide covers it all. It’s fascinating to see how travel in Saudi Arabia, a country without permanent rivers, revolves around road trips, showcasing its vast and varied terrain. This guide is a brilliant resource for anyone wanting to explore the rich tapestry of experiences Saudi Arabia has to offer. Thank you for sharing your adventures and insights!

Real-Time Traveller

Happy you enjoyed reading my blog posts for Saudi! Hope my guide will turn out handy should you decide to plan this trip yourself! Cheers!

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Jeddah December 30, 2020 at 3:16 pm

13 Reasons Why Jeddah Is A Must-Visit

Jeddah is one of Saudi Arabia’s most popular cities. It has a coast on the Red Sea, a diverse population, and so much to see and do.

Here are the top 13 things that make Jeddah a must-visit.

1. The new waterfront

Green spaces, walkways, room to cycle, the Red Sea breeze, and a line of restaurants at Jeddah’s most famous.

2. Historic district of Jeddah

A UNESCO world heritage site, Jeddah’s Historic district is home to dozens of ancient historical buildings, markets, and more. There are also now a lot of art galleries and other exciting places and, all in all, expect the tour to take up the better part of your day.

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3. Dakar Rally

Jeddah will host the international sporting event from January 3 to January 15.

4. La Playa

A breathtaking view, delicious seafood, and just a wonderful chance to get away from the hustle and bustle of the city – this is one of the best lounges and resorts in the city.

5. So many luxury hotels with a sea view

Hilton, The Ritz-Carlton, Narcissus Al Hamra, Rosewood, Park Hyatt, Sheraton, The Venue, Radisson Blu Luxury hotels within the city: The Galleria, Asilah, Casablanca Grand, Mövenpick Tahlia, Centro Rotana, Carawan Plaza, Al Rouassi, in Boutik, Ascot, Elaf, need we go on?

6. The Cinemas

More than 6 cinemas, including 75 screens with different experiences from 3 operators. There are IMAX screens, options to go VIP, and even a  4D cinema experience

7. Jeddah resorts

So. Many. Resorts. You can rent a villa or hotel apartment and enjoy the endless luxuries the many resorts of Jeddah have to offer.

Also, there are many resorts that provide one-day entry tickets which is perfect for when you are looking for a day at the beach.

Coffee and tea lovers will have a wonderful time exploring the many authentic and local cafe spaces that have popped up in Jeddah recently. Honorable mentions go to brew 92 and Boga Cafe.

9. Scenic walkways

Palestine Street Walkway, Hanging Walk, Al Rehab Walkway, Rawda Walkway, University Walk, Equestrian Walk, Prince Faisal bin Fahd Walkway – all worth a drive through!

10. The Parks

Tahlia Park – Al Burj Park – Rock Garden – Environment and Sustainable Development Park – Al Faiha Park – Prince Nayef Park – Saleh Kamel Park – Al Irrada Park – Tihama Park. All great when the weather is good!

11. The shopping

Jeddah is a GREAT place to shop. Whether you are looking for international brands or the new local ones, there is a shopping experience waiting for all price ranges.

La Vie Atelier on King Road, Town Square, Jeddah Boulevard are some of the great plazas in Jeddah that combine a great shopping, dining, and entertainment experience.

13. The many upcoming tourism and entertainment projects

A large number of projects are underway, and the majority of them are to launch very soon. These include the Prince Majed Park, New Exhibition Center, The Dome, Harbor, Jeddah Walk, Cyan Water City, Al Jawhara Mall, Arbaeen Lake, Obhur Corniche Development, and Jeddah Park Mall.

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• Driving in KSA

• Places to Visit in Saudi Arabia
• Places to Visit in Riyadh

31 Tourist places to Visit in Riyadh

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Riyadh, the capital of Saudi Arabia, has so many attractions (both free and paid), tourist places, things to do, and picnic spots that you need weeks to explore.

• Riyadh City Bus Routes and Timings

What is the best time to go?

I believe the best time to visit Riyadh is during the winter season, as you can enjoy the whole day and the whole night. In summer, the temperature can reach 50°C, making it impossible to move around.

If you want to come by air, book cheap Riyadh flights quickly to keep your trip economical.

Riyadh Boulevard World

If you have only one day in Riyadh and want to make the most of it, Boulevard World is the best place to visit for free with your family. The Boulevard represents different countries, and I personally liked China, Morocco, and Italy.

The area has numerous shops, kid’s activities, cafes, restaurants, and more. Your family would love to go there and enjoy themselves. You must walk at least 3 hours to cover the entire Boulevard area.

• Boulevard World location .
• Boulevard World Timing: 3 pm to 11 pm.

If you are traveling with family, the best tourist place to visit in Riyadh cannot be other than the Zoo. It is probably the biggest zoo in Saudi Arabia and has a train ride inside. Therefore, your family is going to love it.

• Riyadh Zoo Entry Ticket: SR 11.50/adult and SR 5.75/child.
• Riyadh Zoo Train Ticket: SR 4.60/person.
• Riyadh Zoo Timings: 9 AM to 6 PM.
• Riyadh Zoo Location.

1st Paintball

If you are looking for some adventurous things to do in Riyadh, Firstainment is the place to visit. It is an excellent place to have fun and bond with friends.

Remember that bullets hurt even though you are wearing a protective vest. They will not give you shoes; you will get paint on all your pairs, so you had better grab your old shoes.

• 1st Paintball Location .
• Firstainment Timing: 4 pm to 12 am.
• 1s Paintball Price: SR 110/person for 100 rounds and SR 65 for each additional 100 rounds.

Universal Bowling Center

Universal Bowling Center is quite a famous place to visit in Riyadh among expats tourists due to its reasonable price and good environment.

• UBC Location .
• UBC Timing: 4 pm to 1:30 am.
• Universal Bowling Center Price: SR 30/person for bowling.

When the outside temperature is 50°C, tourists can visit Snow City, located in Othaim Mall, Riyadh, to experience -5°C. There are numerous rides there, and you and your family are going to love it.

• Othaim Mall Location .
• Snow City is on the 3rd Floor.
• Snow City Ticket Price: SR 170/person.

Word Sights Park

If you love to take pictures, visit the World Sights Park in Riyadh. It has around 25 monuments worldwide, including the Taj Mahal, Burj Khalifa, Petra, etc.

• World Sights Park Location .
• World Sights Park Entry Ticket: SR 11.50/adult and SR 5.75/child.

Nofa Wildlife Safari Park

You feel like you’re in a cage and free wildlife is moving around you when you visit Nofa Wildlife Safari Park in Riyadh. It is a perfect place to visit with your family, as they can see the wild animals moving around.

• Nofa Wildlife Safari Park Location .
• Nofa Wildlife Safari Timing: 8:00 am to 3:30 pm.
• Ticket Price: SR 1,500/10 persons. (you need to book the entire truck).

Al Heet Cave

Al Heet Cave is a nice evening picnic spot about 35 km from Riyadh. The place is not explored much by tourists, and swimming is not that easy as the water is not clean. It is a perfect place for bachelors, but it is not recommended to go with family.

Al Heet Cave Location .

Escape the Room

If you are a horror lover, you would love to visit the place called “Escape the Room” in Riyadh. Each Escape Room is a real-life adventure game. Your goal is simple: you have 60 minutes to open your mind & eyes, work together, crack codes & solve ciphers to escape — alive!

• Escape the Room Price: SR 155 to SR 200/person.
• Escape the Room Timing: 1 pm to 12 am.
• Escape the Room Location .
• Book your tickets online .

Museum of Illusions

If you want to take some crazy pictures in Riyadh, the Museum of Illusions is the place to visit. Although it is not a huge museum, there are enough frames to fill your Facebook or Instagram profile. The staff at the museum will guide you on how to take pictures.

• Museum of Illusion Price: SR 80/adult, SR 60/child, SR 240 for a family of 4 people.
• Museum of Illusion Location .

Gyrocopter Flight in Riyadh

If you have never been on a helicopter, it is time to ride one in Riyadh. On the exciting helicopter tour, you can have a bird’ s-eye view of the Thumamah desert and experience the sights from a different perspective.

• Gyrocopter Flight Price: SR 450/person.
• SaudiDzen WhatsApp: 054-5691017

Kingdom Center

Kingdom Center is the fourth tallest building in Riyadh, at 302 meters, but tourists still visit its top floor to have an exotic view of the city.

• Kingdom Center Location .
• Sky Bridge Ticket Price: SR 63/person.

Airforce Museum

The Airforce Museum in Riyadh has a variety of planes, jets, and helicopters on display, which people looking for free places to visit in the city for family love. Flight simulators are available, but perhaps due to pandemics, the services are suspended these days.

• Airforce Museum Timing: 4 pm to 9 pm (Tuesday off).
• Airforce Museum Location .
• Airforce Museum Ticket: Free.

Edge of the World

If you are an adventurous tourist, you should visit Edge of the World, a 2-hour drive from Riyadh. Having a 4X4 car for this is always better, as you will drive off the track.

Start with the first location given below, and once you are there, navigate to the second location to avoid being misguided by Google Maps.

• Entry Location to Edge of the World.
• Final Location to Edge of the World.

Finger Mountain 

If you are a tourist who loves adventure, Finger Mountain or Jabal al-Isbii, located in Qiddiya Riyadh, is the place to visit. It is a cool place to go for a short hike, but be careful the closer you get to the top. The Rock is very brittle and will crumble. Wear good shoes and long pants.

• Finger Mountain location .

King Abdullah Park

If you want to enjoy a fountain show in Riyadh with your family, King Abdullah Park is a tourist spot. It has nice play areas for the family as well as different musical vehicles, such as trains and cars, which sets it apart from other gardens. 

• King Abdullah Park Entry Fee: SR 11.50/adult and SR 5.75/child.
• King Abdullah Park Location .

Al Salam Park

Al Salam Park is a perfect free picnic spot for families coming to Riyadh. It is a well-maintained park with green grass, many trees, and a beautiful lake.

• Al Salam Park location.
• 8 best family parks in Riyadh

Lake Khararah

Lake Khararah is a tourist attraction and a perfect free picnic spot for families. It is situated around 60 km from Riyadh city center. The best time to visit is winter when enough rain fills the lake.

• Lake Khararah Location .

Wadi Hanifa

Wadi Hanifa was once a garbage dumping point in Riyadh, but now it has become a beautiful park and a quiet tourist attraction. It is a perfect spot to enjoy some peace of mind while your children play with water.

• Wadi Hanifa Location .

Ushaiger Heritage Village

The 1500-year-old Ushhaiger Heritage Village, situated around 200 km from Riyadh, is a unique tourist spot for a walk through history, beauty, and simplicity. Ushaiqer is a standing ancient village that outlines the beauty of Najdi style and art.

• Ushaiger Heritage Village Location .

Ad Diriyah Museum

You can learn and explore Saudi Arabia’s history through an arranged tour at the Diriyah Museum in Riyadh, which has become a great tourist destination. However, it is not yet open for public visits, so you will have to book a tour operator.

Here, you will find out how Saudi Arabia was established, its first and second states, how it united as one, and its past and current rulers.

• Diriyah Musuem Location .

Diplomatic Quarters

Diplomatic Quarters in Riyadh are filled with embassies and residential compounds, and therefore, you cannot visit on your own. You can only visit if someone who lives inside is willing to host you.

• 8 Things to do in Diplomatic Quarters .
• Diplomatic Quarters Location .

National Museum

National Museum Riyadh is a free tourist spot where you and your family can explore the history of Saudi Arabia and Islam through unique artifacts and displays. The whole activity should take no more than 2 hours.

• National Museum Location .
• National Museum Timing: 8 AM to 8 PM.
• National Museum Entry Ticket: Free.

Murabba Historical Palace

Murabba Historical Palance is a free tourist attraction in Riyadh. Scenic pathways wind through beautifully sculpted gardens, and water features add an otherworldly effect, especially at sunset.

• Murabba Historical Palace Location .
• Murabba Historical Palace Timing: 8 am to 10 pm.
• Murabba Historical Palace Ticket: Free.

Al Masmak Museum

Al Masmak is a thick-walled fortress built in Riyadh during the second Saudi state in the 19th century. It is a great tourist attraction. It was built mainly for defense purposes but later had different uses.

• Al Masmak Museum Location .
• Al Masmak Museum Ticket: Free.
• Al Masmak Museum Timing: 8 AM to 9 PM.

VIA Riyadh is very calm, clean, well-maintained, and organized. It has a variety of casual and fine-dining restaurants and coffee shops. It is indeed a great place to enjoy a dining experience with friends and family, suitable for kids. Also, they have big open spaces. The place is very prestigious with a touch of majesty.

• VIA Riyadh Location .

U-Walk by Cenomi

If you are done with the tourist attractions in Riyadh, let’s go shopping and eat at U-Walk. There are many world-recognized restaurants and dress shops here.

You will also find the movie theater “MUVI” and a beautiful fountain in the middle of Cenomi. Young people love to go there in the evening.

• U-Walk Location .
• U-Walk Timings: 9 AM to 11:30 PM.

Riyadh Front

Riyadh Front is another fantastic place to visit in Riyadh for shopping and eating. It has a great ambiance. Some stores, Vox cinema, and various restaurants offer different cuisines, plus cafes/coffee shops.

• Riyadh Front Location .

Pigeons Tower

Pigeons Tower is a unique abandoned building that can be visited during your trip to Riyadh. Each chamber has its own tower; in the middle, an open courtyard connects all chambers via a passageway.

It’s worth visiting for a 30-minute stopover on the way to Hidden Canyon. Be cautious! There are so many flies around, and they’re kind of disgusting, too.

• Pigeons Tower Location .

Hidden Canyon

Situated around 100 kilometers from Riyadh, Hidden Canyon is a perfect place to visit for nature lovers in the winter season. It is a beautiful rock formation where you might find some rainwater, too.

Wear comfortable clothes as you might have to climb up and down to explore more.

• Hidden Canyon Location .

Audat Sudair

Audat Sudair is one of the largest, most beautiful, and well-maintained historical towns in the Riyadh region. Many old houses have been converted into beautiful museums.

Audat Sudair is approximately 150 kilometers from Riyadh and is a must-visit place for tourists who like historical places.

• Audat Sudair location .

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Jeddah vs. Riyadh: Choosing the Right City for Your Saudi Arabian Experience

Moving to a new locale needs several considerations. The weather, lifestyle, job opportunities, education and the overall quality of life is something which needs to be accommodated before making a choice. Given that, Saudi Arabia is an ideal destination to get settled and get better in life. Relocation services Saudi Arabia highlights Riyadh and Jeddah as the two major places to which expatriates generally relocate. For this same reason a choice between these two places is a point of considerations for expatriates. Which city is the best, is a hot topic in such discourses, says relocation companies in Jeddah. Relocation companies in Riyadh also emphasis on the importance of a wise choice in opting for the right city for your Saudi Arabian experience.

In this blog we will be comparing these two unique and distinct cities in Saudi Arabia:

This is an informative discourse based on data collected from reliable sources such as relocation services Saudi Arabia.

An overview of lifestyle                     

Relocation companies in Jeddah boasts highly about Jeddah which is located in the banks of the Red Sea. Jeddah with its beaches and calm atmosphere is a place which is apt to relax compared to other bustling cities. Riyadh being the capital city of Saudi Arabia is a city known for its vigour, luxury and night life.

Job opportunities

The prime concern of most expatriates lies in the availability of jobs, says relocation companies in Riyadh . This is particularly important if you intent to provide for your family. As already mentioned Riyadh is the capital city and hence it is the place you’ll find with the most job opportunities in Saudi Arabia. Relocation services Saudi Arabia suggests to go for Riyadh if job is your top priority. Even though you can find jobs in Jeddah the chance of getting a job is comparatively bleak.

If you intent to settle in a new locale the climate of that place should confirm to your health conditions. Relocation companies in Riyadh warns expatriates of the extreme weather condition in Riyadh. Meanwhile Jeddah being located along the Red sea is a place which witness moderate temperature across the year. If you are comfortable with humid and moderate climate go for Jeddah.

Housing         

Relocation companies in Jeddah says that the apartments in Jeddah is a bit more expensive compared to the villas and apartments available in Riyadh. On further comparison, the cost of living in Riyadh turns out to be on a higher scale than Jeddah. So a choice between the two cities is like walking on a tight rope.

INFRASTRUCTURE

Luxurious malls which compete with international standards are popular in Riyadh. The night life offered by such luxurious complexes gives an extra edge to Riyadh over other cities in Saudi Arabia. Relocation services Saudi Arabia often look down at the basic facilities of Jeddah as a factor which makes expatriates to keep aside this choice when they plan to relocate. These few factors make the choice between Riyadh and Jeddah a matter of your conveniences. Your choice depends on the necessities or wants that you have in your priority list.

Jeddah can’t be side lined as a remote locale for its drawbacks in terms of infrastructure and facilities of the like. Indeed the educational infrastructure of Jeddah nowadays stands as a competition to the ones in Riyadh, says relocation services Saudi Arabia. And if you wish to have a calm and peaceful life away from the bustling traffic of the major metropolitan cities Jeddah will be the best option, claims relocation companies in Jeddah. While relocation companies in Riyadh and Jeddah makes their respective claims it is up to you to weigh on the advantages of each cities and your requirements.

Looking for relocation services Saudi Arabia who can offer you an easy and stress free relocation to your chosen city in Saudi Arabia? Feel free to reach out to the expert team of Helpxpat to have insightful assistance on your relocation.

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Discover the best places to visit in Jeddah, a diverse and cosmopolitan city in the Makkah Province that's very popular with tourists.

The Best Places to Visit in Jeddah

Top recommendations, top hotels:.

• The Ritz-Carlton Jeddah Hotel
• Jeddah Hilton
• Centro Salama Jeddah by Rotana

Top Restaurants:

• Nobu - Jeddah
• Le Comptoir de Nicole - Jeddah Yacht Club
• Karam Beirut - Lebanese Restaurant - Jeddah

Top Activities:

Explore new jeddah corniche on the red sea, jeddah yacht club and marina, explore old jeddah, al balad, explore other cities of saudi arabia, jeddah is different.

Jeddah is the perfect blend of old and modern. From the magnificent Old Jeddah, Al Balad district to the new five star luxury Jeddah Yact Club and Marinia , Jeddah has the best of both worlds. One of Jeddah’s most notable features is its close proximity to the Red Sea. The picturesque Jeddah Waterfront offers a great picnic spot where visitors can relax, enjoy the breathtaking views of the Red Sea and discover the famous Al Rahma mosque, otherwise known as the Floating Mosque. Jeddah is rightly referred to as the ‘Mermaid of the Red Sea’.

The motto of the city is ‘Jeddah is Different’. This is in line with the truly diverse and cosmopolitan nature of the city, which features spectacular events like the Formula 1 Grand Prix. Once you visit Jeddah, you get to truly appreciate the distinct vibe of the city. It is a lively and interesting destination that will offer you much to do. Its rich history and historical significance will make you want to spend more and more time here and revisit the famous Jeddah sign.

According to the Ministry of Hajj , Jeddah was founded as a small fishing village around 2500 years ago. The port city has held great significance not only due to commerce and trade but also due to the fact that during the period of Caliph Uthman bin Affan, it served as a port for pilgrims heading to Makkah to perform Hajj.

The city was fortified in the 16th century by the Turks. A stone wall was built to defend the city against the Portuguese. Since Jeddah remained under Ottoman rule until 1915, there is a strong Turkish influence visible in the city architecture. 

The long seashore is one of the most prominent features of the city. Benefiting from this abundant seashore, the city of Jeddah built a 20 mile, three-part corniche. The New Jeddah Corniche offers breathtaking views of the Red Sea and also offers many recreational facilities that visitors can benefit from. Keeping in line with the motto ‘Jeddah is Different’, even the geography of the region offers a break from the endless sprawling desert of Saudi Arabia. The beauty of the Red Sea enchants visitors and beckons them to come back for more.   

Jeddah is the 100th largest city in the world by land area. It is situated on a coastal plain in the lower Hijaz mountains. The climate of the city is classified as arid and it retains its warmth even in the colder months.

Cultural Life

The province of Makkah is a perfect blend of rich, centuries-old culture and traditions along with modern architecture and a lively way of life. You can find old souks as well as skyscrapers that are reaching for the clouds. 

Visitors seeking old architecture will thoroughly enjoy visiting  Old Jeddah, Al Balad . You can get the feeling of travelling back in time by strolling through the narrow alleyways and soaking in the magnificently coloured Mashrabiat and Rawashaan. UNESCO added the historical Al Balad district to the list of World Heritage sites.

Being a multi-ethnic cosmopolitan city, Jeddah has a great traditional cuisine that takes its influence from various cultures. Fast food fans would be thrilled to know that the famous Albaik chain originated and is headquartered in Jeddah. You can also find hundreds of the best Restaurants in Jeddah on Welcome Saudi.

Popular Attractions

There is no shortage of things to do and sites to visit in Jeddah. If we start from museums, you can visit the Nassif House Museum and the Matbouli House Museum . The Jeddah fountain, also known as the King Fahd’s Fountain is a popular attraction. The jet of water rises to an incredible height of 853 feet. At night this stream of water is illuminated and offers an unforgettable sight. 

New Jeddah Corniche and the Jeddah waterfront offer great spots where you can spend the entire day just soaking in the magnificent sights of the sea. There are numerous activities offered in these areas. Tourists can enjoy the fresh seafood and do some shopping. You can also take a look at the aquatic species that prowl the Red Sea in the purposefully designed Fakieh Aquarium. If you are looking for beautiful fine dining restaurants then you can try the Restaurants at Jeddah Yacht Club .

One of the most historical places in Jeddah is the Baab Makkah or Makkah Gate. This open-air market truly comes to life after sunset. You can catch a glimpse of the true essence of Jeddah city by strolling around these souks. The gate itself (Baab Makkah), is a great work of architecture and is a popular attraction for visitors. Whether you’re looking for history or enjoyment, you never run out of places to go in Jeddah.

What to visit

King fahad's fountain - jeddah, discover jeddah waterfront on the red sea, al rahma - floating mosque - jeddah, baab makkah jeddah - makkah gate, matbouli house museum - jeddah, fakieh aquarium - jeddah, nassif house museum -jeddah, jeddah island mosque -waterfront, jeddah gallery, stay in touch.

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Riyadh travel guide

Riyadh tourism | riyadh guide, you're going to love riyadh.

Riyadh is a sprawling city of 6.5 million, the capital of Saudi Arabia, and a major financial and administrative center of the nation. You'll find it a busy and very modern place, with much to offer the curious traveler.

Top 5 Reasons to Visit Riyadh

1. great food.

The city offers a wide selection of restaurants from cheap to fine dining, including classic Saudi and Middle Eastern cuisine and many Indian and Pakistani options.

2. The Kingdom Centre

This skyscraper is worth a day's visit on its own, and includes a shopping mall and the stunning Skybridge on the 99th floor that connects the two towers of the building.

3. World-Class Golf

There are several golf courses within a half hour's drive of the city, including the Dirab Golf & Country Club.

4. Dune Bashing

Explore the desert dunes that surround the city in an ATV rental for a bout of dune bashing.

5. Shopping Malls

The city plays host to several sleek modern shopping malls, full of clothes, electronics, books, CDs, and much more.

What to do in Riyadh

1. masmak fort: standing watch over riyadh.

This one-time fort is constructed of mud and clay bricks, incorporating four corner turrets that once acted as watchtowers. The walls are exceptionally thick, and were once prepared to defend the city in battle. Today it is a museum, located in the old quarter at the heart of Riyadh. The museum's collections include antique weapons, agricultural tools, and costumes from throughout the history of Saudi Arabia. There are shops and restaurants in the immediate area, including the Deira souk, or market.

2. Ancient Diriyah: A UNESCO World Heritage Site

Once the home of the Saudi royal family, the town of Ad'Diriyah is located about 16 miles northwest of Riyadh. The historic area of the town includes two main sections and many quarters or neighborhoods. There are ruins of the palace and old city to explore, along with a variety of other activities such as shopping at the Bujairy marketplace, walking by the waterfalls, or stopping at a restaurant or cafe. Ad'Diriyah is accessible by foot.

3. National Museum of Saudi Arabia: An Impressive Collection of National Treasures

One of the most important museums in the country, the National Museum of Saudi Arabia documents the history, archeology, and culture of the Kingdom in a number of collections. Objects on display include documents, antique tools, weapons, sculptures and other artwork, along with mineral and rock samples, and much more. The museum is housed in a modern building with interactive displays, and a gift store for souvenirs. There is a fee for entry.

4. Kingdom Center: The Building with a Hole

The Kingdom Center is one of the tallest skyscrapers in the country, rising 990 feet in height. The design incorporates a hole that is created by an inverted arch, with a 184 foot walkway or Sky Bridge across the top. The Four Seasons Hotel Riyadh and luxury apartments are incorporated into the building, along with a large shopping mall. The Sky Bridge offers spectacular views from above the city, and is accessible to the public. Tickets are available for purchase on the Gallery level.

5. Al Faisaliyah Center: A Star Dome

The Al Faisaliyah Center is the fourth-tallest skyscraper in Saudi Arabia, and was the Kingdom's first skyscraper. The 875-foot-high structure includes corporate office space, upscale apartments, and a three-story luxury shopping mall. The building design incorporates separate sections that taper as they rise up, intended to minimize sun exposure, with observation decks at some of the floors on the way up. There is a restaurant at the top, located inside a glass ball that sits 656 feet above the city, making for excellent views while dining.

Activities & attractions in Riyadh

Where to Eat in Riyadh

Eat local at the Najd Village, which is designed just like a typical desert village and offers classic Middle Eastern dishes like kabsa. Mains start at SR15, with set menus from SR100. Located in the Al Faisaliah Tower, the Globe offers international cuisine and great views of the city starting at SR100.

When to visit Riyadh

With the hot desert climate, the most popular time to visit is in winter, between November and March, when there is often a little rain, in contrast with the very hot, dry summer.

How to Get to Riyadh

King Khalid Airport (RUH) is located about 21 miles to the north of Riyadh. Taxi fares vary by zone, and a trip to the central area of the city should cost about SR70 to 90.

There are daily train connections to Dammam, passing through Al-Hofuf and Al-Hasa. Be aware that you will need to arrive a bit early to pass through security.

Highway 40 runs east-west through Riyadh, linking the city with Dammam. The causeway from Bahrain to Al-Khobar connects the city with destinations to the north.

Riyadh's bus station is located about 10 miles to the south of the downtown area, with connections available to Dammam, Jeddah, or Mecca.

Airports near Riyadh

Airlines serving riyadh, where to stay in riyadh.

Stay in contemporary luxury at the Al Faisaliah Hotel, a 5-star property with a stylish Italian restaurant. The Nassma Hotel Apartments offers furnished units with kitchenettes and a living room area.

Popular Neighborhoods in Riyadh

Al-Murabba - this district is where you'll find the King Abdulaziz Historical Center, which includes the National Museum of Riyadh and Murabba Palace.

Al-Bathaa - this neighborhood is home to budget-priced shopping and dining options, and it's the hub of the city's minibus system if you're feeling adventurous.

Olaya and Sulaimaniyah - these two areas are the heart of the city's business district; here you'll find upscale hotels and restaurants.

Where to stay in popular areas of Riyadh

Most booked hotels in riyadh, how to get around riyadh, public transportation.

There is no public transportation in Riyadh as yet. Two subway lines are currently being constructed, with opening scheduled for 2019. There is a minibus system with cheap fares of SR3, but it is somewhat confusing, with no posted stops, and is not usually feasible for tourists.

Official taxis are white. Fares start at SR5, with most trips within the city costing SR30 or less.

With limited public transportation, a car rental can be a good way to get around the city, but be aware that only men are permitted to drive in Saudi Arabia. There's a Sixt outlet in town, and a compact rental starts at about SR110.

Car rental agencies in Riyadh

The cost of living in riyadh, shopping streets.

You'll find many of the city's large shopping malls on Olaya Road and Tahlia Street. The large Souq al-Thumairi is located next to the Masmak Fort.

Groceries and Other

Hyperpanda and Carrefour are found throughout the city. A quart of milk costs about SR4.20, and a dozen eggs is about SR6.65.

How to Get from Jeddah to Riyadh

Riyadh is a hub of history, culture, and tourism, making it a popular destination in Saudi Arabia. There are several convenient ways to get from Jeddah to Riyadh, including buses, cars, and flights connecting the 850-kilometer distance between these two vibrant cities. Travel times can vary depending on your mode of transportation, taking anywhere from 1 to 13 hours. Read on to find out which form of travel best suits you.

Best Way to Get from Jeddah to Riyadh: Join a Tour

If you want an immersive experience, an organized tour is the best choice, combining the allure of adventure with the ease of planned schedules. Opting for a well-organized tour from Jeddah to Riyadh is the best way to turn your journey into a remarkable expedition. Our tailored Riyadh tours promise a convenient way of exploring the highlights of the city. With insightful guides, luxurious lodgings, and hand-picked itineraries, your trip will become an adventure worth remembering.

Here are a few tours we offer:

•   Insider Riyadh Private City Tour : This personalized tour is your passport to get closely acquainted with Riyadh. Explore Riyadh’s ancient and modern histories with a knowledgeable local guide. Attractions include the Murraba Palace, Al Masmak Museum, the Al Turaif district – a UNESCO World Heritage Site – and more. The day ends with stunning panoramic views.
• Half-Day Diriyah Tour from Riyadh : Prepare to be captivated by this tour , which takes you through the historical richness of Diriyah—the first location of the Saudi Kingdom. A UNESCO site, this city’s walls tell stories of a riveting past as you explore it with your local guide. Revel in the old-world charm and forward-thinking architecture; perfect for history and architecture enthusiasts.
•   Riyadh Historical Half-Day Tour : With this experience , immerse yourself in Riyadh’s fascinating world of hidden treasures. Start at the National Museum’s impressive collection of artifacts, followed by the Murabba Palace – once the esteemed residence of King Abdulaziz. Get a peek into Riyadh’s vibrant past and captivating stories that have shaped its history. With an expert guide and a well-planned itinerary, this is sure to leave a lasting impression.

Our tours ensure your journey from Jeddah to Riyadh isn’t just about the destination—it’s about savoring the experiences along the way.

Other Ways to Get from Jeddah to Riyadh

How to get from jeddah to riyadh by bu s.

For budget-savvy travelers, taking a bus from Jeddah to Riyadh is ideal. The journey is operated by SAPTCO, with services departing from Jeddah station. There’s no direct bus route, but services via Al Taif offer a convenient transfer point. It takes about 13 hours and 31 minutes, costs $60 – $90, and is a great way to explore the Saudi Arabian landscape. Once in the city, feel free to use the Riyadh buses to explore this marvelous city.

How to Get from Jeddah to Riyadh b y Car

Driving from Jeddah to Riyadh can be an exciting adventure. The distance is about 944 km, takes approximately 9 hours and 26 minutes, and costs around $50-$80. For the independent traveler, car rentals, taxi services, and ride-sharing options are also available.

How to Get from Jeddah to Riyadh by Air

Time-conscious travelers might prefer to take to the skies. With a 45-minute flight from Jeddah Airport to Riyadh Airport, this option is the quickest way to reach your destination. Airlines such as Flynas, flyadeal, and Saudia offer regular flights between these cities. Prices rarely cost more than $300.

Did We Spark Your Wanderlust?

Whether you are a history lover, business traveler, or simple adventurer, Riyadh has something for everyone. With so many great ways of getting from Jeddah to Riyadh, you’ll be discovering the city’s iconic spots before you know it. Remember that our tours offer you a comprehensive, hassle-free, and memorable way to experience this and other Saudi Arabian cities.

To further inspire your travels, explore our recommendations on what to do during a layover in Riyadh and discover the best things to do in Riyadh . Safe travels!

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