Travel guide · Saudi Arabia
Jeddah travel guide
Coral-stone Al-Balad, a 30 km Red Sea corniche and Hijazi street food
Updated By the AMZBooking editorial team
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Quick answer
Jeddah has been the Red Sea gateway for pilgrims and traders since the 7th century, and its historic core, Al-Balad, is a UNESCO-listed quarter of coral-stone tower houses with carved wooden rawasheen balconies and old souqs. North of the old town, the Corniche runs for about 30 km past open-air sculptures, the floating Al-Rahmah Mosque and King Fahd's Fountain, whose jet rises above the sea after dark. The city's food is distinctly Hijazi, from ful and tameez breakfasts to saleeg and fresh fish from the central market, and the reefs off Obhur draw divers and snorkellers. Plan 3 days for a first visit; the best months are November–March.
Key facts
- Country
- Saudi Arabia
- Best time to visit
- November–March
- Ideal stay
- 3 days
- Main airports
- JED
- Mid-range daily budget
- $160–$300 per person (estimate)
- Known for
- Al-Balad, King Fahd's Fountain, Jeddah Corniche and Red Sea diving
Why visit Jeddah
- Al-Balad's coral-stone houses, wooden lattice balconies and souqs form the best-preserved historic port town on the Arabian Red Sea coast.
- The Corniche combines sea views, beaches, open-air sculpture by artists including Henry Moore and Joan Miró, and evening walks by King Fahd's Fountain.
- Hijazi dishes such as saleeg, masoub, sayadiyah and mutabbaq are at their best here, alongside grilled Red Sea fish.
- Coral reefs off Obhur are reachable by boat within minutes of the city's beach clubs.
- The cooler mountain town of Taif and the rose farms of the Sarawat range are a day trip away.
Top things to do
The six sights most first-time visitors build a trip around. See all 14 things to do.
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Historic site · Al-Balad
Al-Balad (Historic Jeddah)
Jeddah's old walled town, inscribed by UNESCO in 2014 as 'Historic Jeddah, the Gate to Makkah', is a maze of lanes lined with tower houses built from Red Sea coral stone.
- Time needed
- Half a day
- Cost
- Free
- Iconic
- History
- Architecture
- Free
- Photo spot
- After dark
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Historic site · Al-Balad
Nasseef House
Built in the late 19th century for the merchant Omar Nasseef, this tall coral-stone house is one of Al-Balad's grandest.
- Time needed
- 45 minutes
- Cost
- Low cost
- History
- Architecture
- Iconic
Landmark · Al Hamra and the Corniche
King Fahd's Fountain
Built in the 1980s just off the central Corniche, this fountain shoots a jet of seawater up to about 300 metres, among the highest in the world.
- Time needed
- 30 minutes
- Cost
- Free
- Iconic
- After dark
- Free
- Views
- Kids
Market · Al-Balad
Souq Al Alawi
The main souq street of Al-Balad threads through the old town past stalls of spices, perfumes, oud, prayer beads, fabrics and Hijazi sweets.
- Time needed
- 1–2 hours
- Cost
- Free
- Shopping
- Food
- Free
- After dark
Landmark · Al-Balad
Bab Makkah and its souq
The restored eastern gate of the old city wall, facing the road to Makkah, was the entry point for pilgrims arriving by land.
- Time needed
- 45 minutes
- Cost
- Free
- History
- Shopping
- Free
Waterfront · Al Hamra and the Corniche
Jeddah Corniche and open-air sculptures
The seafront road and promenades stretch for about 30 km along the Red Sea.
- Time needed
- 1–2 hours
- Cost
- Free
- Free
- Art
- Outdoors
- Couples
Where to stay
Al Hamra and the Corniche is the easiest base for a first visit. Compare all 6 areas.
$$ · Best for culture, budget, food lovers and solo travellers
Al-Balad
Coral-stone houses, souqs and boutique stays in the UNESCO old town
$$$ · Best for first-timers, couples and families
Al Hamra and the Corniche
Seafront hotels facing King Fahd's Fountain
$$$ · Best for shopping, food lovers and nightlife
Al Rawdah and Tahlia
Malls, boutiques and restaurants around Tahlia Street
$$ · Best for families, food lovers and budget
Al Zahra and Prince Sultan Road
Residential north-central district with a long restaurant strip
What to eat
- Saleeg — A creamy Hijazi rice dish cooked slowly in chicken or meat broth and milk, served with roast chicken or lamb on top and a dab of ghee.
- Mutabbaq — Thin dough folded around minced meat, egg and leek and fried on a griddle until crisp.
- Ful and tameez — Slow-cooked fava beans mashed with cumin, olive oil, lemon and chilli, eaten with tameez, a large, puffy flatbread baked in a clay oven that came to the Hijaz with Central Asian pilgrims.
- Masoub — A Hijazi breakfast of mashed flatbread and ripe banana, topped with cream, honey and sometimes cheese.
- Sayadiyah — Fish cooked with rice in a broth darkened by deeply caramelised onions and spiced with cumin, a dish of the Red Sea coast.
- Grilled Red Sea fish — Hamour (grouper), red snapper and kingfish are grilled with spices or fried whole, served with rice, salad and tahini sauce.
When to go
The best time to visit Jeddah is November to March, when days are warm rather than hot, humidity is lower and evenings on the Corniche and in Al-Balad are comfortable. From June to September heat and humidity are intense, though the Red Sea is at its warmest. Ramadan moves about 11 days earlier each year; during it Al-Balad's evenings are especially lively. The city and airport are also very busy in the Hajj season, which shifts by the same amount each year.
| Season | Months | What to expect |
|---|---|---|
| Winter | December–February | Warm, sunny days around 29–30°C and pleasant evenings; peak season for sightseeing, beaches and events. |
| Spring | March–May | Warming quickly with rising humidity; mornings are good for diving and beach clubs. |
| Summer | June–September | Very hot and humid with warm nights; sightseeing only after dark, but warm seas and lower hotel prices. |
| Autumn | October–November | Heat eases and evenings become comfortable again, with excellent diving conditions. |
Getting there and around
King Abdulaziz International Airport is about 20 km north of Al-Balad. A taxi or ride-hailing car takes about 25–40 minutes to Al-Balad or the Corniche depending on traffic, and the airport has its own Haramain railway station.
Jeddah is a long, spread-out coastal city, and most visitors get around by ride-hailing car or taxi. Al-Balad and the Corniche promenades are walkable in themselves, but the distances between them are not.
Plan your days
Two days covers Al-Balad and Nasseef House, the Corniche and its sculptures, the fountain at night and a seafood dinner. A third day adds a beach club or reef trip at Obhur; a fourth allows a day trip to Taif.
Practical information
- Currency
- SAR
- Language
- Arabic and English
- Plugs
- Type G sockets (some Type C), 230 V, 60 Hz
- Tap water
- Tap water is desalinated, but drink bottled water, which is inexpensive and sold everywhere.
- Emergency number
- 911 (unified emergency number); 997 ambulance
- Tipping
- Tipping is not obligatory; about 10% in restaurants where no service charge is added, and small tips for porters and drivers, are appreciated.
The main risks are heat and humidity, fast traffic and occasional strong currents on unsupervised beaches. Drink plenty of water, cross roads at signals and swim where lifeguards are present.
Flights to Jeddah
Questions travellers ask
+How many days do you need in Jeddah?
Two days covers Al-Balad and Nasseef House, the Corniche and its sculptures, the fountain at night and a seafood dinner. A third day adds a beach club or reef trip at Obhur; a fourth allows a day trip to Taif. How to split your days.
+When is the best time to visit Jeddah?
The best time to visit Jeddah is November to March, when days are warm rather than hot, humidity is lower and evenings on the Corniche and in Al-Balad are comfortable. From June to September heat and humidity are intense, though the Red Sea is at its warmest. Ramadan moves about 11 days earlier each year; during it Al-Balad's evenings are especially lively. The city and airport are also very busy in the Hajj season, which shifts by the same amount each year.
+What is Jeddah known for?
Al-Balad, King Fahd's Fountain, Jeddah Corniche, Red Sea diving, Hijazi food, Floating mosque and Gateway for pilgrims. Al-Balad's coral-stone houses, wooden lattice balconies and souqs form the best-preserved historic port town on the Arabian Red Sea coast.
+Is Jeddah expensive?
Jeddah is moderately priced for international visitors: a mid-range trip costs roughly $160–$300 per person per day before flights (AMZBooking estimate). Costs and money-saving tips.
+Do you need a car in Jeddah?
Not essential: ride-hailing is plentiful and inexpensive. A hire car helps for Taif, the northern beaches or King Abdullah Economic City, but traffic in Jeddah is fast and assertive.