2 days in Jeddah

Day by day

1. Day 1: Al-Balad (Historic Jeddah) and Nasseef House

   Al-Balad (Historic Jeddah), Nasseef House, Souq Al Alawi and Bab Makkah and its souq, then King Fahd's Fountain in the evening.

   1. Morning

      Al-Balad (Historic Jeddah)

      Their carved wooden rawasheen bay windows kept interiors shaded and ventilated. Restoration has accelerated in recent years, and many houses now hold galleries, cafés and small museums.

   2. Late morning

      Nasseef House

      King Abdulaziz stayed here after entering Jeddah in 1925. Inside, a wide staircase built so camels could carry goods upstairs leads to restored rooms and exhibitions on Hijazi life.

   3. Lunch

      Lunch: Saleeg

      Hijazi restaurants across the city; ask for it at traditional places rather than international ones.

   4. Afternoon

      Souq Al Alawi

      Side lanes lead to small mosques and coral-stone houses, and the souq is liveliest after the evening prayer.

   5. Late afternoon

      Bab Makkah and its souq

      The surrounding souq sells dates, spices, household goods and inexpensive clothing, and is one of the busiest markets in the city.

   6. Evening

      King Fahd's Fountain

      Watch it from the Corniche promenade in Al Hamra after sunset, when it is lit and the sea breeze cools the air.

2. Day 2: Jeddah Corniche and open-air sculptures and Jeddah Waterfront

   Jeddah Corniche and open-air sculptures, Jeddah Waterfront, Al-Rahmah Mosque and Fakieh Aquarium, then Jeddah Yacht Club and marina in the evening.

   1. Morning

      Jeddah Corniche and open-air sculptures

      Along the central sections stand large public sculptures collected from the 1970s onwards, including pieces by Henry Moore and Joan Miró, many now grouped in an open-air sculpture museum.

   2. Late morning

      Jeddah Waterfront

      On cool evenings it fills with families picnicking and walking by the sea.

   3. Lunch

      Lunch: Mutabbaq

      Street griddles in Al-Balad and long-established snack shops in the older districts, busiest in the evening.

   4. Afternoon

      Al-Rahmah Mosque

      Its domes and minaret are one of the most photographed sights on the waterfront.

   5. Late afternoon

      Fakieh Aquarium

      It is a popular indoor stop with children during the hottest part of the day.

   6. Evening

      Jeddah Yacht Club and marina

      Come for dinner at sunset and a walk along the marina promenade.

If it rains

• Swap in Hayy Jameel (Al Rawdah and Tahlia): Check the programme before visiting and pair it with a film screening or a talk.

Where to stay for this itinerary

Pace and daylight

The sights in this plan add up to roughly 11–16 hours of visiting over 2 days, before meals and getting between them. Daylight runs from about 10.8 hours in December to 13.4 hours in June.

Getting between stops: Ride-hailing. Uber and Careem are widely used and the most practical way to move between Al-Balad, the Corniche, Tahlia Street and Obhur.

More or fewer days

• One day in Jeddah
• 3 days in Jeddah

Questions travellers ask