3 days in Jeddah

Day by day

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

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

   1. Morning

      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.

   2. Late morning

      Nasseef House

      Look up at the rawasheen on the facade from the small square in front, then visit the upper floors for views over the rooftops.

   3. Lunch

      Lunch: Saleeg

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

   4. Afternoon

      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.

   5. 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: Bab Makkah and its souq and Central fish market

   Bab Makkah and its souq, Central fish market and Jeddah Corniche and open-air sculptures, then Jeddah Waterfront in the evening.

   1. Morning

      Bab Makkah and its souq

      Combine it with Souq Al Alawi; the two souqs connect through the old town on foot.

   2. Late morning

      Central fish market

      Near the old port on the edge of Al-Balad, Jeddah's main fish market sells the morning's Red Sea catch: hamour, red snapper, kingfish, shrimp and crab.

   3. Lunch

      Lunch: Mutabbaq

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

   4. Afternoon

      Jeddah Corniche and open-air sculptures

      Walk or cycle a section at sunset; the central Corniche near the sculpture museum is the most interesting stretch.

   5. Evening

      Jeddah Waterfront

      Bring a picnic and stay for the evening; weekdays are calmer than Thursday and Friday nights.

3. Day 3: Al-Rahmah Mosque and Fakieh Aquarium

   Al-Rahmah Mosque, Fakieh Aquarium and Jeddah Yacht Club and marina, then Tahlia Street in the evening.

   1. Morning

      Al-Rahmah Mosque

      Completed in 1985, this white mosque stands on pillars over the sea on the northern Corniche, so at high tide it appears to float.

   2. Late morning

      Fakieh Aquarium

      Visit at midday to escape the heat, then head to the Waterfront for the evening.

   3. Lunch

      Lunch: Ful and tameez

      Breakfast ful shops and tameez bakeries in Al-Balad and older neighbourhoods, early in the morning.

   4. Afternoon

      Jeddah Yacht Club and marina

      On the northern Corniche next to the Jeddah Corniche Circuit, the yacht club area has marina berths, waterside restaurants and lounges and promenades with views back to the city.

   5. Evening

      Tahlia Street

      Visit in the evening, when the street is busiest and the temperature is lower.

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

With 3 nights, Al Hamra and the Corniche keeps most of this route within easy reach. For a calmer or cheaper base, Al-Balad ($$) suits culture, budget, food lovers and solo travellers. Compare every area.

Pace and daylight

The sights in this plan add up to roughly 13–19 hours of visiting over 3 days, before meals and getting between them. Daylight runs from about 10.8 hours in December to 13.4 hours in June.

More or fewer days

• One day in Jeddah
• 2 days in Jeddah

Questions travellers ask