Roavina

Country guide

Saudi Arabia

A photograph of Saudi Arabia
Photograph · Saudi Press Agency (SPA) · CC BY-SA 4.0

At 2,149,690 square kilometres, Saudi Arabia is the largest country in the Middle East and the only one with coastline on both the Red Sea and the Arabian Gulf — which is the fact that separates its cities. Riyadh, the capital, stands inland at the centre and is built at driving scale. Jeddah on the Red Sea is the older port, with a coral-stone historic quarter and the water at the end of the street, while Mecca and Medina, the two holiest cities in Islam, are closed to non-Muslims. The 33.7 million people counted in 2024 are gathered into a handful of centres with long empty desert in between.

Reviewed by Elena Voss · Roavina Travel Editor

Cities

Every city catalogued in this country so far, ranked by how much there is to see.

Practical information
Language spoken
Arabic; English is widely used in visitor services
National practical orientation; regional and minority languages may also be used
Dialling code
+966
International calling code; local area and mobile prefixes still apply
Currency
Saudi riyal (SAR)
Use the official local currency; card acceptance varies by place
Emergency number
911 unified in supported regions · 997 ambulance
Use only for an emergency; tourist assistance may use a separate number
Plug type
Type G · 230 V
Check that chargers support the recorded voltage before using an adapter
Tap water
Not recorded
No verified nationwide drinking-water statement was recorded

Planning a visit

  1. January: no seasonality data recorded
  2. February: no seasonality data recorded
  3. March: no seasonality data recorded
  4. April: no seasonality data recorded
  5. May: no seasonality data recorded
  6. June: no seasonality data recorded
  7. July: no seasonality data recorded
  8. August: no seasonality data recorded
  9. September: no seasonality data recorded — this month
  10. October: no seasonality data recorded
  11. November: no seasonality data recorded
  12. December: no seasonality data recorded

Top things to see

Ranked by importance — sitelinks, pageviews and heritage status, not editor preference.

Filter the list

28 places match
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Category

Historic monuments 28 Museums 20 Places of worship 40 Nature sites 14 Viewpoints 8 Food and drink 0 Markets and shopping 17 Entertainment 2 Nightlife 0 Family attractions 2 Art and culture 7 Activities 4

Typical visit duration

Up to 1 hour 27 Half a day or more 1

Interests

History 5 Art 0 Museums 0 Nature 0 Sea and beach 0 Viewpoints 0
  1. Black Stone Black Stone
    01 45 min

    Black Stone

    الحجر الأسود

    The Black Stone is an ancient stone set into the eastern outer corner of the Kaaba in the Grand Mosque of Mecca, Islam's holiest site.

    • Must see
    • Historic monument
    • Mecca
  2. Mount Arafat Mount Arafat
    02 45 min

    Mount Arafat

    جبل الرحمة

    Mount Arafat, known locally as Jabal al-Rahmah or the Mountain of Mercy, is a granite hill approximately east of central Mecca in Saudi Arabia.

    • Must see
    • Historic monument
    • Mecca
  3. Hira Hira
    03 4 hours

    Hira

    غار حراء

    The Cave of Hira is a cleft in the rock near the top of Jabal al-Nour, the mountain that rises northeast of central Makkah.

    • Must see
    • Historic monument
    • Mecca
  4. Station of Abraham Station of Abraham
    04 45 min

    Station of Abraham

    مقام إبراهيم

    The Station of Abraham, known locally as Maqam Ibrahim, is a significant Islamic religious site in Mecca, Saudi Arabia.

    • Must see
    • Historic monument
    • Mecca
  5. Jamaraat Bridge Jamaraat Bridge
    05 45 min

    Jamaraat Bridge

    جسر الجمرات

    Jamaraat Bridge is a pedestrian bridge in Mina, near Mecca, constructed for the Islamic ritual of stoning the devil during Hajj. The structure allows pilgrims to throw pebbles at three stone pillars representing Satan.

    • Must see
    • Historic monument
    • Mecca
  6. Bay'ah Mosque Bay'ah Mosque
    06 45 min

    Bay'ah Mosque

    مسجد البيعة

    Bay'ah Mosque is a place of worship in Mecca, Saudi Arabia, known in Arabic as Masjid al-Bay'ah. Its name refers to the bay'ah, or pledge of allegiance, and the mosque is associated with an important early Islamic setting.

    • Must see
    • Historic monument
    • Mecca
  7. Al-Balad, Jeddah Al-Balad, Jeddah
    07 45 min

    Al-Balad, Jeddah

    جدة التاريخية

    Al-Balad is Historic Jeddah, the old port district beside the Red Sea and a UNESCO World Heritage Site. The official Jeddah Historic District programme describes a 2.

    • Must see
    • Historic monument
    • Jeddah
  8. At-Turaif District At-Turaif District
    08 45 min

    At-Turaif District

    الطريف

    At-Turaif District is the historic quarter of Diriyah, northwest of Riyadh. It was the original seat of the House of Saud and the capital of the first Saudi state from 1744 until the Ottoman-Egyptian campaign of 1818.

    • Must see
    • Historic monument
    • Riyadh
  9. Murabba Palace Murabba Palace
    09 45 min

    Murabba Palace

    قصر المربع

    Murabba Historical Palace is a restored royal residence in Riyadh's King Abdulaziz Historical Centre. Built during the early twentieth century, it served as a residence for King Abdulaziz, founder of the modern Saudi state.

    • High
    • Historic monument
    • Riyadh
  10. Boulevard Riyadh City Boulevard Riyadh City
    10 45 min

    Boulevard Riyadh City

    بوليفارد رياض سيتي

    Boulevard Riyadh City, بوليفارد رياض سيتي, is a large entertainment and leisure destination in Riyadh. It combines urban promenades with dining, retail, and programmed entertainment, reflecting the city’s expanding role as a regional leisure hub.

    • High
    • Historic monument
    • Riyadh
  11. Al-Balad Souq Al Alawi Al-Balad Souq Al Alawi
    11 45 min

    Al-Balad Souq Al Alawi

    سوق العلوي

    Souq Al Alawi is a traditional marketplace situated within Al-Balad, the historic district of Jeddah.

    • Notable
    • Historic monument
    • Jeddah
  12. Al Falak Square Al Falak Square
    12 45 min

    Al Falak Square

    Al Falak Square, or ميدان الفلك, is a public landmark in Jeddah. It occupies a site formerly associated with a non-visitor airport terminal function and now serves as a civic urban space.

    • Notable
    • Historic monument
    • Jeddah
  13. Al Fordha Gate
    13 45 min

    Al Fordha Gate

    Al Fordha Gate is a historic entrance in Al-Balad, Jeddah’s old town. It marks the transition from the contemporary city into a district known for coral-stone buildings, wooden roshan balconies, merchant houses, souqs, and narrow lanes.

    • Notable
    • Historic monument
    • Jeddah
  14. Al-Shafi’i Al-Shafi’i
    14 45 min

    Al-Shafi’i

    Al-Shafi'i Mosque is an active historic mosque in Jeddah, Saudi Arabia. Its local name is مسجد الشافعي. The mosque maintains an independent religious function and is kept as a separate point of interest from the broader historic district stops.

    • Notable
    • Historic monument
    • Jeddah
  15. Al Thumairi gate Al Thumairi gate
    15 45 min

    Al Thumairi gate

    دروازة الثميري

    Al Thumairi Gate, known locally as بوابة الثميري, stands as a historic entry point within Riyadh's urban fabric. The structure represents part of the defensive architecture that once defined the old city boundaries.

    • Notable
    • Historic monument
    • Riyadh
  16. `Ayn Zubaydah
    16 45 min

    `Ayn Zubaydah

    عين زبيدة

    Ain Zubaida is a historic water source in Mecca associated with the infrastructure that supported pilgrims.

    • Notable
    • Historic monument
    • Mecca
  17. Bab Makkah Bab Makkah
    17 45 min

    Bab Makkah

    باب مكة

    Bab Makkah, known locally as باب مكة, is a historic city gate in Jeddah, Saudi Arabia. The name translates to Mecca Gate, reflecting its historical significance as a departure point for pilgrims traveling to the holy city of Mecca.

    • Notable
    • Historic monument
    • Jeddah
  18. Bab Sharif Gate Bab Sharif Gate
    18 45 min

    Bab Sharif Gate

    Bab Sharif Gate stands as a historic gateway in Jeddah's Al-Balad district, the city's UNESCO-recognized old town. The structure replaces a former excess mall entry with a design rooted in traditional Hijazi architecture.

    • Notable
    • Historic monument
    • Jeddah
  19. Bait Al-Sharbatly
    19 45 min

    Bait Al-Sharbatly

    بيت الشربتلي

    Bait Al-Sharbatly is a historic building in Jeddah, Saudi Arabia, bearing the local name بيت الشربتلي. It stands within the city's historic core, reflecting the architectural heritage of the Red Sea coastal settlement.

    • Notable
    • Historic monument
    • Jeddah
  20. Bicycle Roundabout Bicycle Roundabout
    20 45 min

    Bicycle Roundabout

    دوار الدراجة

    Bicycle Roundabout, locally known as دوار الدراجة, is a distinctive traffic circle in Jeddah, Saudi Arabia.

    • Notable
    • Historic monument
    • Jeddah
  21. House of the Baeshen Family
    21 45 min

    House of the Baeshen Family

    Bait Baeshen is a heritage house museum in Jeddah, Saudi Arabia. The local name is بيت باعشن. It stands as an independently visitable historic residence, preserved separately from broader district heritage stops.

    • Notable
    • Historic monument
    • Jeddah
  22. Jamrat al-Aqabah al-Kubra
    22 45 min

    Jamrat al-Aqabah al-Kubra

    الجمرة الكبرى

    Al-Jamrah al-Kubra, known as the Great Jamrah, is the largest of the three stone pillars at Mina, near Mecca, Saudi Arabia. It forms part of the Hajj pilgrimage ritual of Rami al-Jamarat, where pilgrims throw pebbles at the pillars.

    • Notable
    • Historic monument
    • Mecca
  23. Jamrat al-Sughra
    23 45 min

    Jamrat al-Sughra

    الجمرة الصغرى

    Al-Jamrah al-Sughra, the Small Jamrah, is one of the three stone pillars at Mina that pilgrims strike with pebbles during the Stoning of the Devil ritual in Hajj.

    • Notable
    • Historic monument
    • Mecca
  24. Jamrat al-Wusta
    24 45 min

    Jamrat al-Wusta

    الجمرة الوسطى

    Al-Jamrah al-Wusta, the Middle Pillar, stands among the three jamarat in Mina near Mecca where pilgrims perform the ritual stoning during Hajj.

    • Notable
    • Historic monument
    • Mecca
  25. Khuzam Palace Main Gate
    25 45 min

    Khuzam Palace Main Gate

    Khuzam Palace Main Gate stands as a surviving palace landmark in Jeddah, representing an era of architectural heritage that has endured amid rapid urban transformation.

    • Notable
    • Historic monument
    • Jeddah
  26. Ribat Al-Khunji Al-Kabeer
    26 45 min

    Ribat Al-Khunji Al-Kabeer

    Ribat Al-Khunji Al-Kabeer is a historic building in Jeddah, Saudi Arabia, known locally as رباط الخنجي الكبير. The site occupies ground that formerly served as a cemetery, giving the building a distinctive connection with the changing use of urban space.

    • Notable
    • Historic monument
    • Jeddah
  27. Souq Qabil Souq Qabil
    27 45 min

    Souq Qabil

    شارع قابل

    Qabil Street, known locally as شارع قابل, is a historic commercial thoroughfare in Jeddah's Al-Balad district. The street occupies a significant position within the UNESCO World Heritage-listed old town, representing traditional Hijazi urban fabric.

    • Notable
    • Historic monument
    • Jeddah
  28. The Globe Roundabout The Globe Roundabout
    28 45 min

    The Globe Roundabout

    دوار الكرة الأرضية

    The Globe Roundabout is a notable urban landmark in Jeddah, Saudi Arabia. Locally known as دوار الكرة الأرضية, it functions as a distinctive traffic circle within the city's public-space network.

    • Notable
    • Historic monument
    • Jeddah

Source: OpenStreetMap contributors, Wikidata ·

Common questions

How long should a first trip to Saudi Arabia be?

Eight to twelve days can combine three days in Riyadh, three in Jeddah, and a dedicated AlUla leg. Makkah is subject to religious eligibility and pilgrimage permissions and must not be planned as an ordinary sightseeing stop.

What entry documents are needed for Saudi Arabia?

Saudi entry depends on nationality and purpose, with tourist eVisa and pilgrimage permissions following different rules. Confirm eligibility through the official Saudi visa service and the relevant pilgrimage authority before booking.

What is the best way to travel around Saudi Arabia?

Domestic flights cover Saudi Arabia's long distances, while Haramain high-speed rail serves Makkah, Jeddah, the airport, and Madinah. Other routes rely on buses or cars, and desert excursions require an appropriate vehicle and reliable operator.

When is a practical time to visit Saudi Arabia?

November through February offers the most practical outdoor conditions for Riyadh, Jeddah, and desert excursions. Pilgrimage periods can change access and demand independently of weather, so check the religious calendar and permit rules.

What money and payment basics apply in Saudi Arabia?

Saudi Arabia uses the riyal (SAR). Cards are common in cities, but carry a SAR backup for smaller stops and verify the local-currency total before accepting payment.

What practical safety details should I save for Saudi Arabia?

Use 911 as the unified emergency number where supported and 997 for ambulance service in Saudi Arabia. Type G sockets supply 230 V; tap-water guidance is not recorded here.