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.

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Category

Historic monuments 27 Museums 0 Places of worship 35 Nature sites 13 Viewpoints 6 Food and drink 0 Markets and shopping 17 Entertainment 0 Nightlife 0 Family attractions 0 Art and culture 5 Activities 1

Typical visit duration

Up to 1 hour 13 1 to 2 hours 1

Interests

History 0 Art 0 Museums 0 Nature 3 Sea and beach 3 Viewpoints 0
  1. Cave of Thor Cave of Thor
    01 1 hour

    Cave of Thor

    غار ثور

    The Cave of Thor, known locally as غار ثور, is a small mountain cave located near Mecca in Saudi Arabia.

    • High
    • Nature site
    • Mecca
  2. King Salman Park King Salman Park
    02 1 hour

    King Salman Park

    حديقة الملك سلمان

    King Salman Park is a major public green space in Riyadh, named حديقة الملك سلمان in Arabic. It gives residents and visitors an outdoor setting within the capital’s rapidly developing urban landscape.

    • High
    • Nature site
    • Riyadh
  3. Al Futah Park
    03 1 hour

    Al Futah Park

    حديقة الفوطة

    Al Futah Park is a central public park in Riyadh, known locally as حديقة الفوطة. It offers an urban green setting for residents and visitors who want outdoor time without leaving the capital.

    • Notable
    • Nature site
    • Riyadh
  4. Al Nakheel Park
    04 1 hour

    Al Nakheel Park

    حديقة النخيل

    Al Nakheel Park, known locally as حديقة النخيل, is a public green space in Jeddah. Its name means Palm Park, connecting the place with the palm trees and landscaped character associated with the city’s outdoor spaces.

    • Notable
    • Nature site
    • Jeddah
  5. Al Salam Park Al Salam Park
    05 1 hour

    Al Salam Park

    حديقة السلام

    Salam Park, منتزه سلام, is a public green space in central Riyadh built around a large artificial lake. The park gives the capital a family-oriented outdoor setting with landscaped areas, walking routes, seating, and recreational activities.

    • Notable
    • Nature site
    • Riyadh
  6. Heet Cave
    06 1 hour

    Heet Cave

    كهف هيت

    Heet Cave is a natural cave formation located near Riyadh, Saudi Arabia. Known locally as كهف هيت, it represents a geological feature of interest in the broader Riyadh region.

    • Notable
    • Nature site
    • Riyadh
  7. Jeddah Outdoors Museum And Park Jeddah Outdoors Museum And Park
    07 1 hour

    Jeddah Outdoors Museum And Park

    Jeddah Outdoors Museum and Park is a public sculpture park located in Jeddah, Saudi Arabia. The site serves as an open-air cultural destination that replaced a duplicate marina entry in local listings.

    • Notable
    • Nature site
    • Jeddah
  8. King Abdulaziz Park
    08 1 hour

    King Abdulaziz Park

    حديقة الملك عبدالعزيز

    King Abdulaziz Park is a public park in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia, known locally as حديقة الملك عبدالعزيز. The park occupies the site of a former exhibition facility and now provides an urban green-space setting within the Saudi capital.

    • Notable
    • Nature site
    • Riyadh
  9. King Abdullah Park King Abdullah Park
    09 1 hour

    King Abdullah Park

    منتزه الملك عبدالله

    King Abdullah Park is a major public park in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia. Its local name is حديقة الملك عبدالله. The park serves as a significant recreational green space within the capital city.

    • Notable
    • Nature site
    • Riyadh
  10. Lake Al-Arbaeen Park
    10 1 hour

    Lake Al-Arbaeen Park

    Lake Al-Arbaeen Park is a public waterfront park located in Jeddah, Saudi Arabia. The park occupies a site where a mall entry once stood in excess, now transformed into green public space open to residents and visitors.

    • Notable
    • Nature site
    • Jeddah
  11. La Plage Park La Plage Park
    11 1 hour

    La Plage Park

    La Plage Park is a public coastal recreation area in Jeddah, set within the city’s Red Sea waterfront landscape.

    • Notable
    • Nature site
    • Jeddah
  12. Middle Corniche Park Middle Corniche Park
    12 1 hour

    Middle Corniche Park

    Middle Corniche Park is a named public green space on Jeddah’s Red Sea waterfront, within the middle section of the city’s long Corniche.

    • Notable
    • Nature site
    • Jeddah
  13. Roshn Waterfront Roshn Waterfront
    13 1 hour

    Roshn Waterfront

    واجهة روشن البحرية

    Roshn Waterfront is a coastal development project located on the Red Sea shoreline in Jeddah, Saudi Arabia. The local name is واجهة روشن البحرية. It is promoted by Roshn, a national real estate developer backed by the Public Investment Fund.

    • Notable
    • Nature site
    • 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.