Country guide
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...
Photograph · Saudi Press Agency (SPA) · CC BY-SA 4.0
Reviewed by Elena Voss · Roavina Travel Editor
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.
Checked 2026-08-25
Every city catalogued in this country so far, ranked by how much there is to see.
Photograph · B.alotaby · CC BY-SA 4.0
Photograph · Wurzelgnohm · CC0
Photograph · Saudi Press Agency (SPA) · CC BY-SA 4.0
Ranked by importance — sitelinks, pageviews and heritage status, not editor preference.
35 places match
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Typical visit duration
Interests
Safa and Marwah are two small hills within the Masjid al-Haram sanctuary in Mecca, Saudi Arabia. They form the endpoints of the sa'i ritual, a devotional walk performed by pilgrims during Umrah and Hajj.
The Well of Zamzam is the source of Zamzam water inside the Grand Mosque in Makkah. Saudipedia places the well in the Mataf area, approximately twenty-one metres east of the Kaaba and aligned with al-Multazam.
Hijr Ismail is the crescent-shaped enclosure beside the Kaaba's northern wall inside the Grand Mosque.
جامع الإمام تركي بن عبدالله
The Imam Turki bin Abdullah Grand Mosque stands as one of Riyadh's most significant religious landmarks. Named after the founder of the Second Saudi State, this grand mosque serves as a principal place of worship in the Saudi capital.
مقبرة المعلاة
Jannat al-Mu'alla is a historic cemetery located north of the Grand Mosque in Mecca, Saudi Arabia. Its Arabic name, مقبرة المعلاة, translates to Cemetery of al-Mu'alla.
مسجد الملك سعود
King Saud Mosque, known locally as مسجد الملك سعود, is a major congregational mosque in Jeddah. It is an active religious institution serving the local Muslim community for daily prayers, Friday prayer, and special religious occasions.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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