A photograph of Saudi Arabia

Country guide

Up to 1 hour in Saudi Arabia — page 4

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

4,238 Places
3Cities

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

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

Top things to see

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

  1. Masjid Ali Bin Abi Talib
    76 30 min

    Masjid Ali Bin Abi Talib

    مسجد علي بن أبي طالب

    Masjid Ali bin Abi Talib is a mosque in Mecca, Saudi Arabia, named after Ali ibn Abi Talib, the cousin and son-in-law of the Prophet Muhammad and a central figure in Islamic history.

    • Notable
    • Place of worship
    • Mecca
  2. Masjid al-Jinn Masjid al-Jinn
    77 30 min

    Masjid al-Jinn

    مسجد الجن

    Masjid al-Jinn is a mosque in Makkah associated with an important event in Islamic tradition. It commemorates the place where the Prophet Muhammad encountered jinn who listened to his Quran recitation and embraced Islam.

    • Notable
    • Place of worship
    • Mecca
  3. Masjid Dar At-Tauba
    78 30 min

    Masjid Dar At-Tauba

    مسجد دار التوبة

    Masjid Dar al-Tawbah is a mosque in Mecca, and its name translates as Mosque of the House of Repentance. It belongs to the city’s dense network of places supporting Muslim prayer and religious life.

    • Notable
    • Place of worship
    • Mecca
  4. Masjid Hamza bin Muttalib
    79 30 min

    Masjid Hamza bin Muttalib

    مسجد حمزة بن عبدالمطلب

    Masjid Hamzah bin Abdulmuttalib is a mosque in Mecca named after Hamzah ibn Abdul-Muttalib, the paternal uncle of the Prophet Muhammad. The mosque commemorates a significant early Islamic figure known as the Lion of God.

    • Notable
    • Place of worship
    • Mecca
  5. Masjid Jabal an-Noor
    80 30 min

    Masjid Jabal an-Noor

    مسجد جبل النور

    Jabal al-Nour Mosque is a mosque located at the base of Jabal al-Nour, the Mountain of Light, near Mecca in Saudi Arabia.

    • Notable
    • Place of worship
    • Mecca
  6. Masjid Kuddi
    81 30 min

    Masjid Kuddi

    مسجد كدي

    مسجد كدي is a functioning mosque in Mecca, Saudi Arabia, serving Muslim residents and pilgrims within the city’s religious landscape.

    • Notable
    • Place of worship
    • Mecca
  7. Masjid Malik Abdul Aziz
    82 30 min

    Masjid Malik Abdul Aziz

    مسجد الملك عبدالعزيز

    King Abdulaziz Mosque is a major Islamic house of worship in Mecca, Saudi Arabia. Named after King Abdulaziz ibn Saud, founder of the modern Saudi state, it serves the spiritual needs of residents and visitors to Islam's holiest city.

    • Notable
    • Place of worship
    • Mecca
  8. Masjid Mu'adh Bin Jabal
    83 30 min

    Masjid Mu'adh Bin Jabal

    مسجد معاذ بن جبل

    Masjid Ma'adh ibn Jabal is a mosque in Mecca named after Ma'adh ibn Jabal, a companion of the Prophet Muhammad associated with Islamic jurisprudence and religious learning.

    • Notable
    • Place of worship
    • Mecca
  9. Masjid Othman bin Affan
    84 30 min

    Masjid Othman bin Affan

    مسجد عثمان بن عفان

    Masjid Uthman ibn Affan is a mosque in Mecca named in honour of Uthman ibn Affan, the third Rashidun caliph and a close companion of the Prophet Muhammad.

    • Notable
    • Place of worship
    • Mecca
  10. Masjid Saad Bin Mu'adh
    85 30 min

    Masjid Saad Bin Mu'adh

    مسجد سعد بن معاذ

    Masjid Sa'd ibn Mu'adh is an active mosque mapped as way/464175317 within Mecca's urban area. Its Arabic name identifies it with Sa'd ibn Mu'adh, the well-known Ansari companion associated with Medina and the early Muslim community.

    • Notable
    • Place of worship
    • Mecca
  11. Masjid Siyaad Chouhada
    86 30 min

    Masjid Siyaad Chouhada

    مسجد جامع سيد الشهداء

    Masjid Jami Sayyid al-Shuhada is a congregational mosque in Mecca, identified locally by the Arabic name مسجد جامع سيد الشهداء. As a jami mosque, it serves communal worship and is particularly associated with Friday prayer alongside ordinary daily prayers.

    • Notable
    • Place of worship
    • Mecca
  12. Masjid Talha Bukhari
    87 30 min

    Masjid Talha Bukhari

    مسجد طلحة البخاري

    Masjid Talhah al-Bukhari is a mosque in Mecca serving Muslim worshippers in the holy city. Its name refers to Talhah ibn Ubaydullah, a companion of the Prophet Muhammad.

    • Notable
    • Place of worship
    • Mecca
  13. Middle Corniche Park Middle Corniche Park
    88 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
  14. Namirah Mosque Namirah Mosque
    89 30 min

    Namirah Mosque

    مسجد نمرة

    Namirah Mosque, also called Masjid Namirah, stands in the Plain of Arafat near Mecca. It is closely associated with the Day of Arafat and the Hajj pilgrimage, when worshippers gather for the Wuquf.

    • Notable
    • Place of worship
    • Mecca
  15. Om El-Moumneen El-Sayeda Aisha Mosque Om El-Moumneen El-Sayeda Aisha Mosque
    90 30 min

    Om El-Moumneen El-Sayeda Aisha Mosque

    مسجد أم المؤمنين السيدة عائشة

    Masjid al-Taneem, also called Masjid Aisha, is one of the best-known nearby miqat stations for pilgrims in Makkah. A miqat is a designated place connected with entering ihram before Umrah.

    • Notable
    • Place of worship
    • Mecca
  16. Panorama Mall
    91 45 min

    Panorama Mall

    بانوراما مول

    Panorama Mall is a shopping and leisure destination in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia, known locally as بانوراما مول.

    • Notable
    • Market
    • Riyadh
  17. Revelation Exhibition
    92 1 hour

    Revelation Exhibition

    معرض الوحي

    The Wahy Exhibition, known locally as معرض الوحي, is a museum in Mecca dedicated to the theme of divine revelation. Its Arabic name translates to Exhibition of Revelation or Inspiration.

    • Notable
    • Art and culture venue
    • Mecca
  18. Ribat Al-Khunji Al-Kabeer
    93 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
  19. Riyadh International Market
    94 45 min

    Riyadh International Market

    سوق الرياض الدولي

    Riyadh International Market, known locally as سوق الرياض الدولي, is a visitable market in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia. The market occupies a site that formerly served as a university campus, connecting its present commercial role with a very different earlier use.

    • Notable
    • Market
    • Riyadh
  20. Riyadh Park
    95 45 min

    Riyadh Park

    الرياض بارك

    Riyadh Park is a major public shopping and leisure destination in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia. The development occupies a site that previously housed a university campus, representing a significant urban transformation in the capital.

    • Notable
    • Market
    • Riyadh
  21. Roshn Waterfront Roshn Waterfront
    96 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
  22. Souq Qabil Souq Qabil
    97 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
  23. Taibah Market
    98 45 min

    Taibah Market

    سوق طيبة

    Taibah Market is a traditional marketplace in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia, known locally as سوق طيبة.

    • Notable
    • Market
    • Riyadh
  24. The Globe Roundabout The Globe Roundabout
    99 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
  25. Wadi Hanifah Wadi Hanifah
    100 1 hour

    Wadi Hanifah

    وادي حنيفة

    Wadi Hanifah is a seasonal river valley and significant natural corridor running through the Riyadh metropolitan area. The wadi stretches approximately 120 kilometres from northwest to southeast, cutting through the Najd plateau.

    • Notable
    • Art and culture venue
    • Riyadh

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.