A photograph of Saudi Arabia

Country guide

Up to 1 hour in Saudi Arabia — page 5

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 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
  2. 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
  3. 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
  4. 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
  5. 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
  6. 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
  7. 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
  8. 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
  9. 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
  10. 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
  11. 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
  12. 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
  13. 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
  14. 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
  15. 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
  16. 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
  17. 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
  18. 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
  19. 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
  20. سوق الخليل
    101 45 min

    سوق الخليل

    Souq Al-Khalil is a marketplace in Mecca, Saudi Arabia, identified locally as سوق الخليل. It belongs to the commercial fabric of Islam’s holiest city, where markets serve residents and Muslim pilgrims.

    • Notable
    • Market
    • Mecca
  21. مسجد خالد بن الوليد
    102 30 min

    مسجد خالد بن الوليد

    Masjid Khalid ibn al-Walid is a mosque in Mecca named after Khalid ibn al-Walid, a prominent military commander in early Islamic history. It functions as a place of worship for the Muslim community within the holy city.

    • Notable
    • Place of worship
    • Mecca
  22. مسجد دار الهجرة
    103 30 min

    مسجد دار الهجرة

    Masjid Dar al-Hijrah is a mosque in Mecca whose name refers to the Hijrah, the migration of Prophet Muhammad from Mecca to Medina in 622 CE.

    • Notable
    • Place of worship
    • Mecca
  23. مسجد عمر بن الخطاب
    104 30 min

    مسجد عمر بن الخطاب

    Masjid Umar ibn al-Khattab is a mosque in Mecca named after the second Rashidun caliph, a central figure in early Islamic history. The structure serves as a place of Islamic worship within the holiest city in Islam.

    • Notable
    • Place of worship
    • Mecca

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.