Roavina
Plan a trip
A photograph of Saudi Arabia

Country guide

Places to visit in Saudi Arabia — page 7

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.

Filter the list

142 places match

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 104 1 to 2 hours 33 Half a day or more 5

Interests

History 15 Art 2 Museums 8 Nature 3 Sea and beach 3 Viewpoints 0
  1. Taibah Market
    132 45 min

    Taibah Market

    سوق طيبة

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

    • Notable
    • Market
    • Riyadh
  2. Tariq Abdulhakim Center
    133 1 hr 30 min

    Tariq Abdulhakim Center

    The Tarek Abdulhakim Center is a Ministry of Culture institution located in Historic Jeddah, dedicated to preserving Saudi musical heritage.

    • Notable
    • Museum
    • Jeddah
  3. teamLab Borderless Jeddah
    134 1 hr 30 min

    teamLab Borderless Jeddah

    تيم لاب بوليدرس جدة

    teamLab Borderless Jeddah is a permanent international digital-art museum independently recommended as a major contemporary attraction in Jeddah, Saudi Arabia. It is the local iteration of the renowned teamLab Borderless concept, which originated in Tokyo.

    • Notable
    • Museum
    • Jeddah
  4. The Globe Roundabout The Globe Roundabout
    135 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
  5. Wadi Hanifah Wadi Hanifah
    136 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
  6. World Sights Park World Sights Park
    137 2 hours

    World Sights Park

    World Sights Park, known locally as حديقة المعالم العالمية, is a Riyadh attraction built around the idea of encountering representations of famous places from around the world in one outdoor setting.

    • Notable
    • Entertainment venue
    • Riyadh
  7. سوق الخليل
    138 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
  8. متحف التراث الإنساني
    139 1 hr 30 min

    متحف التراث الإنساني

    The Museum of Human Heritage, known locally as متحف التراث الإنساني, is a cultural institution in Mecca.

    • Notable
    • Museum
    • Mecca
  9. مسجد خالد بن الوليد
    140 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
  10. مسجد دار الهجرة
    141 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
  11. مسجد عمر بن الخطاب
    142 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.