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.
142 places match
Category
Typical visit duration
Interests
جبل ثور
Jabal Thawr is a bare rock mountain on the southern edge of Makkah, rising above the ground south of the Misfalah district, and people climb it for one thing: the cave near its top, Ghar Thawr.
مسجد البيعة
Bay'ah Mosque is a place of worship in Mecca, Saudi Arabia, known in Arabic as Masjid al-Bay'ah. Its name refers to the bay'ah, or pledge of allegiance, and the mosque is associated with an important early Islamic setting.
جدة التاريخية
Al-Balad is Historic Jeddah, the old port district beside the Red Sea and a UNESCO World Heritage Site. The official Jeddah Historic District programme describes a 2.
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.
الطريف
At-Turaif District is the historic quarter of Diriyah, northwest of Riyadh. It was the original seat of the House of Saud and the capital of the first Saudi state from 1744 until the Ottoman-Egyptian campaign of 1818.
قلعة المصمك
Al Masmak Palace, known locally as Qasr al-Masmak, is a clay and mud-brick fortress in central Riyadh.
قصر المربع
Murabba Historical Palace is a restored royal residence in Riyadh's King Abdulaziz Historical Centre. Built during the early twentieth century, it served as a residence for King Abdulaziz, founder of the modern Saudi state.
غار ثور
The Cave of Thor, known locally as غار ثور, is a small mountain cave located near Mecca in Saudi Arabia.
The Jeddah Regional Museum at Khuzam Palace is a museum housed in a historic royal palace in Jeddah, Saudi Arabia.
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.
بوليفارد رياض سيتي
Boulevard Riyadh City, بوليفارد رياض سيتي, is a large entertainment and leisure destination in Riyadh. It combines urban promenades with dining, retail, and programmed entertainment, reflecting the city’s expanding role as a regional leisure hub.
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.
عرفات
The Plain of Arafat lies about 23 kilometres east of the Grand Mosque on the road between Makkah and Taif.
مسجد الرحمة
Al Rahma Mosque, locally known as مسجد الرحمة, is a prominent mosque in Jeddah commonly referred to as the Floating Mosque due to its location near the Red Sea waterfront.
مسجد الجفالي
Al-Jaffali Mosque, known locally as مسجد الجفالي, is an active mosque in Jeddah, Saudi Arabia.
مول العرب
Mall of Arabia is a large shopping and leisure complex in Jeddah, Saudi Arabia. Known locally as مول العرب, it belongs to the city’s modern commercial landscape and offers an indoor alternative to outdoor sightseeing in Jeddah’s heat.
مركز غرناطة
Granada Center is a major shopping mall in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia, also known locally as غرناطة سنتر. It gives visitors a contemporary view of the capital through retail, dining and indoor leisure rather than through historic architecture.
Red Sea Mall is a major shopping and entertainment complex in Jeddah, Saudi Arabia. Its local name is رد سي مول.
سوق العلوي
Souq Al Alawi is a traditional marketplace situated within Al-Balad, the historic district of Jeddah.
الفيصلية مول
Al Faisaliah Mall is a major shopping destination in Riyadh and part of the wider Al Faisaliah Centre development.
Al Falak Square, or ميدان الفلك, is a public landmark in Jeddah. It occupies a site formerly associated with a non-visitor airport terminal function and now serves as a civic urban space.
Al Fordha Gate is a historic entrance in Al-Balad, Jeddah’s old town. It marks the transition from the contemporary city into a district known for coral-stone buildings, wooden roshan balconies, merchant houses, souqs, and narrow lanes.
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.
مسجد الإجابة
Al-Ijabah Mosque, also called the Mosque of Response, is an active mosque in Mecca. Islamic tradition connects the site with a supplication by the Prophet Muhammad that received a divine response, giving the mosque its name and spiritual importance.
الخيف
Masjid al-Khayf is a historic mosque in Mina near Makkah, associated with the Hajj pilgrimage. It is traditionally known as the Mosque of the Prophets, giving the site a distinctive place in Islamic religious memory.
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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