A photograph of Saudi Arabia

Country guide

Places to visit 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. Al-Mash'ar al-Haram Mosque Al-Mash'ar al-Haram Mosque
    57 30 min

    Al-Mash'ar al-Haram Mosque

    مسجد المشعر الحرام

    Masjid al-Mash'ar al-Haram, known as the Sacred Monument Mosque, stands among the most spiritually significant sites in Islam. Located in Muzdalifah, between Mina and Arafat near Mecca, it marks the place where pilgrims gather during the Hajj pilgrimage.

    • Notable
    • Place of worship
    • Mecca
  2. al-Mi'mar al-Mi'mar
    58 30 min

    al-Mi'mar

    مسجد المعمار

    Al-Mimar Mosque, known locally as مسجد المعمار, is a mosque in Jeddah, Saudi Arabia. The building belongs to the city’s religious and urban heritage landscape and serves as a place of worship for the local Muslim community.

    • Notable
    • Place of worship
    • Jeddah
  3. Al Nakheel Mall Al Nakheel Mall
    59 45 min

    Al Nakheel Mall

    النخيل مول

    Al Nakheel Mall, or النخيل مول, is a shopping and leisure complex in Riyadh. It belongs to the city’s contemporary commercial landscape, where enclosed retail centres provide shopping, food, family time, and indoor relief from the climate.

    • Notable
    • Market
    • Riyadh
  4. Al Nakheel Park
    60 1 hour

    Al Nakheel Park

    حديقة النخيل

    Al Nakheel Park, known locally as حديقة النخيل, is a public green space in Jeddah. Its name means Palm Park, connecting the place with the palm trees and landscaped character associated with the city’s outdoor spaces.

    • Notable
    • Nature site
    • Jeddah
  5. Al Rajhi Mosque Al Rajhi Mosque
    61 30 min

    Al Rajhi Mosque

    Al Rajhi Grand Mosque, جامع الراجحي, is a prominent working mosque in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia. It is a place of communal worship and an important contemporary Islamic architectural landmark.

    • Notable
    • Place of worship
    • Riyadh
  6. Al Salam Mall
    62 45 min

    Al Salam Mall

    السلام مول

    Al Salam Mall is a contemporary shopping centre in Jeddah, Saudi Arabia, known locally as السلام مول. It offers travelers a modern commercial stop within the city rather than a historic monument or museum.

    • Notable
    • Market
    • Jeddah
  7. Al Salam Park Al Salam Park
    63 1 hour

    Al Salam Park

    حديقة السلام

    Salam Park, منتزه سلام, is a public green space in central Riyadh built around a large artificial lake. The park gives the capital a family-oriented outdoor setting with landscaped areas, walking routes, seating, and recreational activities.

    • Notable
    • Nature site
    • Riyadh
  8. Al-Shafi’i Al-Shafi’i
    64 45 min

    Al-Shafi’i

    Al-Shafi'i Mosque is an active historic mosque in Jeddah, Saudi Arabia. Its local name is مسجد الشافعي. The mosque maintains an independent religious function and is kept as a separate point of interest from the broader historic district stops.

    • Notable
    • Historic monument
    • Jeddah
  9. Al Tayibat City Museum for International Civilization Al Tayibat City Museum for International Civilization
    65 1 hr 30 min

    Al Tayibat City Museum for International Civilization

    Tayebat Museum, known locally as متحف الطيبات, is a heritage museum in Jeddah, Saudi Arabia. Visit Saudi presents it as a principal museum for Jeddah and Saudi heritage.

    • Notable
    • Museum
    • Jeddah
  10. Al Thumairi gate Al Thumairi gate
    66 45 min

    Al Thumairi gate

    دروازة الثميري

    Al Thumairi Gate, known locally as بوابة الثميري, stands as a historic entry point within Riyadh's urban fabric. The structure represents part of the defensive architecture that once defined the old city boundaries.

    • Notable
    • Historic monument
    • Riyadh
  11. Al Zal Market
    67 45 min

    Al Zal Market

    سوق الزل

    Al Zal Market, also known as سوق الزل, is a traditional marketplace in Riyadh associated with woven goods and textiles.

    • Notable
    • Market
    • Riyadh
  12. Arabian Horse Museum Arabian Horse Museum
    68 1 hr 30 min

    Arabian Horse Museum

    Arabian Horse Museum is a standalone cultural attraction in Riyadh devoted to the heritage of the Arabian horse.

    • Notable
    • Museum
    • Riyadh
  13. `Ayn Zubaydah
    69 45 min

    `Ayn Zubaydah

    عين زبيدة

    Ain Zubaida is a historic water source in Mecca associated with the infrastructure that supported pilgrims.

    • Notable
    • Historic monument
    • Mecca
  14. Aziz Mall Aziz Mall
    70 45 min

    Aziz Mall

    عزيز مول

    Aziz Mall is a major shopping and leisure destination in Jeddah. It offers an air-conditioned urban setting where visitors can combine retail browsing with food, family time, and a break from the Red Sea city’s heat.

    • Notable
    • Market
    • Jeddah
  15. Bab Makkah Bab Makkah
    71 45 min

    Bab Makkah

    باب مكة

    Bab Makkah, known locally as باب مكة, is a historic city gate in Jeddah, Saudi Arabia. The name translates to Mecca Gate, reflecting its historical significance as a departure point for pilgrims traveling to the holy city of Mecca.

    • Notable
    • Historic monument
    • Jeddah
  16. Bab Sharif Gate Bab Sharif Gate
    72 45 min

    Bab Sharif Gate

    Bab Sharif Gate stands as a historic gateway in Jeddah's Al-Balad district, the city's UNESCO-recognized old town. The structure replaces a former excess mall entry with a design rooted in traditional Hijazi architecture.

    • Notable
    • Historic monument
    • Jeddah
  17. Bait Al-Sharbatly
    73 45 min

    Bait Al-Sharbatly

    بيت الشربتلي

    Bait Al-Sharbatly is a historic building in Jeddah, Saudi Arabia, bearing the local name بيت الشربتلي. It stands within the city's historic core, reflecting the architectural heritage of the Red Sea coastal settlement.

    • Notable
    • Historic monument
    • Jeddah
  18. Bicycle Roundabout Bicycle Roundabout
    74 45 min

    Bicycle Roundabout

    دوار الدراجة

    Bicycle Roundabout, locally known as دوار الدراجة, is a distinctive traffic circle in Jeddah, Saudi Arabia.

    • Notable
    • Historic monument
    • Jeddah
  19. Biet Nassif Biet Nassif
    75 1 hr 30 min

    Biet Nassif

    Naseef House

    Naseef House, presented by Visit Saudi as Beit Nassif, is a historic mansion in Al-Balad.

    • Notable
    • Museum
    • Jeddah
  20. Boulevard World Boulevard World
    76 2 hours

    Boulevard World

    عالم البوليفارد

    Boulevard World is a seasonal entertainment zone in Riyadh, known locally as بوليفارد وورلد. It operates as part of the broader Riyadh Season initiative. The destination features international pavilions and themed areas representing multiple countries.

    • Notable
    • Entertainment venue
    • Riyadh
  21. Centria Mall
    77 45 min

    Centria Mall

    سنتريا مول

    Centria Mall, known locally as سنتريا مول, is a named shopping destination in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia, identified in the mapped urban landscape by way/53090908.

    • Notable
    • Market
    • Riyadh
  22. Clock Tower Museum Clock Tower Museum
    78 1 hr 30 min

    Clock Tower Museum

    The Clock Tower Museum occupies the ninth floor of the Makkah Clock Tower, the central spire of the Abraj Al-Bait complex, which the operator also names as the King Abdulaziz Endowment for the Two Holy Mosques and describes as one…

    • Notable
    • Museum
    • Mecca
  23. Diriyah Museum Diriyah Museum
    79 1 hr 30 min

    Diriyah Museum

    Diriyah Museum is a cultural institution located in the Diriyah area of Riyadh, Saudi Arabia.

    • Notable
    • Museum
    • Riyadh
  24. Exhibition Of The Two Holy Mosques Architecture Exhibition Of The Two Holy Mosques Architecture
    80 1 hr 30 min

    Exhibition Of The Two Holy Mosques Architecture

    معرض عمارة الحرمين الشريفين

    The Exhibition of the Two Holy Mosques Architecture is a museum devoted to the architectural heritage of Masjid al-Haram in Mecca and the Prophet’s Mosque in Medina.

    • Notable
    • Museum
    • Mecca
  25. Fakieh Aquarium Fakieh Aquarium
    81 1 hr 30 min

    Fakieh Aquarium

    Fakieh Aquarium is a marine life attraction located in Jeddah, Saudi Arabia. Its local name is أكواريوم فقيه. The facility operates as part of the city's leisure and entertainment infrastructure, contributing to Jeddah's urban heritage and public-space network.

    • Notable
    • Family attraction
    • Jeddah

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.