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
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
سوق الزل
Al Zal Market, also known as سوق الزل, is a traditional marketplace in Riyadh associated with woven goods and textiles.
Arabian Horse Museum is a standalone cultural attraction in Riyadh devoted to the heritage of the Arabian horse.
عين زبيدة
Ain Zubaida is a historic water source in Mecca associated with the infrastructure that supported pilgrims.
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.
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.
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.
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.
دوار الدراجة
Bicycle Roundabout, locally known as دوار الدراجة, is a distinctive traffic circle in Jeddah, Saudi Arabia.
Naseef House
Naseef House, presented by Visit Saudi as Beit Nassif, is a historic mansion in Al-Balad.
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.
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.
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…
Diriyah Museum is a cultural institution located in the Diriyah area of Riyadh, Saudi Arabia.
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.
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.
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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