Explore Jeddah

Jeddah

Where ِAncient and Modern Meet

Over the years, no Saudi city has been more open to outside influencers such as traders, international artists and Makkah-bound pilgrims than the ancient port of Jeddah. Indeed, the city’s unofficial motto is “Jeddah ghair,” or “Jeddah’s different.” Today, Jeddah is Saudi Arabia’s buzzing cosmopolitan hub, home to gleaming hotels and big-ticket events like the Red Sea International Film Festival, which takes place in late winter. The city’s heart is still intact in Al Balad, the magical historical quarter that has undergone a renaissance in recent years. And the Red Sea is still central to it all — for trade, for diving among pristine reefs, and for fishing for Jeddah’s legendary seafood. The city where Eve was laid to rest (according to local lore) is a beguiling mix of old and new, and one that remains gloriously different.

Activities in Jeddah

When in Jeddah, Go and Explore

Al Balad

Jeddah’s UNESCO-listed historical center is one of the kingdom’s most evocative quarters, with narrow alleyways between ancient coral-stone merchants’ houses leading to spice-scented souqs and glowing traditional bakeries. Many buildings have been sensitively restored in recent years, including the grand 106-room Nasseef House, where the former king of Saudi Arabia Abdulaziz Ibn Saud stayed in 1925 before becoming king of a unified Saudi Arabia. Empty spaces have become quirky cafés or art galleries and mangour woodwork workshops, as a district built in the seventh century looks to the future.

Jeddah’s Corniche

Jeddah’s 4.2-kilometer corniche has been transformed into a place of piers, swimming bays, restaurants and lushly landscaped walking and cycle paths. Jeddah’s winters are mild and dry, with temperatures ranging from 20 to 32 C, making it comfortable to stroll past iconic sculptures. See pieces by the likes of Henry Moore and Joan Miró, which first arrived in the city in the 1970s, that are dotted along the waterfront. For many, coming here is about watching the sun set over the Red Sea then seeing the launch of the 300-meter King Fahd’s Fountain, the world’s tallest, with its great jet of water lit up until midnight and visible across the city year-round.

Tayebat City

Jeddah has a rich 2,500-year history of fishing tribes, early Arabian trade and, later, pilgrims. The Tayebat City Museum tells this story and that of the wider Arabian peninsula. Built in traditional Hijazi style, with roshan window screens and ornate minarets, the vast complex sprawls over four floors and 18 wings, with more than 60,000 items on display. Explore ancient coins and manuscripts, traditional Saudi costumes and a re-creation of the Kaaba, the sacred black cube at the center of Makkah’s Grand Mosque.

Travel tips

Hotels are plentiful in Jeddah. Try the grand, marbled Ritz-Carlton on the corniche, one of Saudi Arabia’s best hotels; the waterfront Sheraton, with its palm-shaded pool area; the business-friendly Mövenpick Hotel; or the modern Hijazi-style Radisson Blu.

Drop into Toki for refined Chinese; opulent Mataam Al Sharq for Lebanese food with sea views; Al Safina for vast themed buffets; Aromi for smart modern Italian; and the bustling Central Fish Market for the freshest fish.

Sail along Jeddah’s spectacular coastline, or watch the coast zip by from the back of a banana boat. Grab a good deal at the Jeddah Shopping Festival, which begins in January, or put your bartering skills to the test in Jeddah’s bustling souqs — try Al Bado, Qabel, Khaskiah and Bab Shareef. End the day with a sunset hike in the mountains near Asfan.

You can rent a car at the King Abdulaziz International Airport and throughout the city through companies such as Enterprise, Budget, Theeb and Hanco.