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Are you visiting Saudi Arabia for the first time? Here for the Mecca pilgrimage? Or do you have 24 hours in Jeddah on the way to Al Ula? Regardless, you’ll want to make sure you have a solid itinerary for one day in Jeddah!
Set on the shores of the Red Sea, Jeddah has been the gateway to Arabia for centuries. Saudi Arabia is currently undergoing huge changes, as Vision 2030 transforms the face of the country. With Jeddah at the forefront of these changes, there is no better time to plan your Saudi Arabia vacation.
In this Jeddah travel guide, I’ll be sharing all of our favorite tourist places, including where to find the best parties in Jeddah – yes, you read that right!
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Before you go: Visas for Saudi Arabia
Trips to Saudi Arabia have become so much easier in the last few years.
Most Western nationals are eligible for a Saudi Arabian eVisa or Visa on Arrival. For more information on visas and everything else you need to know before visiting Saudi Arabia, we have you covered.
Getting to Jeddah
You’re probably wondering, where is Jeddah?
Located on Saudi Arabia’s western Red Sea coast, Jeddah has a major international airport with strong connectivity to the rest of the world.
American travelers to Saudi Arabia have direct flights from USA to Saudi Arabia. At the time of writing, Saudia Airlines offer direct flights from Jeddah to New York, Washington and Los Angeles.
Canadian travelers flying from Canada to Saudi Arabia will need to change via any of the major American, European or Middle East hubs – but with so many flights to Jeddah, you probably won’t have to wait for a long for a connection!
European and British travelers, I have a huge tip for finding super cheap flights from Europe to Saudi Arabia.
The Saudi government is currently subsiding Wizz Air flights from Saudi Arabia to a select few budget hubs in Europe.
We’re talking heavily subsided, with flights often around €20! These flights make trips to Saudi Arabia often as cheap as a European weekend getaway!
At the time of writing, the cheap flights to Jeddah were operating from Bucharest, Budapest, Larnaca, Milan, Rome, Venice and Vienna. My tip? Get yourself on a cheap flight to one of these cities and grab a bargain! If you time your flights right, you should be able to get from anywhere in Europe to Jeddah for less than €100!
If the budget hack doesn’t work out for you, Saudia and European airlines fly direct to Jeddah from London, Paris, Madrid and other major European cities. London in particular is getting a new direct route this year.
As the gateway to Mecca, Jeddah also has direct flights to every major city in the Islamic world. From Baku to Istanbul to Kuala Lumpur, you won’t have trouble finding a flight to Jeddah!
Local tip: Check your Jeddah Airport terminal! Too many travelers go to the wrong terminal – and they’re not easy to move between.
The budget airlines and a few other carriers fly out of the old Jeddah Airport terminal (North Terminal). If you are flying in or out of the North Terminal, you cannot rent a car at Jeddah Airport’s North Terminal. You will need to take bus (very limited hours!) or a taxi.
The distance between the old North Terminal and the new main Jeddah Airport car rental center is about 20 minutes by car. I must confess, I didn’t realise the terminals were so disconnected before arriving… but my mistake is your insight! The taxis at the airport know that travelers are often stuck here and charge exorbitant rates to shuttle you to the main Jeddah Airport rental car companies.
Your best bet? Pre-buy a local eSIM and download the ride-sharing applications Careem and Uber beforehand. This way, you can avoid the hassle and pay fair rates!
And while we’re on the topic of the North Terminal, I would recommend eating before your departure flight. The North Terminal Jeddah Airport restaurants are very limited!
How to get around Jeddah
The Jeddah metro does not open until 2025 but don’t worry, I’ll be sharing a huge update when it finally does open!
Until then, you have two options when getting from the Airport to Jeddah: renting a car or using taxis and ride-sharing applications like Careem or Uber.
And for women travellers: there are no longer any restrictions on driving for those visiting Saudi Arabia as a woman!
Travel tip: Saudi Arabia is one of the only countries where I am consistently asked to show my International Driver’s Permit. Make sure you arrange your IDP before visiting Saudi Arabia!
Where to stay in Jeddah
I personally like to stay in the historic Al-Balad neighborhood or specifically at the Grand Star Al Saha. But many of my friends prefer the more central areas closer to the corniche and modern restaurants.
One day in Jeddah
Now that you have all the information about getting here, it’s time for our ideal one day itinerary in Jeddah. If you’re looking for a guided tour, we recommend a private guided tour by a local (it’s excellently done).
6 am: Central Fish Market in Jeddah
Cover your noise and watch your feet, as you start for an early morning mingle with local fishermen and Jeddah’s top chefs.
Everyone is here for the same reason: the extremely fresh and brightly colored Red Sea fish. The mayhem of the city’s fish market is very different to the polished shopping centres of downtown, making it one of my top things to see in Jeddah!
If you’re feeling a little peckish, small stalls at the back of the market offer a great sea-to-plate option for the freshest fish in town!
8 am: Saudi breakfast
Saudi cuisine is one of the lesser-known gems of the Kingdom. I always recommend my friends visiting Saudi Arabia for the first time to check out Lazy Masoub in Jeddah’s Al Zahra neighborhood, one of the best places to eat in Jeddah.
For those with a sweet tooth, try the namesake Masoub – a blend of banana, soft bread, honey and Arabian spices.
For those who start their day savory, I would recommend trying Mutabbak – a Saudi street food favorite, with thin layers of dough filled with mixtures of vegetables, spices and/or meat.
And don’t feel ashamed to order both – I did!
If you want to act like you are living in Jeddah, you need to dive right into Saudi cuisine!
10 am: Morning in Al-Balad
Al-Balad, the UNESCO recognized historical heart of Jeddah, is easily the top thing to see in Jeddah. In my opinion, Al-Balad is also one of the most beautiful places in Saudi Arabia!
Mornings are one of the best times to visit Al-Balad, as the streets are quiet, and the city is still waking up. Take your time to explore the narrow winding alleyways and take photos in front of the bright pastel coral homes.
As Jeddah city prepares for tourism, Al-Balad is undergoing extensive refurbishment with new cafes, restaurants and boutique hotels. Don’t worry, so far, the restorations have been extremely careful to maintain Al-Balad’s character. Today, Al-Balad remains one of the most unique places in Saudi Arabia.
I would recommend starting at the historic Mecca Gate, where pilgrims coming off the ships at Jeddah would continue towards Mecca. From here, make your way through the alleys, heading in the general direction of the ocean.
1 pm: Lunch!
Around Al-Balad you have many lunch options – so I’m going to leave this one for you!
Pick up a sandwich in one of the old-school bakeries or stop for some Indonesian food at Wong Solo or Garuda.
Eating is one of the top things to do in Jeddah. If you need more inspiration, check out my top restaurants in Jeddah.
3 pm: The Corniche
As the afternoon sun kicks in, join the families enjoying the Jeddah Corniche – Jeddah’s iconic waterfront promenade.
The corniche caters to all types of travelers, with beautiful gardens, public sculptures and a whole array of cafes and picnic spots. With street vendors and playgrounds, the Corniche is also one of the best places to visit in Jeddah with a family.
My favorite section is around Island Mosque (which also makes for a beautiful picture set against the Red Sea!).
Local tip: Don’t miss the King Fahd Fountain, just below the corniche. It’s best viewed from the Al Hamra Corniche.
6 pm: A Lebanese feast
Jeddah has some of the best Lebanese restaurants outside of Beirut.
You have many options here, but for the best Lebanese comfort food I have you covered. If Middle Eastern food means felafel, hummus and fattoush, I always recommend either Leila min Lebnen or the iconic Khayal Restaurant. For a more detailed review, check out my top restaurants in Jeddah, Saudi Arabia.
If you do end up at Leila min Lebnen, don’t forget to order the manouche. My favorite Lebanese dish (thanks to Michael for the introduction!).
9 pm: Find the party
I promised you the best party in Jeddah and it’s true, the city really does come to life after dark!
While alcohol is illegal in Saudi Arabia, once the sun sets, I’m sending you back to Al-Balad!
Young families and friends come together in the evenings to drink coffee in Al-Balad’s photogenic coral houses. After dark, street markets spring to life, selling everything from the aromatic spices of Yemen to the best Saudi street food.
If you’re lucky, live oud concerts (a Middle Eastern musical instrument) or Saudi musicians will be performing at some of the cafes around Al-Balad. I promised you a party and Al-Balad will deliver.
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