18 Places To Visit In Jeddah: An Exciting Itinerary To Discover

A spiritual gateway to Mecca, Jeddah is also called Jeddah ghair by the locals. From the mosque to the waterfronts and some boutique cafes, there are the best places to visit in Jeddah that makes it among the top destination on a travelers list. Talking about the attractions here, visitors can discover a sense of liberation around while there are traditional souqs still preserving the beauty of the heritage. Stroll around the coastal edges of the city or try some delectable cuisines while spending a fascinating holiday here in Jeddah. Read on to find some of the best attractions in this Saudi Arabia City.

Top 18 Tourist Attractions In Jeddah

From the World Heritage Red Sea architecture to the iconic landmarks and skyscrapers, Jeddah welcomes global visitors to discover the fascinating marvels. Bringing you the top attractions from the spiritual landmarks to the historical sites and fancy eateries, here are some of the best-recommended places to explore here in Jeddah.

1. Al Rahma Mosque

Also known as the floating Mosque, Al Rahma Mosque is one of the best places to see in Jeddah. Attracting thousands of devotees across the globe, the mosque stands as one of the most beautiful architectural structure is so designed that is it listed in top mosques in Saudi Arabia. Rooted under the water, the mosque stands on pillar appearing as if floating over the sea. The mosque is basically a stopover for a pilgrimage journey to Hajj.

The white marble and turquoise dome add a soothing touch to its spiritual vibes while the 56 vibrant windows are carved with Quranic verses on Arabic script. It represents a perfect blend of Islamic culture and modern art. While the mosque can accommodate more than 21,000 worshipers at a time, it even welcomes non-Muslims during the non-prayer hours.

Location: Corniche Rd, Jeddah 23613

Timings: Open 24x7

2. Al-Balad

A UNESCO heritage site, Al-Balad is a poor neighbor city of Jeddah that houses the architectural wonders dating back to 500 years. Being one of the top Jeddah tourist places, Al-Balad experiences a major footfall each day. The city houses the streets that are dominated by the rustic charm of old buildings. The city comes back to life after the praying hours as there is more tourist around to shop or eat the traditional food.

You can find a number of cafes and eateries, some old shops and market places to shop for the best antiques and souvenirs. Either shop or explore the museums that house every detailed story of the past. While there isn’t much local transpiration available, the best way to explore this Jeddah tourist spot.

Top Attraction:

• Bab Jadid
• Al Balad cafes
• Nassif House Museum
• Baleelah Lane

Best Hotels:

• Golden Hotel
• Downtown Jeddah
• Al Azhar Hotel Jeddah

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3. Athr Gallery

Discover the contemporary art of Jeddah at Athr Gallery, one of the best places to visit in Jeddah. Opened in the year 2009, this gallery is dedicated to the latest creativity and experiments in the field of art. It was founded by Hamza Serafi­ and Mohammed Hafi­z, the art enthusiasts in Saudi who led to the passion of Athr.

The gallery has a vast space that houses local and public art making it one of the best attractions in Saudi Arabia. Basically, Athr is encouraging the growth of art institutions and schools along with museums for global recognition. Exhibitions are organized occasionally for the visitors where you can witness the diversity of colors and ideas.

Location: Tahlia Street, Jeddah

Timings:

• Monday to Thursday: 09:00 am to 05:00 pm
• Friday to Saturday: Closed
• Sunday: 09:00 am to 02:00 pm

4. Al-Shallal Theme Park

Spreading to an area of 60,000 square meters, the Al-Shallal Theme Park is among the most enthralling places to go in Jeddah. An ideal holiday spot for families in Jeddah, the theme park is located in the Corniche that is easy to reach from any corner of the city.

From roller coaster rides to ice rink and other adrenaline activities, the theme park is most loved by the kids. The park houses best restaurants where you can enjoy a family meal. Explore the entire park to discover your perfect adventure rides and other thrilling things to do in Jeddah.

Location: Al Haramain Road, Jeddah, Makkah Al Mukarramah Province

Timings:

• Monday: 5:00 pm to 1:00 am
• Tuesday: 5:00 pm to 1:30 am
• Wednesday to Thursday: 5:00 pm to 2:00 am
• Friday: 2:00 pm to 12:00 am
• Saturday and Sunday: 5:00 pm to 1:00 am

Entry Fees: 9.33 USD

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5. Al-Saif Beach

Listed among the best beaches in Saudi Arabia, Al-Saif Beach is one of the best Jeddah places to visit where you can discover the beach leisure. No matter you are planning a holiday with family or friends, the beach is ideally suited for every visitor. From admiring the sunrise to witnessing the surreal beauty of dawn while the charismatic waves touch the shores, Al-Saif is kept as the top place where both tourists and locals love visiting.

You can plan a picnic and experience the thrill of 3water adventures like swimming. The serene and peaceful ambiance of the beach has made it one of the most popular tourist attractions in Jeddah.

Location: South Jeddah

Famous For:

• Swimming
• Family Picnic
• Water adventures

Facilities:

• Parking
• Beach Cafes

6. Jeddah Waterfront, Corniche

Just like the corniche of any other places to visit in the Middle East, the Jeddah waterfront is also famed for its magnificent beauty and bliss. The vast ramp and the best cafes and eateries around have made the Jeddah Corniche one of the popular places to visit in Jeddah .

Defining its magnificent architecture and the additional facilities offered to every guest, the Corniche boast of Nawras sculpture and Tawheed mosque. There are malls and mosques around you can visit while strolling around or grab a quick snack from the nearby café. The modern and cool design of the Jeddah waterfront has made it among the best attraction for every visitor in the city.

Location: Corniche Jeddah, Saudi Arabia

Facilities:

• Hotels
• Restaurants
• Malls
• Mosque
• Theme parks

Things to do:

• Walk around the corniche
• Taste the best food from the cafes

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7. Souq Shatee

While Jeddah is best known for traditional souqs or marketplaces, Souq Shatee is among the best traditional shopping destinations and Jeddah's famous places you can never miss. This Arabic marketplace is known for every souvenir you can buy while exploring the city. With an array of all local shops and some global showrooms, you can find every item of fashion and utility.

From household accessories to products like home decor, grocery, plants, jewelry, traditional clothes, shoes, perfume, and so more. The Macarona souq, Yemeni souq, and Afgan souq are some other places to go in Jeddah for shopping.

Location: King Abdulaziz road in al-Zahraa district

Timings: Saturday to Thursday:

4:30 PM to 11 PM

9:30 AM to 2:00 PM

What to Buy: Home Decor, Plants, Party Accessories, Shoes, Perfume, Fabrics, Jewelry, Thobes, Abayas

8. Red Sea Mall

While Shopping is something that everyone loves, the Red Sea Mall is surely the best mall in Jeddah to shop. Listed among the top places to go in Jeddah for shopping, the Red Sea is home to a number of global brands, fancy restaurants, and other facilities you need to spend a leisure day.

Offering entertainment and thrill along with a luxury vibe, the Red Sea Mall draws visitors with its impressive interior and the very first movie theater in the city. Not bounding its facilities to leisure and entertainment, there is office space and a luxury hotel to add to your experience. Stretching to an area of 240,000 square, this shoppers' destination is the popular Jeddah tourist spot.

Location: Malik Road, Jeddah 23612

Timings:  

Saturday to Wednesday: 10 am to midnight

Thursday and Friday: 10 am to 2 am

Facilities:

• Cafes and Restaurants
• Cinema
• Hotel
• Parking

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9. South Corniche

The Jeddah Corniche is one of the most popular attractions, but the South Jeddah is a bit unexplored and isolated. This makes it a perfect place for you to go off-beat and reveal the untouched beauty of this attraction in Jeddah.

There are a number of ferries lined along the shore. The clear waters of the island beach make it a perfect place for swimming. People also come here for some kite flying as the place is not that crowded and offers the perfect place to relax and enjoy. The corniche spreads to an area of 110km, with some of the best beaches in Jeddah where you can indulge in some adventure. The main attraction of the corniche is its pristine beauty. The clear water, open sky, and flamingos around the beaches lure travelers to come and discover this intriguing panoramic beauty of the place. Some beaches in South Corniche also have restaurants and Kiosks.

Location: Approximate 45 kms south of Jeddah

Things to Do:

• Explore nearby attractions
• Beach activities
• Enjoy the food

Facilities: Restaurants, path for motorcycle, horse riding and bicycle

10. Durrat Al Aroos

Located 40 km from the north of the city, Durrat Al Aroos is one of the popular tourist attractions in Jeddah. It is an amusement park that was built in 1996 in Dahban, the old city. Today Durrat Al Aroos is famous for its vast spread area and facilities. There is a commercial space, schools, and other facilities to boost tourism.

Durrat Al Aroos has some of the best restaurants and cafes, Sisha Parlors, and coffee shops too. You can get the luxury resorts or hotels in Jeddah at Durrat Village for your leisure vacation. Other exclusive features of the Durrat Al Aroos include the Golf club, an aqua park, theme parks, an equestrian club, recreation parks, and a yacht marina. The village has the finest beaches where you can stroll and unwind in the soaking beauty. Try some adventures like Jet Skiing, red sea diving, water motors, snorkeling, and surfing while you are in Durrat Al Aroos, the best place to see in Jeddah.

Location: Durrat Al Aroos, Dahaban, Jeddah

Facilities:

• Cafés
• Luxury Villa and hotels
• Commercial center
• Amusement Park

Things to Do:

• Red Sea Diving,
• Jet Skiing
• Surfing
• Snorkeling

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11. King Fahd’s Fountain

The King Fahd’s Fountain is a magnificent attraction you can visit in Jeddah on your holidays. The fountains stand as the tallest fountain in the world with a height of about 312 meters or 1,024 feet. It was built in the same style as Geneva's Jet d'Eau fountain.

The fountain is not only an attraction for tourists in Jeddah but even for the locals who have watched since childhood. The construction of the Fontain began in the early 80’ and was open for public visit in 1985. As the fountain use seawater, there were certain issues or hurdles in the construction like corrosion. A series of the screen were added to keep a check on soil and salt before the water reaches the fountain.

By the evening, the fountain is illuminated with more than 500 high-intensity spotlights. These spotlights were built to withstand thousands of tons of falling water falling from heights of many hundred feet.

Location: Jeddah, Saudi Arabia

Timings: 24x7

12. Khalil Museum

Khalil Museum is one of the top museums and best attractions to visit in Jeddah, Saudi Arabia. Now the city has a history that is dating back to 2000 years with many old buildings and heritage site. Abdul Raouf Kalil’s museum is one of those old heritage places that is preserving the history of Jiddah. The museum collection includes the House of Islamic Heritage, Saudi Arabian Heritage, House of the International Heritage, front of the citadel and Public Heritage Exhibition.

This is the oldest museum in the city preserving the rich culture and heritage since a very long time. It has seen many civilizations and traditions followed in Jeddah over the course of time. You can discover the traces of the past and the revolution that was made by different rulers. Khalil Museum can rightly be called the mini-Jeddah as it houses every aspect of the city, from its cultural heritage, the ancient art and architecture.

Location: Al Madani, Al Andalus, Jeddah 23326, Saudi Arabia

Timings: N/A

Famous For:

• Heritage
• Cultural tour
• Historical tours

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13. Bab Makkah

Bab Makkah is one of the oldest Souqs for shopping in Saudi Arabia. Known as the Makkah Gate, this historical Jeddah attraction dates back to years when it has a charm. While today with the developing markets and malls shopping has taken a fancy turn, the places like Bab Makkah are still there to keep the authenticity of traditional shopping alive.

This open market in Jeddah comes back to life as soon as dusk breaks. The 230 meters market adjacent to the Makkah Gate is the best place to delve n the culture and history of Jeddah.

There are simple stalls, rickety wooden carts, basic stalls pop up and carts are set up alongside normal shops. Small restaurants are also at the market that serves authentic Saudi food such as raas mandi, kibdah, makadim, Bukhari rice with lamb's skull, and more. This old city has a lot to discover the ancient glory and the lifestyle of people.

Location: Old Makkah Rd, Al-Balad, Jeddah

Timings: Evening

Famous For:

• Traditional Shopping
• Local Food

14. Moon Valley

Hiking can be the best thing to do in Jeddah and for such extreme adventure, Moon valley is the best place to visit.  The valley is located in Jabal al Jadib, next to Usfan that is popular for its magnificent landscape and bizarre rock formations. The carved rocks here are thousands of years old adding an unusual and charismatic touch to the region. Despite being a long desert, the moon valley is one of the famous attractions in Jeddah that is visited by many adventures and nature enthusiast.

Stargazing at Moon valley is surely an everlasting experience you can have. The peacefulness and serenity of the region not only gives you a break from the chaos but also offers you a getaway to embrace the surreal beauty of nature. You can carry your own camp and spend a night under the starts. There are no accommodations or any facilities in the valley.

Location: Jeddah, Saudi Arabia

Famous for:

• Star Gazing
• Camping
• Hiking

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15. Souq Al Alawi

Ditch the fancy Malls in Jeddah, and explore the old vintage streets of the city for the best experience. Souq Al Alawi is one of the country's traditional Souqs and the best tourist place in Jeddah. It is renowned for its large collection of antiques, crafts, and spices and is located in the heart of old Jeddah city. One thing that you must add to your buy-list is the dried organic hibiscus flower petals or the hibiscus flower tea that is best known for its calming properties. The Souq is really a walkway so you can enjoy your shopping without being bothered by bikes and cars. You are free to walk around as no cars are permitted inside to obstruct traffic.

If you're looking for authentic Arabian jewellery, Islamic art, or traditional clothes, this is the place to go. What distinguishes it from other shopping destinations is the reasonable price and the opportunity to bargain. There are cafes and hotels close to the Souq for tourists in the city.

Location: Al Balad Jeddah

Saturday to Wednesday: 8:00 am to1:00 pm & 5:00 pm to 9:00 pm

16. South Obhur Beach

Khaleej South Obhur Beach is one of most popular public beaches you can visit in the city. It's a picturesque beach where visitors can unwind and enjoy a day at leisure. South Obhur Beach, one of best places to visit in Jeddah where there is adventure and fun. This is a popular hangout spot for every local and tourist in the city. South Obhur Beach is located on the east coast of the Red Sea that is about 30 kilometres from Jeddah City and offers a wide range of beach activities. If you enjoy admiring nature and longing for a tranquil atmosphere, Khaleej Salman Beach should be your first choice.

The beach is a great weekend getaway for people who enjoy nature and serenity. Enjoy a relaxing beach vacation with friends or family at this peaceful beach, which offers a variety of activities such as swimming and camping. Since the beach is close to many restaurants and cafes, visitors do not need to bring any refreshments with them to completely enjoy their time on the beach.

Location: East coast of Red Sea, approximately 30 km from the city center

Facilities:

• Cafes and restaurants
• Hotels

Things To do:

• Camping
• Swimming
• Beach tour

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17. Khuzam Palace

A historical marvel that greatly reflects the 1930s, Palace Khuzam is a structure that has played a significant role in the history of Saudi Arabia. This is a palace that served as the erstwhile home of King Abdul Aziz who was the first monarch of Saudi Arabia.

Interestingly, Palace Khuzam is special in some ways. It is, in fact, the first palace in the kingdom to have been constructed using cement and iron. But hang on, do you know what really makes Palace Khuzam iconic as it is today? Well, the gate of the palace once featured on a Saudi Currency note back in the 1950s which is why it has iconic status.

As for the collection of the palace, there are many artifacts that date back to the Stone Age while there are a number of items that portray the rise of Islam at a time when the palace was used by the royal family. Not just this, there is also a collection at Khuzam Palace that beautifully portrays the culture of the region. So, if you're a history buff longing to explore the iconic locations of Jeddah, Palace Khuzam is the right place for you.

Location: Al-Nuzlah al-Yamaniyah quarter in the south of Jeddah

Facilities: Travelers visiting Palace Khuzam are advised to confirm the facilities of the museum and palace from the concerned local authorities.

Things To Do:

• Take a tour of the palace and the museum
• Explore a vast collection that dates back to the Stone Age
• See the items that portray the rise of Islam at a time when the palace was used by the royal family

18. Mall Of Arabia

Now here's a thing, shopping in Jeddah becomes a matter of fun when it comes to the Mall of Arabia. One of the largest malls in the region, Mall of Arabia is a major entertainment hub and has facilities that are well adept for all age groups. This is a mall that takes special care of kids as it offers the largest indoor games park by the name Billy Beez. Not only this, but travelers coming to shop here can also enjoy shopping for the best of brands. From International chains to local brands offering quality options, Mall of Arabia has it all.

Tired of exploring the mall and need to relax? Well, the mall features a number of dining options from world-class food chains that not only offer the comfort you want but also ensure your taste buds are taken care of with the best food in Saudi Arabia. Over the years, it is due to its top-notch facilities that the Mall of Arabia has become a prominent pick for shoppers in Jeddah, and to the joy of visitors here, the mall is set to come up with Muvi Cinemas in the near future.

But hang on, there's one more attraction that the mall offers which is sure to fascinate the kids. KidZania, one of the fastest-growing kid’s interactive entertainment brands in the world is housed in the mall. Apart from this, the mall offers a range of other facilities like a first aid room, wheelchairs, lost & found, ATMs, a baby changing room, and so much more.

Location: P.O. Box: 341904 Riyadh 11333, Saudi Arabia

Facilities:

• Lost & Found
• KidZania
• Dining
• Muvi Cinemas (Coming Soon)
• Baby changing room
• First Aid Room
• Sparky's
• Billy Beez

Things To Do:

• Shop for the best of brands
• Kids can explore KidZania, Sparky's, and Billy Beez
• Dining

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How To Reach Jeddah?

Jeddah, the capital of Saudi Arabia is located in the heart of this Arab nation that is known for its tranquil and spiritual vibes. What adds to the popularity of Jeddah is the pilgrimage Hajj and the holy city of Macca. Now, if you are planning a visit to this city for discovering all the attractions in Jeddah, there are flights available from almost every corner of the world.

Being a gateway to the holy Macca, accessibility to Jeddah is excellent. The city is served by King Abdulaziz International Airport, where flights from almost every Asian, European or African country lands. Once you land in this urban center, there are water taxis and other transportation means easily available for commuting within the city.

Roads are connecting Jeddah to other places in Saudi like Mecca, Riyadh, and Damman. The Saudi Public Transport Company (SAPTCO) is serving the fastest connectivity to Jeddah.

The second-largest city in the Saudi Arabia, Jeddah is surely a destination for travelers to explore. With the best places to visit in Jeddah, you can now plan a holiday exploring every nook and corner of the city. There is adventure and entertainment, beaches and museums offering you a holiday beyond expectation. You can book Jeddah flights and get ready for a completely new voyage. Pack well and grab a camera before you head off to this vibrant modernized city in Saudi Arabia.

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