Tourism in Jeddah: spots to visit in the Saudi cultural capital

Situated in the west of the country, on the coast of the Red Sea, Jeddah is, with its nearly 4 million inhabitants, the second largest city of the Kingdom. It was started as an old fishing village, and transformed by the pilgrims to Mecca in the 600s. Today it is one of the most dynamic metropoles in the Kingdom, and it has been able to stay true to its roots in history.

Jeddah’s old city and its markets

As a symbol of the richness of its past, Al Balad district, in the ancient part of the city, has been designated as a UNESCO World Heritage site in 2014. To walk in the old Jeddah, in the heart of the city, is like walking through time.

You can discover houses made from blocks of coral, rawashin buildings with their wooden balconies, historic mosques such as Uthman ibn Affan, and the Souk de Al-Alawi, which counts among the most interesting mosques of the country.

The modern seaside

Jeddah is also a modern and lively city, open to tourism, with almost thirty tour operators operating in the city. Among the most popular attractions is the Geyser of King Fahd, jetting at speeds of more than 350 km/h, and to a height of nearly 300m.

Jeddah also offers a majestic lifestyle. The Red Sea stretches out like nowhere else along the seaside highway, which goes for 30 km along the coast. It is ideal for walking to the sound of waves, or enjoying some seaside dining.

Plenty of activities

Underwater dives, lazing about on the beaches, and idyllic sunsets are all part of the daily life of the city. And yet despite these relaxing activities, Jeddah is still a city of movement, with numerous cultural activities, bearing witness to the open will of the Kingdom in this regard. Among the signature events is the Ghair festival, which takes place every summer, which has fireworks, concerts, literary and scientific nights on the program! Don’t wait any longer to visit Jeddah!