Travel Guide to Saudi Arabia 2026: Riyadh, AlUla, Jeddah, the Red Sea & the Edge of the World
Planning to visit Saudi Arabia? This travel guide to Saudi Arabia covers everything for a first trip: where Saudi Arabia is, the best time to go, the tourist e-visa, the 10 best places to visit, a 7-day itinerary, realistic costs, dress code and etiquette, and the best hotels and universities. From the Nabataean tombs of Hegra in AlUla and the coral houses of old Jeddah to the mud-brick At-Turaif district of Diriyah, the cliffs of the Edge of the World and the reefs of the Red Sea, the kingdom has opened up to tourists only since 2019 and still feels new to explore.
Last updated: October 2026 · Entry rules and taxes in this travel guide to Saudi Arabia were checked against official sources
📊 Quick Facts for Your Travel guide to Saudi Arabia
- Capital: Riyadh💡 The largest city and business hub
- Currency: Saudi riyal (SAR)💡 Pegged at 3.75 to the US dollar. Check today's rate
- Language: Arabic💡 English is widely spoken in cities and hotels
- Population: About 35 million💡 Including many foreign residents
- Area: About 2.15 million km²💡 About a fifth of the size of the US
- Time zone: UTC+3💡 No daylight saving. Convert times
- UNESCO sites: 8💡 Including Hegra (AlUla), At-Turaif and Historic Jeddah
- Power: 230 V, plug type G💡 UK-style plugs are most common
ℹ️ Figures in this travel guide to Saudi Arabia are 2026 estimates from official and international sources.
📍 Where Is Saudi Arabia?
Saudi Arabia covers most of the Arabian Peninsula in the Middle East. The Red Sea coast runs along the west, the Persian (Arabian) Gulf lies to the east, and the vast Rub' al Khali (Empty Quarter) desert fills the south. It borders Jordan, Iraq and Kuwait to the north, Qatar, the UAE and Oman to the east and Yemen to the south.
Riyadh is about 6.5 hours from London and 13 hours from New York, and Saudia and Riyadh Air fly worldwide. Check the distance from your city with our distance calculator.
📅 Best Time to Visit Saudi Arabia
The best time to visit Saudi Arabia is November to March, when days are warm and sunny (about 20–28 °C in Riyadh) and nights in the desert can be cool. This is also the season for Riyadh Season and AlUla Moments events. Summer (May–September) is extremely hot, often above 45 °C inland, though the mountains of Abha and Taif stay cooler. Check the dates of Ramadan and the Hajj, when flights and hotels in Jeddah get busy.
Best for AlUla, Riyadh and desert trips.
Warming up; desert flowers after rain.
Very hot; head to the Red Sea or Abha.
Concerts, shows and food festivals.
📅 Use the seasons in this travel guide to Saudi Arabia to match your trip to the weather, festivals and prices you want.
🛂 Saudi Arabia Visa & Entry Requirements
Tourist e-visa: citizens of about 66 countries, including the USA, UK, EU countries, Canada, Australia and Japan, can apply online for a one-year, multiple-entry tourist e-visa, allowing stays of up to 90 days per visit. The fee is roughly US$130–145 including compulsory health insurance; check the current price on the official portal. Many eligible travellers can also get the visa on arrival. Residents of GCC countries and holders of US, UK or Schengen visas may qualify too.
- PassportValid at least 6 months beyond your arrival date.
- InsuranceHealth insurance is included in the e-visa fee.
- UmrahMuslim visitors can perform Umrah on the tourist visa outside Hajj season.
- Main airportsKing Khalid (RUH) Riyadh, King Abdulaziz (JED) Jeddah, AlUla (ULH).
🔗 Official sources: Official Saudi tourist e-visa portal · Visit Saudi. Entry rules change, so always confirm before booking and avoid paid look-alike sites.
🛂 Entry rules in this travel guide to Saudi Arabia were last checked in October 2026.
🏜️ 10 Best Places to Visit in Saudi Arabia
These are the places we recommend most in this travel guide to Saudi Arabia, with the best months to see each one.
Nabataean rock tombs and desert canyons (UNESCO).
💡 Best time: Oct–MarThe mud-brick birthplace of the Saudi state (UNESCO).
💡 Best time: Oct–MarThe Kingdom Centre sky bridge and the National Museum.
💡 Best time: Oct–MarDramatic cliffs of the Tuwaiq escarpment near Riyadh.
💡 Best time: Nov–MarCoral-stone houses and old souks (UNESCO).
💡 Best time: Oct–AprReefs, islands and new luxury resorts.
💡 Best time: All yearCool mountains and colourful Rijal Almaa village.
💡 Best time: May–SepRose farms and a cooler mountain climate.
💡 Best time: Mar–Apr, summerOne of the world's largest palm oases (UNESCO).
💡 Best time: Nov–MarAncient petroglyphs in the desert (UNESCO).
💡 Best time: Nov–Mar🗺️ 7-Day Saudi Arabia Itinerary: Riyadh, AlUla & Jeddah
A first trip linking Riyadh, AlUla and Jeddah by domestic flights. Book AlUla tours and Hegra tickets in advance.
Follow this route from our travel guide to Saudi Arabia day by day, or shorten it to fit your trip.
- Riyadh: the National Museum, Masmak Fort and the Kingdom Centre sky bridge.
- Diriyah: At-Turaif and dinner at Bujairi Terrace.
- Edge of the World: a half-day 4x4 trip and sunset on the cliffs.
- AlUla: fly in; the Old Town and Elephant Rock at sunset.
- AlUla: Hegra's tombs, Maraya and Dadan.
- Jeddah: fly to Jeddah; Al-Balad and the Corniche.
- Jeddah: snorkel the Red Sea, then fly home.
➕ With more time: add the Red Sea resorts, Abha and Rijal Almaa, Taif's rose farms, the Al-Ahsa Oasis, or a night in the Empty Quarter.
💵 How Much Does a Trip to Saudi Arabia Cost?
Saudi Arabia is mid-priced to expensive, with low fuel and transport costs but pricey tours and hotels. These are approximate daily costs per person in 2026, excluding flights. Use our currency converter to see them in your own currency.
| Travel style | Per day (approx.) | What it covers |
|---|---|---|
| Budget | SAR 250–400 | Simple hotels, local restaurants and Careem rides |
| Mid-range | SAR 700–1,200 | Good hotels, a car hire and tours |
| Luxury | SAR 3,000 + | Desert resorts and Red Sea islands |
💡 All prices in this travel guide to Saudi Arabia are per person, per day, and change with the season and exchange rates.
🚗 Ride-hailing (Uber, Careem) is easy in cities, and car hire is cheap with low fuel prices. Tickets for Hegra and AlUla sites are sold through the Experience AlUla website. Tipping 10% is appreciated.
💡 Safety & Travel Tips for Your Travel guide to Saudi Arabia
Saudi Arabia has low crime and is generally safe for travellers, including women travelling alone. Laws are strict: alcohol is not sold to the public, drugs carry severe penalties, and public criticism of the government or religion is a crime. Avoid areas near the Yemen border, and drive carefully, as road accidents are the main risk. Check your government's travel advice before you go.
Cover shoulders and knees; foreign women do not need an abaya or headscarf.
Some shops close briefly five times a day.
Friday and Saturday.
No eating or drinking in public by day.
Especially of women and families.
"As-salamu alaykum" (hello) and "Shukran" (thank you).
🏨 Best Hotels in Saudi Arabia: 8 Top Picks
Book AlUla and Red Sea resorts early for winter weekends and holidays.
Inside the Kingdom Centre Tower.
Check prices on Booking.com →A grand palace-style hotel.
Check prices on Booking.com →Najdi-style design beside At-Turaif.
Check prices on Booking.com →Tented villas in Ashar Valley.
Check prices on Booking.com →Villas among the sandstone cliffs.
Check prices on Booking.com →Overwater villas on a Red Sea island.
Check prices on Booking.com →A desert resort inland from the coast.
Check prices on Booking.com →Sea views on the Corniche.
Check prices on Booking.com →🔎 How we chose for this travel guide to Saudi Arabia: hotels are picked for location, reputation and a spread of regions. Prices and availability change daily, so the buttons open live Booking.com results for each property.
🤝 Affiliate disclosure: hotel buttons are affiliate links. If you book through them, AtlasWise may earn a small commission at no extra cost to you. It never changes which hotels we list.
🎓 Top Universities in Saudi Arabia
Saudi Arabia's universities are well funded, with several in global rankings.
| University | City | Type |
|---|---|---|
| King Abdulaziz University | Jeddah | Public |
| King Saud University | Riyadh | Public |
| King Abdullah University of Science and Technology | Thuwal | Public research |
| King Fahd University of Petroleum and Minerals | Dhahran | Public |
One of the highest-ranked universities in the Arab world.
Visit website →The oldest university in the kingdom (1957).
Visit website →A graduate research university (KAUST).
Visit website →Engineering and energy.
Visit website →🔎 How we chose for this travel guide to Saudi Arabia: the leading universities in Saudi Arabia by reputation. Last checked: October 2026.
☕ Saudi Culture & Food
Saudi culture is built on Islam, Bedouin traditions of hospitality and strong family ties. Guests are welcomed with gahwa (cardamom coffee) and dates, and the sword dance al-ardah is performed at national celebrations. Since 2019, cinemas, concerts and mixed-gender events have become common, and women can drive.
Try kabsa (spiced rice with meat, the national dish), mandi, jareesh (crushed wheat), mutabbaq (stuffed pancakes), fresh seafood in Jeddah, and dates from Al-Ahsa and Medina.
❓ Travel Guide to Saudi Arabia: FAQ
Do I need a visa for Saudi Arabia?
Yes, but citizens of about 66 countries can get a tourist e-visa online or on arrival.
Do women need to wear an abaya in Saudi Arabia?
No, foreign women need to dress modestly, covering shoulders and knees, but an abaya and headscarf are not required.
What is the best time to visit Saudi Arabia?
November to March.
Can non-Muslims visit Mecca?
No, Mecca and the central area of Medina are open to Muslims only.
Is alcohol allowed in Saudi Arabia?
Alcohol is not sold to the public, and bringing it in is illegal.
Is Saudi Arabia safe for tourists?
Yes, crime is low; avoid the Yemen border areas.
How many days do you need in Saudi Arabia?
Seven days covers Riyadh, AlUla and Jeddah.
What is the weekend in Saudi Arabia?
Friday and Saturday.
📚 Trusted Resources for Your Travel guide to Saudi Arabia
- Visit SaudiOfficial tourism board
- Experience AlUlaTickets and tours for AlUla and Hegra
- UNESCO: Saudi ArabiaWorld Heritage Sites in Saudi Arabia
Finished this travel guide to Saudi Arabia? 🌍 More Middle East guides: United Arab Emirates · Oman · Qatar · Jordan · Egypt
⚖️ Compare Saudi Arabia with other countries in Compare Countries.
🏛️ Planning a bucket list? See the 20 best World Heritage Sites to visit.
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