Saudi Arabia Tourism: Best Cities & When to Visit
Saudi Arabia is home to mountains, deserts, coral reefs, and historic towns, each with its own season.
Saudi Arabia is the largest country in the Arabian Peninsula by area, its capital is Riyadh and its currency is the Saudi Riyal, and it houses the Two Holy Mosques in Mecca and Medina.
What has changed in recent years is that the country has opened to tourism like never before: an electronic tourist visa, year‑round seasons and events, archaeological sites added to the World Heritage List, and its facilities developed.
What distinguishes it is that it brings rare geographical contrasts in one country: an open desert, mountains over two thousand meters high that are shrouded in mist in summer, and coastlines on the Red Sea with some of the purest reefs globally, and historic towns built of mud and stone.
Regions of Saudi tourism: where to go and why
Saudi Arabia is divided by tourism into six regions: The Two Holy Mosques, Riyadh and Najd, Jeddah and the Red Sea, Al‑Ula and the North, Asir and the South, and the Eastern Province.
The common mistake is treating the country as a single destination with one climate. The difference between Jeddah and Abha in August can exceed fifteen degrees even though they are only about an hour apart by air. Choose the region by your travel month, then choose the city within it.
Saudi tourist places and the most famous cities
The five most famous destinations in Saudi Arabia are Mecca, Medina, Al‑Ula, Riyadh, and Abha.
Al‑Ula is the destination that changed the country’s tourism landscape: it includes Hajar, the first Saudi site listed on the World Heritage List, with its Nabatean tombs carved in rock, along with the Old Town, Elephant Rock, and Wadi Ashar. It is visited in winter, and its cultural season runs from December to February.
Riyadh brings together Diriyah’s historic core with the mud‑brick Ad Dir’iyah al‑Turaif inscribed on the World Heritage List, the National Museum, and the Edge of the World on its fringes, plus massive winter festival seasons.
As for Abha and Asir, they are the unrivaled summer destination: mountains over two thousand meters, mist covering villages, the stone village of Rijal Almaa, a cable car and mountain trails. Those seeking reefs and clear waters head to Umlaj and its islands north of Jeddah.
Best time to visit Saudi Arabia
The best time to visit most regions of Saudi Arabia is from November to March, except Asir and the South where the season runs from June to September.
The rule of thumb for trips: summers in Saudi Arabia are spent in the mountains, not in the cities. From June to September temperatures exceed forty in Riyadh, Jeddah, and the Eastern Province, while Abha and the Baha stay between twenty and thirty with mist and light rain.
Winter is the complete opposite: it’s the season for Al‑Ula, Riyadh, Jeddah, the desert, and camping, and most major festivals and events take place then. Spring is short but lovely, especially inTaif and its rose season.
And the Two Holy Mosques have a different weather dynamic: crowding is the main factor, not heat, and the quieter times for Umrah come right after Hajj season and outside school holidays.
Entry requirements for Saudi Arabia
Entry requirements vary by traveler nationality and purpose of visit, with an electronic tourist visa available for a number of nationalities, while GCC nationals may enter with a national ID.
A point that escapes many visitors: performing Umrah is now possible on a tourist visa, but the electronic Umrah permit is still required to set the date and route.
Entry to Mecca and Medina is reserved for Muslims, and checkpoints are enforced at the entrances to Mecca. The rest of the country is open to anyone with a valid visa.
Rules and fees change seasonally, especially during Hajj and Ramadan. Check the official source before booking, not just before traveling.
Saudi airports: arrivals and getting to the hotel
Saudi Arabia has more than twenty airports, the largest being King Abdulaziz International Airport in Jeddah and King Khalid International Airport in Riyadh.
Choosing the airport saves you hours on the road. From the Harem region you fly to Jeddah or Medina directly, from Al‑Ula you fly there directly in-season rather than via Riyadh, and from Asir you fly to Abha, not Jeddah.
Book a flight to Saudi Arabia
Airfare to Saudi Arabia rises sharply during Ramadan, Hajj season, and school holidays, and drops in the summer months except for mountain destinations.
Book early if your trip is in Ramadan or the last ten days, as demand for Jeddah and Medina doubles and is unrelenting. If Abha is your destination in summer, the same rule applies because domestic demand consumes seats early.
And note that the domestic leg is part of the trip, not an add‑on: someone arriving in Jeddah headed to Al‑Ula needs another flight and a half day.
Getting around Saudi cities
Domestic air travel is the fastest between cities given the vast distances, and a Riyadh to Jeddah flight takes about 1 hour and 45 minutes.
- Domestic flights: the first option between regions, with a wide network and frequent services
- The Haramain high‑speed railway connects Jeddah and Mecca in about 30 minutes, and Mecca with Medina in about two and a half hours
- The North Line and Riyadh to Dammam serve specific corridors and do not cover the south and west
- Car rental makes sense within a region, and for long desert roads between cities
Distances on the map are larger than they look: Riyadh to Jeddah is about 950 kilometers, and Jeddah to Abha about 600. Any itinerary combining distant regions should rely on flying rather than driving.
Cost of traveling to Saudi Arabia
The biggest item in a Saudi trip budget after airfare is accommodation, which rises notably at the Two Holy Mosques during religious seasons.
The second item is domestic travel, as distances are long and flying between regions is a necessity, and ticketing events and sites during peak seasons, as they sell out in advance.
Outside the Two Holy Mosques and peak seasons, costs vary greatly: Abha and the Baha are clearly cheaper than Riyadh, Jeddah and Al‑Ula.
How many days are enough to visit Saudi Arabia
Ten days is the right length to cover two regions, and four days are enough for one city.
Spread your days over two regions, not three. Popular combinations: Umrah with Medina, or Riyadh with Al‑Ula in winter, or Jeddah with Abha for those who want sea and mountains together.
What is the capital of Saudi Arabia?
Riyadh, the country’s largest city and its administrative and commercial hub.
What is the currency of Saudi Arabia?
The Saudi riyal. Card payments are accepted almost everywhere, and currency exchange is available at airports and in cities.
What is the best time to visit Saudi Arabia?
From November to March for most regions, and from June to September for Asir and the South, as it is the only region with a moderate summer.
What are the most famous cities in Saudi Arabia?
Mecca and Medina, Al‑Ula, Riyadh, and Abha, each with its own season and character.
Can Umrah be performed on a tourist visa?
Yes, Umrah is now possible on a tourist visa, with the electronic Umrah permit still required to set the date and route.
Are Mecca and Medina open to non‑Muslims?
No, entry to Mecca and Medina is restricted to Muslims, while other regions are open to anyone with a valid visa.
Where should I go in Saudi Arabia in the summer?
Abha, the Baha, and Asir are the only regions that stay cool between twenty and thirty, while the other four regions exceed forty.
Is Al‑Ula worth visiting?
Yes, and it features Hijr, the first Saudi site listed on the World Heritage List, with Nabatean tombs carved into stone. Its season runs from October to March.
How far is Jeddah from Mecca?
About 85 kilometers, a one‑hour drive or 30 minutes by the Haramain high‑speed train.
How many days are enough to visit Saudi Arabia?
Ten days to cover two regions, four days for one city only.