Jeddah is Saudi Arabia’s largest port on the Red Sea shore and is considered the country’s most relaxed city. Most of those going for Umrah pass through here, but the city itself deserves a day or two of its own. Its old centre is on the UNESCO list, while its shore lives an entirely different life in the evenings. Below I have written about the city and what is under the sea.
The Al-Balad old town in Jeddah
Al-Balad consists of houses built of centuries-old coral stone and is on the UNESCO list. The wooden balconies of the houses project over the street, some have been restored and some are still held up by props. This architecture is the Red Sea style and has barely survived anywhere else.
The best time for a walk is the evening, because in the daytime the heat becomes unbearable and the shops stay closed. The Nassif house is open as a museum and inside it there is a wide staircase a camel could climb. In the bazaars around it spices and traditional cloth are sold.
The Corniche, the fountain and the Red Sea
The Corniche is a long walking strip stretching along the shore, with cafés and a sculpture park. The King Fahd fountain is one of the tallest fountains in the world, throws water more than two hundred metres up and is lit in the evening. Families come out here in the evening hours and the air is entirely comfortable.
The Red Sea, though, is the city’s little-known side. Diving and snorkelling programmes are organised from the coastal resorts to the north, and the reefs are as rich as those on the Egyptian shore but far emptier. Comparing city and sea programmes in advance saves time on a short trip.
Jeddah on the Umrah route
Jeddah airport has a separate Hajj and Umrah terminal and most of those going to Mecca pass through it. The road from the city to Mecca is about an hour by car, and half an hour on the Haramain high-speed train.
That closeness makes Jeddah a convenient stop on the route: staying here a day or two before or after Umrah means both resting and seeing the city. Hotel prices are lower than in Mecca. The rules concerning ihram dress apply when crossing to Mecca, so the plan has to be made in advance.
Transport and budget in Jeddah
The city is spread out and public transport is weak; the main option is Uber and the local taxi apps. The distance between Al-Balad and the Corniche is a fifteen-minute ride. The tourist electronic visa is bought online and is valid for a year, and you can stay up to ninety days on each entry.
| Three-star hotel | 60–110 dollars a night |
| Coastal resort | 150–300 dollars |
| Train to Mecca | About half an hour |
| Visa | One-year eVisa, online |
Staying close to Al-Balad is convenient for walking the city, while staying close to the Corniche is convenient for the evenings, so compare hotels by district. There are direct flights from Baku to Jeddah, so compare ticket prices in the Jeddah direction with the option via Dubai. Official tourism information is on Saudi Arabia’s official tourism site.
Season in Jeddah
November–March is the best period, the weather is 25–30 degrees and the evenings pass pleasantly. April–October is hot and, on top of that, the humidity by the sea is high, which means forty degrees feels heavier here than a dry heat. In these months the whole programme has to be moved to the evening. In the winter months festivals and sporting events are held in the city and hotels fill up in those weeks.
In short
Jeddah is the most comfortable entry to Saudi Arabia and sits naturally on the Umrah route. Walk Al-Balad in the evening, give one evening to the Corniche, do not overlook the Red Sea, and in the summer months take the programme out of the daytime. If you want to combine Umrah and a city trip in one programme, you can look at the ready-made tour options. For a visa and a route, fill in the application form.
Note: visa conditions and the events calendar may change, so check from an official source before travelling.
