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Second-largest city in Saudi Arabia
Photo: Saudi Press Agency (SPA), CC BY-SA 4.0 via Wikimedia Commons
Jeddah (Arabic: جدّة, also spelled Jiddah) is on the Red Sea in western Saudi Arabia. It is the kingdom's second largest city, with a population of approximately 3,400,000, and a major commercial center in the country. Jeddah is also the main entry point, either by air or sea, for pilgrims making the Hajj pilgrimage to Mecca and Medina, the two most sacred cities of Islam. Both are a few hours inland from Jeddah.
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At the heart of the old city, coral houses line both sides of this busy market street. A photography permit is theoretically necessary (inquire at the office behind Naseef house), but in practice nobody seems to bat an eyelid as long as you don't stick your camera in people's faces without permission.
بيت نصيف, Bayt Nasseef
The former house of one of Jeddah's main trading families is being renovated as a museum and cultural center. Great views from the top floors when it's open.
Located in the Khuzam Palace, built in 1928. The collection ranges from artefacts of the Stone Age attributed to the Acheulean period found in nearby Wadi Fatimah over items of several pre-Islamic cultures and items illustrating the rise of Islam to relics from the time the palace was used by the royal family. A second collection holds ethnographic items portraying the recent culture of the region.
Small but high quality Islamic art museum with a good audio guide. Located at the top of a shopping mall. Entry gets you access to four other small exhibitions on the same floor of the mall.
متحف تيم لاب بلا حدود
An interactive digital museum that covers a hectare. It features over 80 immersive artworks designed for physical play and all-age exploration.
With a maximum height between 260 and 312 m, this fountain in the Red Sea is the tallest in the world. Water ejected reaches supersonic speeds of 375 km/h, and the amount of water in the air can exceed 16 m³. As a prominent landmark, it is visible from most parts of the city, and illuminated at night by over 500 spotlights. It was constructed between 1980 and 1983, and sponsored by King Fahd, hence its name.
An Ottoman qishla (fort) built in the 1800s.
مدينة الملك عبدالله الرياضية
The main stadium, capacity 62,240, is mainly used for soccer. It's the home ground of Al-Ahli and Al-Ittihad, both playing in Pro League the top tier. In 2027 it hosts matches in the AFC Asian Cup Finals.
مدينة الأمير عبدالله الفيصل الرياضية
This no longer has a resident soccer club. It's being expanded to 27,000 for the 2027 AFC Asian Cup Finals.
Fakieh Poultry Farms
The park boasts of having the largest double looped roller coaster in the Asian continent. Operational since 2004, the roller coaster at the Theme Park is 34 m high and caters to more than 700 visitors per hour. The two storey entertainment building at the centre of the Park features an ice skating rink and a theme area, a roller skating rink and the Amazon Ride with a jungle theme, complete with life-size figures of animals, light and sound effects. The Amazon Ride is spread over an area of 1800 m² with a lagoon and 15-m-high waterfall. Seven restaurants, party rooms and a games arcade are housed in the entertainment building. The party rooms can be reserved by the public for birthday parties and private gatherings at reasonable rates. The park also has a European village theme area, a Far East village area and a large number of retail outlets for souvenirs and soft toys for the children. The complex has a separate building for car parking which can accommodate 300 cars plus an additional open air parking facility which has an additional capacity of 300 cars.
The largest fast food chain of Saudi Arabia, Al Baik has some 25 locations in Jeddah. Chicken, seafood, and falafel, amongst other offerings.
Lebanese quick-service restaurant. Two locations.
One of the best Turkish restaurants in Jeddah. It offers a variety of Turkish food to its customers. Especially, fresh fruit juices and kunafah (a traditional dessert) are delicious.
Italian restaurant with sea views.
Lebanese cuisine.
Persian cuisine.
Italian Cafe.
Traditional food with sheesha.
Theme-fusion food.
International food.
In front of Saudi American Bank, Al Hamra Area. Excellent Turkish, Syrian, Lebanese, and Palestinian food.
Serviced apartments.
The property has a gym, residents’ lounge, prayer room, meeting rooms, and an in-house café and restaurant.
Health club, indoor swimming pool, 83 high-end suites, three meeting rooms, free internet access. The old branch is more affordable than the Corniche version.
former Westin
Resort in city center with roomside views of the sea.
Luxury resort with all amenities.
Luxury apartments
The "Palace of the Orient" is Waldorf-Astoria's attempt to create a "seven-star" luxury hotel in Jeddah. Decoration is opulent, and prices are a splurge. Food is primarily Venetian. All amenities can be found.
It claims to be the biggest shopping mall in Saudi Arabia on Madina St, rivaling Hera'a Mall.
It is one of the biggest shopping malls in Jeddah on King Abdulaziz Road.
Featuring a Saks Fifth Avenue department store.
Not a lot of variety but has a great food court to hang out in.
Find international designer brands such as Dolce & Gabbana, Gucci, LV, Fendi, and Dior.
A favorite hang out for teenagers.
First Starbucks branch in Jeddah.
The best mall for all ages.
Oldest mall in Jeddah, specialising in gold and Filipino food
By bus
National bus company SAPTCO runs buses from almost all cities and larger towns to Jeddah as well as from a number of international destinations such as Amman and Cairo.
By ferry
Jeddah is one of the major ports along the Red Sea and cargo ships arrive here from all over the world with plenty of choices for travellers, too.
By train
A high-speed railway linking Jeddah with Mecca and Medina via King Abdullah Economic City opened in 2018.
By bus
Buses are fairly common and are timetabled on Google Maps.
By boat
Boats are not particularly a means of transportation, but rather a way to enjoy the views of the Red Sea.
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Jeddah · International · JED
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Articles and travel topics about Jeddah and Saudi Arabia.
ItinerariesThe annual Muslim pilgrimage to Mecca, the Hajj is a mandatory religious duty for Muslims and is the largest annual gathering of people in the world.
Wikivoyage
ItinerariesFor modern-day trade in China, see Shopping in China The Silk Road (丝绸之路 sī chóu zhī lù), also known as the Silk Route, is not a single road, but a network of historical trade routes across Asia from China to Europe.
Wikivoyage
Travel tipsHigh-speed rail (often abbreviated to "HSR") is a form of rail travel that uses trains that can travel at least 250 km/h (160 mph) on purpose-built tracks.
Wikivoyage
Travel tipsThis page is an overview of ferry services in the Red Sea. It gives only basic information, see each ferry port or country's "Get in by boat" section for more on times, fares, and other practicalities - especially visas.
Wikivoyage
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