Stand at the edge of Souq al-Alawi in the late afternoon and the old city does the work for you: coral-block houses rising on both sides of a market street, traders calling across the crowd, and the smell of spice and dust in the heat. This is al-Balad, and it is the reason most visitors come to Jeddah.
Jeddah suits travellers who want a Red Sea port city with a long history, a working old town and a modern waterfront, and who are comfortable moving between the two. It also suits divers, sports fans and anyone passing through on the way to Mecca or Medina.
This guide covers the sights and experiences worth your time, followed by a one-day plan and answers to the questions visitors ask most.
Top things to do in Jeddah
1. Al-Balad (Old Town)
Al-Balad is Jeddah's top sight and a UNESCO World Heritage Site. The city wall has long since been torn down, but the old gates still mark where it once stood. Inside you will find a warren of ancient buildings, traditional souqs and the multi-story coral houses the city is known for. Coral is not a durable building material, so many buildings are in disrepair, and significant investment is going into rebuilding old Jeddah.
Plan to spend hours wandering and getting lost in the souks. Go with time to spare rather than as a quick stop, and expect building work while the restoration continues.
2. Souq al-Alawi
At the heart of the old city, coral houses line both sides of this busy market street. It is the most direct way to feel the everyday life of al-Balad, surrounded by people from across the Arab world, Asia and Africa.
A photography permit is theoretically necessary, and you can inquire at the office behind Naseef House. In practice nobody seems to mind as long as you do not put your camera in people's faces without permission. Combine it with the rest of your walk through al-Balad.
3. Naseef House
This was the former house of one of Jeddah's main trading families, now being renovated as a museum and cultural centre. The top floors give great views over the old city when it is open.
It opens 17:00 to 21:00 and may be closed on Fridays. Entry is SR20. Pair it with Souq al-Alawi, which runs right past it.
4. King Fahd's Fountain
This fountain in the Red Sea is the tallest in the world, visible from most parts of the city and illuminated at night by over 500 spotlights. It is a prominent landmark and an easy thing to see without planning around an opening time.
Go after dark, when the lighting is the point. It sits along the Jeddah Corniche, so it fits naturally into an evening on the waterfront.
5. Jeddah Corniche
The Corniche offers spectacular views of the Red Sea and is the city's main waterfront stretch. It is a straightforward place to walk, take in the sea and watch the city at leisure.
Use it as the anchor for an evening: see the fountain, then continue along the water. If you want a beach day rather than a walk, the private clubs along the coast are more relaxed than the public beaches, where you should dress as modestly as the locals.
6. Scuba diving in the Red Sea
Diving is a major draw for expats in the Kingdom. Because of Jeddah's position on the Red Sea, the flora and fauna are similar to Egypt's Red Sea coast or the Sinai Peninsula, minus the tourists. Visibility can be spectacular, with 30 to 40 m common, and the corals are virtually untouched.
Most of the better dive sites are around an hour out to sea by speed boat, so plan a full day. The Red Sea gets chilly in winter, with water temperatures dropping to 22°C, so bring a 5 mm wetsuit with hood; in summer, when temperatures reach 29°C, a 3 mm shorty or 1 mm diveskin is enough.
7. Jeddah Regional Museum of Archaeology and Ethnography
This museum is located in the Khuzam Palace, built in 1928. Its collection ranges from Stone Age artefacts attributed to the Acheulean period found in nearby Wadi Fatimah, through 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.
It is a good choice when you want context for what you have seen in the old city, and it works well as an indoor stop in the middle of the day.
8. teamLab Borderless Jeddah
An interactive digital museum covering a hectare, with over 80 immersive artworks designed for physical play and all-age exploration. It is a modern counterpoint to the historic old town.
It is open Tuesday, Wednesday, Saturday and Sunday 13:00 to 22:00, and Thursday and Friday 15:00 to 00:00, and closed on Mondays. Entry is 150 SAR.
9. House of Islamic Arts
A small but high-quality Islamic art museum with a good audio guide, located at the top of a shopping mall in Aziziyah. Your entry also gets you access to four other small exhibitions on the same floor of the mall.
It is open Saturday to Thursday 10:00 to 22:00 and Friday 17:00 to 23:00. Entry is 60 SAR. You can call +966558808944.
10. Gold Souq
If you are looking for good-quality gold, this is where to go. You can bargain for 18k and 24k gold by weight.
Pair it with the main shopping street on Tahliya if you want to make a shopping half-day of it.
11. La Plage beach club
A private beach club in Obhur Al-Shamaliyah, open daily 09:00 to 18:00. Private beach clubs in Jeddah are almost as relaxed as Mediterranean beaches, which makes this the easier option if you want a beach day without the modesty rules of the public beaches.
Entry is 175 SAR. You can call +966 55 932 2622.
12. Al-Shalal Theme Park
On the Jeddah Corniche near the end of Sary Street, this park has a two-storey entertainment building at its centre with an ice skating rink, a roller skating rink and the Amazon Ride, a jungle-themed ride with life-size animal figures and light and sound effects. There are also European village and Far East village theme areas and retail outlets for souvenirs.
It is operational since 2004 and best treated as a family outing rather than a quick stop. Party rooms can be reserved for birthdays and private gatherings.
13. Jaffali Mosque
A mosque in the city worth including if you are building a route through Jeddah's religious and historic sites.
Dress modestly and time your visit outside prayer times.
14. Asfan Castle
An Ottoman qishla, or fort, built in the 1800s. It is a reminder of the Ottoman period in Jeddah's history and pairs well with the other historic sites on your itinerary.
Check locally before making a special trip, as it is a standalone site rather than part of a larger complex.
15. Abdul Raouf Khalil Museum
A museum in the city that adds to Jeddah's museum circuit alongside the Jeddah Regional Museum of Archaeology and Ethnography and the House of Islamic Arts.
It is worth slotting in if you have more than a day and want to spread your museum visits out.
If you only have one day
Morning: Start in al-Balad, walking the old gates and the coral houses while it is cooler. Move on to Souq al-Alawi at the heart of the old city and spend time in the market.
Afternoon: Visit Naseef House when it opens at 17:00 for the views from the top floors, then continue through the old town. If you would rather stay indoors through the hottest part of the day, the Jeddah Regional Museum of Archaeology and Ethnography or the House of Islamic Arts are both options.
Evening: Head to the Jeddah Corniche for the Red Sea views and see King Fahd's Fountain after dark, when it is illuminated.
Frequently asked questions
When is the best time to see King Fahd's Fountain?
At night, when it is illuminated by over 500 spotlights. It is visible from most parts of the city, so you do not need to plan your whole day around it.
Do I need a permit to take photographs in Souq al-Alawi?
Theoretically yes, and you can inquire at the office behind Naseef House. In practice nobody seems to object as long as you do not put your camera in people's faces without permission.
What should I know about diving in the Red Sea from Jeddah?
Visibility can be spectacular, with 30 to 40 m common, and the corals are virtually untouched. Most of the better sites are around an hour out to sea by speed boat. Water temperatures drop to 22°C in winter, so use a 5 mm wetsuit with hood; in summer they reach 29°C, when a 3 mm shorty or 1 mm diveskin is plenty.
Are Jeddah's beaches suitable for swimming?
Yes. Public beaches require you to dress as modestly as the locals, while private beach clubs are almost as relaxed as Mediterranean beaches. La Plage beach club in Obhur Al-Shamaliyah is open daily 09:00 to 18:00.
Decide how many days you can give al-Balad, check the opening times for Naseef House and the museums, and start building your Jeddah itinerary around them.