Jeddah splits neatly into three kinds of day. The historic one is Al Balad, the UNESCO-listed old town of coral-stone houses and carved wooden balconies. The waterfront one is the Corniche, King Fahd's Fountain and the Floating Mosque. The Red Sea one is snorkelling or diving out of Obhur. With one day, most people combine Al Balad with a drive along the Corniche.
5 things to do in Jeddah
Starting prices, confirmed before you pay. Tours we run ourselves are priced per vehicle for the whole group.
Jeddah
Fakieh Aquarium Visit
Meet sharks, rays and Red Sea reef life at Jeddah's family-favourite aquarium on the Corniche.
from 60 SARper person
Jeddah
Al-Balad Heritage Walk
Stroll the coral-stone lanes of Jeddah's UNESCO-listed historic district.
from 150 SARper person
Jeddah
Tayebat Museum Visit
Tour a palatial Hijazi-style complex tracing 2,500 years of Jeddah history, Islamic art and Saudi heritage.
from 50 SARper person
Jeddah
Obhur Red Sea Snorkel Cruise
Cruise sheltered Obhur Creek and snorkel Red Sea coral gardens on a family-friendly half-day boat trip.
from 150 SARper person
Jeddah
Jeddah City Highlights Tour
See the Corniche, Al-Rahma Floating Mosque and King Fahd's Fountain on a guided half-day drive with hotel pickup.
from 135 SARper person
Getting around Jeddah
Jeddah stretches a long way north to south, and the sights sit at opposite ends: Al Balad is in the old south, Obhur's beaches are well north. That drive is the thing people underestimate. A half-day guided drive covering the Corniche, the Floating Mosque and the fountain solves it in one go — and if you're continuing to Makkah, doing this before you leave saves a return trip entirely.
Jeddah Airport → Makkah transfersJeddah — common questions
The historic heart of Jeddah, inscribed as a UNESCO World Heritage Site in 2014. Its narrow lanes are lined with coral-stone merchant houses and the carved wooden rawasheen balconies the city is known for. It's best walked slowly, and it's most pleasant late in the day.
Comfortably, if you pick one theme. Al Balad plus a drive along the Corniche is the usual combination and takes half a day. Adding a Red Sea trip in Obhur means committing to a full day, because it's at the other end of the city.
Yes. The Fakieh Aquarium on the Corniche is the reliable choice with children, and the sheltered water at Obhur Creek suits a first snorkel. The Corniche itself is a free evening out, and Saudi families use it that way.