Desert heritage, Red Sea reefs and new frontiers
Saudi Arabia covers most of the Arabian Peninsula, from Red Sea coral coasts to the sand seas of the Empty Quarter. It opened to leisure tourism in 2019 and is known for AlUla and the Nabataean tombs of Hegra, old mud-brick Diriyah and coral-stone Jeddah. Mecca and Medina are the holiest cities in Islam and draw millions of pilgrims. It suits travellers curious about Arabian history and desert landscapes who are comfortable with conservative rules.
Tap a card or a pin. Add a place to a day of your trip, or look for tours.
Saudi Arabia's first World Heritage site, with over a hundred monumental Nabataean tombs cut into sandstone outcrops. It is a southern sister to Petra in Jordan.
A restored mud-brick old town beside a palm oasis, framed by red cliffs. It is the hub for visits to Hegra and the surrounding canyons.
A huge natural rock arch that looks like an elephant, set in open sand. It is a popular evening spot with seating and fire pits.
The restored mud-brick district that was the first seat of the Saudi royal family in the 18th century. Museums and the dining area at Bujairi Terrace sit beside it.
Sheer cliffs of the Tuwaiq escarpment that drop to a vast plain northwest of Riyadh. The final track needs a four-wheel drive.
An old trading quarter of coral-stone houses with carved wooden balconies and busy souks. It was the gateway for pilgrims arriving by sea.
The long Red Sea coast has healthy coral reefs and a growing number of island resorts. Diving and snorkelling are excellent off Jeddah and further north.
Masmak is the clay fort linked to the founding of the modern kingdom, and the National Museum nearby covers Arabian history. Together they make a good half day in central Riyadh.
One of the largest palm oases in the world, with springs, old markets and the cave-riddled Jabal Al-Qarah. It is listed by UNESCO as a living cultural landscape.
Green mountains around Abha with cooler air and the striking stone tower village of Rijal Almaa. It feels very different from the desert interior.
Thousands of ancient carvings of people and animals on rock faces in the northern desert. They are among the richest rock art sites in the region.
The largest continuous sand desert in the world, with towering dunes along the southern part of the country. Overnight camping trips run from Riyadh and Al-Ahsa areas.
A cool mountain city known for rose water, fruit farms and winding mountain roads. Spring brings the rose harvest.
A long seafront promenade with sculptures, parks and one of the tallest fountains in the world. It is busy with families in the evening.
Rock-cut tombs similar to Hegra near the northwestern coast, close to empty beaches and canyons. It suits road trippers heading north.
Everything above is open to read. A Hodolog account lets you build the trip around it: pick cities, add places to days, see the weather for your dates.
Each city with a guide opens its own page: map, where to stay, what to eat.
Capital with Diriyah, museums and the Edge of the World nearby.
culture, gateway · Open the city guideBase for Hegra and the canyons of the northwest.
history, desert · Guide comingRed Sea city with the historic Al-Balad district.
history, coast · Guide comingCool highland base for Asir villages.
nature · Guide comingHuge palm oasis and old souks.
culture · Guide comingSecond holiest city in Islam, mainly for pilgrims; the central sanctuary is for Muslims.
pilgrimage · Open the city guideHoliest city in Islam; entry is for Muslims only.
pilgrimage · Open the city guideUNESCO heritage district near Riyadh.
heritage, dining · Guide comingGateway to the Al-Ahsa oasis.
oasis, markets · Guide comingGulf coast cities with a corniche.
coast, stopover · Guide comingNorthwest base for Wadi Disah and Red Sea trips.
canyons, adventure · Guide comingThe desert heartland, with the modern capital and its historic roots.
Diriyah, Masmak Fortress, Edge of the World
Red sandstone canyons with ancient tombs and an oasis.
Hegra, Elephant Rock, AlUla old town
The western coast with Jeddah and the holy cities.
Historic Jeddah, Red Sea reefs, Taif
Green, cool mountains in the southwest.
Abha, Rijal Almaa
Gulf coast and great oases.
Al-Ahsa Oasis, Jabal Al-Qarah
Central desert with the capital, Diriyah and dramatic cliffs.
Riyadh, Diriyah, Edge of the World
Choose how long you have, then add the whole route to a trip as places and nights.
Best: November to March. Days are warm and pleasant instead of extremely hot.
The interior and Riyadh are very hot from May to September; the Asir highlands around Abha stay cooler in summer.
January. Busy season. Higher prices, bigger crowds.
70°F daily high, 57°F average, 0.2 in
Average of past years from NASA POWER, worked out at each city's position. A place far from these cities can be quite different.
The US State Department rates Saudi Arabia Level 3, Reconsider Travel, citing drone and missile threats linked to the 2026 United States and Iran hostilities, terrorism and exit bans, with extra caution near Yemen.
Flights and the Haramain high-speed train link big cities, but most sights need a car or tour.
Hotels and tours are pricey, though fuel, taxis and local food are cheap.
Entry rules depend on your passport. Members see the rules for their own passport here.
Passport and visa rules change often and without notice. Always check the official pages before you book and again before you travel.
| Entry | Check visa and entry rules on Saudi Arabia's official eVisa site (visa.visitsaudi.com) and your own government's travel advice before you go. |
| Plugs | Type G; 220 V / 230 V 60 Hz |
| Tap water | varies |
| Tipping | Tipping is not required but 10 percent is appreciated in restaurants. |
| Payments | Cards and phone payments are accepted almost everywhere. |
| Emergency | 999 police |
| Etiquette | Public behaviour is conservative and laws are strict, including on social media posts. Alcohol is banned for the general public, and you should avoid eating openly in daylight during Ramadan. Non-Muslims may not enter Mecca. |
| What to wear | Cover shoulders and knees in public; women do not have to cover their hair but should dress modestly, and a headscarf is needed at mosques. |
| Driving | On the right |
| Between cities | Domestic flights are the easiest way to cover the long distances. The Haramain high-speed train links Mecca, Jeddah and Medina, and other lines run from Riyadh. Hire cars are common, and fuel is cheap. |
| Main airports | RUH, JED, DMM, ULH |
| Ride apps | Uber, Careem |
The peninsula was crossed by incense caravans for centuries, and the Nabataeans carved Hegra's tombs about two thousand years ago. Islam began in Mecca and Medina in the 7th century. The modern kingdom was founded by Abdulaziz Al Saud in 1932, building on an earlier state centred on Diriyah. Oil wealth transformed the country after the 1930s, and the Vision 2030 plan now pushes tourism, entertainment and big new projects.
Researched 2026-10-13. Check official sources and recent changes before you go.