Travel Guide

Saudi Arabia Travel Guide

Ancient Nabataean cities, vast deserts, the holy cities of Mecca and Medina — Saudi Arabia is awakening to tourism.

About

Why Visit Saudi Arabia?

Saudi Arabia — the birthplace of Islam and home to Mecca and Medina, the two holiest cities on Earth — has only recently opened its doors to international tourism. What visitors are discovering is extraordinary: AlUla's rose-red Nabataean tombs (Hegra) that rival Petra in beauty, the dramatic Edge of the World (Jebel Fihrayn) overlooking an ancient seabed, NEOM and the futuristic Vision 2030 megaprojects, the old city of Jeddah (a UNESCO World Heritage Site), and vast desert landscapes that dwarf anything else in the region. For Indian Muslims, Saudi Arabia holds the deepest spiritual significance. For non-Muslim Indian travellers, Saudi Arabia offers one of the world's most untouched tourism frontiers — a land of staggering antiquity and rapid transformation.

Best Time to Visit

When to Go to Saudi Arabia

Click any month for a detailed Saudi Arabia travel guide for that time of year.

Must-See

Top Highlights of Saudi Arabia

UNESCO

AlUla & Hegra

Saudi Arabia's first UNESCO World Heritage Site — 111 Nabataean rock-cut tombs rivalling Petra in gr...

Holy Sites

Mecca & Medina

The two holiest cities in Islam — the Masjid al-Haram around the Kaaba, and the Prophet's Mosque....

Nature

Edge of the World

Jebel Fihrayn — dramatic 300m cliffs overlooking an ancient seabed, 90 minutes from Riyadh....

UNESCO

Jeddah Old City (Al-Balad)

A UNESCO-listed old city of coral-stone buildings, carved wooden windows, and Red Sea trading histor...

Desert

Rub al-Khali (Empty Quarter)

The world's largest continuous sand desert — 650,000 km² of sweeping orange dunes....

History

Dir'iyah

The original home of the Saudi royal family — a UNESCO-listed mud-brick city being restored as a cul...

Practical Tips

Before You Go — Saudi Arabia Essentials

FAQs

Saudi Arabia Travel Guide — Common Questions

More Saudi Arabia Resources