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The white Island Mosque on the Jeddah Corniche by the Red Sea

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Saudi Arabia

Jeddah Travel: Al-Balad, the Corniche and Luxury Hotels

Jeddah travel is the warmest introduction to Saudi Arabia: a cosmopolitan Red Sea port where the coral-stone houses of Al-Balad, a UNESCO World Heritage Site, sit a short drive from a long seafront Corniche and some of the kingdom's best luxury hotels.

Updated

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At a glance

Jeddah at a glance

Best months
November to March
From New York
About 12 hours nonstop (Saudia)
Time difference
7 hours ahead of New York in summer, 8 in winter
Airport
King Abdulaziz International (JED)
Weekend
Friday and Saturday
Currency
Saudi riyal, fixed at about 3.75 to US$1

From the United States

Jeddah for travelers from the US

The essentials for American travelers, at a glance.

Entry for US passports
Tourist eVisa or visa on arrival; up to 90 days per visit on a 1-year multiple-entry visa; about US$130–145 incl. insurance. Visa details
Getting there
Nonstop to Riyadh from New York and Washington on Saudia (about 12 hr 15 min from New York); Jeddah from New York on Saudia (about 11 hr 45 min from New York). All nonstops
Time difference
7 hours ahead of New York (8 in the US winter)
Money
Saudi riyal, pegged to the dollar: US$1 = SAR 3.75. Cards and Apple Pay almost everywhere.
Power plugs
Type G (the British three-pin), 230 V: bring an adapter (most phone and laptop chargers are dual voltage)
Weekend
Friday and Saturday

Checked October 18, 2026. Rules and schedules change, so confirm on the official portal before you book. Connecting on a Gulf or Turkish carrier? See stopover programs, and plan with your first trip.

Why go

Why go to Jeddah

For centuries Jeddah has been the kingdom's front door, the port where traders and pilgrims arrived on their way to Makkah. That long history of welcome shows: the city is relaxed, outward-looking and proud of its food, art and seafront. Its historic core, Al-Balad, was inscribed by UNESCO in 2014 as "Historic Jeddah, the Gate to Makkah" and is being restored house by house.

Modern Jeddah stretches north along the Red Sea. The Corniche and the Jeddah Waterfront offer miles of promenades, beaches, sculptures and cafes, and King Fahd's Fountain shoots water higher than any other fountain in the world. The city also hosts the Formula 1 Saudi Arabian Grand Prix on the Jeddah Corniche Circuit; see Formula 1 and motorsport.

Jeddah is a natural base for the west coast: drive up to the cool mountains of Taif, fly north to AlUla or the Red Sea resorts, and for Muslim travelers take the high-speed train to Makkah and Madinah.

A beach club with purple parasols and palms on the South Abhur waterfront in Jeddah, in late-afternoon light.
Photo: Kolaiel · CC0 · Wikimedia Commons

Luxury hotels

Luxury hotels in Jeddah

All open and rated five stars locally; Forbes Travel Guide ratings shown where given.

Forbes Four-Star

The Ritz-Carlton, Jeddah

★★★★★ North Corniche

A grand palace-style hotel on the seafront with lavish suites, landscaped gardens and a celebrated spa. The classic address for important occasions.

Official site ↗
Forbes Recommended

The Jeddah EDITION

★★★★★ Al Shati

Ian Schrager's brand brings sleek design, a lively social scene and sea views to the Corniche. The pick for a younger, design-minded crowd.

Official site ↗
Forbes Recommended

Rosewood Jeddah

★★★★★ Corniche

Residential-style suites with Red Sea views, many with kitchens, which suit families and longer stays.

Official site ↗
Forbes Recommended

Waldorf Astoria Jeddah, Qasr Al Sharq

★★★★★ North Corniche

An opulent all-suite palace on the water, with butler service and a private beach. One of the most indulgent stays in the kingdom.

Official site ↗
Forbes Recommended

Shangri-La Jeddah

★★★★★ North Corniche

A tall tower with sea-facing rooms, good restaurants and a strong spa, close to the Waterfront promenade.

Official site ↗
Forbes Recommended

Assila, a Luxury Collection Hotel

★★★★★ Tahlia Street

An art-filled hotel in the shopping district, with a rooftop pool and well-regarded dining.

To be confirmed

Four Seasons Hotel Jeddah Corniche, SO/ Jeddah, Regent Jeddah

Jeddah

Several new luxury hotels are planned along the coast. Opening dates have not been confirmed.

Carved wooden rawasheen balconies in weathered teak and green on the coral-stone tower houses of Al-Balad, historic Jeddah.
Photo: Abdullah Alallah · Unsplash

Things to do

Things to do in Jeddah

Spend a morning or a late afternoon in Al-Balad, wandering between tall coral-stone houses with carved wooden rawasheen balconies, the restored Nasseef House and the old souks scented with spices and oud. Evenings are livelier, when cafes fill and the lanes are lit. A local guide brings the merchant families' stories to life.

On the coast, walk the Corniche at sunset, visit the open-air sculpture museum along the seafront, or take a boat out to snorkel the reefs north of the city at Obhur. Jeddah's annual season and its film and arts festivals bring concerts and exhibitions in the cooler months; see the events calendar. For yacht days, see superyacht charter.

King Fahd's Fountain soaring above the Red Sea at night, its plume mirrored in the water off the Jeddah Corniche.
Photo: ほっきー · CC0 · Wikimedia Commons

Where to eat

Jeddah is the kingdom's seafood capital. Try Red Sea fish grilled or cooked sayadiyah-style with spiced rice, and the Hijazi breakfast staples ful and mutabbaq in Al-Balad. The big hotels host refined restaurants, and the Corniche and Al Shati districts have a growing number of chef-led dining rooms and specialty coffee houses. See finest restaurants for the region's best.

Flights from the US

FromAirlineToTime
New York JFKSaudia (nonstop)JeddahAbout 12 hours
Washington DullesSaudia (nonstop)RiyadhAbout 12 hours
Los AngelesSaudia (nonstop, seasonal)JeddahAbout 16 hours
Other US citiesEmirates, Qatar Airways, Etihad (one stop)JeddahAbout 16 to 20 hours

Good to know

US passport holders can apply for a Saudi eVisa online or get a visa on arrival. Dress modestly in public; visiting women do not need an abaya or headscarf. Alcohol is not served. During Ramadan, eat and drink discreetly in daylight; the evenings are festive. Jeddah is humid, and summer is hot, so November to March is the best time. Private flyers use the airport's private terminals; see FBOs and private terminals.

Turquoise Red Sea shallows and a palm-lined breakwater along the Jeddah waterfront, with seafront towers beyond.
Photo: Radosław Botev · CC BY 3.0 PL · Wikimedia Commons

Seafront property

Living in Jeddah: seafront property

Jeddah's prime market centers on the North Corniche and Obhur, with new waterfront districts in the Jeddah Central project and the planned Jeddah Tower. Foreign ownership rules and Premium Residency are covered on Saudi Arabia Luxury Real Estate.

Questions travelers ask

Questions travelers ask about Jeddah

Can non-Muslims visit Jeddah?

Yes. Jeddah is open to all visitors. Only Makkah, about an hour east, is restricted to Muslims.

Is there a nonstop flight from the US to Jeddah?

Yes. Saudia flies nonstop to Jeddah from New York JFK, and to Riyadh from Washington Dulles, with seasonal Jeddah service from Los Angeles.

When is the best time to visit Jeddah?

November to March, when temperatures are pleasant and the city's festivals take place.

How long should I spend in Al-Balad?

Half a day with a guide, ideally from late afternoon into the evening.

Travel TodayBefore you travel, check the US State Department's current advice for Saudi Arabia. See the advice ↗

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Weather

Jeddah weather by month

Average day highs, night lows, sea temperature and rainy days for each month, in Fahrenheit and Celsius side by side. The months in gold are the most comfortable for visiting.

Jeddah weather by month, in Fahrenheit and Celsius
MonthDay highNight lowSeaRainy days
°F°C°F°C°F°C
Jan82°28°66°19°80°27°4
Feb83°28°65°18°78°26°2
Mar88°31°69°20°79°26°1
Apr93°34°73°23°82°28°3
May97°36°76°25°84°29°0
Jun99°37°80°27°87°31°0
Jul100°38°82°28°88°31°0
Aug100°38°84°29°91°33°0
Sep99°37°82°28°89°31°0
Oct96°36°77°25°88°31°1
Nov90°32°74°24°86°30°4
Dec86°30°70°21°83°28°5

Averages for 2020–2024, Open-Meteo historical weather (ERA5). Sea temperatures: 2023–2024. Rainy days: days with at least 1 mm (0.04 in) of rain. Weather data by Open-Meteo.com.

Checked October 2026. Prices and dates are approximate and can change. See our standard.