Flight Destinations
Flights to Jeddah
Places in Saudi Arabia
Flights to Africa
Flights to Asia
Flights to Australia
Flights to Caribbean
Flights to Central America
Flights to Europe
Flights to Indian Ocean
Flights to Middle East
Flights to North America
Flights to Pacific Islands
Flights to South America
The second largest city in Saudi Arabia is Jeddah, and it’s located on the Red Sea coast. Jeddah is a large city with some interesting sights, but for many it’s best known as the gateway to Mecca.
The Old Town
Called Al-Balad, the Old Town of Jeddah is the main attraction for tourists. This atmospheric part of the city contains a warren of little streets, traditional souqs and houses made of coral – something that Jeddah is famous for. There was obviously some wisdom behind building with coral when the multi-levelled houses were first constructed, however, after all these years the coral has not lasted well against the elements and many of the buildings are now in disrepair. A good place to see coral houses is on Souq al-Alawi, a market street, and make sure you also spend some time in the souqs (traditional markets) while here in Jeddah.
King Fahd’s Fountain
Away from the somewhat claustrophobic old town, the newer parts of Jeddah can be quite different. King Fahd’s Fountain for example is a major city landmark, and it’s in the Guinness Book of Records as the highest water jet in the world, reaching 312 metres (1024 feet).
Red Sea Resorts
The Red Sea is a popular playground whether you enjoy the beach, boating or diving, and along Jeddah’s Red Sea coast you’ll find a selection of high class resorts, some of which are far from the strict traditions usually found in Saudi Arabia.
In terms of diving, the scuba diving available off the coast of Jeddah is said to be spectacular and rivals that of the Red Sea off the coast of Egypt, only with far less people.
Theme Parks in Jeddah
Surprisingly, Jeddah is home to several theme parks including a water park on Sail Island and several amusement parks with roller coaster type ride.
Flights to Jeddah
Jeddah is home to the largest airport in Saudi Arabia, the King Abdulaziz International Airport (airport code: JED) and taxis are available into the city from the airport. During the Hajj pilgrimage the airport gets very congested so you’ll need to allow more time for getting through customs and immigration. From the UK, three airlines offer direct flights to Jeddah – British Midland, British Airways, and Saudi Arabian Airways. You can also choose from a number of different airlines offering one stop flights to Jeddah, such as Egyptair via Cairo, and Turkish Airlines via Istanbul.Jeddah Tourist Attractions
Though Jeddah does have a number of attractions worthy of a visit, the city attracts the most visitors during the Hajj pilgrimage to both Medina and Mecca. Millions of pilgrims travel through the city at this time as Jeddah is the closest gateway to these holy cities, and they arrive here either by air or by boat as Jeddah is a major port. If you’re not visiting Jeddah for the pilgrimage then you’d be better avoiding this time of year altogether.The Old Town
Called Al-Balad, the Old Town of Jeddah is the main attraction for tourists. This atmospheric part of the city contains a warren of little streets, traditional souqs and houses made of coral – something that Jeddah is famous for. There was obviously some wisdom behind building with coral when the multi-levelled houses were first constructed, however, after all these years the coral has not lasted well against the elements and many of the buildings are now in disrepair. A good place to see coral houses is on Souq al-Alawi, a market street, and make sure you also spend some time in the souqs (traditional markets) while here in Jeddah.
King Fahd’s Fountain
Away from the somewhat claustrophobic old town, the newer parts of Jeddah can be quite different. King Fahd’s Fountain for example is a major city landmark, and it’s in the Guinness Book of Records as the highest water jet in the world, reaching 312 metres (1024 feet).
Red Sea Resorts
The Red Sea is a popular playground whether you enjoy the beach, boating or diving, and along Jeddah’s Red Sea coast you’ll find a selection of high class resorts, some of which are far from the strict traditions usually found in Saudi Arabia.
In terms of diving, the scuba diving available off the coast of Jeddah is said to be spectacular and rivals that of the Red Sea off the coast of Egypt, only with far less people.
Theme Parks in Jeddah
Surprisingly, Jeddah is home to several theme parks including a water park on Sail Island and several amusement parks with roller coaster type ride.