Saudi Arabia has a lot to offer tourists with modern cities, thrilling adventures, and stunning views. It offers unique experiences that you will not find anywhere else. It is also one of the safest destinations in the world. One of the cities is Jeddah, which has the second-busiest port in the Middle East.
Travellers coming to Jeddah on a cruise can enter through the harbour. During the day, it is a busy industrial port, but at night, you can see the stunning lighthouse. Saudi Arabia is an Islamic country, but Jeddah is a modern city. Rules have to be followed while harboured at the Saudi port. During the port days, passengers cannot consume alcohol in the public areas of the ship or on their room balconies. Saudi authorities confirm that all alcohol is locked down before entering the port.
Tourists can visit the city through guided tours offered on the cruise. Males are expected to wear long-sleeved shorts and long, loose pants, and females should dress modestly and use a head covering wherever required.
In an excursion, the visitors can visit historic Jeddah during the day and, in the evening, enjoy a desert sunset and Bedouin nomad camp dinner. To enter, visitors have to go through a face-to-face entry process, which includes getting photographed and fingerprinted. Once the passports are stamped, visitors must show e-Visas and vaccine cards and upload the Saudi contact-tracing app on their phones.
The tour guides for the excursion are highly qualified and act as the ambassadors of Saudi Arabia to Western tourists. The excursion begins with a bus ride around modern Jeddah. You can see the modern business centres, banks, hotels, art installations, and waterfront parks. The two Guinness World Record sites that can be found here are the King Abdullah Square, which has the world’s tallest flagpole (170 meters), and the King Fahad’s Fountain, which is the world’s highest water fountain (shoots water 260 meters high).
Next stop is the Confirmation Square, where the people gather to confirm their support for the New King. The guide informed that the governor of Jeddah proposed to King Salman to use international art to attract tourists. The King offers an unlimited budget to him for this proposal.
Visitors can get off the bus upon arriving in Historic Jeddah. It has buildings which are 250 - 600 years old and built from coral stone and reinforced with teak and mahogany. The buildings have decorative wooden doors and Islamic-style balconies and windows called Rawashin. The doors, also called ‘Peach’, are made in a typical Hezaji architecture and have an open side of the same size as the door. The lintel is high, and visitors have to lift their legs to enter, which means that you have agreed to the rules of the house.
Visitors can next see the home of the wealthy Baeshen family with a private open-roofed mosque. The next spot is a home that has been turned into a museum and shows the way a multi-generational family could stay together.
Tourists can visit the city through guided tours offered on the cruise. Males are expected to wear long-sleeved shorts and long, loose pants, and females should dress modestly and use a head covering wherever required.
A Guided Tour on a Cruise
In an excursion, the visitors can visit historic Jeddah during the day and, in the evening, enjoy a desert sunset and Bedouin nomad camp dinner. To enter, visitors have to go through a face-to-face entry process, which includes getting photographed and fingerprinted. Once the passports are stamped, visitors must show e-Visas and vaccine cards and upload the Saudi contact-tracing app on their phones.
The tour guides for the excursion are highly qualified and act as the ambassadors of Saudi Arabia to Western tourists. The excursion begins with a bus ride around modern Jeddah. You can see the modern business centres, banks, hotels, art installations, and waterfront parks. The two Guinness World Record sites that can be found here are the King Abdullah Square, which has the world’s tallest flagpole (170 meters), and the King Fahad’s Fountain, which is the world’s highest water fountain (shoots water 260 meters high).
Next stop is the Confirmation Square, where the people gather to confirm their support for the New King. The guide informed that the governor of Jeddah proposed to King Salman to use international art to attract tourists. The King offers an unlimited budget to him for this proposal.
Visitors can get off the bus upon arriving in Historic Jeddah. It has buildings which are 250 - 600 years old and built from coral stone and reinforced with teak and mahogany. The buildings have decorative wooden doors and Islamic-style balconies and windows called Rawashin. The doors, also called ‘Peach’, are made in a typical Hezaji architecture and have an open side of the same size as the door. The lintel is high, and visitors have to lift their legs to enter, which means that you have agreed to the rules of the house.
Visitors can next see the home of the wealthy Baeshen family with a private open-roofed mosque. The next spot is a home that has been turned into a museum and shows the way a multi-generational family could stay together.
You can visit the exterior of the home where the Saudi king lived once before moving out to Riyadh. Also, visit the exterior of the oldest mosque in Jeddah. The mosque has been renovated several times, and the minarets are 650 years old. In the evening, visitors can attend the ‘Desert safari at sunset’.
Jeddah is located by the Red Sea with historical alleyways and modern high-rises. To reach Jeddah by air, you can use the Flyadeal @ Flyin option. Flyin is the main portal that allows you to book cheap Flyadeal flights across Saudi Arabia and on international routes.
It is a historic district and was declared a UNESCO World Heritage Site. It is located on the eastern shore of the Red Sea. The word ‘Al Balad’ means ‘The town’ in English and was founded in the 7th century AD. It served as a major port for the Indian Ocean trade route. It was a gateway for pilgrims heading for the holy city of Makkah.
Walk through the streets to see the houses that are 400 years old and have intricate Roshan balconies. You can visit the ancient houses, such as Bait Nassif, which was built in the 1800s by a Turkish architect. It now houses the Jeddah Museum. Bait Matbouli or Bait Nour Wali is 420 years old and is a traditionally designed Hejazi merchant’s home. Here you can see the ancient architecture called Rawashin. Al Shafei Mosque is a unique Ottoman-style mosque with a beautiful minaret. Al-Mimar is the second-largest mosque and has an ancient well made up of Al-Mangabi stones, which are found in the Red Sea.
Visit the Alawi Market on Qabil Street, Souq Al Badu Market, Bharat Al Shagara, or Al Khaskeya if you want to buy unique souvenirs. Here you will also find handmade crafts, precious stones, and Hijazi attire.
If you want to taste traditional Arabian food, then you can eat at one of the top restaurants located here. Some of the famous spots are Baisi Ras Al Mandi, Al-Saidi Furn bakery, and Furn Al-Sheikh bakery.
The Red Sea is located close to Jeddah, and visitors should explore the diverse marine life. This aquarium has around 200 species, among which 85% are unique to the surrounding Red Sea ecosystem. For an underwater experience, visit the coast of Sharm Obhur. You can enjoy water sports activities such as jet-skiing or spend time by the ocean. Other activities offered are sailing, fishing, and diving.
Visitors can explore beyond the city and visit the nearby gems on a day trip from Jeddah. As Saudi Arabia has good connectivity, visiting these sports is easy. You can take the Haramain train to visit the world’s first Islamic capital, Al-Madinah. To visit the various historical sites, you can take the Hop-on Hop-off double-decker bus. The Al-Masjid an-Nawabi mosque is where the Prophet Muhammad used to live and is buried. Another place to visit on a day trip is the King Abdullah Economic City.
Hotspots in Jeddah
Jeddah is located by the Red Sea with historical alleyways and modern high-rises. To reach Jeddah by air, you can use the Flyadeal @ Flyin option. Flyin is the main portal that allows you to book cheap Flyadeal flights across Saudi Arabia and on international routes.
Al Balad
It is a historic district and was declared a UNESCO World Heritage Site. It is located on the eastern shore of the Red Sea. The word ‘Al Balad’ means ‘The town’ in English and was founded in the 7th century AD. It served as a major port for the Indian Ocean trade route. It was a gateway for pilgrims heading for the holy city of Makkah.
Walk through the streets to see the houses that are 400 years old and have intricate Roshan balconies. You can visit the ancient houses, such as Bait Nassif, which was built in the 1800s by a Turkish architect. It now houses the Jeddah Museum. Bait Matbouli or Bait Nour Wali is 420 years old and is a traditionally designed Hejazi merchant’s home. Here you can see the ancient architecture called Rawashin. Al Shafei Mosque is a unique Ottoman-style mosque with a beautiful minaret. Al-Mimar is the second-largest mosque and has an ancient well made up of Al-Mangabi stones, which are found in the Red Sea.
Visit the Alawi Market on Qabil Street, Souq Al Badu Market, Bharat Al Shagara, or Al Khaskeya if you want to buy unique souvenirs. Here you will also find handmade crafts, precious stones, and Hijazi attire.
If you want to taste traditional Arabian food, then you can eat at one of the top restaurants located here. Some of the famous spots are Baisi Ras Al Mandi, Al-Saidi Furn bakery, and Furn Al-Sheikh bakery.
Fakieh Aquarium
The Red Sea is located close to Jeddah, and visitors should explore the diverse marine life. This aquarium has around 200 species, among which 85% are unique to the surrounding Red Sea ecosystem. For an underwater experience, visit the coast of Sharm Obhur. You can enjoy water sports activities such as jet-skiing or spend time by the ocean. Other activities offered are sailing, fishing, and diving.
Visitors can explore beyond the city and visit the nearby gems on a day trip from Jeddah. As Saudi Arabia has good connectivity, visiting these sports is easy. You can take the Haramain train to visit the world’s first Islamic capital, Al-Madinah. To visit the various historical sites, you can take the Hop-on Hop-off double-decker bus. The Al-Masjid an-Nawabi mosque is where the Prophet Muhammad used to live and is buried. Another place to visit on a day trip is the King Abdullah Economic City.
(Photo credits: Unsplash and Wikipedia)
