Situated beside the Red Sea, Jeddah has been a pit stop for Mecca-bound pilgrims for centuries. This melting pot of traders and travellers gives the coastal city a distinctive character evident in its lively souks and coral-stone houses.
Jeddah is home to over 2,000 mosques, and you can find one of its most beautiful along the corniche – the mosque of Al Rahma. Nicknamed 'the floating mosque', it sits on white stilts which suspend it above the edge of the Red Sea. Explore the city's historic core in the old town of Al-Balad, known for its multi-storey houses with colourful balconies called 'mashrabiyyahs'. Along the old pilgrimage road, you'll encounter a myriad of street vendors and stores selling an assortment of spices, fabrics, clothing and more.
Jeddah offers some of the best scuba diving spots on Saudi Arabia's Red Sea coast, thanks to an abundance of undisturbed coral and shipwrecks. Back on dry land, you can take in the spectacle of King Fahd's Fountain at night. Streams of illuminated water reach over 275 metres, making it one of the tallest fountains in the world. You'll find this and many other attractions along the corniche, including Al-Shalal Theme Park and Fakieh Aquarium.
While Jeddah is known for age-old souks offering a range of trinkets to haggle over, you’ll also find numerous global brands selling luxury goods at one of the city’s modern malls. Located near King Abdulaziz International Airport, the Mall of Arabia is ideal for last-minute purchases before heading home.