Jeddah
Jump on and Into Jeddah!
Outdone only by Riyadh in size in Saudi Arabia, Jeddah is an enormous city—and has long been so. This city is an old port of the region, and to this day, it remains commercially significant to the country due to its status as the largest port in the Red Sea. But to tourists, Jeddah is significant for other reasons entirely. It is the gateway to some of the most well-known holy places in the world as well as one of the liveliest and most exciting of all Saudi Arabia’s tourist spots.
First, those already familiar with Islam shall already know Jeddah as a classic jump-off point for those wishing to get to either the holiest or second-holiest of places in the Islamic faith. People headed to either Mecca or Medina often pass through Jeddah in their pilgrimage, so many Muslims in the region can often be found going through the city.
Despite this, Jeddah is not exactly a place bound by the religious scruples of the mutawa. This is one of the most modern of all Saudi Arabia’s cities, and the constant flow in and out of visitors from other places and cultures has turned it perhaps more liberal than its neighbors. One need only visit its northern resorts and beaches to see how locals and foreigners alike indulge freely in parties and luxuries, living the high and fast life.
Jeddah is also known to tourists for its famous 30km-long corniche—a stretch of coastline that is peppered with dozens and dozens of shops, stalls, and high-class accommodations. The Jeddah Corniche is in fact the main attraction of the city, as it sports some of the most appealing beaches in Saudi. Here one can take one’s pick of the type of beach one would prefer to vacation in, from the hip and the happening to the exclusive and elegant. All this at Jeddah, where one can get a touch of the Riviera at Saudi Arabia.
