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🇸🇦Things to Do in Saudi Arabia
From the rock-carved tombs of AlUla to the Red Sea coast - the essential sights, and how to keep your own record of them.
Travel guide - last updated September 2026
Saudi Arabia only opened to general tourism in 2019, which means most of its major sites are still genuinely uncrowded compared to equivalent attractions elsewhere. AlUla's Nabataean tombs (a lesser-known sibling to Jordan's Petra), the restored mud-brick town of Diriyah, and an undeveloped stretch of Red Sea coast are the current headline draws. Here are 6 places worth building a trip around.
Top attractions
The sights most first-time visitors build an itinerary around.
AlUla & Hegra
Saudi Arabia's first UNESCO World Heritage Site, with over 100 monumental tombs carved into sandstone by the Nabataeans - the same civilization behind Jordan's Petra, but far less visited.
📍 AlUla
🚉 AlUla has its own airport with flights from Riyadh and Jeddah; there is no passenger rail, and the Hegra tombs can only be entered on the official shuttle bus from the Winter Park visitor centre.
Diriyah
The mud-brick birthplace of the Saudi state, just outside Riyadh, restored as a UNESCO World Heritage site with the At-Turaif District's historic palaces now open alongside new restaurants and cafes.
📍 Diriyah, near Riyadh
🚉 Diriyah is 20 minutes north-west of central Riyadh with no metro station of its own - taxis and ride apps are the practical way, and the At-Turaif district is walked once you arrive.
Riyadh
Saudi Arabia's capital, mixing Masmak Fortress's 19th-century mud-brick walls with the modern Kingdom Centre Tower's skybridge observation deck for a contrasting view of the city's history and its future.
📍 Riyadh
🚉 The Riyadh Metro opened across six lines in 2024 and 2025, linking King Khalid airport, the Kingdom Centre and Olaya - it is the first genuine public transport the city has had.
Red Sea Coast
A largely undeveloped stretch of coral reef and coastline being built out as a major resort destination, with diving and snorkeling comparable to Egypt's Red Sea but still far quieter.
📍 Red Sea Coast
🚉 Jeddah and Yanbu are the mainland bases, connected by the Haramain high-speed railway from Makkah and Madinah; the reefs and the new Red Sea resorts are reached by boat or road transfer.
Jeddah Old Town (Al-Balad)
A UNESCO-listed historic quarter of coral-stone buildings with distinctive wooden latticework windows (roshan), and the traditional gateway to Mecca for pilgrims arriving by sea.
📍 Jeddah
🚉 Al-Balad is in central Jeddah, a short taxi from the Haramain high-speed station at Sulaimaniyah - the historic coral houses are a walking district best seen in the evening.
Edge of the World
A dramatic escarpment a few hours from Riyadh, with cliffs dropping away to a desert plain below - a popular day-trip hike and sunset viewpoint from the capital.
📍 Near Riyadh
🚉 The escarpment is 90km north-west of Riyadh on unpaved desert track: a 4x4 with a guide is the only way in, and going alone without recovery equipment is genuinely unsafe.
Mark Saudi Arabia, get the stamp
In MyPassportStory, every country you mark - visited, lived in, or still on the list - becomes a stamp like these in your own travel passport. Add the cities you stopped in, draw the route between them, and turn the whole trip into a shareable passport-style image.
Open MyPassportStoryPlanning questions
How many days do you need in Saudi Arabia?
A week covers Riyadh, Diriyah and AlUla well, given the flight between Riyadh and AlUla. Ten days lets you add the Red Sea coast or Jeddah's old town.
What's the best time to visit Saudi Arabia?
November-March has the most comfortable temperatures across most of the country, including AlUla and Riyadh. Summer heat is intense, especially inland.
Is Saudi Arabia good for a first-time visit?
It's newly opened to tourism and still building out its visitor infrastructure, so a bit more planning helps than in more established destinations - modest dress is expected in public, though the dress code has relaxed considerably for tourists in recent years.
Do I need a visa to visit Saudi Arabia?
Many nationalities can apply for an e-visa online in a few minutes, or get one on arrival at major airports, for short tourist stays. Check the official visa information for your nationality: visa.visitsaudi.com.
What are some things to do in Saudi Arabia on a tight budget?
Walking Diriyah's restored streets and Jeddah's Al-Balad district costs little, the Edge of the World hike is free beyond transport to the trailhead, and Riyadh's public transport (metro and bus) is inexpensive for getting around the capital.
Can I rent a car in Saudi Arabia, and what licence do I need?
Yes, and outside Riyadh it is often the only way to move. Visitors on a tourist visa may drive on a foreign licence accompanied by an International Driving Permit; residents must convert to a Saudi licence. Women have been able to drive since 2018 and rent on the same terms as men. Minimum age is 21 to 25 depending on the company, with a credit card required. Desert routes such as the Edge of the World need a 4x4 and a guide, and standard rental insurance will not cover off-road driving. Official rules are published by the Ministry of Transport at mot.gov.sa, with visitor guidance at visitsaudi.com.