Tips & Tricks
Mecca (City) – located in a desert valley in the western part of the country, Mecca is Islam’s holiest city. It’s also the birthplace of the Prophet Mohamed and the Islamic faith. Only Muslims are allowed there. Millions of Muslim worshippers arrive in Mecca for the annual Hajj (pilgrimage), a tradition that began in the […]
Qusur al Muqbil (Old City, Riyadh) – this mud brick abandoned village, located on the outskirts of modern Riyadh, gives visitors a glimpse of how locals lived for centuries (well before the country’s oil boom). Free admission. Open 24 hours.
Jeddah (city) – this Saudi port city is located on the Red Sea, which acts as a modern commercial hub & gateway for pilgrimages to holy cities of Mecca and Medina. Resort hotels, beaches and outdoor sculptures line the Corniche (a seafront promenade anchored by the iconic King Fahd’s fountain). Jeddah’s al-Balad historic district dates […]
Mount Uhud – this is a mountain north of Medina, Saudi Arabia. With a height of 1,077 meters, it was the site of the second battle between Muslim and Meccan forces. The Battle of Uhud was fought on 19 March, 625 CE, between a force from the small Muslim community of Medina, in what is […]
Riyadh – located in a desert plain in the country’s center, this is the capital of Saudi Arabia, as well as its main financial hub. Business district landmarks include the 302 meter-high Kingdom Center, with a sky bridge connecting two towers, and 257 meter-high Al Faisaliah Center, with a glass globe summit. In the […]
Silver Sands Beach (Prince Abdullah Al Faisal Street, Al Lulu, Jeddah 23821) – this is a shallow water beach which is open to foreigners only. There’s an entrance fee into the beach (SR 100 per person during the week, and SR 150 during the weekend). For children, the entry fee is SR 60. There are […]