Jeddah

About Jeddah

For centuries Jeddah has been the gateway to Mecca, the Red Sea port where pilgrims from across the world landed on their way to the holy city. That long history of trade and travel made it Saudi Arabia's most cosmopolitan city, and today it is the kingdom's second largest, a sprawling metropolis stretched along the coast.

Its historic core, Al-Balad, is a UNESCO World Heritage Site of coral-stone merchant houses whose carved wooden roshan balconies kept the interiors cool and private. Narrow lanes lead between souqs, old mosques and restored mansions such as Nasseef House, and the district has seen extensive restoration in recent years.

Modern Jeddah lives along its corniche, where families picnic by the sea, sculptures by international artists line the promenade and King Fahd's Fountain shoots a jet of water high above the Red Sea. Evenings are the best time to explore, as the days are hot for much of the year. Coral reefs off the coast north of the city draw divers and snorkellers.