Jeddah Travel Guide

Jeddah, located halfway down Saudi Arabia's Red Sea coast, is the gateway for two million pilgrims each year heading to the holy sites of Mecca and Medina. Known as the friendliest city in Saudi Arabia, it is also a major commercial centre.

The old heart of Jeddah remains remarkably well preserved, surrounded by 1000 year old coral walls. The narrow streets are lined with crazily-angled houses, made from coral and wood. The old town is also home to Saudi Arabia's most spectacular market, the Souk Al-Alawi, which winds its way through the old city, throwing out exotic smells of frankincense and other exotic spices.

Jeddah's beaches are also a major draw, along with the scuba diving in the Red Sea. It also boasts some fascinating museums. The Jeddah Museum evokes the complex history of the city (ruled by Egyptians and Ottomans, coveted by the Portuguese), while the Municipality Museum is housed in a traditional coral house and explains how the city developed from a tiny fishing port to the bustling metropolis it is today.