Jeddah

Traditional coral houses off Souq al-Alawi in al-Balad Jeddah (جدّة, also spelled Jiddah) is on the Red Sea in western Saudi Arabia. It is the second largest city, with a population of approximately 3,400,000, and a major commercial center in the country. Understand Jeddah has been a port and trading city for centuries, which is reflected in its cosmopolitan mix of inhabitants. Today, it is a major commercial center in Saudi Arabia. It also has many government offices. Jeddah is known in the kingdom for its shopping districts, restaurants and cafes. It also hosts the Jeddah Corniche (waterfront area), which is the largest in the Kingdom with a great bunch of hotels, beaches and resorts clustered around it. To the north of the city, a string of beach resort compounds are off-limits to the mutawwa and are known as party spots where many of the social mores of the rest of the country are flouted, especially by rich, liberal families from Jeddah. Jeddah is also the main entry point, either by air or sea, for pilgrims making the Hajj pilgrimage to Mecca and Medina, the two sacred cities of Islam. Both are a few hours inland from Jeddah. Orientation Jeddah is a huge city that sprawls along the coast of the Red Sea, connected together by the Corniche, a seaside avenue full of bizarre sculptures and nearly 30 km long. The old city or al-Balad, on the southern side of modern Jeddah, is a crumbling but fascinating warren of multi-story houses made from coral. The main thoroughfare Medina Road starts from the northern side of al-Balad and runs all the way to the city. Get in By plane King Abdulaziz International Airport, (IATA: JED), is the largest airport in the Kingdom and is well served by airlines from around the world. Unfortunately, despite its importance and the Kingdom's wealth, the airport has been known for being in miserable shape with dust, flies and poor to nonexistent signage. In 2011 renovations to the airport were completed. There are two regular terminals and they are located on opposite sites of the massive apron and are nearly 8 km apart. The only formal access between the two terminals is by taxi. South terminal Saudi Airlines. All Saudi airlines use this facility , including domestic services. North terminal Used by all other international flights. Pakistan International Airlines, [1] has flights from all major cities of Pakistan to and from Jeddah. There are also two special terminals, used exclusively for Hajj pilgrims heading directly to Mecca, which are basically enormous tents of fiberglass fabric on reinforced concrete poles and steel cables. Driving to the normal non-Hajj terminal, you pass between the two. In season, this lets you admire rows of 747s parked alongside the Hajj terminals. Connections to the city A taxi to the city from either will cost around SR50, so agree on the fare before you set off. By bus Also there are many bus routes to neighboring countries, especially Jordan. Usually bus trip starts in Syria down to Amman, Jordan then to most Saudi major cities. However, make sure before booking your seat that you don't have a "by air only" entry visa. Most bus companies in Amman are located in Abdali. Ticket price is around 25 JD, some companies have daily trips to large cities like Jeddah. Make sure to check buses before booking, as some companies have old and small seats buses (this is a long trip, so make sure to pick a company with "business class" buses, some companies offer business class buses at a price cheaper than "normal buses" companies!). Trip is about 18 hours nonstop through Medina route (there are two routes for the trip, sea route passing by Yanbua which is a rough one but short, and Medina route) By ferry Travelers coming from Egypt and Sudan, precisly Port Sudan, have a choice to take a ferry. Get around By car Many of the hotels chains have a "water taxi" or a small minivan that will take you to the mall and main shopping areas. Taxis are very inexpensive, with most 10 minute rides costing about SR10-20 (about $3-6). There are two types of taxis: one is yellow and will have a sign that says, simply, TAXI. They are usually cheaper, but a little "rougher" on the inside and out and and usually are not air conditioned. But they are very rare in Jeddah now. Also, most of them are now airconditioned new cars. If you're looking for better quality, opt for the white "Limousine" taxis which are of better quality. There is a rule in KSA that a Limousine must not be older than 5 years. So, you find all the new cars in Limousines. Limousine taxis are about $1-3 more expensive. There are also "unlicensed" taxis, those are normal cars (usually a Toyota Camry) without the "TAXI" sign. Those taxis are cheaper than "Limousine" but these Taxis are not legel. Police take strict actions against such Taxis. So try not to sit in such private Taxis. Normally they honk or flash lights when they see you standing in street (you can't recognize them as they're normal cars). Take note that you can negotiate taxi driver for a fixed price, which is much cheaper than using counter. This needs some "experience" with Jeddah and its streets. Sometimes taxi driver will pretend to be "lost" so he would turn on the counter or make you pay extra in exchange of his "lost time". whatever is the situation, never accept to pay more than you agreed on at the beginning of the ride. Also take note that some Saudi drivers ask for higher price and don't treat clients very well. Instead go for Indian or Pakistani drivers. Many rental agencies like Avis or Budget will rent you a 2008 mid-size car for the price of SR100-140 (about $30-50) per day. You'll also find a bargain when it comes to fuel, as Saudi Arabia has some of the cheapest petrol prices in the world. The streets are wide and signs are written in both Arabic and English. Look for maps in the libraries or big supermarkets. By bus Buses are not a commonly-used means of transportation in Jeddah even though you can ride one for SR1-2 from certain main streets to Albalad (downtown). It is, however, a very interesting way to enjoy traditional Arab music and the sound of people mixing together all while enjoying sights during the ride. Smaller buses are mostly private so the owner is responsible for cleanliness. Larger buses are provided by the government, which are big and clean but don't follow a schedule, so consider using the smaller buses if you're on a specific timetable. By boat Boats are not particularly a means of transportation, but rather a way to enjoy the views of the Red Sea. You can catch boats in Obhur north of Jeddah at the marina; a one hour ride in a small boat is around SR200 (US$55). See Al-Balad (Old Town) Jeddah's top sight is al-Balad, or the old town. The city wall has long since been torn down, but the old gates still mark where it once stood. Within you'll find a warren of ancient buildings and traditional souqs (markets), and the teetering, multistory coral houses that Jeddah is famous for. Unfortunately, coral is not a very durable building material, and most of the buildings are in disrepair. Spend time wandering around the old city and get lost in the seemingly endless souks. You will find yourself in another world and entirely 'in' the world, surrounded by people form all over the arab world, Asia and Africa. Souq al-Alawi. At the heart of the old city, coral houses line both sides of this busy market street. A photography permit is theoretically necessary (inquire at the office behind Naseef house), but in practice nobody seems to bat an eyelid as long as you don't stick your camera in people's faces without permission. (21.5434857,39.1729892) edit Naseef House. 5-9PM (closed Fri?). The former house of one of Jeddah's main trading families is now being renovated as a museum of sorts. Great views from the top floors when it's open. SR20.  edit Other The Jeddah Corniche offers spectacular views of the Red Sea. Check out the main shopping street on Tahliya for interesting wares, and if you're looking for good quality gold, try the Gold Souq where you can bargain for 18k and 24k gold by weight. The King Fahd Fountain is not only the tallest water fountain in Jeddah, but also the world. Do Scuba diving Scuba diving is a major draw for expats in the Kingdom, although the Saudis themselves seem oblivious to the treasures that await offshore. Because of Jeddah's location on the Red Sea, the flora and fauna are quite similar to what you'd see on Egypt's Red Sea Coast or off the Sinai Peninsula, only minus all the tourists. Visibility can be spectacular (30-40m is common) and the corals are virtually untouched. There are plenty of interesting sites to explore like the Chicken Wreck, a boat carrying tons of frozen chicken that hit the reef and sunk at a depth of 10-18m. Most of the better dive sites are around one hour out to sea by speed boat. The Red Sea gets chilly in the winter, with water temperatures dropping to 22°C, so you'll want to use a 5 mm wetsuit with hood. In summer, temperatures climb up to a much more balmy 29°C, and 3mm shorty or 1 mm diveskin is plenty. Desert Sea Divers, Obhur (40 km north of Jeddah), ☎ +966 2 6561807, [2]. The oldest and largest diving outfit in Jeddah, which puts three boats out to sea on a busy weekend. Uses fast and comfortable custom-built dive boats, and all trips include a tasty hot lunch. Gear rental and transfers to/from central Jeddah (SR150 return) extra. Offers on-site accommodation and can also arrange tourist visas to Saudi for diver groups with at least 2 months' notice. SR200/250/300 for 1/2/3 boat dives.  edit Parks When the blazing Saudi Arabian sun becomes too much for you to handle, try checking out the water park at Sail Island. The park was built on artificial peninsula and is covered by several sail-like tents, which offer shade while you enjoy the pool and recreation facilities. A great spot for children. Atallah Happy Land Park, (Jeddah Corniche), ☎ +966 2 699 1157, [3]. 5PM. An amusement park with indoor and outdoor rides and attractions, ice skating and bowling, dining and shopping, 6D theatre and live shows. SR25.  edit Al-Shalal Theme Park (Fakieh Poultry Farms), Jeddah Corniche near end of Sary St., [4]. The park boasts of having the largest double looped roller coaster in the Asian continent. Operational since 2004, the roller coaster at the Theme Park is 34 m high and caters to more than 700 visitors/hr. The two storey entertainment building at the centre of the Park features an ice skating rink and a theme area, a roller skating rink and the Amazon Ride with a jungle theme, complete with life-size figures of animals, light and sound effects. The Amazon Ride is spread over an area of 1800² m with a lagoon and 15 m high waterfall. Seven restaurants, party rooms and a games arcade are housed in the entertainment building. The party rooms can be reserved by the public for birthday parties and private gatherings at pretty reasonable rates. The park also has a European village theme area, a Far East village area and a large number of retail outlets for souvenirs and soft toys for the children. The complex has a seperate building for car parking which can accommodate 300 cars plus an additional open air parking facility which has an additional capacity of 300 cars.  edit Learn Work There are many places to find work in Jeddah and jobs are plentiful, but unemployment among Saudi nationals remains high especially among the youth population. One must obtain a visa to work in Saudi Arabia and the complicated process can only begin with a sponsorship from a company or individual already located in the Kingdom. Western expats cannot simply arrive in Saudi Arabia and then look for employment; needless to say, Western women will experience great challenges in finding employment. Buy There are a number of shopping malls in Jeddah to shop. Hera'a Mall. located on Madina St  edit Mall of Arabia, [5]. Recently opened and claims to be the biggest shopping mall in Saudi Arabia on Madina St, rivaling Hera'a Mall.  edit Red Sea Mall, [6]. It is one of the biggest shopping malls in Jeddah on King Abdulaziz Road.  edit Star's Avenue. One of the newest malls on Al-Malek Road, featuring a Saks Fifth Avenue  edit Tahlia Center, Tahlia St.  edit Jeddah Mall, Tahlia St. Not a lot of variety but has a great food court to hang out in  edit Al Khayyat Centrew, Tahlia St. Find international designer brands such as Dolce & Gabbana, Gucci, LV, Fendi, and Dior  edit Al Basateen. A favorite hang out for teenagers.  edit Le Mall, [7]. First Starbucks branch in Jeddah  edit Coral Mall. Rivals Le Mall's Starbucks with a large Second Cup coffeeshop  edit Mega Mall, [8]. The best mall for all ages  edit Hera'a Mall.  edit Aziz Mall, (close to the Airplane roundabout opposite Abdul Latif Jameel). Roshan Mall. King Abdulaziz Rd. Roshana Mall. Altahlia St. Al-andlus Mall. (on the road to King Abdul Aziz University (KAAU)) Jeddah International Mall. Oldest Mall in Jeddah, specialising in Gold and Filipino food  edit Eat This article or section does not match our manual of style or needs other editing. Please plunge forward, give it your attention and help it improve! Suggested fixes: Please format listings as per the normal Wikitravel style and guidelines, all new listings should use the standard listing formatting and the information supplied in previous listings requires updating Jeddah is full of restaurants with almost every cuisine imaginable and eating out is part of the city's culture. All the restaurants have separate sections for single men and for families. Dating is theoretically forbidden but widely practiced, and most restaurants will allow a couple into the family section without question. All businesses close for prayer for about half an hour at noon and at sunset. They close again an hour after sunset for about 45 minutes. If you like to eat early, you can often stay in a restaurant during prayer time. Saudis tend to eat late, well after the evening prayer. To eat and have fun, Vertigo Cafe and Grille is one of the best American-Italian restaurants in Jeddah. They also serve shisha, and they have a very nice music. A top class restaurant. The standard cheap meal is the shawarma - giant layers of beef or chicken turning on a vertical spit. Thin slices are cut off and served with vegetables, garlic, and sauce in pita bread. You can also find a few falafel shops or eat at boofias (cornershops). Another thing that is very cheap is Homus, which is the paste of white chickpeas mixed with olive oil, and is very tasty. Try the Filipino Souk near Saudia City. Ask for the Pakistani area Kababish. There's a group of shops and restaurants with very low prices. Most of the American Fast Food franchises can be found in Jeddah, including McDonald's, Applebee's, Subway, and numerous others. Budget Al Baik. One of the most popular fast food chain of Saudi Arabia available in Jeddah, Makkah, Madina & Yanbu. Al Baik has 25 branches in Jeddah. Saudi dishes as well as fast food. Haifa mall, Madina & Palastine Crossing Rd.  edit Mid-range Barrio Fiesta, Al-Mahmal Centre top floor (al-Balad). Very popular Filipino eatery offering a gamut of Filipino fare like kare-kare. Basic fried rice and such for under SR10, but most main courses (SR30-50) come in huge portions designed to be shared.  edit Khayal, Prince Sultan Road, History Roundabout. One of the best Turkish restaurants in Jeddah. It offers a variety of Turkish food to its customers. Especially, fresh fruit juices and kunafah (a traditional dessert) are delicious. (SR 50-100).  edit Splurge Bice, Qasr al Sharq. Italian restaurant with sea views. Mataam Al Sharq, Qasr al Sharp. Lebanese cuisine. Al Khayyam Restaurant. Persian cuisine at the Jeddah Hilton. Cafe Vienna. Italian Cafe at the Jeddah Hilton. At Layaly Al-Hejaz, (Hejazi nights). Tahliya Street. At Al-Nakheel. Corniche area. Traditional food with sheesha. Villa d'Este Cafe. Al Tahliah Street. Al Khayyat Centre 2. (behind Jeddah Mall). Italian coffee shop with a very special garden. Bubbles.[9] Corniche Jeddah waterfront. Senses. Japanese cuisine. Byblos.[10] Caffe Aroma. Theme-fusion food located on Corniche. Papaya. International food next to Sawary Mall. Yildizlar, in front of Saudi American Bank, Al Hamra Area, ☎ +966 2 653 1150. Excellent Turkish, Syrian, Lebanese, and Palestinian food. Drink Like all Saudi Arabian cities, you aren't going to find much nightlife revolving around alcohol in Jeddah. What you should be able to find are shisha cafes and a large variety of coffeeshops such as: Java Lounge, Vertigo, Starbucks, Mugs & Beans, Costa Coffee and Second Cup. Non-alcoholic beer is available in restaurants as are non-alcoholic cocktails and other drinks. 16hundred, Le château mall (Tahlia St.), ☎ +966.2.2614415, [11]. Modern American Steak House 300sr.  edit Sleep This article or section does not match our manual of style or needs other editing. Please plunge forward, give it your attention and help it improve! Suggested fixes: Please format listings as per the normal Wikitravel style and guidelines, all new listings should use the standard listing formatting and the information supplied in previous listings requires updating Outside Hajj season, hotels in Jeddah are generally cheaper than those in Riyadh. The usual international chains are well represented. For online Bookings: http://www.hjzalaan.com/ Al-Hamra managed by Pullmann, Palestine St (easy access to the beach), ☎ +966 2 6602000 (h0824@accor.com, fax: +966 2 6604145), [12]. From 469 S.A.R..  edit Crowne Plaza, Al Corniche, Al Ma'adi Rd, ☎ +966 2 6611000 (info@cpjeddah.com, fax: 966 2 6606326), [13]. checkin: 2 pm; checkout: 3 pm. From 750 S.A.R..  edit Jeddah Marriott, Falasteen Rd, ☎ +966-2-6714000, [14]. Older but well-maintained property. Deep pool but for men only, large gym, good breakfast. The main downsides are the mildly awkward location with little of interest nearby and the poor soundproofing, esp. as there are four mosques nearby. US$120.  edit Radisson Blu Royal Suite Hotel, Medina Rd (10 minutes from the King Abdul Aziz Int'l Airport), ☎ +966 2 652 1234 (info.royal.jeddah@radissonblu.com), [15]. Health club, indoor swimming pool, 83 high end suites, three meeting rooms, free internet access.  edit Radisson Blu Hotel, Medina Rd (20 minutes from the King Abdul Aziz Int'l Airport), ☎ +966 2 263 0000 (reservations.jeddah@radissonblu.com), [16]. Health club, Oasis gym, 292 rooms, meeting rooms, free wifi throughout the hotel.  edit Rosewood Corniche, ☎ +966 2 257 8888 (corniche@rosewoodhotels.com, fax: +966 2 257 8111). Five star luxury hotel with amazing sea view and amenities.  edit Westin Jeddah, ☎ +966 2 6588200 (jeddah.reservations@westin.com, fax: 966 2 6588550), [17]. Resort in city center with roomside views of the sea.  edit Intercontinental Jeddah, ☎ +966-2-2295555 (intercontinental.jeddah@ihg.com, fax: +966-2-2295556), [18]. checkin: noon; checkout: 3PM. Luxury resort with all amenities.  edit Sheraton Jeddah, ☎ +966 2 6992212 (reservations.jeddah@starwoodhotels.com), [19].  edit Durrat Al-Arouse. Jeddah's main resort.  edit Le Méridien Jeddah. *The Signature Al Murjan Beach Resort Jeddah, North Obhur Rd, ☎ +966-2-656 0666 ((966)(2) 6588200, fax: +966-2-656 0555), [20]. Resort hotel right next to the Red Sea.  edit  edit Park Hyatt Jeddah–Marina, Club and Spa Resort, Al Hamra District, Southern Corniche, ☎ +966 2 263 9666 (jeddah.park@hyatt.com), [21]. checkin: 2PM; checkout: 12 noon. 142 rooms and suites with views of the Red Sea, Arab-Andalusian ambiance, walk-in-closet, tea and coffee making facilities. Separate ladies and gents spas and a gentlemen's club. Great views of the Red Sea and King Fahd fountain. This resort is a remarkable engineering feat having reclaimed prime waterfront land from the Red Sea.  edit Qasr Al Sharq, North Corniche Road, ☎ +966 2 659 9999 (qasralsharq.jeddah@hilton.com, fax: +966 2 659 6666), [22]. The "Palace of the Orient" is Waldorf-Astoria's attempt to create a "seven-star" luxury hotel in Jeddah. Decoration is opulent, and prices are a splurge. Food is primarily Venetian. All amenities can be found.  edit Stay safe While not as strict as Riyadh, Jeddah still falls under Islamic law. Read, understand, and follow the guidelines in the Saudi Arabia article to stay out of trouble. Local women normally wear a hijab (headscarf) and abaya (long black overgarment) to cover their heads and entire bodies. Abayas, not only hijabs, are also required for Western women, however, this is not strictly enforced. While you may be able to find alcohol at private parties, it is still forbidden in Saudi Arabia. Corporal punishment for Westerners is rare, but it has happened on occasion. Contact Most shopping malls have Internet cafes. Coffee places such as Costa Coffe, StarBucks Coffee, Barnies, Second Cup and many more provide WiFi access to customers. Cope Consulates Canada, 11F Ali Reza Tower Madinah Rd, ☎ +966 2 653-0597 (canada.consulate.jeddah@nazergroup.com, fax: +966 2 653-0538). Sa-We 8AM–3:30PM.  edit Greece, Nour El Hayat. plot 187 AL Andalus District, ☎ +966 2 667-4064, Emergencies: +966 5 3067-6885 (grgencon.jed@mfa.gr, fax: +966 2 656-228).  edit United States, Falasteen Rd, Al-Ruwais District, ☎ +966 2 667-0080, [23].  edit Get out Khobar Riyadh - The capital of Saudi Arabia This is a usable article. It has information for getting in as well as some complete entries for restaurants and hotels. An adventurous person could use this article, but please plunge forward and help it grow!