Best Places to Visit in Saudi Arabia

More about visiting Saudi Arabia

Saudi Arabia is the final frontier of international tourism, a fascinating kingdom that recently opened its doors to travelers worldwide with an ambitious modernization strategy. The birthplace of Islam blends hyper-capitalist futuristic projects with unexplored biblical archaeological sites, creating an absolutely unique itinerary for the modern tourist interested in rich culture, ancient heritage, and exclusivity.

The absolute highlight of Saudi Arabia is AlUla, an open-air museum carved by nature and man over millennia. Here lies Mada’in Saleh (Hegra), the country’s first UNESCO World Heritage site, an ancient Nabataean city showcasing monumental tombs carved into reddish desert rocks, rivaling the grandeur of Petra but with the appeal of being a crowd-free destination.

The capital, Riyadh, represents the economic effervescence of the Saudi vision for the future, offering hyper-modern financial districts, bold skyscrapers, and entertainment zones like Riyadh Season, right next to historic mud-brick castles like Al Masmak Fortress. In contrast, Jeddah, located on the shores of the Red Sea, seduces with its historic Al-Balad district, ornate wooden balconies, and a vibrant, cosmopolitan commercial port atmosphere.

Saudi Arabia is betting heavily on eco-friendly ultra-luxury tourism, spearheading trillion-dollar projects like the Red Sea Project, which plans dozens of sustainable high-end resorts with access to untouched corals and virgin beaches. With relaxed dress codes for foreign tourists and facilitated e-visas, the country is rapidly emerging as one of the most desired and authentic cultural **tourist destinations in the Middle East.