An Incomplete Guide to the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia

I rarely visit a country twice. There are simply far too many of them out there, and I am quite certain that I will die long before seeing them all. To me, it just makes more sense to give some place new a chance and see as much of the world as possible. Well, I made an exception for Saudi Arabia. My original plan involved a single trip that covered Medina, Mecca, and Jeddah, accompanied by my mother and uncle. However, once we booked the flights and received our visas for that trip, I started to wonder if I should use that visa on more than one occasion. After all, I had already paid for it, and it was a multi-entry tourist visa. A quick search online made me realize that there were most certainly a number of other Saudi towns that I wanted to visit, ones that were not covered in our initial plan. However, since I did not have too much time for a long trip, I decided to keep it simple and give the capital, Riyadh, a go, and what a wonderful decision that was…

The following guide works as a one-stop-shop that brings together links to all my previous writings on the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia and a bit more. As aforementioned, I was fortunate enough to visit the Kingdom twice, an earlier solo trip to Riyadh that lasted just over a week in October 2025, and a longer two-week trip that covered Medina, Mecca, and Jeddah in December 2025, when I was accompanied by my mother and uncle. At this point, I should probably explain why I consider this to be an incomplete guide. You see, I still have a ton of other destinations within the Kingdom that I hope to visit one day. I want to explore the highlands in the south, and enjoy what the trio of Abha, Najran, and Jazan has to offer. I would love to see the date farms of Al Hofuf and check out Dammam’s oil and maritime industries. I most certainly would not mind a trip to the Empty Quarter, and I do think that a train ride across the country to its northern border would work wonders to satisfy my appetite for some seriously off-the-beaten-track travel, where one can meet locals going about their business, far away from the hustle and bustle of the cosmopolitan metropolises of the desert. I plan to visit these other parts of the Kingdom in due time and finish this guide properly. Until then, do read on for my tips and tricks regarding planning and budgeting for a trip to the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, as well as for links to my articles that cover my travels around the Kingdom thus far.

General Itinerary Notes

You can spend a short weekend in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, or you can make that a full month. It is really up to just how much of the Kingdom you wish to see in one go. In my hostel in Riyadh, I managed to meet an American gentleman who had an almost two-month itinerary that covered all corners of the Kingdom. In the very same hostel, I also met some holidaymakers from the Emirates and Egypt, who were in the Saudi capital just for the weekend, to enjoy its newer attractions. To put it bluntly, if you are only interested in the flashier tourist attractions of Riyadh and Jeddah, a trip that lasts around a week should be fine for most people. If you also want to visit the holy cities of Islam, Mecca and Medina, and explore all four of these cities more in depth, you need to spend at least two weeks in total. If you want a more leisurely itinerary and would like to add some daytrips to nearby landmarks or towns, and maybe even visit parts of the Kingdom that I have yet to visit on top of these, you can easily justify a month-long trip. It all depends on your interests, and your budget.
Flying to and from the Kingdom is a hassle-free process for many, thanks to the relaxation of the country’s visa policies, and the proliferation of airlines that connect the Kingdom’s numerous airports with the rest of the world. Furthermore, the transportation situation in between major Saudi towns is as straightforward as it gets. This is partially thanks to the excellent state of the highways, as well as due to the ever-expanding high speed rail network in the country. Being a leading oil producer, the lifeblood of our global economy is rather cheap in the Kingdom, which certainly helps keep bus fares low, and even hours long taxi rides between two towns can be cheap (per person) if you are traveling as a group. If these were not enough, some Saudi cities, like Riyadh, already have their own excellent public transportation networks. All of this is to say that transportation is not much of a nuisance, and it is often not that expensive in the Kingdom. Simply create your itineraries as you see fit, you will find a reasonable way to go from point A to point B, unless you are really off the grid.
You are much better off visiting the Kingdom during winter, though I suppose you did not need me to tell you this. During both of my trips (yes, even in December), a combination of the sun, a lack of humidity that dries your skin, and even a few occasional sandstorms, turned what would normally be a simple walk around the town into an actual challenge for a few hours every day. Now, I do love long night walks, and those did not disappoint at all in the Kingdom, but I am quite certain that even those could be difficult to do during summertime. Last but not least, the likes of Riyadh Season take place over the winter months, which makes visiting the Kingdom in winter more rewarding for all. It really is a no brainer. If you intend to visit the Kingdom, make sure that you use your winter holiday for the occasion.
Saudis are pious folks. This is a crucial piece of information for visitors for two reasons. First of all, if you do not enjoy disrespecting others, or making life more difficult for yourself, you are better off covering yourself more conservatively during your visit to the Kingdom. Of course, as a man, I can only really write about this issue from a male perspective. Most men that I have seen either opted for the Saudi thobe or a combination of loose trousers and a t-shirt. I did the latter. My uncle went for the former. We were both welcomed wherever we went, often with smiles. This was quite crucial to me. While there is no law against wearing shorts, the fact that so few actually wore them made me realize that the society at large certainly prefers a conservative attire over more revealing options. If you want to respect your hosts, you should stick to this mentality as well. You will be happy to see them so happy with your presence.
Secondly, religion shapes Saudi everyday life drastically, something that you need to keep in mind in order to make the most out of your stay in the Kingdom. The weekend there, for example, lasts from Friday to Saturday, which makes Thursday nights the Saudi equivalent of Friday nights. During prayer times, of which there are a total of five throughout the day, pretty much everything comes to a stop, especially in the more religious towns of Medina and Mecca. Almost all shops close their doors, restaurants stop working, and even some drivers stop their cars to join small congregations by the roadside. I suggest you familiarize yourselves with the timings of these prayers and plan your day accordingly for the best results. If you can, do not have a lunch break around the noon prayer, and avoid having dinner during the evening prayer. Also, check museums’ actual working hours from multiple sources, and know that despite what these sources may say, they may be closed during prayer times. In fact, some museums that I visited opened only after the evening prayer but stayed open until very late in the evening. Admittedly, such unusual working hours are not only a result of the Saudi piety since the harsh desert environment plays a role in the quirks of everyday life in the Kingdom as well. Simply put, most locals enjoy their time outdoors only after the sun sets, and especially after the last prayer of the day. It just makes sense for museums and businesses alike to work more intermittently during the day and focus on responding to the demand late at night. You will certainly get the hang of this different rhythm of life once you are there.

General Budgetary Notes

When you think of the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, you may think of oil. And when you think of the oil industry, you may think of the riches that it brings. While that is true, that does not make the Kingdom a particularly expensive country to travel to. Much like most of its neighbours, the Saudi state is home to millions of immigrants who work there, often in construction and the service industry. Unlike most of its neighbours, the Saudi state actually encourages its own citizens to partake in the workplace as well, increasingly focusing on employing both men and women alike. While I saw plenty of luxury cars in some neighbourhoods of Riyadh and Jeddah, I also met numerous middle-class citizens and residents alike who had ‘normal’ jobs and ‘normal’ lives. That is why, most of the economic activity within the Kingdom does not necessarily revolve around its richer citizens. While you can certainly find the most luxurious of brands in fancier Saudi malls, you can often still enjoy some tasty meals in their food courts for as little as 5 USD. In fact, I had meals for as little as 2 USD in this lovely Kingdom, and my most expensive meals did not cost more than 15 USD. While you can obviously still spend a fortune on a Michelin-star restaurant, no one forces you to do so. Feeding yourself, and often enjoying your meals, is hardly a concern for budget travellers who know where to eat and what to avoid.
Almost all museums that I visited in the Kingdom were free, and they often included some freebies, like water, coffee, dates, and of course, Saudi hospitality. This makes budgeting for cultural outings a non-issue. Just make sure to check their working hours carefully and download any relevant app to reserve your spot on the go, if necessary.
Transportation within Saudi towns is not expensive in the slightest for two simple reasons. First of all, fuel is cheap, which makes taxis rather affordable. Perhaps more importantly, most Saudi town centres are relatively small and devoid of hills, making them highly walkable in my humble opinion. You do not need any wheels in Medina, nor in the Old Town of Jeddah. Walking, supplemented by occasional Uber rides (or metro rides where available), should suffice in all other cases as well.
Most accommodation options are also surprisingly affordable in the Kingdom. In Medina, the competition between thousands of hotels that hope to attract pilgrims from around the world keep the prices reasonable, and in Mecca, some hotels are outright a bargain. Jeddah is certainly the most expensive of the bunch that I visited in this regard, but even then, it did not disappoint with its hotel prices. Riyadh, being the capital of and the most populated city in the Kingdom, offers the most options, and if you are fine with hostels, you have plenty of cheap options here as well. Do check out Luxury Hostel if you want to find out just how helpful and friendly a hostel owner can be.
All in all, I would not classify Saudi Arabia as an expensive holiday destination, unless of course you go out of your way to make your journey as expensive as possible. Much like the UAE, it offers something for everyone, regardless of your budget. You can stay in hostels, visit free museums, enjoy excellent falafel meals, and have an amazing budget-friendly experience in the Kingdom. Or, if you want to, and if you can afford to, you can stay in five-star resorts by the Red Sea, enjoy expensive theme parks with cutting-edge technologies, and dine in Michelin-star restaurants, for a luxurious retreat in the Kingdom. It is up to you, but you should not feel like you have to put off visiting this lovely country just because you are not rich.

My Saudi Trip

The Dynamic Riyadh

Riyadh was my introduction to the Kingdom. And what an introduction it was… From my very first interactions with Faisal, a legendarily hospitable hostel owner to say the least, to the casual conversations I had with the gentlemen who worked in the capital’s ever-expanding metro, I could not help but feel like I was part of an extended family, and not just a simple tourist. Riyadh’s residents welcomed me in the most brotherly fashion, and in return, I can only hope that my writings on their home can do some justice both to its timelessness, and to its vigorous modernity. Because this is exactly what Riyadh is all about. It always feels like the beating heart of an ancient civilization, just as it actually is, and yet, at the same time, it already overtook most modern cities from around the world with its trailblazing architecture, mega entertainment centres, and rich markets that overflow with goods from across the globe. Riyadh is both old and new, and a best of both worlds. Feel free to check out my articles below for a closer look into the Saudi capital.

The Peaceful Medina

Every now and then, YouTube recommended me videos of people migrating to Medina from as far away as New Zealand and Chile. In all honesty, I did not understand the appeal at the time and assumed that such migrants could be some new reverts who rush to a new life without much concern for what actually awaits them in Medina. I could not have been more mistaken. There is something truly special about Medina, something that its locals attribute to it being the resting place of Prophet Mohammad. In fact, this particular city might very well be the most calming one that I visited so far, and it is definitely the safest one as well. Locals are quite certain that it is a blessed city, and I cannot help but agree that this is exactly how it feels. If you wish to get to know Medina a bit more, you can read my articles on it below.

The Holy Mecca

What can I possibly write about Mecca that has not been written before? Consistently ranking among the top ten most visited cities in the world, plenty has already been written on the holiest city of Islam. However, it simply felt wrong to withhold my own experience of visiting Mecca from the audience of Wondering Voyager, just because it may not necessarily introduce much to the masses. If you wish to find out what Mecca is all about from the perspective of a first-time visitor, you can check out the following articles.

The Different Jeddah

Saudis are not wrong to claim that Jeddah is different. Compared to the neighbouring Mecca and Medina, Jeddah is not known for its religious sites of importance. Unlike most Saudi towns, it is not located in an oasis or a wadi. Jeddah is a port city. It acted as the port of Mecca for centuries before quickly being developed into a truly global entrepôt over the last century. This is certainly a more commercial and absolutely a more international town, one that nevertheless has its own local charm and historicity. Unfortunately, I could only spend a few nights in Jeddah, doing the second largest city of the Kingdom an injustice in my opinion. I hope to be back here and amend my mistake, and hopefully extend my writings on Jeddah in due time, but if you would like to read what I wrote about it so far, you can find the right links below.

Miscellaneous Articles

As usual, I also have a few miscellaneous articles on the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia that should make your trip there more enjoyable. I tried to cover the apps that you need to enjoy your travel around the Kingdom fully, a rather boring but crucial piece of writing if you actually intend to visit it for yourself. I also wrote about some of my favourite Saudi snacks and drinks, and I highly recommend you give them a go once you are in the Kingdom yourself. I for one still crave some date milk to this day… Lastly, I shared my observations on the ongoing Saudi tourism drive, which just might be interesting to some of you, especially if you had reservations about traveling to the Kingdom. These articles can be accessed with the following links.

As I conclude an already long list of articles that cover my travels in an exceptionally enjoyable country, I nevertheless hope that one day I will be back to writing more about the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia on the Wondering Voyager. I also hope that this guide, however limited it may be in its current form, can perhaps help some undecided souls to make the right decision to fly to the Kingdom and enjoy it for themselves. It is one of the very few countries out there that can let you take a trip to the past and well into the future all within the span of a single day, and it does that as it surrounds you with some of the friendliest folks I have met in my travels thus far. It is one gem of a country that deserves your time.