Saudi Arabia: Travel Guide (Not Including Makkah)

Saudi Arabia Travel Guide
In 2026 see beyond the stereotypes with a guide written by a former resident who has worked and travelled across the Kingdom since 1989. Routes, Culture & Heritage context, and practical detail - so you can plan your 2026 visit to Saudi Arabia.
What you’ll get

• Where to go: Jeddah’s UNESCO-listed Al-Balad; Riyadh and nearby Diriyah, cradle of the first Saudi state; AlUla’s canyons and Hegra’s tombs; the mountains around Abha and Rijal Almaa; historic Najran; and the Eastern Province’s striking ITHRA.

• How to get around: options for public transport (including Riyadh’s new six-line metro and the Haramain high-speed train between Jeddah and Madinah, up to 300 km/h), intercity buses, and self-drive tips.

• Culture & conduct: do’s and don’ts, clothing guidance, photography etiquette, prayer-time rhythm - practical ways to show respect and travel well.

• On-the-ground advice: neighbourhood notes, safety considerations, costs and booking pointers, plus realistic timings so plans don’t slip away like fine sand through fingers.

• Eat & sleep: places to stay from budget to boutique, and where to try local dishes beyond the hotel buffet.

• Photos you can trust: location-specific black-and-white images shot by the author to set expectations, not sell fantasies.

Highlights to inspire

• Stroll Al-Balad’s coral-stone alleys and markets.

• Ride Riyadh’s metro and explore its new public spaces.

• Wander Diriyah’s restored mud-brick lanes.

• Hike AlUla’s ochre valleys and visit Hegra (UNESCO).

• Drive into the cool highlands around Abha and Rijal Almaa; head south to Najran.

• Thread the canyons of Wadi Al Disah and Wadi Lajab.

• Round out the journey at Ithra in the Eastern Province.

Who it’s for
Independent travellers, small-group planners, business visitors with a free weekend - anyone who wants a grounded view of modern Saudi Arabia, from souqs to skylines.
Plan a confident, rewarding trip to Saudi Arabia - whether you have a long weekend in Riyadh or three weeks on the road. Written by Ibn Al Hamra, a former resident who has lived, worked, and travelled across the Arabian Peninsula since the 1980s, this guide shows you what is really worth your time, money, and attention.

Edition details
450 pages. Updated 2026. Black-&-white interior with location-specific photos.

Buy your copy today and build a trip that lets the country speak for itself.

JEDDAH
MADINAH
RIYADH
DIRIYAH & AT TURAIF
NAJRAN
RIJAL AL MAA
ABHA
THEE AIN
Rabigh
Yanbu To The Red Sea Resorts
Duba Town & Duba Port
Neom, Sharma, Wadi Aynuna
Ain Musa, Maghayer Shoaib, Wadi Tayyib Al Ism
Haql & The Jordan Border
Hijaz Rail Highlights
Alula
Wadi Al Disah
Tabuk
Khaybar
Tayma
Al Hait
Jabals Al Manjor And Raat Shuwaymis
Ushaiger And Shaqra
Buraydah
Faid
Hail
Jubbah
Dumat Al Jandal
Sakaka
Quriyyat Rail
Wadi Ad Dawasir
Hima
Dhahran Al Janub
Khamis Mushait
Tanomah & Al Namas
Baljurashi
Al Bahah
Taif
Jizan
Al Farasan Islands
Jabal Fayfa
Wadi Lajib
The Coastal Road From Jeddah
Dammam, Dhahran And Al Khobar
Tarout
AlAhsa
Saudi Arabia travel guide for discerning travellers - city guides (Riyadh, Jeddah, AlUla, Diriyah), Red Sea & desert trips, Asir mountain routes, Al-Ahsa Oasis - complete with visas/eVisa, self-drive road trips, public transport, cultural etiquette, places to stay and eat, and safety essentials. Written for first-timers, independent travellers, business visitors and residents.