OZU /SAUDI ARABIA /JEDDAH /GUIDE
Where to stay in Jeddah
2 h route3 stopsBest: Stable year-roundUpdated July 2026
Sleeping here is decided with the car in mind, because Jeddah is an enormous, elongated city built along the coast, and the distances are real. There is no metro (Jeddah’s is planned, not built) and the bus network is recent and limited.
That makes the choice of area the most practical decision of the trip: between the far north and Al-Balad there can be a good three quarters of an hour of traffic.
The route, stop by stop
3 STOPS- 01
Al-Balad and around
Since the UNESCO listing several old houses have been restored as small guesthouses, and sleeping inside a coral house with its lattices is an experience you won’t have anywhere else in the country.
It’s the most interesting area on foot and the only one where you can genuinely walk. The trade-off: it’s far from the beaches and the new city, it’s noisy, and by day the heat in shadeless lanes is punishing.
Ideal for two nights, less comfortable for a week.
- 02
The northern Corniche
To the north sit the large hotels with their own beach, the coastal resorts and the dive clubs. This is the area if you’ve come for the Red Sea or you’re travelling with children, because access to the water is direct. It’s also the newest and priciest part, and where contemporary Jeddah’s restaurant and café life happens. What it doesn’t have is history or street life: here you drive everywhere, without exception.
- 03
Al-Hamra and the central area
The central strip, around Al-Hamra, holds many of the chain hotels and offers the sensible balance: steps from the seafront and the fountain, and fifteen minutes by car from the old quarter. It’s the practical choice for a short stay if you want to see the city without spending the trip on the coast road. It’s also the best base for any run to the airport, which lies to the north.
Frequently asked
Can you get around Jeddah without a car?
Only within Al-Balad. For the rest you need a car or ride-hailing: there’s no metro, the bus network is limited and distances between areas are large. Transport apps work well and are what nearly everyone uses.