The Ultimate Saudi Arabia Travel Guide – Everything You Need to Know Before Visiting

If you want to plan an trip to Saudi Arabia but don’t know where to start, this Saudi Arabia Travel Guide is for you. I’ve been to Saudi Arabia many times, and I’ve uncovered all of the best things to see, as well as all of the best travel tips to explore this incredible country.

When most people think of Saudi Arabia, they only think of its previous repressive Islamic regime and uber-conservative culture. However, this country has changed so much since crown prince Mohammed Bin Salman unveiled sweeping reforms in 2017.

There is SO MUCH to see in Saudi Arabia, from cultural landmarks, to stunning nature, ancient sites, and more!

Read more to learn everything about Saudi Arabia as well as to explore various Saudi Arabia Itineraries

Saudi Arabia Travel Guide Essentials

• Jordan uses the Saudi Riyal(SAR) as currency. 1 USD is roughly 3.75 SAR (as of March 2024). Card payments are fairly common in larger cities, but it is important to carry cash in more rural areas. There are ATMS located inside major cities that accept foreign cards. They may have small withdrawal fees, but otherwise offer a good rate.
• I recommend having an Saudi Sim card while you travel, especially if you are driving! If you would like to get an Esim, I recommend downloading the Jordan Esim from the Airalo app. Use the code JOELLE0025 to get a $3 discount on your esim. You can also buy physical sims at the airport upon arrival. I’ve bought physical sims from the Amman airport multiple times. You can typical get around 20GB of data for $20-$30.
• The travel plug type in Saudi Arabia is Type G, which is similar to the plug type used in the UK. I recommend purchasing a universal plug adapter, as you can use it on any trip around the world, and it has easy-to-use USB charging kits.
• It is important to get travel insurance before any trip. I personally use and recommend EKTA travel insurance, as it allows me to purchase both short-term and long-term travel insurance plans, and it allows me to customize my plan based on what activities I will be doing.

Visa to Visit Saudi Arabia

Saudi Arabia has an easy-to-use Evisa and Visa on arrival program. I reccomend getting an evisa in advance. Use this link to determine what kind of visa you need and to apply to the Evisa.

The price of an E-visa varies between $90 and $130, depending on your nationality. It is automatically multi-entry and is valid for a year.

What to Wear in Saudi Arabia

There are no longer any rules that women must cover their hair or wear an abaya (traditional Islamic dress) in Saudi Arabia.

However, the culture is still quite conservative, so it is important to dress modestly for both men and women.

For Women: it is important to wear loose fitting clothes that cover past your elbows and knees. Do not wear clothes that show cleavage. If you do stay in a resort at Al Ula, you can wear a swim suit. Sandals are completely okay in all settings for both men and women!

In Medinah: If you decide to visit Medinah, Islam’s second-holiest city, it is required that women wear clothes that are fully in line with the Islamic dress code. This includes a hijab. I reccomend buying an abaya, a traditional loose dress in advance or while in Saudi Arabia. This is one of my favorites, as it is also a dress that you can wear in other Muslim countries!

For Men: Men should wear clothes that covers their shoulders and knees. In Medinah, knees and shoulders absolutely must be covered.

Is Saudi Arabia Safe?

Yes! I’ve travelled alone, in a group, and as a couple in Saudi Arabia, and each time, I felt completely safe.

Saudis are some of the most welcoming people, and they are incredibly hospitable. Overall, I’d rank Saudi Arabia as one of the safest cities in the world!

The Best Way to Get Around Saudi Arabia

Saudi Arabia is a huge country, and you can get around it using a combination of planes, trains, and rental cars.

Overall, the best way to see the country is to rent a car. It is incredibly difficult to travel outside of cities without renting a car. Driving inside of Riyadh and Jeddah can be hectic, but once you are outside of the city, Saudi Highways are easy to navigate.

You do not need a 4×4 to travel to Saudi Arabia; as long as you do not plan to go offroading, a normal sedan car will work just fine!

I reccomend renting cars in Saudi Arabia through Rentalcars.com, as they work with reputable companies and have the best deals.

If you don’t feel comfortable renting a car, you can use a combination of taxis and public transport, but this is not recommended. There are some intercity buses via the SAPTCO company, but they are slow and difficult to use.

Can Women Drive in Saudi Arabia?

Yes! I have driven thousands of miles throughout Saudi Arabia. Women can drive completely legalling in Saudi Arabia.

Hotels in Saudi Arabia

There are many different levels of hotels in Saudi Arabia, ranging from very low-budget to uber fancy. One important thing to note is that smoking is very common in Saudi Arabia, so I reccomend asking for a non-smoking room if you do not smoke.

A lot of my friends have also had great success finding couchsurfing hosts in Saudi Arabia, as the community is very vibrant there.

Can unmarried couples stay in the same hotel room?

Yes, foreign non-married couples can stay in the same hotel room.

Is Saudi Arabia Expensive?

Saudi Arabia is fairly expensive. Here are some price breakdowns:

• A meal in a mid range restaurant: $15-$20
• Budget hotel: $60-$70 a night

Unfortunately, transport and accomodation are some of the most expensive things about Saudi Arabia. Hostels and public transport are rare. This makes it a very expensive country to solo travel to.

When to Travel to Saudi Arabia

The best time to travel to Saudi Arabia is in the winter. Avoid the summer at all costs, as it is incredibly hot.

Additionally, do not travel to Saudi Arabia during the Hajj Season, as the country has hundreds of thousands of tourists coming to the country to complete the Hajj Pilgrimage.

Saudi Arabia Travel Guide – Cultural Norms to Know

Saudi Arabia is a very Islamic country, so a lot of cultural norms are related to Islamic values. Here are some important things to keep in mind:

• Alcohol is prohibited in Saudi Arabia. This may be changing in the future, but for now, it is a completely dry country.
• Public displays of affection are completely prohibited in Saudi Arabia, so avoid anything beyond holding hands.
• There is fairly strict gender segregation in Saudi Arabia. Women may feel uncomfortable shaking hands or taking pictures with men, and vice versa.

Perfect One Week Saudi Arabia Itinerary

If you have only one week to travel to Saudi Arabia, this itinerary is for you. It combines plane, train, and self-driving to allow you to see all of the best sites in the country in only one week.

This itinerary is also good for someone who is travelling solo, as it has significantly less driving time than the two week itinerary.

For the full breakdown of the one week itinerary, check out this post.

Perfect Saudi Arabia Road Trip

My 10 day and 2 week two week Saudi Arabia road trip itineraries allows you to see almost every tourist site in Saudi Arabia. It is not a trip for the faint of heart, as it includes thousands of kilometers of driving, but it does allow you to truly see it all!

For the full breakdown of the two week itinerary, check out this post.

Saudi Arabia Travel Guide – Pin It!

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