Holy sites, UNESCO heritage, oases, craters and islands across the Kingdom, grouped by region with a hotel link for each stop.
By Azeddine ElUpdated 2 min read
Islam's holiest mosque surrounds the Kaaba and receives millions of pilgrims for Umrah and Hajj. Hotels in the central area are within walking distance of its gates. Makkah is open to Muslims only.
The Prophet's Mosque is the heart of Madinah, with its green dome and the giant umbrellas that shade the courtyards. Most hotels in the central area are a few minutes' walk away.
The mountain north of Madinah was the site of the Battle of Uhud in 625 CE. Visitors stop at the martyrs' cemetery at its foot.
The UNESCO-listed mud-brick citadel of the first Saudi state, restored with museums along its lanes.
Clay and mud-brick fort in old Riyadh, built in the 19th century and central to the story of the Kingdom's founding in 1902.
Cliffs of the Tuwaiq escarpment with views over a vast plain, about two hours from Riyadh including the off-road track.
Nabataean city of rock-cut tombs and Saudi Arabia's first UNESCO World Heritage Site.
Sandstone formation shaped like an elephant, with a lounge and seating around its base. Best at dusk.
Concert hall wrapped in mirrors that reflect the canyon around it, listed by Guinness as the world's largest mirrored building.
Hundreds of mud-brick houses and narrow covered lanes below a hilltop fort, with cafés along the restored main street.
Remains of the capital of the Dadanite and Lihyanite kingdoms, with tombs cut high into the cliff face.
UNESCO-listed old town of coral-stone tower houses and carved wooden balconies.
Mosque built on pillars over the sea on the Jeddah Corniche, often called the floating mosque.
The King Abdulaziz Center for World Culture: museum, library, cinema and theatre in a building shaped like stacked pebbles.
One of the largest oases in the world, with millions of date palms, springs and historic sites, listed by UNESCO in 2018.
Volcanic crater about 2 km across with a white salt floor, reached by a long drive from Taif.
High plateau of juniper forest and fog near Abha, close to the highest peaks in the country.
Village of stone tower houses on a mountainside, with a museum inside the old buildings.
UNESCO-listed rock art and inscriptions along ancient caravan routes in the south.
Red Sea islands with reefs, beaches, mangroves and gazelles.
Check visas, transport and pilgrimage rules on the official sites before you travel:
Saudi Arabia now has several UNESCO World Heritage Sites, from Hegra and At-Turaif to Historic Jeddah, the Al-Ahsa Oasis and the rock art of Ha'il and Hima. Plan long distances by plane: domestic flights link Riyadh, Jeddah, AlUla, Abha and the Eastern Province.
Read next: Riyadh travel guide, AlUla travel guide and 100 hotels in Saudi Arabia.
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