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Due to the assumption that it holds an unwelcoming attitude towards tourists, the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia has been a point of contention for every traveller – whether from the Middle East or Europe. But beneath its frigid façade lies an Arabian country rich in history, culture – and of course oil.
Most travellers who book flights to Saudi Arabia do so for a very specific reason: to visit Mecca, Islam’s holiest city. Located in Jeddah, on the Red Sea coast, Mecca is home to the Kaaba shrine and Grand Mosque. During the seventh century the city was a flourishing trading centre and played an important role in the spread of Islam. Today, almost two million people take flights to Saudi Arabia each year to carry out the Hajj pilgrimage.
Although Saudi Arabia doesn’t have tourist attractions as such, it does have some historic sights that can’t be missed. Habalah or “the Hanging Village” in Jeddah is a deserted village that used to be the site of the first cable-car system in the Kingdom and has some fine examples of preserved Arabian houses. In the capital Riyadh there’s a state-of-the-art museum – the National Museum – that houses some Dilmun tombs and rock art while the most important monument is the Al Musmak Castle which was built in the late 19th century.
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The climate is extremely hot and dry, with slightly cooler and more humid conditions in the coastal areas, where temperatures range from 15 to 30 degrees. The west and southwest are sometimes hit by monsoons in the summer. Beware of sandstorms in the south.
Peak season:
The best time to visit is between October and May, when the days are warm and nights are cool.
Off Season:
April to November. During these months, temperatures are very high. Ramadan, Eid ul-Fitr and the Hajj are very busy times in Saudi Arabia.
Search and compare: cheap flights to Saudi Arabia
Saudi Arabian Airlines flies domestically as does Nas Air which flies from Riyadh to Gizan, Gurayat, Jeddah and Madinah. Al Khayala flies from Riyadh to Jeddah.
The Saudi Arabian Public Transport Company runs intracity services in ten cities (including Makkah, Madinah, Riyadh, Jeddah, Taif, Dammam, Abha, Gaseem, Tabuk and Hael) and intercity buses.
The Saudi Railways Organization operates a service from Dammam to Riyadh. Taxis are plentiful and cheap and can be flagged down just about everywhere. Taxis are metered, but you can also negotiate a fee with the driver.
(prices quoted are from London)