Saudi Arabia should be your next travel destination for six reasons: ancient wonders such as the Nabataean tombs of AlUla, the holy cities of Makkah and Madinah, an untouched Red Sea coastline with world-class diving, landscapes that range from red deserts to green mountains, a wave of brand-new entertainment led by Six Flags Qiddiya City, and travel that is now easier than ever thanks to the online eVisa and direct flights from the UK. The best months to go are October to March, when the weather is cool and comfortable.

For most of living memory, Saudi Arabia was somewhere you could not simply visit. Tourist visas only opened in 2019, which means the Kingdom is that rarest of things in modern travel: a major destination most people have not seen yet. Here are the six reasons it deserves a place at the top of your list.


1. Ancient wonders without the crowds

If you have ever queued for an hour to photograph Petra, AlUla will feel like a secret. This desert region in the north-west is home to Hegra, Saudi Arabia’s first UNESCO World Heritage Site, where more than a hundred Nabataean tombs are carved into golden sandstone cliffs. The same civilisation that built Petra built these, yet on a quiet morning you can stand in front of them almost alone.

The history does not stop there. Diriyah, on the edge of Riyadh, is the beautifully restored mud-brick birthplace of the Saudi state. In Jeddah, the old town of Al-Balad is another UNESCO site, a maze of coral-stone merchant houses with carved wooden balconies, small museums and some of the best street food in the country. Al Ahsa in the east, one of the largest natural oases on Earth, adds palm groves, springs and ancient forts to the list.

2. The two holiest cities in Islam

For Muslim travellers, no destination on Earth compares. Makkah, home of the Kaaba, and Madinah, city of the Prophet’s Mosque, draw millions of pilgrims each year for Hajj and Umrah, and both cities have invested heavily in transport, hotels and crowd management to make the pilgrim experience smoother than it has ever been. Many UK Muslims now build a longer trip around the pilgrimage, booking Umrah packages and then adding a few days in Jeddah, AlUla or Taif before flying home. The high-speed Haramain railway links Makkah, Jeddah and Madinah in comfort, which makes that kind of combined trip genuinely easy.

One practical note for mixed groups: the central holy area of Makkah is open to Muslims only, while Madinah’s wider city, Jeddah and the rest of the country welcome all visitors.

3. A Red Sea coastline the world has not discovered yet

The Red Sea has some of the healthiest coral reefs left on the planet, and the Saudi side of it has barely seen a tourist. Divers and snorkellers find reefs, wrecks and sea life that Egypt’s crowded resorts lost years ago. The Red Sea Project, a chain of new island resorts built around strict environmental limits, has opened the area to luxury travellers, with over-water villas and its own international airport. If your idea of a holiday is warm, clear water without a queue for the dive boat, this coast is the strongest reason on the list.

4. Landscapes you do not expect

Everyone pictures the desert, and the desert delivers: red dunes, camel treks, star-filled nights at glamping camps, and the vast silence of the Empty Quarter. What surprises first-time visitors is everything else. The Aseer region in the south-west sits high in green mountains, with misty valleys, juniper forests, terraced villages and summer temperatures cool enough for a jumper. Taif, the “city of roses”, grows its famous flowers on hillsides above Makkah. In one two-week trip you can ski down a sand dune, hike a 3,000-metre mountain and snorkel a coral reef.

5. Brand-new entertainment on a huge scale

Saudi Arabia is spending on tourism like nowhere else on Earth, and 2026 is the year much of it comes online. Six Flags Qiddiya City, a next-generation theme park outside Riyadh, opened at the end of 2025 with some of the fastest and tallest rides ever built. Riyadh Season fills the capital each winter with concerts, sport and immersive shows. Jeddah hosts the Red Sea International Film Festival and a Formula 1 grand prix on one of the fastest street circuits in the sport. Whatever you think a trip to Saudi Arabia looks like, the entertainment calendar will probably prove you wrong.

6. Visiting is now genuinely easy

This is the reason that makes the other five possible. UK passport holders can apply online for a one-year, multiple-entry eVisa and usually receive it within minutes to a couple of days. Direct flights connect London with Riyadh and Jeddah in around six and a half hours. English is widely spoken in hotels, airports and attractions, card payments work almost everywhere, and ride-hailing apps run in every major city. Women can drive, travel independently and visit without a male guardian. The practical barriers that once kept the country off travel lists have simply gone.

When is the best time to visit Saudi Arabia?

October to March is the sweet spot, with daytime temperatures of roughly 20 to 30°C and cool evenings, ideal for sightseeing, desert trips and the Red Sea. Summer (June to September) is very hot in the cities and desert, though the Aseer mountains stay pleasant, which is exactly why the Saudi Tourism Authority promotes the south-west as a summer destination. If your trip is built around Umrah, remember that Ramadan is the busiest and most expensive season in Makkah and Madinah.

How much does a trip to Saudi Arabia cost?

Less than its luxury image suggests, if you plan it like a normal city-and-nature trip rather than a resort holiday. Return flights from London to Jeddah or Riyadh cost roughly £400 to £700 in the cooler months. The tourist eVisa costs around £120 including insurance. Comfortable mid-range hotels in Riyadh and Jeddah run £60 to £120 a night, and a filling meal at a local restaurant costs the equivalent of £4 to £8. The exceptions are AlUla and the Red Sea resorts, which price themselves as premium destinations, so treat those as the splurge nights of the trip. A ten-day independent trip is realistic on £1,500 to £2,000 per person including flights.

How do you get around Saudi Arabia?

Distances are large, so mix and match. The Haramain high-speed railway links Makkah, Jeddah and Madinah at up to 300 km/h. Domestic flights are cheap and frequent, and connect Riyadh, Jeddah, AlUla and Abha in the mountains. Within cities, ride-hailing apps are the easiest option, and Riyadh now has a new metro. Hiring a car makes sense for the open road between AlUla and Madinah or for exploring the Aseer mountains, where the drives themselves are half the pleasure. Petrol, as you might expect, costs very little.

Frequently asked questions

Is Saudi Arabia safe for tourists?

Saudi Arabia has one of the lowest street-crime rates of any major destination, and visitors consistently report feeling very safe. As anywhere, check the current UK Foreign Office travel advice before you book.

Do I need a visa to visit Saudi Arabia from the UK?

Yes, but it is simple: UK citizens apply online for a tourist eVisa, valid for one year with multiple entries and stays of up to 90 days. Umrah can be performed on this visa outside the Hajj season.

Can non-Muslims visit Makkah?

No. The central holy area of Makkah is open to Muslims only. Non-Muslim travellers can visit Jeddah, Riyadh, AlUla, the Red Sea coast and the rest of the country freely.

What should visitors wear in Saudi Arabia?

Modest dress is the rule for everyone: shoulders and knees covered in public. Women are not required to wear an abaya or cover their hair, though loose clothing is respectful and practical in the heat.

Can I combine Umrah with a holiday in Saudi Arabia?

Yes, and it is increasingly popular. Perform Umrah first, then use the Haramain railway and domestic flights to explore. If you hope to travel during the holy month, book early: Ramadan Umrah packages sell out faster than any other time of year, and the best hotels near the Haram go first. Outside Ramadan, most agents will happily extend a package with extra nights in Jeddah or AlUla, which usually works out cheaper than booking two separate trips.