Short answer: with 7 days, spend two nights in Riyadh for the mud-brick At-Turaif district in Diriyah and the National Museum, fly to AlUla for three nights among the Nabataean tombs of Hegra, and end with a night in Historic Jeddah on the Red Sea. With 10 days, give each of the three a proper stay and add the Edge of the World cliffs outside Riyadh. With 14 days, continue from Jeddah to the rose city of Taif and the green Asir highlands around Abha, or, for Muslim travelers, build the trip around Umrah in Mecca and a visit to Medina, linked by the Haramain high-speed train, before AlUla and Riyadh. Distances are huge, so you fly between regions.
This guide turns the sample trips on our Saudi Arabia travel guide into day-by-day plans, with travel times between stops and the best area to sleep each night. To pick your month, see the best time to visit Saudi Arabia, and for the places themselves, our top 10 places to visit in Saudi Arabia. For a plan built around your dates and interests, use our AI trip planner. Everything was checked as of October 2026.
The three routes at a glance
| Route | Days | Stops (nights) | Best for |
|---|---|---|---|
| Riyadh and AlUla | 7 | Riyadh 2, AlUla 3, Jeddah 1 | First trip, ancient sites, winter sun |
| Riyadh, AlUla and Jeddah | 10 | Riyadh 3, AlUla 3, Jeddah 3 | The classic first trip: capital, desert heritage, Red Sea |
| West and the mountains | 14 | Riyadh 3, AlUla 3, Jeddah 3, Taif 1, Abha 3 | Heritage plus cool highlands and painted villages |
| Umrah and heritage (Muslim travelers) | 14 | Jeddah 2, Mecca 3, Medina 3, AlUla 3, Riyadh 2 | Umrah with AlUla and the capital |
Riyadh’s King Khalid and Jeddah’s King Abdulaziz airports have flights from around the world, so fly into one and home from the other. Most Western visitors use the tourist e-visa or get the same visa on arrival; British citizens can use an Electronic Travel Authorization. Only Muslims may enter Mecca’s sacred area, and non-Muslims can visit Medina but not the sacred area around the Prophet’s Mosque. Visas, Umrah permits and local laws are covered in our Saudi Arabia guide.
Travel times between the main stops
Saudi Arabia is about the size of Western Europe; Riyadh and Jeddah are about 950 km (590 miles) apart. Domestic flights link all the stops in this guide. The Haramain high-speed railway runs between Jeddah, King Abdulaziz airport, Mecca and Medina, and Saudi Arabia Railways (SAR) trains run east from Riyadh to Hofuf and Dammam. Flight times below are typical scheduled times and treated as approximate; check your flight status with the airline before you travel.
| Leg | How | Time | Source |
|---|---|---|---|
| Mecca – Medina | Haramain high-speed train | about 2 h 20 | Haramain railway / Saudi Press Agency |
| Jeddah – Mecca, Jeddah – Medina | Haramain high-speed train | see the Haramain timetable when you book | Haramain railway |
| Riyadh – AlUla | Flight | about 1 h 30–2 h (approximate) | Approximate |
| Medina – AlUla | Road | within about 4 h | Royal Commission for AlUla |
| AlUla – Jeddah or Riyadh | Flight (domestic; check the season’s routes) | about 1 h 30–2 h (approximate) | Approximate |
| Riyadh – Jeddah | Flight | about 2 h (approximate) | Approximate |
| Jeddah – Taif | Road, signed non-Muslim route bypassing Mecca (about 170 km) | about 2–3 h | Approximate |
| Riyadh – Abha | Flight | about 1 h 30 | Approximate |
| Riyadh – Dammam (for Khobar) | SAR train, via Hofuf (Al-Ahsa) | about 4 h | Approximate |
| Riyadh – Edge of the World | 4×4 tour, last stretch on desert tracks | a full-day or afternoon trip | Approximate |
| Riyadh airport – city center | Taxi, or Riyadh Metro Yellow Line | about 30–45 min by taxi (35 km) | Approximate |
AlUla International Airport has domestic flights and seasonal international ones; the Royal Commission for AlUla also suggests flying to Tabuk or Medina and driving, within about four hours. In AlUla itself, sites are spread over a wide area: rent a car at the airport or use the tours’ transport from the visitor centers.
7 days: Riyadh, AlUla and a night in Jeddah
The capital’s heritage, three days among the tombs and canyons of AlUla, and a last evening in the coral-stone lanes of Jeddah. Fly into Riyadh and home from Jeddah.
- Day 1, Riyadh: Arrive at King Khalid airport and take the Metro Yellow Line or a taxi into the city. The sky bridge at the Kingdom Centre at sunset. Sleep: Olaya or near King Fahd Road (2 nights).
- Day 2, Riyadh and Diriyah: The National Museum in the King Abdulaziz Historical Center (allow two to three hours) and Masmak Fortress in the morning; At-Turaif in Diriyah, a UNESCO World Heritage Site since 2010, from late afternoon on an access pass booked on Diriyah’s official website, then dinner on the Bujairi Terrace.
- Day 3, to AlUla: A morning flight to AlUla. Afternoon at the Harrat viewpoint or the old town, and Elephant Rock after dark (open 4 p.m. to midnight). Sleep: AlUla (3 nights).
- Day 4, Hegra: Saudi Arabia’s first UNESCO site, with more than 100 monumental Nabataean tombs. The Hegra Day Tour, with a Rawi storyteller guide, lasts about two hours and starts at SAR 95, according to the Royal Commission for AlUla; you stay on the paths and cannot enter the tombs.
- Day 5, Dadan, Jabal Ikmah and the old town: The tombs of the ancient kingdoms of Dadan and Lihyan and the inscriptions of Jabal Ikmah (two to three hours, from SAR 60 with a guide), then a guided walk through the mud-brick old town (about an hour to an hour and a half, SAR 70) and its evening cafes.
- Day 6, to Jeddah: Fly to Jeddah. Walk Al-Balad, Historic Jeddah, at sunset: coral-stone houses with carved wooden balconies, Souq Al-Alawi and the Naseef House. Sleep: near Al-Balad or the corniche (1 night).
- Day 7, home: The Red Sea Museum in the restored Bab Al-Bunt building, then fly from King Abdulaziz airport.
Swap it: our Saudi Arabia guide suggests a five-day version, two days in Riyadh and three in AlUla, if you are flying home from Riyadh. More on each stop is in our Riyadh, AlUla and Jeddah guides.
10 days: Riyadh, AlUla and Jeddah
The trip our top 10 post recommends for a first visit: three regions, three nights each, with two domestic flights.
- Day 1, Riyadh: Arrive; the Kingdom Centre sky bridge in the evening. Sleep: Olaya (3 nights).
- Day 2, the National Museum and Diriyah: As in the 7-day plan.
- Day 3, the Edge of the World: An afternoon 4×4 tour to the cliffs of the Tuwaiq escarpment for sunset. There are no facilities, so bring water and food, wear sturdy shoes and keep well back from the edge. From late October to the spring, add an evening at the Riyadh Season (it opens on October 21, 2026).
- Day 4, to AlUla: Morning flight; the old town and Elephant Rock. Sleep: AlUla (3 nights).
- Day 5, Hegra: The Hegra Day Tour, or the private Premium Tour by 4×4 (from SAR 1,000 per vehicle for up to seven guests).
- Day 6, Dadan, Jabal Ikmah and Maraya: The ancient city and the inscription canyon, then the mirrored Maraya concert hall (tours about 45 minutes) and stargazing in the cold desert night.
- Day 7, to Jeddah: Fly to Jeddah; an evening walk on the corniche. Sleep: near Al-Balad or the corniche (3 nights).
- Day 8, Al-Balad: Historic Jeddah, inscribed by UNESCO in 2014 as “the Gate to Makkah”: the souqs, the Naseef House, the Al-Shafi’i Mosque, and the Red Sea Museum.
- Day 9, the Red Sea: A diving or snorkeling day from the dive centers on the northern seafront at Obhur, or a beach club.
- Day 10, home: Fly from King Abdulaziz airport.
Swap it: prefer the Arabian Gulf to the Red Sea? Replace Jeddah with the Eastern Province: the SAR train from Riyadh to Hofuf for the Al-Ahsa Oasis, then Khobar’s corniche and Ithra in Dhahran. See our Khobar guide.
14 days: Riyadh, AlUla, Jeddah, Taif and the Asir highlands
Our Saudi Arabia guide’s grand loop, west and south: the 10-day route, then up the escarpment to Taif and a short hop to the cool, green mountains of Asir. In March and April, Taif’s Damask roses are being harvested and distilled.
- Days 1–9: Riyadh (3 nights), AlUla (3) and Jeddah (3), as in the 10-day plan.
- Day 10, to Taif: Drive up from Jeddah (about 2–3 hours); non-Muslim travelers use the signed route that bypasses Mecca. Ride the Al-Hada cable car, 4,200 m (2.6 miles) and about 17 minutes each way down to the Al-Kar tourist village, and visit a rose farm in season. Sleep: Taif (1 night).
- Day 11, to Abha: Fly to Abha, from Taif’s domestic airport if a flight fits your dates, or from Jeddah. Evening in the mountain air at over 2,000 m. Sleep: Abha (3 nights).
- Day 12, Rijal Almaa: The heritage village about 45 km (28 miles) west of Abha, with stone houses of up to eight stories painted in the Al-Qatt Al-Asiri style and a museum, reached down the escarpment road via Al-Soudah.
- Day 13, Al-Soudah and Al-Habla: The juniper forests and viewpoints of the Al-Soudah highlands, then the cable car down to the cliff village of Al-Habla (check hours locally).
- Day 14, home: Fly from Abha via Riyadh or Jeddah (Riyadh is about 1 hour 30 by air).
Fog can roll over the mountain passes in minutes, so drive slowly and avoid the escarpment roads after dark. Details are in our Taif and Abha guides.
14 days: Umrah, Medina, AlUla and Riyadh (for Muslim travelers)
Our Saudi Arabia guide suggests building a trip around Umrah for Muslim visitors. Umrah is possible on a tourist e-visa or ETA outside the Hajj season, but you need an Umrah permit booked in the Nusuk app before entering the Grand Mosque for Umrah, and a separate permit to pray in the Rawdah at the Prophet’s Mosque.
- Days 1–2, Jeddah: Arrive at King Abdulaziz airport, which has its own Haramain station. Al-Balad and the corniche. Sleep: Jeddah (2 nights).
- Days 3–5, Mecca: The Haramain train to Mecca for Umrah at the Masjid al-Haram, with your Nusuk permit. Sleep: near the Haram (3 nights).
- Days 6–8, Medina: The Haramain train to Medina (about 2 hours 20 minutes); shuttle buses link the station with the Prophet’s Mosque. Prayers in the Rawdah with your permit, Quba Mosque and the city’s historic sites. Sleep: near the Prophet’s Mosque (3 nights).
- Day 9, to AlUla: Drive north (within about four hours, according to the Royal Commission for AlUla) or fly. Sleep: AlUla (3 nights).
- Days 10–11, AlUla: Hegra on one day; Dadan, Jabal Ikmah and the old town on the other.
- Day 12, to Riyadh: Fly to the capital; Diriyah in the evening. Sleep: Olaya (2 nights).
- Day 13, Riyadh: The National Museum and Masmak, or the Edge of the World.
- Day 14, home: Fly from King Khalid airport.
Mecca and Medina are busiest in Ramadan and around the Hajj, with very high hotel prices near the holy mosques; in the weeks around the Hajj, visitors without a Hajj permit may not be able to fly to Jeddah or Medina. Plan with our Mecca and Medina guides.
Where to sleep, by stop
| Stop | Best area for a short stay | Why |
|---|---|---|
| Riyadh | Olaya and the King Fahd Road towers | Central, on the Metro, close to restaurants and the Kingdom Centre |
| AlUla | Near the old town, or a canyon resort | Old town cafes in the evening; resorts for desert views |
| Jeddah | Near Al-Balad, or the corniche | Walk the historic district; the northern seafront for beaches and diving |
| Taif | The city center, or Al-Hada and Al-Shafa for mountain views | Rose farms and the cable car nearby |
| Abha | The city center, near the lake and the cable car | Short drives to Al-Soudah and Rijal Almaa |
| Mecca and Medina | Hotels near the holy mosques | Walking distance to prayers; book early in peak seasons |
Book AlUla hotels and tours early for the November-to-March season, its busiest time. In summer, Saudi families head to Abha and Taif, which then become the busy places.
Alternatives by interest
History and archaeology lovers
Give AlUla four nights and add the Hegra Geology Hike or the twilight old-town walk when they run (both on AlUla’s winter calendar), plus a long day trip to the volcanic Harrat Khaybar and the oasis town of Khaybar, about 2.5 hours south. In Riyadh, add the Murabba Palace next to the National Museum; in the east, the Al-Ahsa Oasis, a UNESCO site.
Summer travelers
From May to September the lowlands average highs of 40–44 °C (104–111 °F), so turn the trip around: Jeddah for a day or two of Red Sea diving, then Taif and a week in the Asir highlands, where Abha’s highs stay near 31 °C (88 °F) and the Aseer Summer program fills the region with events. Leave Riyadh and AlUla for the winter. See our best time to visit Saudi Arabia guide.
Divers and beach lovers
Spend four or five nights on the Red Sea north of Jeddah, at Obhur’s dive centers and beach clubs, or on the Arabian Gulf at Khobar, which has Saudi Arabia’s first Blue Flag beach. See our diving guide.
Gulf combinations
From Khobar, the King Fahd Causeway, about 25 km (16 miles), leads to Bahrain, about an hour from Manama without traffic; check that your visa allows land entry and exit. Short flights link Riyadh and Jeddah with Dubai, Doha and Muscat. See our Bahrain, United Arab Emirates and Qatar guides.
Tips for planning your route
- Go from November to March. Riyadh, AlUla and the Eastern Province have sunny days of about 20–30 °C (68–86 °F), with cold desert nights at AlUla. April and October are hot; summer is for the mountains.
- Plan around Ramadan and the Hajj. Ramadan is expected to begin around February 8, 2027; sights stay open, often with shorter hours. Eid al-Adha falls around May 16, 2027, during the Hajj, when government offices close and flights fill up.
- Book timed tickets. At-Turaif needs a Diriyah access pass, and AlUla’s Hegra and Dadan tours sell out in winter; book on the official sites.
- Fly the long legs, rent a car where needed. A car helps in AlUla and Asir; in Riyadh, the Metro runs from 6 a.m. to midnight, and a two-hour ticket costs SAR 4.
- Check flight status. Flights can be delayed, rerouted or canceled at short notice; confirm with your airline before each flight, and leave a buffer before your flight home.
- Dress modestly at heritage sites and in traditional areas. Loose clothing that covers shoulders and knees works everywhere, and keeps off the sun.
Saudi Arabia itinerary FAQ
Is 7 days enough for Saudi Arabia?
Yes for Riyadh and AlUla, with a night in Jeddah at the end. To give Jeddah and the Red Sea a proper stay, plan about ten days; with two weeks you can add Taif and the Asir highlands.
Should I start in Riyadh or Jeddah?
Either works, with AlUla in the middle. Start in Riyadh for a heritage-first trip ending on the Red Sea; start in Jeddah if you are performing Umrah or heading to the mountains of Taif and Abha.
How many days do I need in AlUla?
Three nights: one day for Hegra, one for Dadan, Jabal Ikmah and the old town, and evenings at Elephant Rock and Maraya. Add a fourth for Khaybar or a hike.
Can non-Muslims visit Mecca and Medina?
Only Muslims may enter Mecca’s sacred area. Non-Muslims can visit Medina but not the sacred area around the Prophet’s Mosque. The road from Jeddah to Taif has a signed route that bypasses Mecca.
Is there a train between Saudi cities?
Yes, on two networks. The Haramain high-speed railway links Jeddah, its airport, Mecca and Medina (Mecca to Medina takes about 2 hours 20 minutes), and SAR trains run from Riyadh to Hofuf and Dammam. For AlUla, Abha and Taif you fly or drive.
Do I need a car in Saudi Arabia?
Not in Riyadh or Jeddah, where taxis, apps and Riyadh’s Metro work well. A car is useful in AlUla, where sites are far apart, and in the Asir highlands; the Edge of the World needs a 4×4 tour.
What is the best month for a Saudi Arabia trip?
November to March, with December to February the coolest. Late October to December adds the Riyadh Season and AlUla’s winter events; in summer, go to Abha and Taif.
Sources
Researched and last reviewed by TravelerCenter on 8 October 2026. The Haramain railway’s Mecca–Medina time and stations come from the Haramain railway and the Saudi Press Agency; AlUla tours, prices, access and the four-hour drive from Medina from the Royal Commission for AlUla’s Experience AlUla site; the Al-Hada cable car and Rijal Almaa from the Saudi Press Agency; the Riyadh Metro from the Saudi Press Agency and Riyadh Public Transport; UNESCO listings from the UNESCO World Heritage Center; visas, Umrah and Rawdah permits from the Visit Saudi portal and Nusuk; seasons from the National Center for Meteorology’s 1991–2020 normals in our best-time guide. Flight, SAR train and road times come from our destination guides and are approximate. Times, fees and rules change, so check before you travel.
Data: Wikidata (CC0)