Hotels in Jeddah

Staying in Jeddah

Jeddah is the great city of the Red Sea and the traditional gateway to Makkah. Many Moroccan travellers spend only one night there, on arrival or before the return flight from Umrah; others stay a few days for the Corniche, the malls and the old town. Your choice of area therefore depends mostly on what you come to do: a short stopover is best prepared near the airport or the railway station, a family stay is better lived by the sea.

The city reads in two broad zones. The centre, around the old town of Al-Balad and its souks, gathers the simpler hotels and the commercial bustle. Along the sea, the Corniche lines up hotels and residences with a promenade, gardens and restaurants, in a family atmosphere in the evening. The climate is hot all year and heavy in summer; Ramadan, Umrah and Hajj periods fill the city, so it is better to book early. A high-speed train links Jeddah to Makkah and Medina.

Where to stay in Jeddah

• The centre and Al-Balad

  The old town and its lanes, the souks, the shops: rather simple hotels, practical if you want to live at the city's pace and shop on foot.

• The Corniche and the seafront

  Hotels and residences along the waterfront, with a promenade, playgrounds and restaurants. The natural choice for families and relaxing stays, a little further from the bustle of the centre.

• Near the airport

  For a stopover night before or after Umrah, or an early-morning flight: functional hotels with no particular charm, but they spare you trips across the city.

Good to know before you book

• If Jeddah is only a step on the way to Makkah, check how you will reach the railway station or your transport: that criterion, more than the neighbourhood, should guide your choice.
• With family, favour the seafront with a pool: the heat limits daytime walks and the Corniche comes alive mainly in the evening.
• During Ramadan the city's rhythm flips: shops and restaurants live at night; ask for a quiet room and enquire about the breakfast or suhoor arrangements the hotel offers.

Questions about Jeddah

Frequently asked questions