By the holidaysaudi.com team · Updated 7 October 2026
Choosing where to stay in Saudi Arabia is less about finding the prettiest street and more about saving time. The big cities sprawl for dozens of kilometres, traffic can be heavy, and walking between sights in the heat is rarely practical. Stay in the right area and you cut your daily travel time in half. Below are the best areas in each main destination, with a few well-established hotels as examples. Compare prices on Booking.com or Trip.com, and see our hotels page for more.
Riyadh
Olaya and King Fahd Road are the classic choice for first-time visitors. This central business district has the Kingdom Centre and Al Faisaliah towers, large malls, plenty of restaurants and good metro connections, with one change for the airport line. Hotels range from international chains to serviced apartments.
KAFD (King Abdullah Financial District) in the north is modern, walkable by Riyadh standards and a hub of the metro network. It suits business travellers and anyone who likes contemporary architecture and cafés.
Diriyah, on the north-western edge of the city, is the most atmospheric option: you wake up next to the UNESCO-listed At-Turaif and can walk to dinner at the Bujairi Terrace. It is further from central Riyadh, so plan on ride-hailing for other sights. More in our Diriyah guide.
North Riyadh, around the Boulevard and Riyadh Front, is convenient during Riyadh Season, when many of the big events take place there. Budget travellers will find cheaper hotels around Al Batha near Masmak Fort, a lively, traditional district that is less polished.
Jeddah
The Corniche and Al Shati are ideal if you want sea views, evening walks along the Jeddah Corniche and easy access to restaurants. Most of the big international hotels line the waterfront.
Al Balad, the historic centre, is where you want to be for atmosphere. A small number of heritage hotels and guesthouses have opened in restored buildings, and the old town is at its best after dark. See Al Balad on Booking.com.
Obhur, in the far north, is the place for beach clubs, dive centres and resorts with private beaches, but it is a long drive from the old town. Read our Red Sea diving guide if you plan to spend time on the water.
AlUla
AlUla is spread along a long valley, and hotels are few and in high demand in winter. The main options are:
- Around the Old Town: walking distance to the restaurants and evening atmosphere of AlUla Old Town.
- Ashar Valley: luxury resorts set among sandstone cliffs, close to the airport and Maraya.
- Desert camps and eco-lodges: simpler tented camps and guesthouses scattered around the valley, often better value.
Whatever you choose, you will need a car or taxis to reach Hegra and the other sites. Compare stays on Booking.com.
A few well-established hotels
Four Seasons Hotel Riyadh at Kingdom Centre
A five-star hotel inside the Kingdom Centre tower, right on King Fahd Road and close to the Olaya metro and malls.
Bab Samhan, a Luxury Collection Hotel
A mud-brick-inspired luxury hotel beside At-Turaif, within walking distance of the Bujairi Terrace restaurants.
Rosewood Jeddah
A long-established luxury hotel on the North Corniche with sea views, convenient for the waterfront and King Fahd's Fountain.
Shangri-La Jeddah
A large sea-view hotel on the northern Corniche with pools and several restaurants, a good base for families.
Dar Tantora The House Hotel
A boutique hotel built into restored mud-brick houses in AlUla Old Town, lit by candles and lanterns at night.
Banyan Tree AlUla
Tented villas tucked between sandstone cliffs in the Ashar Valley, a short drive from Hegra and the airport.
Other destinations
- Red Sea coast: the Red Sea Global resorts are self-contained luxury islands and desert retreats; Umluj and Yanbu have simpler hotels. See our Red Sea coast guide.
- Abha: stay in the city centre or on the slopes towards Al Soudah for cooler air and mountain views; see Abha and Asir.
- Dammam and Al Khobar: the Al Khobar Corniche is the most pleasant base, with restaurants and sea views; see Dammam and Al Khobar.
- Madinah: open to all visitors, but the central area around the Prophet's Mosque is reserved for Muslims, and the hotels closest to it serve pilgrims. Non-Muslims should book outside the central zone. Non-Muslims may not enter Makkah.
Plan your Saudi trip
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Frequently asked questions
What is the best area to stay in Riyadh for tourists?
Olaya, along King Fahd Road, is the most practical base for first-time visitors, with malls, restaurants and metro connections. Diriyah is the most atmospheric choice if you want to stay near the historic At-Turaif district.
Where should I stay in Jeddah?
Stay on the Corniche for sea views and restaurants, in or near Al Balad for history and atmosphere, or in Obhur in the north for beach clubs and diving.
Is it hard to find a hotel in AlUla?
In winter, yes. AlUla has a limited number of rooms and festivals such as Winter at Tantora fill them quickly. Book months ahead for December and January, and consider desert camps for better value.
Header photo: Photo: Ahmed Basit (Pakistan), CC BY-SA 4.0
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