Travel knowledge guidelines about Visit Saudi Arabia

Introduction:

This is one of the perfect Saudi Arabia travel guides which explains where to go, how to get around, security in Saudi, and its visa requirements. All topics are covered extensively in the below post. Traveling to Saudi Arabia is a good idea, and this country has been attracted travelers for years. Tourist places in Saudi Arabia have long been out of reach for international visitors. All Tourist visas merely did not exist – there was literally no chance of a visit to this enigmatic country. As of September 2019, this has been updated. The Government has launched a new e-visa scheme for visitors, making it easy to have a visa and explore the Kingdom freely.

Why visit Saudi Arabia?

How often do you get a real chance to visit Saudi that has been closed for so long to tourists?

• Too much of Saudi Arabia is waiting for visitors to be found. It is possible that most of the Bedouin camps, mountain villages, and sandy beaches have never seen foreign visitors.
• The Saudis are highly hospitable and willing to show tourists their history, food, and environment. Meeting locals is always a major part of the trip, but Saudis are on a different level!
• Saudi Arabia is very diversified geographically. You will have the great opportunity to see green mountains, lovely beaches, endless cliffs, and red sand dunes throughout your journey.

Is it safe to travel to Saudi Arabia?

There is no need to ask, “is Saudi Arabia safe to visit” because it is entirely safe.

• If you ask “is Saudi Arabia safe” to hang around, yes, it is because the crime rates are low in Saudi Arabia. Still, be careful of your possessions, but right now, you just don’t need to think too much about stuff like pickpocketing.
• In this country, there have been one-off terrorist attacks, but they are very rare and no more frequent than in places like Europe.
• Places along the Yemeni border, contrary to what many governments advise, are still safe to visit. Life is no different from the average in the city of Jazan, even though it’s just about 50 km far away from the border with Yemen.
• One of the riskiest things most travelers can do is to drive in Saudi Arabia.

Saudi Arabia’s Travel Insurance:

• You should always take travel insurance no matter where you go; Saudi Arabia is no exception. Even though Saudi Arabia is secure, there can still be accidents.

Communication in Saudi Arabia:

• The most popular language spoken in Saudi Arabia is Arabic, as in other Arab countries. You’ll hear Urdu, Hindi, and Tagalog spoken in some areas because of a large number of workers from nations such as Pakistan, India, and the Philippines.
• Fortunately for us travelers, many people in Saudi Arabia, particularly workers from India or the Philippines, can speak some English. You will also hear English spoken by many people in big cities like Riyadh and Jeddah.
• Restaurant menus are usually available in Arabic and English to make it easy to order whatever you want.
• English is less popular when you go out in the more rural areas of the country. Just in case you need it, we would suggest downloading Arabic on Google Translate for offline use.

Money in Saudi Arabia:

• The Saudi Arabian riyal is the official currency of Saudi Arabia (SAR).
• At a rate of 3.75 SAR = 1 USD, the Riyal is pegged to the US Dollar.
• It’s easy to get cash, there are ATM’s everywhere, and almost all accept Visa card or MasterCard internationally. Using an ATM, there are no problems to withdraw money.
• Credit-cards in Saudi are also commonly accepted, especially in more urban areas. All terminals have contactless support, so you can simply tap or use Google Pay (or Apple Pay… if you switch that way).

To get a trip to Saudi Arabia:

You should need to be sure that you have a valid visa before your trip to Saudi Arabia and determine if you will reach the country by air or ground.

Which nationalities are eligible for visiting Saudi Arabia?

If you are from one of the lucky 49 countries, you can apply for an e-visa to visit Saudi Arabia.

The following are the countries that are currently eligible for an e-visa:

Europe:

• United Kingdom, Ukraine, Switzerland, Sweden, Spain, Slovenia, Slovakia, San Marino, Romania, Portugal, Poland, Norway, Netherlands, Montenegro, Monaco, Malta, Luxembourg, Lithuania, Liechtenstein, Latvia, Ireland, Iceland, Greece, Germany, Cyprus, Finland, Estonia, Denmark, Bulgaria, Belgium, Austria, Andorra, Hungary, Croatia, Czech Republic, France, and Italy.

North America:

• Canada, and the United States of America.

Oceania:

• Australia and New Zealand.

Which nationalities are eligible for exemption of a visit Saudi Arabia Visa?

Bahrain, Kuwait, Oman, and UAE nationalities are eligible for exemption of the Saudi Arabia Visa.

To visit Saudi Arabia Overland:

• With the latest tourist Evisa, it is possible to reach Saudi Arabia overland.
• The following Evisa border crossings are available for entry:
  • Port of King Fahad-Land (This is the border crossing between Saudi and Bahrain)
  • Port of Batha-Land (This is the border crossing between Saudi Arabia and the UAE)
• Overland access from Kuwait, Jordan, or Oman might also be possible.
• Due to the uncertain political situation between Qatar and Saudi Arabia, the border crossing with Qatar is certainly not available at the moment for visitors.

What are the best and safe places to visit in Saudi Arabia?

The best Saudi Arabia places to visit are as follow:

Riyadh:

• The capital and the large city of the country is Riyadh. It is located at the center of the country and is a good place in Saudi Arabia to launch your adventure. The answer to “is Riyadh safe” is yes, it is perfectly safe.
• The city itself is not a fascinating place in the world (you will come to find that Saudi cities are a popular trend), but it has some beautiful surroundings, including huge cliffs and red sand dunes.
• In a single day, you can see the main sights of Riyadh, but you should prepare for a few days so you can explore the areas surrounding it.

Jeddah:

• Welcome to the most liberal city in Saudi-Arabia. Jeddah is a port city and has welcomed travelers and merchants from all over the world to enjoy Jeddah vacation for years.
• Having mixed-gender groups hanging out in Jeddah and girls not wearing a niqab is much more common. By Western standards, it’s still incredibly conservative here, but after traveling elsewhere in Saudi Arabia, it feels like a breath of fresh air.

Abha:

• Formerly an independent kingdom, Abha is the capital of the Asir Region.
• A mountainous slice of land in south-west Saudi Arabia is the Asir region. Much of Asir is at a high altitude, producing a cooler climate than the rest of the country. In the summertime, Saudis frequently vacation here to avoid the desert sun.
• The best place to base yourself as you explore the region is Abha. It is a relatively large city that is well linked to other parts, and you can visit Saudi Arabia remaining parts by air and bus.

Area of Jazan

• Jazan is the southernmost city of Saudi Arabia and lies directly opposite Eritrea on the coast of the Red Sea. It’s known for its hot-as-balls weather and Yemeni-like culture.
• Jazan is not the most exciting city itself; it is more of a base for exploring the surrounding areas. Fayfa and the Farasan Islands are two locations near Jazan which you can’t skip.

Wadi Al-Disah:

• Al-Disah is one of the most beautiful The whole trip to Al-Disah is breathtaking.
• For the best pictures, try to see this spot at sunset. You may as well be able to camp here and watch the stunning sunrise if you have time.

Georgios G Shipwreck:

• Yes! Near Tabuk, there is a shipwreck. It’s situated on the Gulf of Aqaba coastline, meaning you can see Egypt just across the sea!
• It’s beautiful to drive here from Tabuk (via a small town called Haql). The landscape transforms to a sandy desert with unusual rock formations sticking out after leaving the city limits of Tabuk. You’ll arrive at the shipwreck after a few hours.
• Spend a little time taking in your lovely surroundings here. Yes, if you want to, you might even camp here!

Details of what to know when traveling to Saudi Arabia

Saudi Arabia is a giant country, and it can be a bit of a struggle to get around. Let’s go through the various options for transport that a traveler has to get around and understand how to visit Saudi Arabia.

Flights in Saudi Arabia:

• In Saudi Arabia, domestic flights are the cheapest and fast, making them a great way to get around the world.
• A number of domestic planes are operated by Saudi because of Saudi Arabia Vacation, but this is typically the costliest choice. Budget carriers such as Flynas and Flyadeal give the best deals, but more food and additional luggage will be charged.

For domestic flights across the Kingdom, here are a few sample prices:

• Jeddah to Riyadh: 145 SAR ($39), 1.5 hours
• Riyadh to Jazan: 160 SAR ($43), 2 hours
• Jeddah to Abha: 100 SAR ($27), 1 hour
• Jeddah to Tabuk: 130 SAR ($35), 1.5 hours
• Riyadh to Damman: 73 SAR ($20), 1 hour

Buses in Saudi Arabia:

The network of intercity buses operating in Saudi Arabia is decent. The state-owned SAPTCO operates most buses and is both comfortable and reliable. Saudi Arabia’s biggest drawback to bus travel is that it’s always more costly than a cheap flight. Distances between towns can be very big, so flying is a great way to save time and money. However, those routes do make sense.

Here are the routes that I believe are most beneficial for travelers:

• Jazan-Abha: 58 SAR (15 dollars), 4 hours
• Jeddah-Taif: 47 SAR (12 dollars), 3 hours

Trains in Saudi Arabia:

There are currently three separate train lines in Saudi Arabia, which are run by two different state-owned companies.

Saudi Arabia’s existing train lines are:

• Dammam Riyadh (Stops in Al Hofuf and Abqaiq)
• Riyadh-The Jauf (Stops in Majmaah, Qassim, and Hail)
• Mecca-Medina is one of the famous places in Saudi Arabia (Stops in Jeddah, Jeddah Airport, and Economic City of King Abdullah) (Muslims Only)
• The Saudi Railways Organization operates from Riyadh to Dammam and the high-speed line from Mecca to Medina, while the Saudi Railway Company operates from Riyadh to Jauf.

Self-driving in Saudi Arabia:

In our view, renting a car and driving around your-self is the best way to do Saudi car surfing. Many areas are inaccessible without a vehicle, and public transport inside towns is virtually non-existent. You’re able to visit anywhere you like at your own speed when you rent a car. Gas is quite cheap in Saudi Arabia (1.5 SAR/L during my visit), and car rental rates are very fair for a simple automatic vehicle, usually about 100 to 120 SAR per day.

What are the tips for traveling to Saudi Arabia?

During your trip to Saudi Arabia, here are a few ways you can save some money.

• Travel with one or two colleagues. You will break expenses, including housing and car rentals, in this way.
• Use it! Couchsurfing is a perfect way to save money, as there are no budget hostel options in Saudi Arabia. The scene here is nice and filled with friendly locals.
• Eat at restaurants in India/Pakistani. Staff from those countries visit these places and deliver much cheaper food than other restaurants.
• Camping, go. Accommodation in Saudi Arabia is costly, so camping will save you a lot of cash and encourages you to spend lots of time in the countryside.

Saudi Arabia’s Travel Guide Wrap-up message:

We hope you really schedule your trip to Saudi Arabia with this article! It’s a fantastic country, and we certainly suggest you visit there soon before there is too much growth in tourism numbers. The above blog is a complete Saudi Arabia travel guide. Click2visas helps to provide Saudi e-visa online easily and give more detailed information about Saudi. If you need more details about Saudi, you can chat with us, and we will be happy to assist you. Moreover, you can get more information on the Click2visas website. Start your adventure today and worry about what you should take on your trip, and leave the rest to us.

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