Jeddah in 2 Days on a Budget (Daily Costs)
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Before you book: Saudi Arabia is under a US State Department Level 3 “Reconsider Travel” advisory tied to the regional conflict involving Iran that began in February 2026, plus a separate Houthi front from Yemen that resumed in July. Jeddah itself has not been struck, but UK authorities name its airport and port among possible targets “at short notice” if things escalate. Check travel.state.gov or gov.uk before booking, and again before you fly.
Two days is enough to cover Al-Balad’s old town and the Corniche without rushing, and most of it costs less than you’d expect. Here’s the plan, with real budget ranges.
Book these before you go
- eVisa: apply online, roughly SAR 480-535 (about $130-145), before you fly.
- A Jeddah hotel: search options on Booking.com (check the current official travel advisory before booking).
- A Red Sea snorkel or dive trip: browse tours on GetYourGuide (check the current official travel advisory before booking).
Day 1: Al-Balad and the Corniche
Morning: Start in Al-Balad, the UNESCO old town (inscribed 2014), for the coral-stone tower houses with their carved wooden roshan balconies, the historic Bab Makkah gate, and a wander through Souq Al-Alawi. Stop at Naseef House (free, limited hours, call ahead), a restored merchant house known locally as “the house with the tree.” This is a living restoration area, so expect scaffolding in parts.
Lunch: Budget SAR 30-50 for mutabbaq, the stuffed, griddled pastry that’s Al-Balad’s signature street food.
Afternoon: Rest through the worst of the heat, or keep exploring the souq’s covered lanes, which stay cooler than the open streets.
Evening: Head to the Corniche for sunset. King Fahd’s Fountain (free, lit from sunset to midnight) and the Al-Rahma Floating Mosque (free to view from outside, modest dress if you go in) are both here, along with a free open-air sculpture walk with pieces by Henry Moore, Miro, Calder, and Arp. Dinner budget SAR 80-130 per person for sayadeya or another Red Sea fish dish; alcohol is fully banned nationwide, so plan on a qahwa (Arabic coffee) instead of a nightcap.
Day 1 rough cost: SAR 0-50 in entry fees, SAR 110-180 in food.
Day 2: The Red Sea and a museum
Morning: Book a half-day snorkel or dive boat trip out to the coral gardens, typically leaving from Sharm Obhur, budget roughly SAR 200-400 (about $55-110) depending on the operator, prices vary enough that it’s worth comparing two or three. If diving isn’t your thing, swap in North Obhur’s public beach instead (free entry, chair rental around SAR 10).
Lunch: Budget SAR 40-60 back in town, foul and tamees (fava beans and flatbread) is the everyday breakfast-into-lunch order.
Afternoon: Visit the Tayebat Museum, officially the Abdul Raouf Khalil Museum, a sprawling complex of heritage-style buildings, closed Fridays, so verify current hours before you go.
Evening: Wind down at Red Sea Mall or Mall of Arabia, both free to wander and a good air-conditioned break, then a final dinner, budget SAR 80-150 per person.
Day 2 rough cost: SAR 200-400 for the boat trip (or free for the public beach option), SAR 120-210 in food.
Total ballpark for 2 days
Excluding hotel and flights, budget roughly SAR 430-840 per person across both days for the boat trip, museum, and food, less if you swap the diving trip for the free beach. If you have a third day to add, our 3 day Jeddah itinerary works in a day trip to Taif, and our full guide covers the rest of the free and cheap things to do in the city.