Jeddah in 7 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.
Seven days is enough to see Jeddah properly, get out to Taif, and still fly onward for two nights in Al-Ula. Here’s the full 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 Taif day trip: browse tours on Viator (check the current official travel advisory before booking).
- Your Jeddah-Al-Ula flight: only a handful run each week, book this leg early.
Day 1: Al-Balad and the Corniche
Morning: Al-Balad, the UNESCO old town (inscribed 2014), the coral-stone tower houses, the Bab Makkah gate, Souq Al-Alawi, and Naseef House (free, limited hours, call ahead). Expect scaffolding in parts, it’s a working restoration area.
Lunch: Budget SAR 30-50 for mutabbaq.
Evening: The Corniche at sunset, King Fahd’s Fountain (free, lit sunset to midnight), the Al-Rahma Floating Mosque exterior (free), and the open-air sculpture walk. Dinner budget SAR 80-130 per person.
Day 1 rough cost: SAR 0-50 in entry fees, SAR 110-180 in food.
Day 2: Diving in the Red Sea
A full-day dive or snorkel boat trip out of Sharm Obhur to the coral gardens and beginner-friendly wrecks, budget roughly SAR 250-500 (about $65-135) for a full day versus a half day. Evening back in town, dinner budget SAR 80-130 per person.
Day 2 rough cost: SAR 250-500 for the boat trip, SAR 100-160 in food.
Day 3: Taif, up in the mountains
A full day trip to Taif, roughly 1.5 to 2 hours up the escarpment, cooler than the coast, with rose farms, a cable car, Shubra Palace, and its own souq. Book a private driver or group tour, prices vary by operator.
Day 3 rough cost: varies by tour operator, plus SAR 60-100 for meals in Taif.
Day 4: North Obhur and the beach corridor
North Obhur, roughly 30km north, the city’s beach-resort corridor. The public beach is free with chair rental around SAR 10, while private beach clubs charge day fees and sometimes run women-only days or hours. Evening at the Jeddah Yacht Club and Marina boardwalk, free to wander, dinner budget SAR 80-130 per person.
Day 4 rough cost: SAR 10-80 for beach access, SAR 100-160 in food.
Day 5: The arts scene and a museum
Morning: Hayy Jameel and the flagship Athr Gallery, Jeddah’s contemporary arts scene.
Afternoon: The Tayebat Museum, officially the Abdul Raouf Khalil Museum, closed Fridays, verify hours before you go.
Evening: Red Sea Mall or Mall of Arabia (free), dinner budget SAR 80-150 per person.
Day 5 rough cost: SAR 120-210 in food.
Day 6: Fly to Al-Ula
Fly from Jeddah (JED) to Al-Ula, roughly 1 hour 15 minutes, only a few flights run each week, so this is the leg to book earliest. Check in and spend the afternoon at Hegra, Saudi Arabia’s first UNESCO World Heritage Site, Nabataean rock-cut tombs often compared to Jordan’s Petra.
Day 7: Al-Ula and departure
A last morning in the Al-Ula valley before flying back to Jeddah or onward, depending on your route home. Build in slack around this flight too, the weekly schedule is limited.
Total ballpark for 7 days
Excluding hotel, flights (including the Al-Ula leg), and the Taif tour, budget roughly SAR 1,000-1,650 per person for entry fees, the Red Sea trip, beach access, and food across the five Jeddah days. If a full week feels like too much, our 5 day Jeddah itinerary covers the city core without the extra arts day or the Al-Ula leg. Throughout the week, dress modestly, alcohol is fully banned nationwide, and leisure travelers should avoid the Jeddah-Al-Ula window entirely during Hajj 2026 (roughly May 25-30), when hotels and flights get squeezed. Our full guide covers the rest of the practical details.