Jeddah is a sprawling city of four million people and each of its neighbourhoods has a distinct personality, from the modern city grid districts of New Jeddah to the ancient winding streets of Al Balad, which has hosted Muslim pilgrim travellers for millennia.
As well as New Jeddah – the neighbourhoods north of Al Balad and fringed by the Corniche and the Red Sea – there is New New Jeddah, which is made up of the modern developments being constructed at the King Abdullah Economic City north of the airport. Each has its own personality and soul, from the crystal blue waters of the Red Sea to the mashrabiya-clad coral houses of the old city.
Each also has its own price point for tourists. International resorts on the coast can be upwards of SAR1800 per night, while locally run guest houses in Al Balad can be a tenth of that. In the mid-range are Al Bawadi and As Salamah, where mid-range branded hotels and malls are an easier proposition for those travelling with kids or solo women travellers than the old city.
Jeddah’s beaches can be nice places to walk or barbeque in the evening and often have children’s play areas for the whole family. If it’s within your price range and you’re travelling with family, splash out for a hotel with a pool – especially refreshing for tiny travellers during the hot summer months.
North Corniche / Ashati
Jeddah’s North Corniche stretches from the fishing pier near Al Kurnaysh road in the south to the Jeddah Yacht Club and Marina in the north, and is lined with parks, walkways, beach clubs and five-star resorts, including the Shangri-La, Rosewood, Mövenpick, and more.
It is also home to the picturesque Al Rahmah Mosque, built on a concrete island and connected to the Corniche via a raised walkway, and the Fakieh Aquarium. Most of the hotels on the Corniche are on the pricey side due to their proximity to the beach and international brands.
This neighbourhood is referred to as North Corniche to distinguish it from the better-known and more central Al Hamra Corniche, south of Al Andalus and north of Al Balad, and home to the King Fahd Fountain. More on that later!
Further north towards the new King Abdullah Economic City is a cluster of resorts around King Salman Beach. They are a long way out of the city, though, so you'll need to factor in travel expenses to and from all the action.
Al Hamra Corniche
Straddling the seashore west of the Al Ruwais district, the Al Hamra Corniche is busier and more contained than the sprawling North Corniche. Jeddah Beach is also here, with several mid-range hotels backing onto it as well as some major five-star hotels.
The big plus with Al Hamra is that you are very much in the thick of the action, and it’s only a short hop to Al Balad. But this isn’t a neighbourhood to stay in if you’re looking for a chilled-out beach vibe.
The Corniche and along the beach are awesome places to stroll at sunset, especially as the King Fahd Fountain blasts its jet of water into the sky and the call to prayer rings out over the city.
Jeddah Economic City
Home to some exclusive – and expensive – beach resorts, including Narcissus Resort Obhur, on the western coast, and a Sheraton and others as you head into the creek. There are also a couple of public beaches here, including one known as Le Plage, where you can dive. On the other side of the creek are the airport and the neighbouring streets, which have several affordable hotels that are a great option if you have an early flight.
Old Jeddah: Al Balad
Al Balad is the place to be if you want to be In the thick of it. Pilgrims have been staying in this neighbourhood for millennia, and like the old towns of Cairo and Jerusalem, Jeddah’s Old Town is a sight to behold. From the Bab Sharif Gate – the old gate to the city – to the warren of streets lined with tea shops and date stalls and the Nassif House Museum (Bait Nassif), this is Jeddah at its most historic and iconic.
But is it a good place to stay? It depends on what you’re after. Hotels here are mostly on the budget end of the spectrum and basic, catering to a pilgrim crowd or people who have business at the port nearby. There are a couple of bigger hotels, such as the Red Sea Palace, just outside Al Balad and north into Al Andulus for travellers who’d like to be near – rather than in – the action.
A recent exciting development is the renovation and conversion of some of the old houses into boutique hotels by the Al Balad Hospitality group. The restorations have been beautifully done and are faithful to the original architecture of the buildings. Certainly not a budget option but a unique opportunity to reside in style in one of these ancient homes.
New Jeddah: Al Bawadi and around
To the east of the Corniche and the south of the airport, Al Bawadi and nearby As Salamah are home to several western-branded hotels that are less expensive than their counterparts on the coast but are a short (and cheap) taxi ride away from the beach. This is new(ish) Jeddah, built long after Al Balad but not as new as developments like Jeddah Economic City in the north.
It's also home to the Al Taybat International City Museum of Science and a large number of Jeddah’s malls, especially as you head south towards Al Faisaliyya. A good neighbourhood for those who want to be central but aren’t keen on staying in Al Balad.
