Sightseeing in Jeddah - what to see. Complete travel guide

Jeddah is a large political, trading and industrial center of the Saudi Arabia. This is also one of the most beautiful towns of the country. Unique look of old quarters, large number of buildings referring to different styles and epochs, modern restaurants and entertainment centers – all these factors have made this city very attractive for tourists. For decades Jeddah welcomes visitors from all over the world and every traveller leaves this magnificent place in deep amazement because of unparalleled national heritage and color.

There are old quarters in simply each part of the city, so you can have an enjoyable walk on pavements and streets, looking at unusual houses and squares that have been the witnesses of significant historical events. The quarter located in the southern part of the city is among the most famous ones. Here are located two amazing mansions – Nasif and Sharbatly. Many years ago they were owned by noble tradesmen, so their inner decorations resembled a royal palace. Just next to these beautiful buildings are located modern office centers that absolutely don’t spoil the look of this amazing architectural ensemble.

In the local Municipal Museum you will find a large exhibition of historical artifacts. Painting lovers should move their feet to The Museum of Abdel Raouf Hassan Khalil that exhibits a collection of paintings referred to 17-19 centuries. Jeddah Museum is the place to see priceless founds of archeologists. One of the halls of this museum is devoted to an ethnographic collection. The majority of leisure tourists call Jeddah “the city of monuments and markets”. Indeed, there are many hospitable sellers in this place. They offer simply everything – from home-made sweets and fruit to souvenirs and handcrafts. The biggest markets of the Saudi Arabia are located in Jeddah as well. On the central square of the city you will find Al-Alawi market. When it comes to viewing statues and monuments of the city, tourists usually have hard time as in Jeddah there are around four hundred of them. Copyright www.orangesmile.com

The favorite promenade for many guests of the city is the beautiful Corniche promenade. It is completely dedicated to pedestrians and has a length of more than 35 km. On the waterfront, there are popular shops, restaurants and entertainment venues. Many comfortable recreation areas with benches are also positioned here. On the embankment, there are a huge number of sculptures, the study of which can become an incredibly exciting event.

One of the highest fountains in the world, which was named after King Fahd, is located in Jeddah. The height of the fountain is 312 meters. With the onset of darkness, this fountain highlights 500 floodlights. This gorgeous fountain can be admired endlessly. It is one of the most photographed places in the city.

The Al-Rahma Mosque, which is also known to many travelers as the Floating Mosque, is considered to be the most beautiful architectural monument. The thing is that it is located near the coast, so the bases of the building are washed by sea waves. The main building material for the construction of the mosque was marble. The building looks incredibly spectacular and is considered a true example of national architecture.

Preserved elements of the old defensive structures, remain an important historical symbol for the city. From the fortifications, there are six gates, the most beautiful of which are the Bab-Mecca and Bab-Sharif. It is important to note that the ancient fortress existed in the city until the middle of the 20th century and was destroyed quite recently. Subsequently, many defensive buildings and the ancient gates of the fortified city were reconstructed, but the genuine historical buildings still have a greater interest.

Of great interest from a historical point of view, is the ancient Christian cemetery preserved on the territory of the city. It was closed less than a hundred years ago. However, today the cemetery attracts a huge number of pilgrims from all over the world. According to one of the legends, Eve's grave is located in this area. Pilgrims from all over the world come to bow to the burial place.

Art lovers should definitely visit the Abdul Rauf Khalil Museum. Within its walls is a very interesting collection of paintings and tapestries. The age of some works of art reaches more than 500 years.