The older part of the city, which is also known as Al Balad, dates back to 500BC and is a popular place to explore narrow winding streets and the old houses built from coral. Two of these fascinating family homes have been restored: Sharbatty House and Naseef House are both open to the public.

Within the old town you can also find traditional markets, or souqs, where you can barter for gold and many other souvenirs – Souq al-Alawi is one of the most popular. If you are interested in history here there are also museums, including the Al Tayibat Museum.

The Red Sea is popular with divers and you can go on Scuba Diving sessions to see stunning flora and fauna as well as coral reefs and ship wrecks.

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British Airways and Saudia operate the non-stop, daily routes.

You can also reach the Saudi city on flights from several UK cities with Emirates connecting in Dubai with Qatar Airways via Doha and with Etihad through Abu Dhabi. The connecting flights take around eight hours and the non-stop flights about six.

There are also European options, with Lufthansa flights via Frankfurt and Air France via Paris. Both have multiple UK departure points.

King Abdulaziz International Airport (JED) has two terminals with regular international Jeddah flights as well as domestic flights. Taxi services are readily available from the airport to take you to your hotel. It’s a 25-minute taxi ride into the centre of Jeddah and you can expect to pay around 100 Saudi riyals (roughly £15).

Some hotels in Jeddah offer shuttle services by road or water – there’s nothing finer than arriving at your hotel via the Red Sea so consider this if the option is there. 

Visitors can also book car hire in Jeddah, collecting the vehicle upon arrival at the airport. This is a popular choice with those who wish to visit the Holy City of Mecca, which is a 90-minute drive from Jeddah.

The airport is undergoing massive redevelopment to boost its capacity to 80m passengers a year and add a high-speed rail link. You might experience some disruption until the overhaul is complete.

The Jeddah Corniche is a popular tourist area with beautiful beaches, lying on the banks of the Red Sea. Here you will find plenty of hotels, restaurants and beach resorts along with theme parks including a water park. Other great sites along the Red Sea include the Floating Mosque which, when the tide is high, becomes completely surrounded by water and looks as though it is floating. Along the coast you will also find The King Fahd Fountain, which is one of the tallest fountains in the world.

If you’re looking to splash out on a hotel, the seafront areas house the finest hotels in Jeddah. You can check in at luxury offerings from international hotel brands, such as Marriott, Park Hyatt, Westin and Sheraton, as well as North African chain hotels and independently run four- and five-star hotels. Sea views are not common among the city’s budget hotels, which tend to be further inland amid the busy streets of Jeddah.

It is essential to book early during Hajj, which is the Islamic period of pilgrimage to nearby Mecca. The same applies for flights to Jeddah, as well as car hire.

It is a good idea to check with the Foreign and Commonwealth Office for advice when travelling around the country.

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