Modern luxury, gourmet dining, and breathtaking views of the Ka’aba
Yes, Saudi Arabia is the perfect destination for a family holiday. Try combining city tours with a beach holiday on the Red Sea. Major hotels offer extensive amenities for children, including swimming pools, family rooms, and a wide variety of breakfast options. There are plenty of attractions here that even older children will enjoy, including desert tours, historical sites, and modern entertainment districts. The distances between major cities can be easily covered by domestic flights.
Tourists can visit rock-cut tombs and ancient cities built of mud bricks, go diving on the coral reefs of the Red Sea, stroll through restored historic neighbourhoods, or take a desert tour in an SUV. Cities such as Riyadh and Jeddah feature museums, bazaars, shopping malls, and waterfronts. Camel farms, date palm plantations, and scenic overlooks in the canyons are ideal for families with school-age children.
AlUla, the Al-Balad district in Jeddah, and Diriyah in Riyadh—these are the 3 places that many tourists mention first. The AlUla area is home to the tombs of Hegra and the sandstone canyons. Al-Balad is an old town near the Red Sea, which, with its coral-stone houses and covered markets, is perfect for strolling. Diriyah still offers a glimpse of the former capital, built of mud bricks, and is just a short drive from central Riyadh.
Jeddah, with its combination of beach resorts along the Red Sea coast and an old town where children can stroll in the mornings, is ideal for families visiting for the first time. During the hot season, Riyadh is the perfect place to visit museums, parks, and large indoor attractions. AlUla is perfect for active families looking to enjoy desert landscapes, while the Eastern Province offers quiet beaches along the Gulf.
From November through March, the climate is most comfortable: Jeddah is warm during the day, while inland areas are cool and dry. In the summer, it is very hot throughout the country, and in cities located inland, temperatures above 45 °C are not uncommon, so daytime excursions with children are only possible to a limited extent. During the off-season—in spring and autumn—tourist attractions are relatively less crowded, and prices are lower. Since nights in the desert can be cool in winter, it is recommended to bring warm clothing.
Hotels throughout the country offer both room-only and bed-and-breakfast packages; breakfast is typically served as a buffet featuring a mix of Arabic and Western dishes. In urban areas, they usually feature a swimming pool, a fitness centre, and several restaurants. In resort areas along the Red Sea, access to a private beach, water sports, and kids’ clubs are often included. Family rooms and double rooms with connecting doors are also widely available.