Saudi Arabia is a tapestry of ancient trade routes, desert escarpments, and Red Sea breezes—now opening its doors wider to international visitors. In one week, you can stand atop sandstone cliffs at the famed “Edge of the World,” stroll coral-stone alleyways in Jeddah’s Al-Balad (a UNESCO World Heritage Site), and taste the depth of Najdi and Hijazi cuisines from time-honored kitchens to sleek modern dining rooms.

Riyadh, the capital, is where Saudi unification springs to life in citadels and museums, while futuristic towers sketch the skyline. Jeddah, the gateway to the sea, has long welcomed pilgrims and traders; today, it pairs heritage with waterfront promenades, public art, and an easy-going coastal rhythm. Both cities reward early starts, afternoon siestas, and sunset strolls when the heat softens and locals come out to socialize.

Practical notes: Many nationalities qualify for an eVisa; check the latest requirements before you book. Dress modestly (shoulders/knees covered), alcohol is prohibited, and some shops may pause during prayer times. Ride-hailing (Uber/Careem) is reliable; for intercity hops, flights are quick and affordable. October–April offers the most pleasant weather for outdoor activities.

Riyadh

Riyadh layers royal history and modern ambition. Explore mud-brick fortresses that witnessed the Kingdom’s founding, then zoom up to lofty sky bridges for citywide views. Day trips head west to the Tuwaiq escarpment—an ocean floor turned desert cliff—where fossils whisper of ancient seas.

• Top sights: Masmak Fort, National Museum, Murabba Palace, Kingdom Centre Sky Bridge, Boulevard City (seasonal), and the UNESCO-listed At-Turaif in Diriyah with dining at Bujairi Terrace.
• Food to try: Kabsa and jareesh (Riyadh/Najd staples), dates and gahwa (Arabic coffee), flaky mutabbaq, and saffron-dusted kunafa.
• Insider tip: Plan outdoor hikes for late afternoon; desert sunsets are spectacular and temperatures cooler.

Where to stay (Riyadh): For elegance, The Ritz-Carlton, Riyadh check availability. For business-leisure balance, Marriott Riyadh Diplomatic Quarter book here. For value in a prime area, Ibis Riyadh Olaya Street see rates. Browse more stays on Hotels.com (Riyadh) or apartments on VRBO (Riyadh).

Getting to Riyadh: Search global flight options on Trip.com or compare on Kiwi.com. Riyadh’s RUH airport is 30–45 minutes from most hotels by taxi or Uber.

Jeddah

Jeddah is the Red Sea city of breezes and coral-stone houses, a stop for pilgrims since the 7th century and today a hub of art, fashion, and food. Its waterfront promenades glow after dark, while Al-Balad’s wooden roshan balconies creak with centuries of stories.

• Top sights: Al-Balad UNESCO district, Jeddah Waterfront/Corniche, King Fahd Fountain, Al Rahma “Floating” Mosque, Tayebat Museum, and north-coast beach clubs.
• Food to try: Sayadiyah (spiced rice with fish), foul and tamees for breakfast, Red Sea shrimp and hamour, and the kingdom’s cult-favorite fried chicken, Al Baik.
• Insider tip: Plan evening strolls along the Corniche to catch the world’s tallest fountain plume under the lights.

Where to stay (Jeddah): For opulence and Red Sea views, Waldorf Astoria Jeddah – Qasr Al Sharq view rooms. For a smart mid-range pick near business hubs, Holiday Inn Jeddah Gateway check rates. For a polished, central stay, Mövenpick Hotel Tahlia Jeddah book. Explore more options on Hotels.com (Jeddah) and VRBO (Jeddah).

Riyadh → Jeddah travel: Morning flights take ~1h 40m; fares typically $70–$150 one way. Compare schedules on Trip.com or Kiwi.com. Driving is ~9 hours via Route 40 across the desert.

Day 1: Arrive in Riyadh, Bujairi Terrace at Sunset

Morning: Fly into RUH. If you land early, drop bags and refresh at your hotel. For a first Saudi coffee (gahwa) and dates, stop by Bateel in Olaya—light, nutty, cardamom-forward.

Afternoon: Ease in at the National Museum and Murabba Palace to ground your week in Saudi history (allow 2–3 hours). Exhibits trace from Paleolithic Arabia to unification; the adjacent palace showcases 1930s royal life.

Evening: Head to Diriyah’s Bujairi Terrace for golden-hour views across the mudbrick walls of At-Turaif (UNESCO). Book dinner at Maiz for refined Najdi recipes (think lamb kabsa and jareesh) or Takya for modern Khaleeji small plates. Nightcap with a hibiscus karkadeh as lanterns flicker along Wadi Hanifah.

Day 2: Riyadh’s Icons and Old Quarters (guided)

Morning–Afternoon (guided): Cover Riyadh’s essentials on the Full-Day Riyadh City Experience (hotel pickup, key sights like the National Museum, Al Murabba, and Masmak Fort, with expert commentary). Expect a full day with photo stops and time for browsing.

Food today: Start with specialty coffee at Elixir Bunn (award-winning roastery). For lunch between stops, Mama Noura is a beloved fast-casual staple—shawarma carved to order, fresh juices, and creamy hummus. Dinner back in town at Najd Village for a rustic floor-seating feast (matasheeq lamb, jarish) served in clay pots.

Evening: Time and energy permitting, ride the elevator to the Kingdom Centre Sky Bridge for twinkling skyline views. End with gelato or saffron milk cake in sparkling Boulevard City (seasonal pop-up entertainment zone; check if active).

Day 3: Edge of the World—Cliffs, Fossils, and a Fiery Sunset

Morning: Leisurely breakfast at Camel Step Coffee Roasters (try a Saudi date scone). Browse Souq Al Zal near Masmak for incense burners, woven sadu, and brass coffee pots.

Afternoon–Evening (guided): Head out on the Edge of the World in–Hiking Adventure and Sunset Viewing in a 4x4. Guides tackle the desert tracks, lead short hikes along the Tuwaiq escarpment, and time sunset perfectly. Many trips include a simple camp dinner under a star-splashed sky—watch for ancient marine fossils along the trail.

Late night: Back in the city, grab a light bite—mutabbaq and mint tea at a local cafeteria—or turn in early after your desert glow.

Day 4: Diriyah Depths + Red Sand Dunes

Morning: Tour At-Turaif in Diriyah (allow ~2 hours). Multimedia exhibits bring the First Saudi State to life; the mudbrick palaces are exquisitely restored. Coffee with a view at Bujairi Terrace before you go—% Arabica pulls a smooth flat white.

Afternoon (guided): Swap cliffs for dunes on the Red Sand Adventure Riyadh (Quad Biking, Camel Ride, Heritage House), an active half-day of quad biking and cultural stops amid rose-tinged sands southwest of the city.

Evening: Freshen up, then dine at Takya for inventive Gulf flavors (samboosa with slow-cooked lamb, shrimp jareesh) or go contemporary Saudi at SIKKA. Night coffee at Overdose or a cardamom latte at Bateel.

Day 5: Fly to Jeddah, Al-Balad by Night

Morning: Early flight RUH → JED (~1h 40m). Search departures and deals on Trip.com or Kiwi.com. Taxi/Uber from JED to city center: ~30–45 minutes depending on traffic.

Afternoon: Check in, then stroll the Jeddah Waterfront for sea air and sculpture spotting. Refuel with an iced pour-over at Medd Café & Roastery (third-wave pioneer) or Brew92 (Jeddah-born favorite) with a slice of the signature honey cake.

Evening (guided): Dive into the UNESCO-listed core on Jeddah discover old Jeddah Albalad—walk coral-stone houses with latticed roshan, peek at sabil (public water) niches, and visit restored merchant homes. Guides illuminate centuries of Red Sea trade and Hajj hospitality.

Dinner: Feast Hijazi-style: Twina Seafood grills daily catch (ask for sayadiyah rice and charcoal-grilled hamour). Or sample classic foul w/ tamees (oven-baked flatbread) at a traditional spot in Al-Balad, then sweeten the night with kunafa from a neighborhood bakery.

Day 6: Red Sea Day—Beach Clubs and Corniche

Morning: North of the city, private beach clubs along Obhur Creek offer day passes—calm waters for swimming, SUP, or a boat charter for snorkeling (book ahead; weekends fill fast). If you prefer in-city ease, linger on the Jeddah Waterfront playgrounds and bike paths.

Afternoon: Late seafood lunch at Al Nakheel (sea-breeze terrace; mezze, grilled prawns, lemony tahini) or casual institution Al Baik for the unmistakable crispy chicken with garlicky toum. Siesta as the heat peaks.

Evening: Sunset promenade along the Corniche, timing photos for King Fahd Fountain’s soaring plume. Dinner at Naranj (elegant Damascene recipes—kibbeh cherry, lamb ouzi) or Toki for refined pan-Asian in a moody, artful room. End with pistachio gelato near the pier.

Day 7: Mosques, Museums, and Last Bites

Morning: Visit Al Rahma “Floating” Mosque at the northern corniche; at high tide it appears to float on the sea. Continue to Tayebat Museum (allow ~1.5–2 hours) for a beautifully curated dive into Hejazi architecture, costumes, and trade routes.

Afternoon: Souvenir run: oud and bukhoor from a traditional perfumery, handwoven sadu textiles, or a brass dallah (coffee pot). Early lunch at Shawarma Shakir Al-Jazeera (juicy, sesame-laced) or a smart-casual bite at The Social Kitchen. Transfer to JED for your afternoon departure—save 45–60 minutes for airport formalities.

Evening: If your flight is later, one last coffee at Medd or Brew92 and a final sea breeze along the Waterfront before wheels up.

Practical Dining Shortlist (by city)

• Riyadh coffee & breakfast: Elixir Bunn; Camel Step Coffee Roasters; % Arabica at Bujairi Terrace.
• Riyadh lunch: Mama Noura (shawarma, juices); Najd Village (traditional platters); SIKKA (modern regional).
• Riyadh dinner: Maiz (heritage Najdi); Takya (modern Khaleeji); casual mutabbaq cafés after tours.
• Jeddah coffee & breakfast: Medd Café & Roastery; Brew92; traditional foul & tamees near Al-Balad.
• Jeddah lunch: Al Baik (cult classic); Twina Seafood; Al Nakheel (sea-view grills).
• Jeddah dinner: Naranj (Levantine); Toki (pan-Asian); seaside gelato stands along the Corniche.

Where to Book

• Flights (international & domestic): Compare fares and times on Trip.com and Kiwi.com.
• Riyadh stays: The Ritz-Carlton, Riyadh, Marriott Riyadh Diplomatic Quarter, Ibis Riyadh Olaya Street, plus Hotels.com and VRBO.
• Jeddah stays: Waldorf Astoria Jeddah - Qasr Al Sharq, Holiday Inn Jeddah Gateway, Mövenpick Hotel Tahlia Jeddah, plus Hotels.com and VRBO.
• Riyadh activities we included: Full-Day Riyadh City Experience, Edge of the World 4x4 Sunset, Red Sand Adventure.
• Jeddah activity we included: Al-Balad Walking Tour.

Seven days in Saudi Arabia gives you storied forts, desert horizons, and sea-scented evenings. From Riyadh’s historical heart to Jeddah’s lantern-lit lanes, this itinerary balances culture, cuisine, and adventure—leaving you with a deeper sense of the Kingdom’s past and its confident present.