Budget · 3-hour walk · Jeddah
Al-Balad in three hours
The coral-stone old town, its merchant houses and souqs, and the Red Sea corniche afterwards.
Al-Balad is the historic core of Jeddah, built from Red Sea coral stone with carved wooden balconies designed to catch the sea breeze, and it became a UNESCO site in 2014. Much of it is under restoration and some lanes are fenced. Go after the afternoon prayer, when the shops reopen and the heat drops.
The route, stop by stop
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Al-Balad
Coral-stone houses with carved rawasheen balconies, some seven storeys and four centuries old.
45 min here Walk here → -
Nassif House
The merchant house where King Abdulaziz stayed, with a staircase built wide enough for camels to climb.
30 min here Walk here → -
Souq Al Alawi
The old spice and textile market threading through Al-Balad, and still where the city shops rather than a display.
30 min here Walk here → -
Jeddah Corniche
Thirty kilometres of Red Sea waterfront, with the King Fahd Fountain throwing water 260 m up after dark.
30 min here Walk here →
More in Jeddah
Every walking route in Jeddah, the full Jeddah guide for where to stay and what a day costs, or walks in other cities.