Jeddah

Long the meeting point of traders coming to Saudi Arabia’s biggest port and pilgrims en route to Mecca, perhaps it isn’t surprising that Jeddah has such a liberal and cosmopolitan attitude. A sunny city on the Red Sea it is a place that effortlessly blends old, new and plenty of money, with endless sculptures, parks, restaurants, and amusement parks springing up along the 30-kilometre seafront Corniche to keep the ever-growing population entertained.

While much of the city is a fun-loving modern metropolis by the sea, as the ‘Gateway to Mecca’, Jeddah came to prominence in the 600s when Muslim travellers began arriving to undertake a pilgrimage. Today, over 2 million pilgrims pass through Jeddah annually. Among the winding lanes lined with coral stone buildings and carved teak balconies and colourful souks of al-Bahad, the old town, you can recapture some of the timeless ambiance that has existed here for hundreds of years. This area of rich heritage is a UNESCO World Heritage Site and its easy to see how these ancient walkways have long inspired visitors, artists and writers alike.