Updated · Saudi Arabia Taxi Services
How do you get around Jeddah?
Getting around Jeddah is easiest by car. The city stretches a long way north to south along the Red Sea, and its main sights, from Al-Balad in the old centre to the Corniche, are spread along that line. Taxis, ride-hailing apps and drivers by the hour are the usual choices for visitors, with buses and the Haramain train for some trips.
Business travellers mostly stay along Prince Sultan Road, Tahlia Street and the Corniche, and the airport is on the north side of the city. Many pilgrims also start or end their Umrah in Jeddah, since it is the gateway to Makkah.
Your options at a glance
| Option | Good for | Things to know |
|---|---|---|
| Taxi or ride-hailing app | Short trips across the city | App prices change with demand |
| Pre-booked taxi | Airport runs, families, early starts | Fixed fare per car, from SAR 60 |
| Hourly driver | A day of sightseeing or meetings | From SAR 80 per hour, 3-hour minimum |
| Public bus | Budget trips on set routes | Check current routes and fares with the operator |
| Haramain train | Trips to Makkah, KAEC and Madinah | Two Jeddah stations; you still need a ride at each end |
| Intercity bus | Budget trips to Makkah and Madinah | Station to station; check the operator's timetable |
The Corniche: choose your drop-off point
The Jeddah Corniche is a long seafront of promenades, beaches, parks and sculptures, so 'the Corniche' is not enough for a driver. Say which part you want: near King Fahd's Fountain, which is lit at night and best seen from the promenade; the Al Rahma Mosque, built on stilts over the sea and popular at sunset; or a particular beach or park.
Weekend evenings are the busiest time. Agree a pickup point and time with your driver before you walk off. On Formula 1 race days, roads near the Corniche circuit close; our Grand Prix transfer guide explains how drop-offs work then.
Al-Balad, the historic old town
Al-Balad is Jeddah's UNESCO-listed old town of coral-stone houses with wooden balconies and old souqs. Its lanes are best explored on foot, so the driver drops you at the edge and you walk in. Evenings are cooler and livelier, and comfortable shoes help.
Agree a pickup point on a main road for the return, since the lanes are narrow. If you want to see Al-Balad and the Corniche in one evening, an hourly driver saves finding a new car between them.
Distances and taxi fares in Jeddah
Approximate road distances from central Jeddah. Fares are per car in an economy sedan, fixed before the ride.
| Place | Distance | Visit or drive | Taxi from |
|---|---|---|---|
| Al-Balad (Historic Jeddah) | About 5 km | About 2 h 30 min | SAR 60 |
| King Fahd's Fountain | About 8 km | About 45 minutes | SAR 60 |
| Jeddah Corniche | About 10 km | About 2 hours | SAR 60 |
| Al Rahma Mosque | About 15 km | About 30 minutes | SAR 60 |
| Al Tayebat International City Museum | About 15 km | 2 hours or more | SAR 60 |
| Jeddah Airport (JED) | 20 km | 25 min drive | SAR 60 |
| Makkah hotels | 95 km | 1 h 15 min drive | SAR 170 |
Buses and the Haramain train
Jeddah has public bus services on set routes. Routes, fares and timetables change, so check the operator's current information before you rely on them. Intercity buses also run from Jeddah to Makkah, Madinah and other cities; our intercity bus guide explains how they work.
The Haramain High-Speed Railway has two stations in Jeddah: Al Sulaymaniyah in the city and a station at the airport's Terminal 1. Trains run to Makkah, KAEC and Madinah, and you need a taxi from the station at each end.
Traffic, heat and timing
- The coast is humid as well as hot for much of the year, so keep walks short at midday.
- Weekend evenings are busy on the Corniche.
- Thursday and Friday evenings are the busiest time on the road to Makkah.
- Some shops and restaurants close for a short time at prayer times, most noticeably around the Friday midday prayer.
- Rides between 00:00 and 05:00 carry a 20% night surcharge, shown in the quote.
Trips out of Jeddah
Entry to Makkah is for Muslims only; the drive is 95 km, about 1 h 15 min. Taif is 170 km away by a route that bypasses central Makkah, so it works for all travellers. KAUST and KAEC are on the coast road north toward Rabigh, 150 km away, and drop-offs at both need gate registration. Madinah is 420 km, about 4 h.