Here are the best things to see and do away from the circuit in Jeddah during your trip to the Formula 1 Saudi Arabian Grand Prix 2024
- The 2024 Saudi Arabian Grand Prix is scheduled from Thursday March 7 to Saturday March 9
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Jeddah is Saudi Arabia’s most popular tourist destination. Known as the gateway to Mecca, a religiously important place of pilgrimage for millions of Muslims annually, Jeddah is the Kingdom’s second largest city. A mix of old and new, Jeddah mixes its historical quarters with lavish hotels and sprawling shopping districts. With Jeddah Corniche Circuit located 25km north of the city centre, the Saudi Arabian Grand Prix weekend is the perfect opportunity to make the most of all that Jeddah has to offer.
Explore the Corniche area
As the track’s name suggests, Jeddah Corniche Circuit is located in the Corniche area of the city. Home to a plethora of parks and beaches, the 4.2 kilometre Corniche is the perfect spot to watch the sunset over the Red Sea. You can soak up the atmosphere in one of the area’s many eateries. Jeddah’s food scene is best known for its seafood, which comes fresh from the Red Sea.
One of the highlights of the corniche is the Jeddah Sculpture Museum, an open air museum which houses 20 iconic sculptures by world renowned artists including Henry Moore and Joan Miro.
Go big or go home seems to be the general message in Jeddah. At the southern end of the Corniche, you’ll find King Fahd’s Fountain, also known as the Jeddah Fountain, which is the largest water fountain anywhere in the world. Meanwhile, the unfinished construction of Jeddah Tower dominates the city’s skyline. Upon its completion, the tower will be the world’s first 1km high building and the centrepiece of a new economic district within the city. Building of the tower has been halted in recent years due to contractual disputes. Also in the area is Jeddah Flagpole, which was until recently the largest flagpole anywhere in the world.
The welcoming warm water of the Red Sea is perfect for a leisurely swim or even a dive. Take a boat out for the day and soak up the sun out on the open water. With good visibility underwater, you might be able to find one of the shipwrecks which can be found on the seabed in the area.
Shopping in Jeddah
Whether you’re looking for traditional Saudi Arabian products or a more modern shopping experience, you’ll find both in Jeddah. Prince Fahd Bin Sultan Avenue is the place to be for designer goods, as are the Park and Al Hokair malls.
Red Sea Mall is also worth checking out, with amenities for the whole family. You’ll also find some of the city’s best places to eat in the malls. Meanwhile the Mall of Arabia is located close to Jeddah’s airport. The expansive mall is also home to a cinema and a large food court.
Outside of the city, and a few hours inland, Taif is a popular market town for natural produce, from food stuffs to perfumes and oils.
Al Balad & Jeddah’s History
Jeddah is Saudi Arabia’s oldest city. The oldest part of the town – Al Balad – has been in existence since the 7th Century. Al Balad is now a UNESCO World Heritage Site which has been meticulously reconstructed, enabling you to immerse yourself in the area’s history and get a taste of traditional life in Jeddah. The ancient crumbling buildings give Jeddah’s old quarter a lot of character – and it’s worth taking a few hours to explore the narrow old streets.
Mecca & Further Afield
Further afield from Jeddah, the pilgrimage point of Mecca is only 100km from the city. Over six million Muslims make the trip to Mecca each year. While Mecca is only open to those of the Islamic faith, you can take in the splendour of the famous ‘floating’ Al Rahma mosque in Jeddah itself.
500km south of Jeddah, you’ll find the stunning Sarawat Mountains. Located well above sea level, the lookout point at Al Sahab Park is the best place to take in the scenery. If you have time, you can stay overnight among the mountains – either by renting one of the many huts or by setting up camp underneath the stars.
While Saudi Arabia’s capital Riyadh is some 900km inland from Jeddah, it may be worth extending your trip to visit the Kingdom’s largest city. The city is actually closer to other countries which host Formula 1 races – namely Bahrain, Qatar and the United Arab Emirates. Jeddah is well connected with Riyadh thanks to good links by local airlines at King Abdulaziz International Airport. Ad Diriyah, just outside of Riyadh, hosts an annual Formula E race. Check out our post on Motorsport Guides for the best things to do in the area.
