DESTINATION:
Jeddah
WHAT TO EAT, SEE AND DO WHEN VISITING THE FORMULA 1 STC SAUDI ARABIAN GRAND PRIX 2025
Despite having only a handful of races under its belt so far, the Saudi Arabian Grand Prix has quickly established itself as a thrilling watch as the drivers battle it out under the lights around the fastest street circuit on the F1 calendar. There's plenty more to see when visiting Jeddah too.
Unsurprisingly due to its location on the Red Sea, Jeddah boasts some of the freshest fish in the world and seafood features prominently on the menus of restaurants all over the port city.
Speed is key in the preparation of the day’s catch at Jeddah’s Central Fish Market, and you can haggle with vendors over local delicacies such as Red Grouper (Najil) and Napoleon Wrasse (Tarabami), then take it to the preparation area to be cleaned and prepped, before enjoying it cooked to your liking at the market’s onsite restaurant – all in a matter of hours from being landed.
If seafood doesn’t float your boat, then there are plenty of other options to be had in this culinarily diverse city which showcases the very best of local Hijazi cuisine.
Breakfast is a meal taken very seriously in this city, and there are many restaurants and cafes which serve popular breakfast staples such as foul – a fava bean stew usually flavoured with lemon and garlic.
Jeddah boasts some of the freshest fish in the world and seafood features prominently on the menus of restaurants all over the port city.
Some of the buildings in the Al Balad historical quarter date back to the 7th century and remain largely unchanged
Step back in time and discover a flavour of what this once small fishing port was like in bygone days by wandering around the Al Balad historical quarter.
Since being listed as a UNESCO World Heritage Site in 2014, this tangle of souks, mosques and coral stone houses with enclosed balconies of latticed teak has been the subject of thoughtful restoration to help preserve the architecturally significant buildings, whilst ensuring the area loses none of its unique charm.
Many of the old houses are now museums and art galleries, allowing visitors to take a glimpse inside these charming ancestral homes. One of the most renowned is the Nassif House. Once the home of a wealthy merchant who was also a governor of Jeddah, it is now a museum, cultural centre and library. It is said that the wide shallow staircase inside was so designed to allow camels to climb easily to the first floor to unload their goods.
Stroll along the scenic waterfront and immerse yourself in the striking sculptures that make up the Jeddah Art Promenade.
This globally curated open air art gallery was launched in December 2021 to coincide with the inaugural Saudi Arabian Grand Prix, and features pieces by world renowned artists including KWEST, whose golden falcon sculpture stands majestically in the Red Sea as a powerful statement of ‘art and creativity taking flight’.
With its pearly white minaret and aquamarine dome, the exquisitely designed Al Rahma Mosque appears to rise out of the water at high tide on Jeddah’s corniche, earning itself the moniker of the ‘floating mosque’.
It’s well worth a visit at sunrise or sunset to fully appreciate the beauty and grandeur of this elegant place of worship, not to mention the spectacular panoramic coastal views from the courtyard.
FUN FACT
With jets of water propelled to a maximum height of 312 metres, King Fahd’s fountain is listed in the Guinness Book of World Records as the highest fountain of its type in the world. This iconic landmark visible throughout Jeddah, uses saltwater from the Red Sea and the water ejected can reach speeds of 375kmph. In 2017 Team Red Bull Airforce base jumper Othar Lawrence set a global record by leaping from a helicopter and jumping the length of the fountain.
