Jeddah

Al-Balad: Walking Through Jeddah’s Living Heritage Time seems to slow in Al-Balad. Here, coral-stone townhouses lean into each other like old friends, their rawasheen casting patterned shadows over cobbled lanes. With a heritage expert, wander through the cool interiors of Bayt Nassif and Bayt Jamjoom, where carved doors and Ottoman elegance whisper stories of spice merchants and royal guests. Pause in a quiet courtyard garden for Arabic qahwa, then step into ateliers where incense, textiles, and tradition are handmade with grace. As dusk nears, climb to a rooftop for views over the golden skyline—and let the call to prayer, echoing through centuries, carry you into the heart of Jeddah’s soul. The Jeddah Waterfront: Sculpture, Sea, and Sunset Serenity The Red Sea unfolds beside the Jeddah Corniche like a ribbon of light. Begin with a private stroll through the world’s first open-air sculpture museum—where works by Miró and Moore rise beside the sea. Sip hibiscus tea in a shaded cabana, take a yoga session at dawn, or cruise past the King Fahd Fountain on a luxury sunset boat. Evenings offer slow, sea-facing dinners of fresh hammour and saffron rice beneath lantern-lit skies. The waterfront is where Jeddah exhales—art, sea, and serenity converging in fluid elegance. Bayt Nassif and the Mansions of Al-Balad Step behind the carved teak doors of Bayt Nassif, and enter a world of Hijazi refinement. Once a royal residence, now a museum of memory, the home reveals hand-painted ceilings, sun-filled stairwells, and diplomatic salons preserved in time. Private access includes curated walks through nearby coral homes—each filled with textiles, photographs, and treasures of trade. End with a tea ceremony in a leafy courtyard or dinner beneath the stars, where oud music and candlelight conjure Jeddah’s golden age. Private Yacht Cruise Along the Red Sea Coastline Luxury floats on the Red Sea. Board a private yacht from an exclusive marina, where soft oud music and chilled rosewater mocktails welcome you aboard. Glide past city silhouettes, snorkel coral reefs with a marine guide, or anchor at a deserted island cove. A gourmet seafood lunch is served alfresco—grilled prawns, citrus-dressed salads, and pomegranate juices under parasols. As twilight arrives, enjoy oud melodies and date desserts beneath a sky slowly deepening into indigo. This is not a cruise—it is poetry, set to sea. Jeddah’s Contemporary Art & Design Scene In sleek lofts and coral courtyards, Jeddah’s creative renaissance blooms. Start at Athr Gallery for installations that explore gender, faith, and identity through sculpture, film, and photography. Then head to Hayy Jameel—a buzzing hub of galleries, cafés, and design labs. Participate in a private calligraphy session or meet artists reimagining the rawasheen in metal and glass. End with a sunset salon hosted by a gallerist—champagne, canapés, and conversation where the avant-garde meets the Arabian. Al Rahma Floating Mosque: Sunset Reverence by the Sea As the tide gently laps beneath it, the Floating Mosque seems to hover between sea and sky. Arrive before sunset for a private architectural tour, then witness the maghrib prayer—its echoes joined by the hush of waves and seabirds. Afterward, retire to a quiet nearby terrace for mint tea, date sweets, and reflection as the mosque glows like a pearl against the evening tide. A moment of grace, suspended in time and light. Souq Al Alawi: A Sensory Tapestry of Tradition Lose yourself in the scent of oud and the shimmer of hand-etched silver at Souq Al Alawi, Jeddah’s most historic market. A local guide leads you to hidden perfume ateliers, spice stalls, and antique corners where each object tells a tale. Watch calligraphers inscribe verses in gold, or try on richly embroidered abayas with the help of heritage stylists. Taste mung bean stews and honey-soaked sweets, then rest in a private majlis where stories unfold like silk. This is shopping as storytelling—layered, textured, and deeply sensual. Jeddah’s Culinary Heritage Tour: From Street Bites to Majestic Feasts Begin with a warm clay oven and a Hijazi breakfast of ful and mutabbaq in Al-Balad’s backlanes. Then journey through spice markets and heritage kitchens with a local chef, tasting your way through centuries of culinary fusion. Try your hand at sayadiya or sabeeb in a private cooking session, or sit down for a curated feast in a restored coral mansion—each course a chapter in Jeddah’s edible narrative. Here, history simmers, spices sing, and the soul of the city is served on a brass platter. Coral Architecture and Conservation: A Heritage Reimagined Jeddah’s coral houses are not just beautiful—they are sustainable masterpieces. Join an architectural historian for a tour of Al-Balad’s breathing walls and restored rawasheen. Visit studios where young artisans revive old methods—hand-plastering lime, carving latticework, and layering coral stone with seawater memory. Witness these motifs reimagined in contemporary design boutiques and concept hotels. End your tour with tea on a coral rooftop—where the city glows soft and golden, and past and future meet in silhouette. Sunset Dhow Dinner on the Red Sea Climb aboard a traditional dhow, draped in lanterns and embroidered cushions, just as the sun begins its descent. With rose-mint welcome drinks in hand, drift past the Jeddah coastline to the sound of oud and seabirds. Dinner is served slowly—grilled hammour, saffron rice, roasted eggplant, and chilled tamarind juice. Stars emerge, waves sigh, and time surrenders. A floating feast, a moment suspended in golden light and deep quietude.