Overview
Jeddah, Saudi Arabia's cosmopolitan port city on the Red Sea, is the main gateway for millions of travellers heading onwards to Mecca and Medina, but it's also a destination in its own right. With a beautifully restored historic old town, a long Corniche waterfront and some of the best diving in the Red Sea, cheap flights to Jeddah are opening this city up to a growing number of UK visitors, whether travelling for pilgrimage, business or simply to explore.
Best time to fly to Jeddah
Jeddah is warm year-round, but from June to September the coastal humidity makes daytime heat, often into the high 30s and low 40s°C, quite intense. The most comfortable months to fly to Jeddah are October to April, when temperatures settle into the pleasant 20s and rainfall stays minimal. Fares can also rise sharply during Ramadan and the Hajj and Umrah seasons, when demand for flights to Saudi Arabia peaks, so if you're travelling for leisure it's worth checking the When to book chart above to see how prices move through the year.
Airlines and routes
British Airways and Saudia (Saudi Arabian Airlines) both operate nonstop flights from London Heathrow to Jeddah, with a flight time of around 6 to 6.5 hours. Travellers flying from regional airports such as Manchester, Birmingham, Edinburgh or Glasgow will usually connect via a Gulf or Turkish hub, with Qatar Airways routing through Doha, Emirates through Dubai, Etihad through Abu Dhabi, or Turkish Airlines through Istanbul. These connections typically add a stop of an hour or two, bringing total journey time to roughly 9-12 hours, but often widen your choice of departure airport and fare.
Things to do in Jeddah
Once you land, Jeddah rewards a few days of exploring before or after onward travel:
- Al-Balad: the UNESCO-listed historic old town, with coral-stone merchant houses, wooden mashrabiya balconies and lively souks.
- Jeddah Corniche and King Fahd's Fountain: a long seafront promenade with public art and views of one of the world's tallest fountains.
- Red Sea diving and snorkelling: Jeddah is a popular base for reef trips, with clear waters and healthy coral within easy reach of the city.
- Souk Al Alawi: a bustling traditional market in Al-Balad for spices, textiles and local souvenirs.
- Jeddah Sculpture Museum: an open-air collection of modern artworks scattered along the Corniche and city streets.
At King Abdulaziz International Airport (JED)
King Abdulaziz International Airport sits around 25km north of central Jeddah. Taxis and ride-hailing apps such as Uber and Careem are the easiest way into the city, taking roughly 25-35 minutes depending on traffic, while SAPTCO buses also run scheduled services between the airport and the city centre. Many hotels offer pre-arranged transfers, which is worth considering if you're arriving late at night or heading straight on to Mecca, around 80km away.
Top tips for finding cheap flights to Jeddah
- Book roughly two to four months ahead for the best fares outside peak religious travel periods.
- Where possible, avoid flying during Ramadan and the Hajj and Umrah seasons, when demand and prices both climb.
- Midweek departures, particularly Tuesday and Wednesday, are often cheaper than weekend flights.
- Compare a direct Heathrow flight against connecting options from your nearest regional airport using the price charts on this page, as routing can make a real difference to cost.
Travel essentials
UK passport holders need a visa to enter Saudi Arabia. Most tourists can apply for an eVisa online in advance, while anyone travelling specifically for Umrah or Hajj needs a dedicated pilgrimage visa arranged through an accredited operator. The currency is the Saudi Riyal (SAR); cards are widely accepted in Jeddah, though it's useful to carry some cash for smaller vendors and souks. No special vaccinations are required for general travel, though pilgrims attending Hajj or Umrah must show proof of meningitis (ACWY) vaccination. As with any trip, check the latest FCDO travel advice before you fly.
