![\"Saudi](\"https:\/\/againstthecompass.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/10\/DSC_84021-1024x684.jpg\")
<\/figure>\n<\/div>\nIn Saudi Arabia, the internet is censored, which means that some websites and internet services are blocked. If you want to access them you will need a VPN and for that, I recommend ExpressVPN<\/strong>, the fastest and works best for Saudi. Once one of the most difficult countries to visit, Saudi Arabia is finally issuing visas for tourism purposes and independent travel. <\/p>\n Before, the only way to travel to Saudi was on a business visa, via a strong local connection who could sponsor your visit, or by getting a pilgrimage visa to visit Mecca and Medina (only for Muslims).<\/p>\n Therefore, the fact that all of a sudden, Western tourists can visit Saudi Arabia on their own, with a backpack, both men and women, is a very radical change.<\/p>\n This incredibly big change, however, didn\u2019t come alone.\u00a0<\/p>\n During the last couple of years, a lot of their super strict Islamic laws have been softened or, at least, they have become more flexible. For example, allowing women and men to hang out together in public spaces was one of the most significant changes.<\/p>\n All these small changes will make things easier for future international visitors.<\/p>\n Despite\u00a0everything that you may have read in the media, Saudi Arabia is an incredible country. There is just so much to do and see, a country filled with loads of stunning sites, both natural and archaeological, hugely contrasting landscapes and some extremely hospitable people that could easily rival my beloved friends from Afghanistan<\/strong><\/a>, Pakistan<\/a><\/strong> and Iran<\/a><\/strong>.<\/p>\n I strongly believe that this is the most underrated country on this planet, and here I have compiled a comprehensive travel guide to Saudi Arabia packed with tips and everything you need to know to travel to the Kingdom.<\/strong><\/p>\n This guide contains all the practical information. For places to visit read my Saudi Arabia itinerary<\/a><\/strong><\/p>\n You can now travel to Saudi Arabia, since the country reopened its borders in August 2021<\/em><\/p>\n As of today, these are the COVID-19 entry requirements for traveling to Saudi Arabia:<\/p>\n Once you got your visa, you must register your vaccination details on the government portal<\/strong><\/a>, no later than 72 hours before departure.<\/p>\n Furthermore, upon your arrival in Saudi Arabia, you will have to register on Tawalkkana<\/strong><\/a>, an app that contains your COVID-related profile, and which you need to show to enter most restaurants, shops, or even for taking domestic flights. <\/p>\n The app, however, is full of bugs and my first piece of advice is that you should not take it very seriously. For example, in my case, the app always indicated that I had to quarantine so instead, I would just show my vaccination certificate, and it was always OK.<\/p>\n Please check the official tourism board website<\/strong><\/a> for more COVID-19-related information.<\/p>\n For visiting Saudi, you can apply for an e-visa through visitsaudi.com<\/a><\/strong><\/p>\n This is what the tourist visa for Saudi looks like.<\/p>\n All EU countries + Andorra, Iceland, Liechtenstein, Monaco, Montenegro, Norway, San Marino, Switzerland, United Kingdom, and Australia, Brunei, Canada, China, Japan, Kazakhstan<\/strong><\/a>, Malaysia, New Zealand, Russia, Singapore, South Korea, Ukraine<\/strong><\/a> and United States, <\/p>\n Applying for the e-visa is pretty straightforward and you can do it through this portal<\/strong><\/a>.<\/p>\n Just follow the steps, and you will be on the way. <\/p>\n Total visa price is 535 Saudi Rials, which is around 142 US Dollars. <\/p>\n From that amount, 180 Saudi Rials refer to the Saudi travel insurance, a COVID-related requirement. <\/p>\n The visa allows you to stay in Saudi for 90 days, and it has a 1-year validity from the issuance date. <\/p>\n It\u2019s also multiple entry.<\/p>\n This means that, within a year, you travel to Saudi as many times as you want with the same visa, as long as your stay doesn\u2019t exceed more than 90 days.<\/p>\n Yes, they certainly can, no restrictions for being a female. <\/p>\n Don\u2019t forget to read my 2-week itinerary in Saudi Arabia<\/a><\/strong>.<\/p>\n My friends Sian & Bob have recently published a full guidebook to Saudi Arabia, containing loads of actionable advice and a great overview of each one of their regions. A great introduction to the country, this must be the only available travel guide to Saudi Arabia<\/strong>!<\/p>\n CLICK HERE TO GET YOUR PRINTED COPY!<\/span><\/a><\/strong><\/p>\n Remember to always travel with the proper travel insurance, especially in countries like Saudi Arabia where, for foreigners, the Health Care System is crazy expensive.<\/p>\n I strongly recommend IATI Insurance<\/a><\/strong>, since it covers a wide range of adventure activities, plus full COVID-19 coverage.<\/p>\n Readers of this blog can get an exclusive 5% discount<\/strong>.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n The best time to visit Saudi Arabia is during the cooler months, from November to February<\/strong>. <\/p>\n March, April and October could be bearable but outside this \u201dwinter season\u201d, the country could be too hot to enjoy. <\/p>\n By the way, note that the north of Saudi Arabia can be extremely cold in winter, with temperatures below 0\u00baC in transited regions such as Al-Ula and Tabouk.<\/p>\n Mada\u2019in Saleh is an archaeological complex composed of hundreds of tombs carved out from rocks and scattered across the desert. Mada\u2019in Saleh was founded by the Nabateans, the same civilization that built Petra.<\/p>\n The city of Medina had remained off-limits to non-Muslims for decades but from 2022, Western tourists are allowed to visit the city, as long as you stay just at the entrance of the Holy Mosque, the place where Prophet Mohammed is buried. <\/p>\n Fayfa is a southern region bordering Yemen that historically, had been part of Yemen, so several aspects of their culture \u2013 including the way they dress and their cuisine \u2013 have remained. <\/p>\n Tabouk is a northern region bordering Jordan home to incredible wadis, rock formations, deserts and Bedouins.<\/p>\n Everybody knows about the beauty of the Red Sea, the reason why Egypt<\/strong><\/a> has become a prime diving destination. However, few people know that the same coral reefs can also be found along the Saudi Arabia coast, and I particularly like the area between Yanbu and Umluj.<\/p>\n The easiest way to travel to Saudi Arabia is by flying in. There are loads of international flights, especially to Jeddah and Riyadh<\/strong><\/a>. <\/p>\n Saudia Airlines<\/a><\/strong> has many direct flights from Europe and other destinations, while other airlines like Pegasus or Emirates fly there via Istanbul and Dubai, respectively,<\/p>\n As long as you have a valid visa for traveling to Saudi, getting in to the country by land is totally doable. <\/p>\n Saudi Arabia shares a border with:<\/p>\n Read: A guide to finding the best area to stay in Dubai<\/strong><\/a><\/p>\n Interested in off-the-beaten-track countries? Check:<\/strong> As you may imagine, tourism in Saudi Arabia is in a very embryonic stage.<\/p>\n Random Saudi:<\/strong> Where are you from?<\/em> I had this conversation over and over. They still don\u2019t know that foreigners can now travel to Saudi Arabia.<\/p>\n When I was exploring the southern part of the country and was walking around the souk with my big backpack, people were asking me if I was carrying a parachute and one even said if it was an inflatable boat.<\/p>\n This was back in 2019, when I visited the southern part of the country. When I came back in 2022, the country had massively changed, so I didn\u2019t really experience any of the above conversations, but that\u2019s partly because I explored the northern part, which is far more developed and receives more international visitors. <\/p>\n So yeah, the idea of having international visitors who are not expats or workers is still a concept they aren\u2019t familiar with.<\/p>\n However, there is a relatively developed domestic tourism infrastructure, so you can find hotels pretty much everywhere, even though they tend to be expensive.<\/p>\n Moreover, as per things to do, you should know that there are loads, loads of things to do in this country. <\/p>\n I mean, just check its size and you will see that it is bigger than any European country. Here you can check my complete Saudi itinerary<\/strong><\/a>.<\/p>\n When I came back from Saudi Arabia, I received many, many messages from very upset people who claimed that traveling to Saudi Arabia implicated collaborating with a regime that doesn\u2019t respect basic human rights.\u00a0<\/p>\n Some messages were from friendly, skeptical people who wanted a response, while others were from really extreme haters who I blocked right away.\u00a0\u00a0<\/p>\n Well, let me tell you something: like in any place around the world, you find good and bad people and, when I travel, I don\u2019t meet with Prime Ministers but I visit places and hang out with humble locals.\u00a0<\/p>\n This is a very long and controversial topic, so I recommend you read my article:<\/p>\n Is it ethical to travel to Saudi Arabia as a tourist?<\/a><\/strong><\/p>\n Something you should know is that, in Saudi, the internet is censored<\/strong><\/a>.<\/p>\n This means that some websites might be blocked and inaccessible for regular internet users.<\/p>\n Moreover, because of this censorship and, since there is no freedom of speech, the Government reserves the right to monitor your internet activity.<\/p>\n Therefore, if you want to access blocked sites and navigate anonymously, you will need something called a VPN (Virtual Private Network)<\/strong>.<\/p>\n There are several VPNs in the market but the one I personally use and recommend is ExpressVPN<\/a>, the fastest and the one that works best for Saudi.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n If you have no clue about VPNs, read my tutorial: What is it and how to find the right VPN for Saudi Arabia<\/a><\/strong><\/p>\n In Saudi Arabia, the internet is censored, which means that some websites and internet services are blocked. If you want to access them you will need a VPN and for that, I recommend ExpressVPN<\/strong>, the fastest and works best for Saudi. Heads-up.<\/p>\n Saudi Arabia is the most religious country I have ever been to.<\/p>\n In fact, this is the most religious Muslim country in the world. Everybody knows that.\u00a0<\/p>\n Most Saudis follow a branch of Islam named Wahhabism<\/a><\/strong>, which is\u00a0characterized for having the most conservative interpretation of Islam and the law of Saudi Arabia strictly follows it.<\/p>\n This means that their penal code includes some very hardcore punishments such as public beheading or getting flogged. This is their country and we are not here to judge and unless you plan to kill someone, smuggle drugs or have sex in public, you shouldn\u2019t be afraid of traveling to Saudi Arabia as a tourist.<\/p>\n Seriously, it is not even close to what you may think.<\/p>\n Saudis prefer to be called Salafis, instead of Wahabis. In their eyes, Wahabism is a few steps ahead than Salafism when it comes to conservatism, meaning that it is really extreme, a term usually used to designate Islamic terrorists. Whereas Salafists are really, really conservative in nature, it is more socially accepted. \u00a0Thank you, Graham, from Inside Other Places<\/a><\/strong> for the clarification<\/p>\n Women need to wear an abaya \u2013<\/strong> The abaya is a local dress that covers your body (not your head).<\/p>\n Some public spaces are segregated by sex \u2013<\/strong>\u00a0You will figure it out by yourself but some restaurants or caf\u00e9s are still composed of two areas: men and family section. Women or men that go with women need to sit in the family section. This kind of segregation is slowly disappearing, especially in Jeddah and Riyadh.<\/p>\n Depending on where you are, during prayer time, you can\u2019t be inside shops or restaurants \u2013<\/strong> To be honest, this rule has become more flexible but, outside of Riyadh and Jeddah, they kicked me out from shops during the prayers and I could not even stand in front but I had to walk away. A very weird rule.<\/p>\n Don\u2019t drink alcohol \u2013<\/strong> Drinking alcohol in Saudi Arabia is not legal, not even in 5-star hotels.<\/p>\n Seriously, stay away from drugs \u2013<\/strong> Drugs may lead to death sentence, so don\u2019t play with them.<\/p>\n No public shows of affection \u2013<\/strong> Same as when you travel to Dubai<\/a><\/strong> or Qatar.<\/p>\n Don\u2019t say you are an atheist \u2013<\/strong> Even if you were, say you are a Christian or any major religion in your home country. Being an atheist can be considered as blasphemy and this is a very serious crime in Saudi. Moreover, you came to Saudi to meet people and make local friends, so saying you are an atheist won\u2019t help you at all.<\/p>\n On Friday, everything is closed until Asr prayer, which is around 4 or 5pm<\/strong> \u2013 Not everything will be closed but some restaurants may open in the morning. However, at noon, during Dhuhr prayer, absolutely everything is closed.<\/p>\n Eat with your right hand, always<\/strong> \u2013 This is a generic Muslim rule but in Saudi is particularly strict. If you are sharing a meal with more traditional people, try to always eat with your right hand. I am actually left-handed and sometimes I forget about it and Saudi has been the only place where the locals got a bit upset when they saw me eating with my left hand.<\/p>\n Like I said before, in the last couple of years, the laws of Saudi Arabia have become more flexible. Well, this is not entirely right. According to my local Saudi friends, some laws haven\u2019t been changed but the religious Islamic police (mutaween)<\/em> has lost power, so they aren\u2019t controlling what people do anymore.<\/p>\n Men and women who aren\u2019t family related can hang out together, in public \u2013<\/strong> Some years ago, you couldn\u2019t go to a restaurant or a caf\u00e9 with a friend from the opposite sex but now you can do it normally, like in any other country.<\/p>\n Foreign women can travel around the country independently, and alone \u2013<\/strong> I have already lost count of all the women who asked me if they can go there by themselves. Yes, you can travel to Saudi Arabia as a woman, by yourself. Would it be challenging? It would be different from being a man, indeed, but it is definitely legal.<\/p>\n Single foreign women can also visit Saudi on a tourist visa \u2013<\/strong> You can travel to Saudi with your unmarried boyfriend and even if you are single, no problem.<\/p>\n Women don\u2019t need to wear hijab \u2013<\/strong> You don\u2019t need to cover your head but, like I just said, you must cover your\u00a0body with an abaya. If you travel to Iran<\/a><\/strong>, you will see that the clothing rules are even more strict.<\/p>\n Women can drive, including renting a car \u2013<\/strong> From June 2018, women can finally drive and, as a female tourist, you can also rent it.<\/p>\n Men can wear shorts \u2013<\/strong> Nobody will say anything to you.<\/p>\n
CLICK HERE TO LEARN MORE ABOUT ExpressVPN<\/a><\/span><\/strong><\/p>\n![\"travel](\"https:\/\/againstthecompass.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/01\/travel-to-saudi-arabia.jpg\")
<\/figure>\n<\/div>\n![](\"https:\/\/againstthecompass.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/01\/CLICK-TO-GET-INSTANT-ACCESS2.jpg\"\/)
<\/a><\/p>\nCOVID-19 travel restrictions for Saudi Arabia<\/h2>\n
Breaking news<\/h3>\n
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How to get a visa for traveling to Saudi Arabia<\/h2>\n
![\"visa](\"https:\/\/againstthecompass.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/10\/1646062853777-1024x859.png\")
Which countries are eligible to visit Saudi with tourist e-visa?<\/h3>\n
How to apply for Saudi tourist e-visa\u00a0<\/h3>\n
How much does it the Saudi e-visa cost?<\/h3>\n
How long is it valid for?<\/h3>\n
Can single women apply for the same Saudi e-visa?<\/h4>\n
![\"Visit](\"https:\/\/againstthecompass.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/01\/visiting-saudi-arabia.jpg\")
Get this epic travel guide to Saudi Arabia!<\/span><\/h2>\n
![\"traveller's](\"https:\/\/againstthecompass.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/09\/71ZTwOdB4-L.jpg\")
<\/a><\/figure>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\nTravel Insurance for Saudi Arabia<\/h2>\n
![\"tourism](\"https:\/\/againstthecompass.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/01\/visit-saudi-arabia.jpg\")
Best time to visit Saudi Arabia<\/h2>\n
5 Top things to experience in Saudi Arabia<\/h2>\n
Visiting Mada\u2019in Saleh, like Petra but more epic<\/h3>\n
![\"mada'in](\"https:\/\/againstthecompass.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/03\/DSC_8393-1024x684.jpg\")
Being one of the first tourists to ever visit Medina, the second holiest city in Islam<\/h3>\n
![\"Medina](\"https:\/\/againstthecompass.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/03\/DSC_8366-1024x684.jpg\")
Exploring Fayfa, a region of Saudi Arabia with Yemeni-like culture<\/h3>\n
![\"how](\"https:\/\/againstthecompass.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/01\/how-to-visit-saudi-arabia.jpg\")
Discover the natural wonders from Tabouk region<\/h3>\n
![\"Wadi](\"https:\/\/againstthecompass.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/03\/DSC_8563-1024x684.jpg\")
Snorkelling in the Read Sea<\/h3>\n
![\"visit](\"https:\/\/againstthecompass.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/03\/DSC_8375-1024x684.jpg\")
How to get to Saudi Arabia<\/h2>\n
How to travel to Saudi Arabia by air<\/h3>\n
How to travel to Saudi Arabia by land<\/h3>\n
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Tourism in Saudi Arabia, what is it like<\/h2>\n
Somaliland travel guide<\/span><\/a>
Eritrea travel guide<\/span><\/a><\/p>\n
Me:<\/strong> Spain<\/em>
Random Saudi:<\/strong> Where do you live, in Jeddah or Riyadh?<\/em>
Me:<\/strong>\u00a0Nowhere, I am just visiting <\/em>\ud83d\ude42
Random Saudi:<\/strong> No, I mean where in Saudi are you working?<\/em><\/p>\n![\"Saudi](\"https:\/\/againstthecompass.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/01\/saudi-arabia-travel-tips.jpg\")
![\"tips](\"https:\/\/againstthecompass.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/03\/places-to-visit-in-saudi-arabia-jeddah-768x1024.jpg\")
Is it ethical to travel to Saudi Arabia?<\/h2>\n
![\"people](\"https:\/\/againstthecompass.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/01\/DSC_2124.jpg\")
How to access blocked sites in Saudi<\/h2>\n
Tips on how to behave when you travel in Saudi<\/h2>\n
CLICK HERE TO LEARN MORE ABOUT ExpressVPN<\/a><\/span><\/strong><\/p>\n![\"religion](\"https:\/\/againstthecompass.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/01\/can-you-travel-to-saudi-arabia.jpg\")
Some rules you need to follow when you travel to Saudi Arabia<\/h3>\n
![\"things](\"https:\/\/againstthecompass.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/01\/tourism-in-saudi-arabia.jpg\")
Misconceptions about Saudi Arabia \u2013 Things you can actually do<\/h3>\n
The people and the culture \u2013 The Saudis<\/h2>\n