Jeddah Airport is best reached by car, either by rental car or taxi.
However, there is also an express bus service to the city centre, and there is also a station for express trains to Medina and Mecca at Terminal 1.
Taxi, Uber, Careem
Even with the bus and train services now operational, taxis remain by far the most straightforward and easiest option for getting to the centre.
You can get a car at all terminals without any problems at any time of the day or night.
While with regular taxis you have to pre-arrange and possibly negotiate the price, ordering a taxi online removes this necessity and you will know the exact price in advance.
How to book a taxi?
In Jeddah and Saudi Arabia in general, mobile apps for taxis are very popular.
Most people in Jeddah use the Careem mobile app (available at: careem.com), but the world-famous Uber app (available at: uber.com) also works well here.
Ideally, book your car after you exit the airport concourse. Waiting time is usually 5-10 minutes. If you don't want to be delayed by buying a local sim card upon arrival, purchase an electronic sim card via airalo.com before you fly to Saudi Arabia.
Taxi fares
Prices on the Uber and Careem apps are dynamic and depend on demand. Here are examples of average prices to specific locations from the airport.
- Terminal 1 - Historic Centre (Al Balad): 76 sar
- Terminal North - Historic Centre (Al Balad): 85 sar
- Terminal 1 - Al Hamra Corniche: 73 sar
- Terminal North – Al Hamra Corniche: 82 sar
- Both terminals - Red Sea Mall / Al Rahmah / North Corniche: 55 sar
- Terminal 1 - Terminal North: 56 sar
Car rental
If you are not just spending time in Jeddah, but heading out to explore the natural beauty of Saudi Arabia, renting a car is the most convenient option.
Foreigners can rent a car without restrictions. All you need is an international driving license and a credit card.
Prices for a weekly rental at Jeddah Airport start at 260 eur.
Bus SAPTCO
Terminals 1 and North are connected to the city centre by a special "Airport Express" line, numbered 13. The route is operated by SAPTCO, but official city timetables are not yet on the website.
The stop at Terminal 1 is located near Gate 2. Ignore the "Bus" signage that leads to charter buses to Mecca and Medina. The bus stops approximately 70 meters from the terminal exit.
The bus has 3 stops in Jeddah:
- Flamingo Mall (Prince Majid Road) - show on en.mapy.cz
- Al-Andalus Mall - view on en.mapy.cz
- Al Balad SAPTCO, intercity bus station + historical centre - view on en.mapy.cz
The bus to the city centre takes 35 minutes from Terminal 1 or 50 minutes from the North Terminal.
The frequency of the connection is 30 minutes.
The first bus from downtown to the airport leaves at 6:30. The last bus from the airport to the centre leaves at 23:30.
Tickets
Fares are sold in the form of plastic cards with a charged amount. You can choose a card for 25 sar (free amount for full fares 25 sar) or for 55 sar (free amount for full fares 50 sar).
The card is sold by the driver and can only be paid in cash.
One ride costs 15 sar. The card can then be used to ride other city lines (4 sar per ride ).
Train
There is also a high-speed rail linking the cities of Mecca, Jeddah and Medina only to Terminal 1.
Ideally, book tickets online via the official Haramin High Speed Railway website: sar.hhr.sa. Tickets can also be purchased locally at the ticket office, but some services may be sold out.
The train is particularly suitable for travelling directly to Mecca or the city of Medina. The train is not very useful for travelling to the centre of Jeddah due to the frequency of 2 hours and the location of the station far from the centre.
- Jeddah - journey time 16 minutes, price 23 sar, frequency 60-120 minutes
- Mecca - journey time 54 minutes, price 69 sar, frequency 60-120 minutes
- Medina - driving time 2 hours, price 138 sar, frequency 60-120 minutes
Tourists must allow for limited access to Mecca, where non-Muslims are prohibited.
