Not to miss

Jeddah

Hyperbolically known as the Paris of Arabia, Jeddah is one of the few cities in the region to have built around, rather than over, its history. Although it's definitely a modern metropolis, Jeddah is also the most interesting and friendly of Saudi Arabia's big cities.

Located in a 200-year-old restored house built from Red Sea coral, the Municipality Museum has interesting photos of the development of Jeddah, along with traditional style rooms. The Jeddah Museum, the regional museum of archaeology and ethnography, covers the same turf as the Riyadh Museum.

Jeddah has one of the best souqs (markets) in the kingdom, the spectacular Souq Al-Alawi, which winds its way through the old city. Although some sections of it have been paved over, and others fitted with bizarre green and white columns, it's still a great place to spend hours strolling and browsing. Jeddah's 3 reconstructed old city gates are also worth a look, as are the several good examples of traditional Jeddah architecture found around the North City Gate.

Mecca

The birthplace of the prophet Mohammed, most visitors to Saudi Arabia come solely to visit Mecca, just inland from Jeddah. Mecca is Islam's holiest city, and all devout Muslims - wherever they live in the world - are (if possible) supposed to make the pilgrimage (or hajj) here once in their life.

Mecca and the holy sites in its immediate vicinity are off limits to non-Muslims. Apart from the obvious ideological arguments against breaking this rule, there are checkpoints along the roads to the city to stop non-Muslims from coming too close.

The centre of Mecca is the Grand Mosque and the sacred Zamzam well inside it. The Kaaba, which all Muslims face when they pray, is in the mosque's central courtyard. According to tradition, the Kaaba was originally built by Adam, and later rebuilt by Abraham and his son Ishmael, as a replica of God's house in heaven.

Habalah

This deserted village, a fascinating remnant of old Arabia, is like no place on earth. The scenery from the ascending cable-car rates among the best views you'll see in the Kingdom. Leave behind the modern terracing and drinks stalls; the best preserved houses are 100m (328ft) north and south of the cable car station. Look for the carved interior doors.

Domat al-Jandal

Domat al-Jandal is one of the Kingdom's many little-known gems. This modest town boasts two of the country's most interesting antiquities - the ruined Qasr Marid and the still-in-use Mosque of Omar, both of which are a short walk from the Jouf Regional Museum.

Qasr Marid is immediately adjacent to the museum. Its foundations date to Nabataean times, and Roman-era records mention Marid by name. The fortress was repaired in the 19th century and again served as the regional seat of government in the early years of the 20th century. The Mosque of Omar, on the far side of Marid from the museum, is one of the oldest in the Kingdom.

Farasan Islands

This little bit of unspoiled paradise, with its abundant fauna, is Saudi Arabia's jewel in the crown. If the Kingdom ever opens up to independent travel, this is where most of the tourists will be heading.

The plankton-rich water around the Farasan Islands is shallow and marine life includes rays, sharks (including the giant whale shark), dolphins and a huge variety of smaller fish.

On land, the Farasan and several of the larger islands are home to a distinct island species of small striped gazelle. Birds provide another draw for get-away nature-lovers, as the islands lie on major migratory routes and are a bird spotter's dream. The islands also have some of the few stretches of coastal mangrove - the habitat of the endangered dugong - on the Red Sea.