What Is The Best Way To Travel In Saudi Arabia? A Full Guide

In the past time, Saudi Arabia was considered as a less-crowded spot where tourism was not even allowed. But now the situation has totally changed. Now Saudi Arabia welcome tourists with good quality travel infrastructure and amenities.

Are you making preparations to go to Saudi Arabia and searching about “what is the best way to travel in Saudi Arabia?” Well, you have landed to the right place.

In this blog post, we are going to share everything about “what is the best way to travel in Saudi Arabia without any issues”?

Keep reading!

What is The Best Way to Travel in Saudi Arabia?

If you are looking for convenient, affordable and enjoyable way to travel in Saudi Arabia, Mecca to Medina train route is one of the best options to go for. Saudi Arabia features the best train infrastructure with quality services, affordable prices and luxury travel experience.

But if you want to get around between two major cities and you are short on time, it is recommended to go for domestic flight options. On the other hand, if you want to get around within one city, renting a car is the best option.

Now, it’s up to you which mode of transportation you want to use by considering all the things.

Saudi Arabia Train Lines

Saudi Arabia has two train lines that connect the major cities of Saudi Arabia. These are:

Trains Connecting Western Saudi Arabia
Trains Connecting Eastern Saudi Arabia

Trains Connecting Western Saudi Arabia

If you are in Jeddah and want to connect with holy cities like Madina or Mecca, Western Saudi Arabia Line is suitable. Through Haramain High-Speed Railway, you can connect between Jeddah and two holy cities. The trains are super-fast to meet the needs of passengers in short possible time.

One good news about this train is that it passes through Jeddah international airport so you can pick this train from Jeddah airport directly to get into any of the city. Now, there’s no need to worry about commuting from airport to railway station to pick the train.

Trains Connecting Eastern Saudi Arabia

Eastern Saudi Arabia railways lines connect Riyadh, Dammam and Al Quorayyat via through main passenger lines.

One train connects Riyadh to Dammam, it’s a 4-hour distance.
Second train links Riyadh to Al Quorayyat with a distance of 11 hours that ends at Jordanian border.

If you are on a train of Dammam to Riyadh, must stop at mid-center stop-over named as Al Hofuf. This is a small charming town located on the east side and considered as one of the best places for any traveler. You can also stay here overnight, a small but a rewarding trip for anyone.

Pros & Cons to Travel Via Train

Pros

You will get comfortable and affordable journey.
Not only train service is reliable but also fast and efficient way to get into any other city.
The train stations are located near famous attractions or landmarks to provide tourists with easy convenience.
A good accessibility for travelers who want to travel between Mecca & Medina.

Cons

Some customers face challenges with online ticket purchasing.
There are limited routes and destinations.
The price may be higher than other modes of transportation.
During peak travel times like Hajj, the train is jam-packed with tourists.

Saudi Arabia National & International Buses

If you are one who want to travel to Saudi Arabia from any of the neighboring country, high-speed trains are not good option. In this way, international buses are appropriate option to try.

International Buses

For international travel, SAPTCO is the only travel company that operate international buses between Saudi Arabia & UAE. You can get all departures from Dammam and tickets are quite affordable as compared to flight travel. The following are some trips with duration and time period:

Dammam to Dubai that takes around 13 hours.
Dammam to Bahrain that takes only 2.5 hours.

People who normally ask “is there any buses between Saudi Arabia, Qatar & Kuwait?” Unfortunately, there are no buses connecting these destinations.

National Buses

Satrana & Northwest are two of the famous national bus companies that provide bus services within Saudi Arabia. No doubt this is most affordable option but slowest option to travel within Saudi Arabia. It is not convenient for you if you are in hurry and do not like too much travel time.

If you travel from Riyadh to Jeddah with Satrana, it takes around more than 10 hours and costs around EUR 50 for one way. This is a hectic way to travel between Riyadh & Jeddah and also not worth the money. Northwest bus stations are located at the north side of Saudi Arabia.

Pros & Cons to Travel Via Bus

Pros

Bus travel is a budget-friendly option as compared to other modes of transportation.
This is convenient for long-distance travel especially when time is not an issue for you.
You can easily get into train without waiting too longer.
Bus travel is also considered as a safest option as compared to car renting.

Cons

Bus timing schedules are less flexible and less reliable.
It can be time-consuming and hectic journey as compared to train or car.
Saudi Arabia rules for foreigners for bus commute is quite complicated.
Not a good option for comfortable and little bit luxurious experience.

Car Rentals for Hassle-Free Experience

After train, the car rentals are one of the best options to commute from one Saudi Arabia’s city to other. For this, you have to carry Saudi Arabia travel guide book with yourself all the time. If you want to go on a road trip, car rental services are best.

Major cities like Jeddah, Dammam and Riyadh have famous standard car rental companies from where you can rent a car. To drive car in any of the city, there are rules in Saudi Arabia for tourists. The Saudi Arabia travel requirements for car are:

At least 18 years’ old.
Must have a driving license.
Have a valid passport.
Familiarize yourself with Saudi Arabia roads rules, signs and norms.
Be careful when driving in crowded roads or spots.

Pros & Cons to Rent a Car

Pros

When you rent a car, you are flexible enough to explore at your own pace without any stress.
For road trips and off-the beaten path destinations, renting a car is a good option.
There are different types of cars available and you can easily choose from any.
Insurance is covered in car rental so there’s no need to worry about that.

Cons

If you travel in or between major cities, you may face travel congestion issues.
By renting a car with personal driver, potential language barrier is also an issue.
You need to have international driving permit.
Daily rentals are normally expensive.

Final Thoughts!

What is the best way to travel in Saudi Arabia? Saudi Arabia transportation options are endless to getting around from one city to another. Getting from Riyadh to Jeddah and traveling from Riyadh to Mecca, we shared different transportation options.

Also, we mention pros and cons along with different modes of transportation so you could easily get the better idea. After considering your travel requirements, now it’s up to you which transportation mode you want to use for getting from one city to another.