10 Tips for Traveling in Saudi Arabia on a Budget

Traveling in Saudi Arabia on a budget is tricky but definitely possible. This just involves you using public transport, staying in budget accommodations, eating local food, planning trips in advance, applying for a Saudi eVisa online, and a few other things that help in saving every dollar.

In recent years, Saudi Arabia has quickly become one of the most exciting travel destinations in the Middle East. Previously, the kingdom only held importance due to its place in Islam; as a result, it was mainly visited by Muslims from around the globe. However, aligning the kingdom’s tourism mission with Vision 2030 changed things a lot.

Well, when one thinks about Saudi Arabia, most assume that it will be expensive. But in reality, with smart planning, Saudi Arabia can be surprisingly budget-friendly. From affordable local food and budget car rentals in Saudi Arabia to low-cost accommodations and free cultural attractions, travelers can easily explore the Kingdom without overspending.

So, before one starts to plan their trip to Saudi Arabia from the USA or Canada, it is essential that they proceed only after knowing a few tips. This helps them plan a trip that helps them save money while having a good experience.

Why Saudi Arabia Is More Affordable Than You Think

Saudi Arabia may appear like an expensive place due to luxury hotels, resorts, and other high-end attractions. While these options are available, it doesn’t mean that these are the only options. Apart from that, many other factors help in making it affordable for tourists from all corners of the world. Some of these include:

Low Fuel Prices

The country offers domestic fuel at subsidized prices. This helps in making the transportation costs significantly cheaper, irrespective of whether you are driving or taking a taxi.

Inexpensive Local Food

Dining at local eateries and traditional restaurants offers filling meals at great prices. You just have to pay for a fraction of the cost of high-end international diners, so this makes eating on a budget easier than ever.

Free Cultural Attractions

There are many historical sites, museums, and even natural wonders where you can visit without paying anything. These are accessible without an entry fee, so they reduce the sightseeing expenses.

Increasing Budget Accommodations

The market of budget-friendly hotels and guesthouses is constantly getting better. The market is growing, and so is the number of affordable lodging options across the country.

10 Budget Travel Tips for Saudi Arabia

Planning a budget-friendly trip to Saudi Arabia becomes easy when you learn about a few essential tips. This helps you plan the perfect trip without compromising on comfort and adventure. Some of these travel tips include:

Travel During the Shoulder Season

Traveling to Saudi Arabia during the shoulder seasons of February to March and September to November is excellent to save some dollars. These are considered the best budget months and come with many options for budget airlines to Saudi Arabia​ and budget-friendly hotels.

Besides that, you also get fewer crowds than during peak winters. The time is ideal to balance cost with comfortable outdoor exploration. So, you won’t have to miss out on anything just for the sake of saving money.

Apply for a Saudi eVisa Before You Travel

The Saudi eVisa is an easier and much more convenient alternative to the traditional embassy visa. This helps you avoid embassy visits, faster approval, and the best part is that it is offered at a fixed and transparent cost. The process is very simple and involves following these steps:

• Visit the eVisa application website.
• Fill out the application form properly.
• Add scanned copies of necessary documents like a valid passport (one with at least 6 months' validity and at least 2 blank pages), recent passport-sized photograph, bank statements, travel itinerary, flight tickets, and other documents required by the authority.
• Pay the application fee through debit or credit card.
• Wait for 3 to 5 days for the visa application to get processed.
• Receive the eVisa approval letter at the email ID that you used during the application.
• Print a few copies of the letter and bring them with you during the immigration.

Note: The Saudi Arabia travel eVisa comes with a validity of 1 year, allows multiple entries, and 90 days stay per visit.

Use Budget Transportation Options

Saudi Arabian cities like Riyadh, Jeddah, and others are rapidly developing modern public transportation. There are metro and bus systems that are expanding and let you travel at cost-effective prices at a fraction of taxi prices. These come with smart ticketing and eco-friendly options that help make things easier for all.

Other than that, many budget car rentals in Saudi Arabia help you travel in comfort. However, their prices can be a little higher than public transport, but still way more cost-effective than luxury cars.

Additional read: Public Transport in Saudi Arabia: How to Get Around as a Tourist

Eat Like a Local

Eating like a tourist when exploring Saudi Arabia will not help you enjoy a budget trip. This means you are increasing your chances of getting stuck at over-hyped places and paying high-end prices.

So, you must eat like a local and opt for the local eateries. This will be ideal to have authentic, affordable, and filling food. Local eateries serve great foods like Kabsa, Shawarma, Falafel, Mandi, Saleeg, Balila, Al Baik chicken, and many more that help you immerse in the flavor of delicious Middle Eastern dishes.

Choose Budget-Friendly Accommodations

Choosing budget-friendly stays in Saudi Arabia is equally important as budget airlines for Saudi Arabia trip. This lets you save money for other experiences. However, this doesn’t mean that you will have to choose an option that comes with fewer facilities or is in a bad condition.

Many hotel apartments often offer great value with facilities at a good budget. Other than that, there are also many budget hotels and guesthouses that come with affordable rooms and standard facilities. So, choose one according to your desired spending.

Book Domestic Travel in Advance

Booking domestic travel like flights, trains, and buses at least 1 to 3 months in advance is one tip that every budget traveler should keep in mind. This helps you in beating rising prices as the date nears.

Besides that, mid-week travel that is between Tuesday and Thursday is often cheaper than weekends. This way, they help you save a lot of money on domestic travel.

Visit Free Cultural & Natural Attractions

Saudi Arabia definitely has many attractions that involve paying high entry fees. However, there is definitely a world beyond that, and there are many natural and cultural attractions that are free or low-cost.

For instance, you can stroll Jeddah’s beautiful Corniche for sea views, visit historic places like Al Balad, admire grand mosques outside the prayer times, find some peace at desert viewpoints like the Edge of the World, explore parks like Riyadh’s King Abdullah Park, and many more. These options let you experience the rich culture, history, and stunning nature of the kingdom without spending a ton.

Dress Appropriately to Avoid Extra Costs

Saudi Arabian culture follows modest dressing. All individuals are required to wear loose-fitted clothes that properly cover their shoulders, knees, and ankles. Women must also wear headscarves where it is needed.

This helps in avoiding fines and entry denials to certain places. On top of that, this way you will also be able to eliminate the need to buy a modest outfit after reaching the kingdom.

Use Free Apps & Tourist Resources

Exploring Saudi Arabia becomes very easy when you use free apps and other tourist resources like Google Maps or OsmAnd for navigation, Visit Saudi and Go Saudi for planning, offers, and free museum days, and Uber or others for budget car rental in Saudi Arabia. Besides that, you can also rely on local options like Balady Maps for urban navigation.

These options are designed to help tourists navigate the kingdom with ease. On top of that, they also do not cost anything, so they help you save money.

Plan Your Itinerary to Minimize Distance

Saudi Arabia is a large place, and exploring the country definitely involves some cost. However, you can lower this cost, especially the transport cost, by grouping destinations by region.

This trick minimizes the distance traveled, which lowers your travel expense. This way, it will become easier to plan the destinations you want to cover within your budget.

Sample Budget Breakdown

Here’s a breakdown of what you can expect to pay daily during your Saudi Arabia trip:

Ready to Start Your Budget Trip to Saudi Arabia?

Planning a successful trip to Saudi Arabia doesn’t have to be expensive. You can easily lower the total cost with some smart planning, local experiences, and the convenience of an online Saudi eVisa. Simply by opting for budget airlines to Saudi Arabia, traveling like a local, and opting for free attractions, travelers can easily explore the Kingdom comfortably on a budget.

However, one must remember to get things in advance, like hotels, eVisa, and others. This helps in eliminating the need to pay hefty last-minute costs and experience any delays.

READ MORE:
Festivals in Saudi Arabia allow tourists to experience a diverse range of traditions and beliefs in a lively and festive atmosphere. Here are some of the top cultural festivals that reflect the heritage and history of Saudi Arabia.

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Check your eligibility for Online Saudi Visa and apply at least 3 days in advance of your flight to KSA. Czech citizens, French citizens, Swedish citizens, Portuguese citizens and Spanish citizens can apply online for Online Saudi Visa.