Safety First: What Level 3 Means Here
Level 3 is the second-highest warning the State Department issues. It tells Americans to think hard about whether to go. For Saudi Arabia the main reason is the risk of missile and drone attacks, a threat that became very real in 2026 when strikes hit targets in Riyadh and the Eastern Province. The advisory also flags terrorism and the risk of arrest over social media posts, including old ones.
Some areas are rated Level 4, Do Not Travel. These include everything within 50 miles of the southern border, the cities of Abha, Jizan, Najran and Khamis Mushayt plus Qatif in the Eastern Province. That rules out the green Asir mountains around Abha, which are otherwise promoted for tourism.
For couples, this means flexible bookings, insurance that does not exclude war or advisory zones and enrollment in the STEP program. If the thought of airspace closures on your honeymoon is a deal breaker, choose one of the alternatives listed at the end of this guide.
Why Couples Consider Saudi Arabia
The strongest reason is novelty. Very few Americans have been. The main sights still feel uncrowded. Walking alone among the tombs of Hegra, with their carved doorways and eagles over the lintels, is a different experience from sharing Petra with thousands of day-trippers.
The second is the new wave of luxury hotels. AlUla has resorts built into canyon walls. The Red Sea coast has overwater villas and desert camps operated by well-known international brands. These properties are designed for couples, with private pools, dark skies and plenty of space.
The Red Sea itself is a draw for divers and snorkelers. Reefs along the Saudi coast have seen far less tourism than Egypt's. The water stays warm year-round.
The honest counterweight is that this is a socially conservative country with no alcohol, little nightlife and a heavy security environment. Couples who value a relaxed bar at sunset will find it missing.
Best Time to Visit
The season runs from about October to March. Days in AlUla are warm and dry in winter, often in the 70s°F, while nights can drop to the 40s°F, which makes for cozy firepit evenings and cold mornings for balloon flights. Jeddah and the Red Sea coast stay in the 80s°F in winter, with water warm enough for snorkeling.
From May to September, temperatures inland regularly pass 110°F. The coast is a little cooler but very humid. Some AlUla experiences scale back in summer. Outdoor sightseeing shrinks to the early morning.
Many of the bigger festivals and events happen in the cool months. AlUla hosts cultural programs through winter. Jeddah and Riyadh run seasonal entertainment programs with concerts and pop-up attractions.
Check the dates of Ramadan, which moves about 11 days earlier each year. Restaurants close by day, eating in public before sunset is discouraged and the mood shifts toward night. Hajj season brings enormous crowds to Jeddah's airport.
Where to Go
Our destination guides cover the three places that make most sense for a honeymoon.
- AlUla: the headline sight, with Hegra's Nabataean tombs, Elephant Rock, the mirrored Maraya concert hall and resorts set among desert canyons.
- Red Sea coast: new island and desert resorts reached through Red Sea International Airport, with coral reefs, dolphins and very little else around.
- Jeddah: the gateway city, with the historic Al-Balad district, a long seafront corniche and the country's most relaxed atmosphere.
Riyadh, struck during the 2026 fighting, is still worth a night or two for Diriyah, the restored mud-brick birthplace of the Saudi state. Add a day trip to the Edge of the World escarpment if you have time. Avoid the Asir highlands around Abha and anywhere near the southern border while they remain under Level 4.
Sample 10-Day Itinerary
Days 1–3: Fly nonstop into Jeddah. Rest the first day, then explore Al-Balad in the late afternoon when the heat fades and the souqs fill. Walk the corniche at night and see the King Fahd Fountain, one of the tallest water jets in the world.
Days 4–6: Take a domestic flight to AlUla. Spend a morning on a guided tour of Hegra, an evening watching the sky darken at Elephant Rock and a day on the Old Town, Dadan and the cliffs of Jabal Ikmah with their ancient inscriptions. Book a balloon flight or a stargazing session.
Days 7–10: Fly to the Red Sea via Riyadh or Jeddah, depending on schedules. Finish with four slow days at an island or desert resort. Snorkel, dive, do very little and fly home through Jeddah.
Domestic flights are frequent but can change. Leave a buffer day before your international departure.
Budget and Costs
Saudi Arabia is not a budget destination for honeymooners, mainly because the resorts that make it appealing sit at the top of the market. All figures here are approximate.
- AlUla resorts: often around $600–$1,500 a night, with some villas higher. More modest hotels and campsites exist but are limited in season.
- Red Sea resorts: commonly $1,000 or more a night, plus seaplane or boat transfers.
- Jeddah: good international hotels often fall between $150 and $350 a night.
- Food: casual meals are inexpensive, while resort dining is priced like a US luxury hotel.
Guided tours of Hegra and other AlUla heritage sites must be booked and paid separately. Domestic flights on Saudia, flynas and flyadeal are reasonably priced if booked early. Expect a ten-day trip with luxury resorts to run well into five figures for two.
Getting There and Around
Saudia has operated nonstops from New York JFK and Washington Dulles to Jeddah and Riyadh. Its route map has also included Los Angeles. Flights take about 12 hours from the East Coast. Many couples connect instead through Doha, Dubai, Abu Dhabi, Istanbul or a European hub, though Gulf hubs were disrupted during the 2026 war. Check the latest schedules before booking.
Domestic flights are the practical way to cover distances. AlUla's airport (ULH) and Red Sea International (RSI) have regular service from Riyadh, with Jeddah links on some schedules. Inside AlUla, resorts and tour operators arrange transport. Heritage sites are reached by official shuttles or guided tours.
Ride-hailing apps such as Uber and Careem work in Jeddah and Riyadh. Driving is possible with an international license, but traffic is aggressive and distances huge. Jeddah also has the Haramain high-speed train, though its main routes serve Mecca, which non-Muslims may not enter.
Laws, Culture and Etiquette
Saudi law applies to visitors in full. Alcohol, pork and drugs are banned. Penalties for drug offenses are severe. Criticizing the government, the royal family or religion online can lead to arrest. Authorities have prosecuted posts made before a visit.
Since 2019 unmarried foreign couples have been allowed to share hotel rooms. Public affection beyond holding hands is unwise.
Dress modestly in public. Both of you should cover shoulders and knees. Women should avoid tight or sheer clothing. Foreign women are not required to wear an abaya or cover their hair, except in mosques. Swimwear is fine at resort pools and private beaches.
The weekend is Friday and Saturday. Friday midday prayers slow everything down. Do not photograph people, particularly women, without asking. Avoid photographing government or military buildings. Hospitality is warm: accept the offer of Arabic coffee and dates, taken with the right hand.
Realistic Alternatives Nearby
If the warning or the laws make Saudi Arabia a poor fit, several destinations offer similar landscapes with fewer constraints.
Oman is the closest match. It has dramatic desert at the Wahiba Sands, the fjords of Musandam, old forts and a growing list of luxury resorts, plus a tradition of quiet neutrality in the region. Jordan gives you Petra, Wadi Rum's red desert camps and the Dead Sea, with the same Nabataean history as AlUla. Morocco offers Saharan dunes, riads and Atlantic beaches, with nonstop flights from the US and a more relaxed social climate.
For reef diving, Egypt's Red Sea coast and the Maldives are long-established choices. Check the current advisory for any country in the region before booking, since the conflict has affected much of the Gulf and Levant.
Quick tips
- Alcohol, pork and recreational drugs are illegal; penalties are severe and apply to visitors.
- Dress modestly in public: covered shoulders and knees for both partners, though foreign women need not wear an abaya or headscarf.
- Book AlUla and Red Sea resorts with flexible terms, since domestic connections and regional airspace can change quickly.
