Asia > Saudi Arabia > Jeddah (JED)
The Car or no Car advice for Jeddah can be broken down into three similar questions - do you need a car in Jeddah ; is it worth it (based on costs), and ultimately - should you rent one? (a balance of the two).🚆 🚌⛴️ Do we need to rent a car in Jeddah ?
These scores are based on the quality of public transport and other travel options. If these are good enough to see the main points of interest, then you don’t need to rent a car.
💰💶💳 Is it worth hiring a car in Jeddah?
These scores reflect the practical factors that affect whether renting a car is convenient, good value, and stress-free.
Jeddah without a car 🚶♂️🚖
Historically, Jeddah has been very difficult to navigate without a car. The city is long, spread out along the Red Sea coast, and built around wide roads rather than walkable neighbourhoods. Pavements are inconsistent, distances are large, and summer heat makes walking uncomfortable for much of the year.
That said, taxis and ride-hailing services such as Uber and Careem are widely used and relatively affordable. Many visitors rely on these rather than driving themselves, especially for short stays focused on hotels, shopping malls, and the Corniche waterfront. Jeddah’s historic old town, Al-Balad, is compact and walkable once you arrive, but getting there usually requires a car or taxi.
Public transport: improving but limited 🚆
Jeddah is investing heavily in transport, but options are still limited for visitors. There is no operational metro yet, although major rail and urban transit projects are planned as part of Vision 2030. Long-distance rail does exist: the Haramain High Speed Railway links Jeddah with Mecca, Medina, and King Abdullah Economic City, and it is modern, fast, and very tourist-friendly.
However, this helps mainly for intercity travel rather than moving around Jeddah itself.
Why renting a car makes sense 🚗
A rental car offers freedom and convenience. Roads are modern, fuel is cheap, and parking is generally available. A car makes it easy to explore different parts of the city, visit beaches north and south of the centre, and combine Jeddah with trips towards Mecca, Taif, or inland desert areas.
Driving standards are improving, but traffic can still be aggressive at peak times.
Conclusion: should you rent a car in Jeddah?
For most visitors, yes. While taxis work well for short stays, a rental car remains the easiest way to experience Jeddah fully and explore beyond the immediate city centre.
