From the airport to the city centre Saudi Arabia

If you're flying to Saudi Arabia from France, you'll land either in Riyadh, the capital, or in Jeddah, the arrival point for Mecca. There are also winter connections between Paris and AlUla. The first thing to do is buy a local SIM card so you can use the services of Uber or Careem. Green cabs are also available at airport exits, and you can pay by credit card.

The country's distances are vast, and airports are often quite far from cities. Although public transport is sometimes available, it is not the most practical way of getting to your hotel. In Jeddah, for example, a train links the airport to Mecca via the city.

Arrival by train Saudi Arabia

There are two train lines from Riyadh. The first serves Al Hofuf, Abqaiq and Dammam. The second runs north to the Jordanian border and serves Majmaah, Qassim/Buraydah, Hail, Jauf and Qurayyat. All information and ticket reservations are available at www.sar.com.sa.

There is a line in the west of the country that connects the holy cities of Medina and Mecca, via Jeddah (city and airport), the Haramain High Speed Railway. This is a high speed line with trains moving at 300 km/h. All information and ticket reservations can be found at www.sar.hhr.sa.

Arrival by boat Saudi Arabia

Saudi Arabia has no maritime links with other countries such as Egypt, Jordan, Kuwait or Qatar.

Cruise ships call at Jeddah and Yanbu during the high season.

Public transport Saudi Arabia

SAPTCO is the national bus company, which operates both intercity routes and networks in the cities of Riyadh, Jeddah and Makkah. Buses run daily between 5:30 am and 11:30 pm. The heavy traffic in these cities makes bus travel long and tedious. Saudis do not use public transport much, as it is mainly used by migrant workers.

Bike, scooters & co Saudi Arabia

Bicycle lanes have recently appeared on the sidewalks of Riyadh's city center. Because of the heat in the city, and in the rest of the country, you won't see many people getting around by bike.

With a driver Saudi Arabia

Uber and Careem are the leading VTC companies in Saudi Arabia. Both companies are equal and offer equivalent services at similar rates. The services are available in all Saudi cities and work well and quickly. Waiting time rarely exceeds 10 minutes to locate a driver. However, in some cities, due to heavy traffic, arrival time can be long. AlUla is the only tourist destination where the service is inefficient due to a lack of drivers.

Public cabs in Saudi Arabia are green and can be seen from a distance. They are all equipped with a meter and it is possible to pay by credit card. With the emergence of VTC companies, and since women are allowed to drive, there are fewer and fewer of them.

By car Saudi Arabia

Saudi driving is sporty, to say the least, and can be quite stressful in the cities. Drivers don't hesitate to zigzag between lanes without signaling, stick to your bumper or straddle two lanes. Once you're out of town, there's very little traffic, and you won't come across many people in the desert.

In general, speeds are limited to 50 km/h in town, 70 km/h on the outskirts of towns, 80 km/h on secondary roads and 120 km/h on freeways. All paved roads are free of charge and in very good condition.

As Saudis have little respect for the rules of the road, and the number of road deaths is high, checks are increasingly frequent and fines expensive. Fines can be accompanied by immediate imprisonment for certain offences.

In view of the particular climatic conditions, always be sure to fill up your tank if you're planning a long trip, and keep a large water bottle in your trunk. Never take to the slopes if you have a city car, and don't set off to tackle the sand dunes alone, without a suitable car, adequate equipment to remove sand if necessary, or if you're not already an experienced driver.

Accessibility Saudi Arabia

Saudi Arabia has developed around the car. You will hardly ever see people walking in the cities, except around the traditional souks. However, the cities are equipped with wide sidewalks, sometimes quite high, which can be a handicap with a stroller or wheelchair.

In large cities such as Riyadh, Jeddah or Dammam, streets are very wide and there are few traffic lights to ensure smooth flow. As a result, crossing the road can be a bit tricky, and you may have to make long detours on foot.

Tourist traps Saudi Arabia

Saudi Arabia is a very safe country and tourism development is only very recent. Therefore, there is no need to be particularly vigilant against possible frauds or scams.