Only since 2019 has Saudi Arabia become accessible to visitors from other countries. Its leadership, however, have invested billions to modernise its stringent Islamic rules, construct a tourism infrastructure, and make the country more hospitable to tourists in an effort to diversify its economy away from oil. Destinations are therefore springing up everywhere in this old country, including its two beaches (on the Persian Gulf and the Red Sea), its history-rich gorges, its vast deserts, and its renovated mediaeval city centres. Malls and souks will appeal to shoppers, foodies to trendy coffee shops, glitzy eateries like Scott’s, Sexy Fish, and Jason Atherton’s Social, and outdoor food markets in the evenings that offer delectable delicacies like wood-cooked chicken shish and pastries sprinkled with pistachios. These are the top accommodations in Saudi Arabia, ranging from chic city hotels with spas to hip caravans with food truck eateries and electric bikes.

1. Our Habitas, AlUla

Ideal for activities It seems like a camp and a trendy hotel at the same time, situated in a canyon among strange sandstone structures that have been sculpted over thousands of years. Scattered throughout the desert slopes, its 96 rooms include modern décor, an outdoor shower and a canvas-shaded porch. Electric buggies and fat-tired bikes are available for transportation. Its health offerings are excellent and include free daily yoga, sound baths, meditation, and exercises in the adjacent shady caves or in its cool spa and gym. The resort’s knowledgeable spa therapists employ organic local oils, and the food is fresh and Middle Eastern.

2. Banyan Tree, AlUla

Ideal for families This stylish hotel in the Ashar Valley’s canyons offers villas with one to three bedrooms, some with private pools, and views of the world’s largest mirrored structure, Maraya. Bicycles are provided in each villa so that visitors may move across the sprawling property and visit the coffee shop, Thai and Middle Eastern eateries, and spa. Though its in-house experiences—barbecues under the stars, breakfast served on a floating tray to enjoy in your villa’s pool, Bedouin-tent dinners, and outdoor yoga and meditation—are its most notable features, Instagrammers like the pool, which is situated high in a canyon, between rocks.

3. Shada Al Shate’a, Jeddah

Ideal for stays on a tight budget This boutique hotel is not only well-located but also fairly priced, close to the Formula One track, the Red Sea Mall for shopping, and the second-largest port city in the Middle East. The rooms are cosy, functional, and furnished with regional artwork, such as calligraphy, ceramics, and pillows created by Saudi women (available for purchase on the hotel’s website). Experiences may be planned to visit the heritage buildings of Al Balad or the nearby Bayadah Island for walks. The lobby is a well-liked spot for coffee and pastries and is furnished with local furnishings.

4. Four Seasons Hotel Riyadh at Kingdom Centre, Riyadh

The best for luxury in the city core This hotel, which occupies floors 30 to 50 of a 99-story skyscraper that is among the tallest in Saudi Arabia, is emblematic of the kingdom’s wealth as well as its faith (the building’s top is shaped like a crescent moon, which is associated with Islam) and beliefs (the spa is exclusively for men, but there is a gym and treatment room for women). The hotel’s international-style rooms provide views of the city, and its restaurants, which include a seafood grill and a Pierre Hermé bakery, as well as a glass bridge at the top that may be reserved for a romantic meal for two.

5. St Regis Red Sea Resort, Red Sea

Ideal for a beach vacation This appears to be in the Maldives, but it is really 22 kilometres off the coast of Saudi Arabia. It is the first of the new Red Sea development islands to open to tourists, and 50 resorts are expected to open there by 2030. Star architect Kengo Kuma created the island’s dune and overwater homes, which are all decorated in calming hues with cotton, rattans, and natural woods and provide views of the crystal-clear seas and abundant marine life. The bars provide creative non-alcoholic cocktails, while the four restaurants serve everything from Japanese cuisine to Arabian delicacies and burgers. Every villa has butlers, a sophisticated spa, and a club for large kids.Swimsuits and shorts are seen as respectable attire here, which is unusual for Saudi Arabia.

6. Shangri-La, Jeddah

Ideal for Formula One enthusiasts This traditional luxury hotel, which is a part of the 64-story Burj Assila, Jeddah’s highest structure, features comfortable rooms, white marble baths, and sleek service. It is all chrome and polished grey marble. Its location, right off the corniche and with a view of the Formula One racecourse, is its USP. Guests facing the sea can watch the races from their balcony. Its clever eating options include Chinese and Lebanese eateries; the terrace has a large outdoor pool with views of the sea; and the non-alcoholic bar provides delectable tea and mocktails. Its spa features separate treatment rooms, saunas, and gyms for men and women.

7. Al Balad Hospitality Hotels, Jeddah

Ideal for heritage Whole ancient homes are being turned into hotels as part of a larger Ministry of Culture effort to renovate Jeddah’s Al Balad old town. House of Jokhdar, Kedwan, and Al Rayess are the three that have opened thus far. They are all exquisitely renovated and were constructed utilising traditional techniques. Coral blocks are used for walls, wooden beams are used for ceilings, tiles and hand painting are used for flooring, furniture is inlaid with shells, and bathrooms are outfitted with opulent 21st-century finishing. The closest one can go to living like a king in Saudi Arabia is a private restaurant in one home where guests from all the houses may savour delectable meals.