King Abdulaziz International Airport (JED) is the main port of entry for western Saudi Arabia and one of the busiest airports in the Middle East. Direct flights from most European, North American, African, and Asian hubs land here. The Hajj Terminal — designed by Skidmore Owings & Merrill, with vast fabric tent-shaped roofs — handles two million pilgrims a year and is itself architecturally remarkable.
The Haramain High-Speed Rail connects Jeddah to Mecca (less than an hour) and Medina (about two hours). Trains run from the new Sulaimaniyah station several times a day. Foreigners can ride to Medina but not to Mecca.
Tourist visas were introduced in 2019 and now cover most western travellers — a simple online e-visa for around 80 dollars valid for a year, multiple entry. Non-Muslims may not enter Mecca or central Medina.
By road, Jeddah is about 13 hours from Riyadh on a fast desert highway. Domestic flights are the better choice.