The Yanbu waterfront has been developed as a public promenade along the Red Sea, with walking and cycling paths, a marina, and gardens that provide a cooler alternative to the city centre in the evenings. The seafront is one of the more pleasant public spaces in the city — the Red Sea views are striking, particularly at sunset, and the evening breeze off the water makes it comfortable even in summer.
The marina hosts fishing boats, dive vessels, and some pleasure craft. The fish market near the commercial port is worth visiting in the early morning when the day's catch comes in — the Red Sea produces a wide variety of fish, and the market gives a sense of what the local diet and economy look like beyond the petrochemical industry that dominates the modern city.
Walking the promenade at dusk and then eating grilled fish at one of the seafront restaurants is a reasonable Yanbu evening. The combination of Red Sea air and decent seafood makes up for the city's limited conventional attractions.