Yanbu and the Red Sea Coast

Yanbu is a Red Sea port in western Saudi Arabia, about 225 km west of Madinah by road (an estimate), and offers the region's easiest escape to the coast. The drive takes about 2.5-3 hours each way, so the trip is a long day. Options are a SAPTCO intercity coach (saptco.com.sa; fare and timetable should be confirmed) or a private taxi at roughly SAR 600-900 each way (an estimate). Yanbu has two distinct parts: Yanbu Al Bahr, the old coastal town, and the large industrial city, and visitors are generally drawn to the former. The historic district is centred on the old port, with traditional coral-stone houses with carved wooden windows, a small museum, and a corniche along the Red Sea. The seafront is lined with promenades, fish restaurants and cafes, and local boats can be seen in the harbour. The coast also offers swimming and snorkelling at public beaches and dive operators who work the nearby reefs; clear water and coral are the main draws. A suggested day arc is to leave Madinah early, arrive in the late morning, walk through the old town and corniche, eat a seafood lunch of grilled fish and rice, spend the afternoon on a beach or boat trip, and start back by late afternoon so the return drive is not in darkness. The best season is October to April, when sea and air temperatures are comfortable; summer is very hot and humid. Food stops include simple seafood restaurants near the corniche, plus cafes serving coffee and sweets. Rest stops along the highway have fuel and basic food. Swimwear rules for beaches are conservative, so visitors should check local rules. Because the day is long, an overnight stay in Yanbu is a reasonable alternative to a same-day return.