Saudi Arabia’s capital and popularly known as the cultural hub of the country, Riyadh is home to multiple wonders that are set to surprise travelers. This is a city that not only offers ancient fortresses to travelers but is even home to large skyscrapers. In fact, there are many places to visit in Riyadh that range from historical landmarks and natural wonders to modern marvels, and much more.
So, are you on a vacation in Riyadh? Want to explore the various tourist places in the city? Here’s our detailed guide to some of the top places to visit in Saudi Arabia’s capital on a vacation.
8 Best Places To Visit In Riyadh
A city nestled in Saudi Arabia and one of the most iconic places to visit in the country, here are the top places to explore on a holiday in Riyadh.
1. Al Masmak Fort
There are things to do in Riyadh that travelers find interesting but when it comes to Al Masmak Fort, a visit to its iconic structure has to be one of the top priorities for tourists. A famous 19th-century fort made of clay and mudbrick, the fort carries huge importance and even played a significant role in recapturing the city of Riyadh in 1902. Hence, this is very much the fort that helped in the unification of Saudi Arabia.
Today, however, the fort has been turned into a museum and visitors come here to witness the structure. Not only can one look back into the history of Riyadh but one can also catch a glimpse into the key moments that shaped the history of the city. So, visit the Al Masmak Fort and catch a glimpse into the history of Riyadh.
Location - 6937 Al Thumairi St, 3153، Riyadh 12634 6937, Saudi Arabia
Timings -
Sunday to Thursday: 9 AM to 8 PM
Friday: 4 to 8 PM
2. Murabba Palace And The King Abdul Aziz Historical Center
Another Riyadh tourist spot that features in our list is the Murabba Palace and the King Abdul Aziz Historical Center. Popular for its modern Saudi Royal Architecture, the center even surrounds the former royal palace of Murabba which is one of the major attractions in Saudi Arabia. One can catch a glimpse into the history of Saudi Arabia here while the abandoned courtyard house, a historical car, and old majlis alongside other activities await for the travelers to see. Interestingly, the place has a remodeled mosque that clearly resembles the original royal mosque that first served the palace years ago. So, visit this cultural heart of modern Riyadh and have a great time exploring the place.
Location - Al Murabba, Riyadh 12631, Saudi Arabia
Timings - 8 AM to 10 PM
3. Deerah Souq
Located on the old site of the city near Al Masmak Fort, Deerah Souq is another of those tourist places in Riyadh that offers the best of shopping experience to visitors. The place is also famous by the name Al-Thumairi Souq and offers a plethora of products that one can shop for. In fact, the shops here offer multiple options that compete directly with some of the best malls in Riyadh today.
With products like carpet, gold, silver, furniture and so much more, there's a lot to look forward to for visitors here. Visitors can head to the Gold Souq or buy antiques from the souq. The most interesting part about the Souq is that it offers a perfect glimpse of the history of Saudi Arabia while the antiques available here are hard to find anywhere else in the world.
Location - 3138 Abi Jafar Al Mansour St, Ghirnatah, Riyadh 13242, Saudi Arabia
Timings - The souq is open for 24 hours
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4. Diriyah
Nestled on the outskirts of Riyadh and a UNESCO World Heritage Site, Diriyah is one of the finest places to visit in April in the world and once served as the home of the Saudi Royal Family and the first Saudi Capital. As history has it, the city was completely destroyed in the 19th century when the Ottoman and Saudi armies clashed. It was here where the siege happened.
Today, a visit to this part of the country is one of the top things to do in Saudi Arabia as travelers from around the world come pouring here on a vacation.
Featuring ancient mud architecture, multiple parks and so much more, there's a lot to look forward to at Diriyah. Visit here and get a historical glimpse into the city.
Location - Northwest outskirts of Riyadh
Timings - N/A
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5. Sky Bridge
Ever wondered about seeing Riyadh from above? Well, the Sky Bridge in Riyadh offers that privilege. One of the finest places to go in Riyadh, the bridge is located on the 50th floor of the Kingdom Tower and is about 65-meters long. Currently being the third-tallest skyscraper in Riyadh, the bridge offers some scintillating views of the city. When standing on the bridge, one is about 300 meters above the ground.
Interestingly, while the panoramic views of the city are a major highlight of the bridge, one can visit either during the day or at night. Having said that, the night is probably the best time to visit the Sky Bridge in Riyadh as visitors get to see the whole city glowing in colors. What's more? The Kingdom Center Mall at the base of the tower has all kinds of luxury brands that visitors can shop from.
Location - Al Olaya, Riyadh 12214, Saudi Arabia
Timings -
Saturday to Thursday: 12 PM to 11 PM
Friday: 4 PM to 11 PM
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6. The National Museum
One of the finest places to visit in Riyadh, the National Museum is another place that travelers can look to visit on a vacation in Riyadh. Nestled right next to the Murabba Palace, the museum boasts of its historic artifacts and modern building. If someone truly wishes to catch a glimpse of the Saudi culture and people, the museum is the right place as it has a massive collection of all the things that define the culture of the country. Be it fossils, Pre-Islamic Trade routes, and so on, the National Museum has it all. Besides, the museum is located close to some top-notch hotels and resorts in Riyadh like the Durrat Al Riyadh Resort, Goot Resorts, and so on.
Location - Historical Center، King Abdul Aziz، Al Murabba, Riyadh 12631, Saudi Arabia
Timings - 8 AM to 9 PM
7. Deera Square
There are many top tourist attractions in Riyadh and Deera Square is one of them. Also renowned by Justice Square, the place is where capital punishment used to take place. But here's a thing, around all the talks about capital punishment and Deera Square, the place is perfect to visit for the visitors and one can spend a nice time at the square. Visitors coming here would find kids running and playing around the water fountains. As for the vibe of the place, there's a lot that Deera Square is admired for.
Location - Riyadh, Saudi Arabia
Timings - N/A
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8. Hayat Mall
Located on the intersection of King Abdulaziz Road and King Abdullah Road in one of the most populated areas of Riyadh, the Hayat Mall has a staggering 425 shops and is the first of its kind in the city of Riyadh. Being a prominent shopping place for most residents in Riyadh, the mall has a wide entrance and easy view of all shops on the ground floor for the convenience of travelers.
With brands like Zara, Red Tag, Paris Gallery, Marks & Spencers, Masiimo Duiti, and so on, the Hayat Mall has it all. In fact, the mall features 2286 parking spaces for the cars to come in. Hence, the mall has enough space to accommodate a big crowd.
Location - Abdulaziz Road at the crossroads with King Abdullah
Timings - Monday to Sunday: 10 AM to 1:30 AM
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A city that holds immense importance in Saudi Arabia, Riyadh is the capital and the country's cultural hub where visitors get ample opportunities for exploration. With multiple museums, malls, and historical landmarks, there are many places to visit in Riyadh which travelers need to know about. In fact, the historical museums in the city present a whole picture of the country's past. So, what's the delay? Book your plane ticket to Riyadh and come explore the wonders of the city.
FAQs
Being Saudi Arabia's capital, there are many top places to visit in Riyadh, but when it comes to Al Masmak Fort, a visit to its iconic structure has to be one of the top priorities for tourists. A famous 19th-century fort made of clay and mudbrick, the fort carries huge importance and even played a significant role in recapturing the city of Riyadh in 1902.
One can catch a glimpse into the history of Saudi Arabia here while the abandoned courtyard house, a historical car, and old majlis alongside other activities await for the travelers to see. Interestingly, the place has a remodeled mosque that clearly resembles the original royal mosque that first served the palace years ago.
Although the duration of stay clearly depends on the personal choices of travelers, anyone coming to Riyadh can look to spend about a minimum of 2 to 3 days in the city as there are multiple spots to explore here.
One of the finest places to go in Riyadh, the bridge is located on the 50th floor of the Kingdom Tower and is about 65-meters long. Currently being the third-tallest skyscraper in Riyadh, the bridge offers some scintillating views of the city. When standing on the bridge, one is about 300 meters above the ground.
Yes, nestled on the outskirts of Riyadh and a UNESCO World Heritage Site, Diriyah once served as the home of the Saudi Royal Family and the first Saudi Capital. As history has it, the city was completely destroyed in the 19th century when the Ottoman and Saudi armies clashed. It was here where the siege happened.
Riyadh is a city that has a mix of both luxury and affordable hotels for visitors. Speaking of the top ones, here are the best hotels nestled in Riyadh today.
- InterContinental Riyadh
- Fairmont Riyadh
- Marriott Riyadh Diplomatic Quarter
- Al Mashreq Boutique Hotel
- Aloft Riyadh
- Goot Resorts
Yes, the King Khalid International Airport, also known as the Riyadh Airport is the main airbase that serves the capital of Saudi Arabia today. All International airlines flying to Riyadh arrive at this airport.
There are multiple things that Riyadh as a city is famous for. While being the financial heart of the country Saudi Arabia, the city is famous for being a cultural hub and features some eye-catching sand dunes today.
