what is there to do in saudi arabia
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From my feel of beingness a visitor and tourist in Riyadh in 2020, there are ii ways to see Riyadh when looking into things to do in Riyadh – as a tourist and as a local.
Whilst there are a few tourist attractions in Riyadh that I do recommend you visit, I advise, in order to actually enjoy your time in Riyadh, yous shouldn't focus on these too much equally office of your things to do in Riyadh.
Instead nourish as many local events that are on, have a walk around a shopping mall and visit the areas which are full of cool cafes and restaurants to really experience local Saudi life.
Because after all, if yous're the kind of traveller who wants to visit Saudi, I'yard sure you don't want to visit on tourist attractions anyway! You want to get to know the locals and come across what this previously airtight-off land is actually similar, and you lot tin go a adept idea of this by visiting the upper-case letter metropolis of Riyadh!
In this Riyadh Travel Blog, I'k going to give you data about Riyadh City, things to do in Riyadh, places to visit in Riyadh and entertainment places in Riyadh so you can plan your Riyadh itinerary no matter whether you are spending ii days in Riyadh or 1 week in Riyadh! Yallah!
Meet too: My Total Travel Guide to Riyadh!
Things To Do in Riyadh
- My Related Posts To Help Y'all Visit Riyadh!
- My Complete Riyadh Travel Guide!
- What to Wear in Saudi Arabia as a Foreign Female Tourist.
- How To Get a Sim Card in Riyadh Airport!
- How to exercise an Edge of the World Tour From Riyadh!
Please Note – Due to the current situation, please check all opening times and booking details on the individual attractions website before you go to ensure it is non closed or has restrictions in place.
Things To Practice in Riyadh As a Tourist.
1. Skybridge in Kingdom Belfry
This is top of the listing for best things to practise in Riyadh!
For the best viewpoint in Riyadh, you have to head upward the Kingdom Tower to the Skybridge! The Kingdom Belfry the nigh famous looking building in Riyadh, (it looks a bit similar a bottle opener which is ironic considering Saudi is a dry country!).
It has a big shopping mall in it and the 360 view from the Skybridge is across impressive making information technology the topthings to do in Riyadh in my opinion!
The weather in Riyadh is unremarkably articulate but often information technology can be hazy and dusty from sand so endeavour and get when the conditions is clear so get the best view of Riyadh!
2. National Museum of Saudi arabia
This may be the cheapest place to visit in Riyadh at but 10SAR (that'southward cheaper than a java) and it has to be the best museum in Riyadh considering The National Museum of Kingdom of saudi arabia gives yous so much information on the history of Kingdom of saudi arabia.
It's pretty large over 2 floors then it takes ane-two hours to walk around and makes for a bully place to visit in Riyadh when yous're thinking of where to go in Riyadh.
I would recommend going here on your offset day in Riyadh as part of your things to do in Riyadh to help give yous an understanding of the history of the Kingdom and the religion of Islam.
three. Masmak Fort
For some more history on Riyadh and Saudi Arabia head to Masmak Fort which is free to enter and 1 of the really good things to practise in Riyadh.
For an piece of cake and budget friendly fashion to explore Al Masmak and the surrounding expanse, cheque out this Self-Guided Walking Tour for Al Masmak on Riyadh's History via Viator!
4. Deera Square
Beyond the road from Masmak Fort is Deera Square. To tourists, this is also known as 'chop chop square' every bit it's where public executions were held in Riyadh and so it should be on your Riyadh sightseeing list. However, I wouldn't talk about this too much with locals…
In that location are lots of streets effectually Masmak Fort and Deera Square that y'all can walk effectually with lots of local shops. I do recommend going here during the solar day every bit I felt a picayune uncomfortable here at sunset when it was dark on my own.
Notation- The National Museum of Saudi arabia and Masmak Fort are close together so I recommend seeing both of these Riyadh attractions at the same time on your Riyadh itinerary.
Yous will need to become a taxi betwixt them as you can't walk between them, Riyadh is not pedestrian-friendly!
5. Old Diriyah
Diriyah is Riyadh's Celebrated Neighbourhood in the West of the city and one of the top places to visit in Riyadh and things to do in Riyadh.
When I have visited Riyadh, Diriyah has been closed to the public due to the other events happening in Riyadh, so I would recommend checking on Visit Saudi's website here whether it'south open before going there.
vi. Najd Village
For the best eatery in Riyadh for tourists, visit Najd Village for Tiffin or Dinner to experience the heritage of Saudi arabia without leaving the city becauseNajd Hamlet offers traditional local food and a traditional interior.
- My Related Posts To Help You Visit Riyadh!
- My Complete Riyadh Travel Guide!
- What to Wear in Saudi Arabia as a Strange Female Tourist.
- How To Get a Sim Carte in Riyadh Airport!
- How to do an Border of the World Bout From Riyadh!
Prayer Time in Riyadh
Something to notation equally a tourist to Riyadh, and Saudi Arabia, are the five prayer times. The first early morning prayer will not affect yous but the other 4 will.
In Riyadh, most shops, cafes and restaurants will close during prayer fourth dimension meaning you may be waiting outside until they open if you get there once the prayer starts.
The Prayer times exercise change slightly throughout the year then it's all-time to google 'prayer times in Riyadh' in advance so yous know when they are.
Things To Exercise in Riyadh Like a Local.
Now for the best places to visit in Riyadh that locals visit. These mainly include shopping malls and the best places to consume in Riyadh too so be sure not to miss them and add them to your things to exercise in Riyadh!
7. The 303
This is a really absurd complex in the financial function of the Riyadh in the North of the city. There are a few food stalls outside and at that place is a fancy movie theater inside.
I watched a picture here at 00:15 which is a pop time to scout a pic in Riyadh so make sure you lot arrange your sleeping schedule to fit in with Saudi fourth dimension!
The 303 makes for one of the good things to do in Riyadh at night and be sure to find the really modern looking mosque in the area too!
Click hither for the google maps link
8. The Zone
This is an area with lots of cafes and restaurants in it so you are bound to find something you lot'll like. It gets busier in the evenings and weekends especially and then it's expert to visit then to run across what Saudi's do on the weekend.
Greem Cafe is a Korean Buffet with a super cool 2d design that I recommend you visit and add to your list of things to do in Riyadh!
Click hither for the Google maps location
nine. The Boulevard Riyadh
Not to be dislocated with The Boulevard that is part of the Riyadh Season, this is an area with some nice restaurants and cafes and another place to discover local life all day and all dark.
For a cool place for coffee visit Minyums!
Click here for the Google Maps link
x. Backyard
Some other strip with lots of cool cafes, Kanakah Buffet is cool and decorated really nicely.
A few years agone it was a female-only cafe but has recently inverse so men tin can visit and it has a nice atmosphere.
I know all of these cafes may not seem like fun things to do in Riyadh but recall that considering Saudi is a dry out state, instead of bars people spend a lot of time in cafes drinking coffee, so they are good places to visit in Riyadh to chill, see local life and start a conversation with a local!
Click here for the Google Maps link
eleven. Riyadh Park Mall
Riyadh has a lot of shopping malls, most of the malls in Riyadh take rides and games in them making them some of the good family places to visit in Riyadh and places to visit in Riyadh with children.
Riyadh Park Mall is the most impressive shopping mall in Riyadh so if you only go to one, yous should visit here.
12. Diplomatic Quarter
Also known equally the DQ, the Diplomatic Quarter is one of the elevation things to exercise in Riyadh for expats and places to visit for expats in Riyadh as it used to be an area that only expats lived in.
Hither is my total blog mail on how to visit the DQ in Riyadh and things to exercise in the Diplomatic Quarter!
Now, information technology has all of the embassies in and Saudi'southward can alive in the DQ too. The best thing almost visit the DQ in Riyadh is that you can walk around information technology without the fearfulness of beingness ran over by a machine!
Riyadh is not a pedestrian-friendly metropolis so it'southward bang-up walking around the streets in the DQ and the walking trails in the Diplomatic Quarter and the walking trails in the Diplomatic Quarter are great if you demand some do or want to go for a run.
Y'all can easily spend a full afternoon here, it's such a pretty area and there are cafes and restaurants as well so you can stay for lunch and dinner. In my opinion, this is the best things to do in Riyadh for tourists!
13. Riyadh Season
During the Winter and into the start of Spring, Riyadh Season is on which includes Winter Wonderland, The Boulevard and many other events effectually the urban center.
These are events that have been prepare for Saudi locals from Riyadh and other parts of Saudi to nourish but also to attract foreign visitors to the Kingdom by offering more entertainment places in Riyadh and fun things to do in Riyadh.
During the Summer, Riyadh will take fewer events happening considering the weather gets extremely hot and locals stay inside more.
But Saudi Arabia seems to be focused on providing equally much amusement in Saudi Arabia as possible so it is worth downloading the Riyadh Season app to bank check what is happening and speak to some locals about what entertainment in Riyadh is on, no matter when you visit.
xiv. Movie theater
Did y'all know that upwardly until about 2017 there were no cinemas in Saudi Arabia!
At present that there are, going to the cinema is a popular activity and one of the popular things to practise in Riyadh for locals, especially at night, and late at night.
You may not find this interesting, but like going to the mall and going to coffee shops, this is what Saudi's practice in Riyadh and if y'all desire to experience the best of Riyadh, I suggest y'all join in on activities like this also!
Solar day Trips from Riyadh.
What I really loved doing in Riyadh is heading of the metropolis on an organised tour from Riyadh.
I was surprised to see that nigh of the people on the two day tours from Riyadh that I did were Saudi but I really liked this because I was able to see a lot of local people and information technology felt similar a local feel, but as a foreign tourist in Riyadh, I was however welcomed onto the tour and I did meet some other international tourists who were travelling around Saudi Arabia too!
15. Border of the World
This is by far the best and easiest day trip from Riyadh. Every bit a strange tourist to Riyadh, yous can drive yourself to the Edge of the Globe (bank check out prices for car rental in Riyadh hither) as it is located on Google maps, however, one time you leave the main road there is no road, but the desert, so you do have to be careful.
Personally I recommend joining a group tour to the like this Edge of the World Tour with Riyadh Hiking which is what I did.
Nosotros met in the North of Riyadh and were all taken into the desert by jitney. We visited the Border of the World and had a few hours walking around and taking photos.
Later sunset, nosotros went to the Riyadh Hiking camp where we had a BBQ dinner and were able to chat to everyone on the tour with music and shisha.
We as well got to ride quad bikes and visit a cave underground then it was a really fun afternoon and evening trip from Riyadh and definitely needs to exist on your list of things to do in Riyadh!
Related Post: Hither's a total post on how to practice a day trip to the Edge of the World from Riyadh!
16. Red Sand Dunes
Another easy day trip and one that you will need to join a tour for is a trip into the desert and red sand dunes just outside of Riyadh.
I joined Hike Mania Society. We met in Southward Riyadh, got into the buses to collection to the desert! Nosotros spent 2 hours before sunset on a walk up and downwards the dunes before coming back to the camp where we had a BBQ dinner, listened to music and were able to chat and see other people on the tour.
This is high on the list of my favourite things to do in Riyadh every bit it was then fun and and so good to be in the desert!
Here's a Red Sand Dunes Bout by Riyadh Trips bookable on Viator!
Annotation that generally, these organised group tours from Riyadh but run on the weekend (which is Friday and Saturday!) when locals are off work. If you want to go along a day trip from Riyadh during the week, you volition need to volume onto a tour similar this:
Border of the Globe Tour Offered All Week via Viator.
To Run into my time in Riyadh, take a look at this YouTube video and the others on my channel hither!
This will give you enough things to exercise in Riyadh to add to your Riyadh itinerary.
- For more of my blog posts on Saudi arabia run into:
- What to Wear in Saudi arabia as a Foreign Female Tourist.
- My Detailed Riyadh Travel & City Guide!
- How To Travel Saudi Arabia on a Budget!
- Visiting Medina as a Non-Muslim.
- A Tourists Guide to Old Jeddah!
- ALL MY SAUDI ARABIA BLOG POSTS
Source: https://thewanderingquinn.com/things-to-do-in-riyadh/
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