Guide: all countries » Saudi Arabia » Riyadh » Cultural sights

Culture of Riyadh. Places to visit - old town, temples, theaters, museums and palaces

National Museum Riyadh Tourists will discover ancient fortresses and museums, modern sky-scrapers and exhibition centers among numerous sites and landmarks of Riyadh. The Diraya district is a recommended starting point of the city exploration for tourists providing the best chance to learn its history, traditions and customs. The first capital of the country was found on the territory of the modern Saudi Arabia capital in the middle of the 15th century. The prosperous city with numerous majestic palaces and mosques was destroyed in a war on Turkey. Today archeologists are still working the area and restoring the ancient buildings. Archeological ground is open for public being one of the most popular leisure activities among foreign guests.
Cuisine of Riyadh for gourmet with top restaurants and cafe
The city of Riyadh boasts restaurants, cafes and bars of different trends. Eating houses of the ethnic cuisine are the most in demand among travelers. Apart from upscale restaurants city … Open
The Al Masmak fort is a remarkable site of the city, it was built in 1865. It has been well preserved till present days. The grand building of the fort still impresses its visitors, the height of the fort tower is 18 meters. Tourists have an opportunity to walk along the fort halls and get up to its observation tower providing a breath taking panoramic view of the city.
The heritage center is hosted in the halls of the fort, inviting tourists to explore priceless historical artifacts. The Er-Riyad Museum is a remarkable cultural object. One of its halls keeps a wide collection of archeological artifacts, some of them date back to the Bronze Age. The ethnographic hall performs a collection of cultic attributes, weapons and custom things. Copyright www.orangesmile.com
Authentic traditions, festivals and lifestyle of Riyadh inhabitants
Traditions and customs of Riyadh are of great interest to foreign guests. Original way life of local folks features peculiar rules which may seem to be unusual for city guests. Some local … Open
The hall of Islamic architecture represents one of the most unusual collections, visitors will not be enough a whole day to explore all the showpieces of this scale museum. Among other sites of Riyadh tourists will find lots of monuments of modern architecture. One of the highest buildings in the country is a 47-story sky-scrapper named Kingdom Centre, overlooking the city and being visible from almost every city district.
Its height is 311 meters, this scale sky-scrapper hosts a popular hotel, several restaurants and offices. An excellent observation platform is equipped for tourists at the top of this sky-scrapper. One of the favorite entertainments of foreign guests is observing the city from this unique platform. A lot of significant city sites are located in the nearest suburbs of the capital. So tourists are not limited just to the city exploration during a vacation in Saudi Arabia.
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Iconic cultural sights of Saudi Arabia

Jeddah in the district of Mecca was founded in the VII century. It began to develop rapidly when it became one of the points of the Hajj. The City Museum is full of interesting collections. It is located in a building of amazing beauty, which is more than 200 years old. You should take a walk around the Old Town in Jeddah. This is El-Balad, built up with old houses and mosques in a mixed Arab-Turkish style. The White Floating Mosque in Jeddah is located off the Red Sea coast. It is harmoniously integrated into the surrounding landscape. The building stands on stilts driven into the seafloor. The Fahd’s Fountain throws water to a height of 120 meters. It is a magnificent sight. The fountain is illuminated at night. Mada'in Saleh is a complex of rock burials. Their age is about 2000 years. Famous residents of the city of Hegra, which belonged to the Nabataean Kingdom with its capital in Petra, were buried here. Pre-Islamic rock inscriptions were found on the territory of the complex. Foreign tourists can visit the complex. However, they must get permission to do this. The most convenient way to do this is through a travel agency. … Open

What to visit during two-day excursion in Riyadh

Al-Musmak Castle
Where: Al-Bathaa, Riyadh; Telephone: +966 (0)1 411 0091;
City of Old Ad’Diriyah
Where: 20 km Northwest of Riyadh, Riyadh;
Al Murabba Palace
Where: Khazzan Street, Riyadh; Telephone: +966 (0)1 401 1999;
King Abdul Aziz Mosque
Where: Central Riyadh, Riyadh; Telephone: +966 (0)1 46 493 57;
National Museum
Where: Central Riyadh, Riyadh; Telephone: +966 (0)1 46 493 57;
Museum of Antiquities and Folklore
Where: King Saud Street, Riyadh; Telephone: +966 (0)1 402 9500;
Riyadh Kingdom Centre
Where: Kingdom Centre, Olaya, Riyadh; Telephone: +966 (0)1 211 8000;
Camel Market
Where: 30 km outside Riyadh, Riyadh; Telephone: +966 (0)1 480 8855;

Excursions over cultural sights of neighbours of Riyadh

Isa Town
Not far from the town, vacationers can visit Aali Burial Mounds. This is an archaeological excavations site where scientists try to find items that date back to the Bronze Age. Of course, tourists are not allowed to enter directly the excavations site because they ... Open »
Manama
If you make a ride to the settlement of A'ali, you will see a famous complex of "royal tombs". During an excursion visitors will be able to see the majestic mounds as well as an ancient necropolis. The village itself is well-known because of its skillful potteries. ... Open »
Doha
Doha Ethnographic Museum is one more notable cultural institution of the city. It offers its visitors to see an interesting collection of household items. The building, which houses the museum, is also a major tourist attraction itself. This is a traditional Qatari ... Open »
Kuwait City
Excursion to Old Seif Palace will provide an unforgettable experience. It is the most important monument of the late 19th century. Indescribable atmosphere of luxury reigns in palace; its design is fine in every detail and it is entirely consistent with appearance that ... Open »
Medina
The city's largest collection of pre-Islamic exhibits is gathered in the Al-Madina Museum. It tells visitors about the life of the indigenous population during the reign of the great caliphs. All the exhibits in the museum are more than one and a half thousand years ... Open »
Abu Dhabi
Abu Dhabi is one of the world's largest oil production centers. There is an oil exhibition near National University. The exhibition is devoted to the development of the industry. Travellers are also recommended to visit Historical Museum, the exhibition of which ... Open »
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