The hotspots you must see in Riyadh
Riyadh is part of the Najd region, the geographic center of Saudi Arabia. It’s the largest city in Saudi Arabia and one of the largest metropolises in the Arab world. New buildings are being built every day to cement the capital’s status and fill it with content for travelers.A trip to Riyadh can be categorized into three main areas: the colorful city center, local life (Souq Al-Jal, Najd Village, etc.), and the rich history (Al Masmak Fort, Murabah Palace, Al Safa Square, etc.).
Kingdom Center
Full Day City Sightseeing Tour with Hotel Transfer
The city’s iconic structure, the Kingdom Center (approximately 302 meters), is unique from the outside. The upper floors of the building are hollowed out in a parabolic shape, making it look like a gateway to another dimension. Even though the building was completed in the early 2000s, it still has a futuristic design. The Kingdom Center is home to numerous shops, restaurants, and cinemas, including the Sky Bridige, which offers panoramic views of Riyadh. Al Nasr is also home to the Four Seasons Hotel, where superstar Cristiano Ronaldo once stayed.
Boulevard World & City
Riyadh: Self-Guided City Tour With Transfers Between Stops
To combine theme parks, shopping, and dining, we headed to Boulevard World & City, an entertainment agglomeration. Boulevard World is home to The Sphere and a host of activities that rival Las Vegas’ famous Sphere, while Boulevard City sparkles in a way that would make New York’s Times Square envious. It’s so big, there’s even a cable car that connects it to the World and City. In fact, most of Riyadh’s attractions are so large that they can easily swallow up a traveler’s time.
Diriyah
Half-day Ad Diriyah Tour from Riyadh
Saudi Arabia is changing rapidly. But it’s also focused on restoring its past. Diriyah, just outside of Riyadh, is a prime example. It’s the birthplace of the Kingdom and a land of plenty. Its location on a river and valley made it a commercial center and a stopping point for many travelers on their way to Mecca and Medina.
Diriyah is home to Bujairi Terrace, a hotspot for locals and travelers alike. It’s home to numerous restaurants, cafes, and shops. It’s also connected to At-Turaif, a UNESCO World Heritage Site.
At-Turaif is the world’s largest mud-brick city, built in 1744. It is one of the most important historical sites in Saudi Arabia. The Saudi royal family has painstakingly restored it and created a museum that tells the story of Saudi Arabia.
Al Ula,
the primordial Earth
3 Hour Al Ula Hiking Adventure
Al Ula is home to some of the most spectacular rock formations in the world. It’s also a place where you can see a page from human history. Observe ancient civilizations through the Hegra and stroll through the old city in the narrowest part of the Al-Ula Valley, the longtime home of the Saudis. The Big Dipper in the desert is a bonus.
At the Al Ula Fortress, built around the 10th century, you’ll encounter unmistakable traces of the past. People are renovating the houses of the past. The spaces covered by the shaded roofs are now museums, editorial shops, and cafes.
Al Ula’s rock formations, especially the red sandstone, which was formed between 480 million and 500 million years ago, are unrivaled. They are the link between Al Ula’s past and present. The sandstone reveals that ancient Al Ula was close to the coast. The rocks we see today were formed by a number of factors, including the movement of the tides and the heat and pressure of the sediments that gradually accumulated. The same goes for Elephant Rock, the most famous rock formation in Al ula.
Hegra,
what the ruins mean?
Hegra Sunrise Hot Air Balloon Ride AlUla
Al Ula’s landmark, and Saudi Arabia’s first UNESCO World Heritage Site, is Hegra. From the moment you step into the vintage Land Rover and set foot in Hegra, you’re disconnected from the present. You enter a time before 1000 BC. Hegra has been inhabited since the distant past and is known as the grave site of the Nabataeans.
Carved out of the desert rocks, the tombs of the Nabateans are dotted around, and more than 110 have been excavated so far. Guided tours tell the stories of some of the boldest tombs, but the first to catch my attention was a group of tombs called The Girls Mountain. About 30 grave spaces belonged to women, hence the name. Each grave holds not just one body, but 15 to 20. And when the bones are all that’s left, they’re dug up and piled up inside the tomb, meaning that each tomb holds an incredible number of souls.
