Saudi Arabia Travel Guide

Kingdom Center

The place to see and be seen in central Riyadh is at the remarkable Kingdom Center, the tallest building in Saudi Arabia, owned by a Saudi prince and built to an unusual elliptical award-winning design. Besides containing modern offices, apartments, the Four Seasons Hotel and a fitness club, the Kingdom Center also houses a state-of-the art three-level shopping mall with more than 160 stores, anchored by Saks Fifth Avenue and Debenhams department stores. The center also bristles with dozens of first class international restaurants.

Riyadh Museum of History and Archaeology

This museum, chief among the numerous museums in Riyadh, showcases local art, religion and culture, as well as the diverse and intriguing history of the Arabian kingdoms, in eight sections. Artefacts such as clothing, weapons, jewelry and musical instruments, dating as far back as the Stone Age, are on display. Other city museums worth visiting are the National Museum, which contains ancient documents and furniture; the King Abdul Aziz Military Museum; and the Museum of Antiquities and Folklore.

Al Musmak Castle

An important landmark and heritage site in the city of Riyadh, the Musmak fortress was built around 1865 and is the site associated with the foundation of the Saudi Arabian kingdom. The castle is open to the public, who can explore its impressive rooms, pillared mosque, gate, watchtowers and well.

Al Murabba'a Palace

A principal component of the King Abdulaziz Darat (an institute and library devoted to preserving Arabian history), situated just outside the original city walls, the palace has been preserved as a living example of Arabian royal life in days gone by. On the ground floor are the guard's room and storerooms, while upstairs visitors can view the reception salons, political offices and private apartments.

City of old Diriyah

The ruins of the historically significant city of Diriyah, standing imposing and silent in the desert about 12 miles (20km) northwest of Riyadh city center, provide an interesting excursion. The city, stronghold of the powerful Saud family, was the site of an important Islamic reform movement in around 1745, when two influential Imams called for the people to return to the true faith and abandon heresy, polytheism and superstition. The city was once the biggest in the Arab Peninsula, but was overtaken by Riyadh after being destroyed by the Turks in the early 19th century. The ruins of many of the mud-brick buildings remain to be explored.

Mecca

Mecca is the holiest city in the Muslim world and is the direction towards which the world's Muslims pray five times per day. The pilgrimage to Mecca as part of the Haj is the centerpiece of Islam's 5 Pillars and a peak experience in the life of any devout Muslim. The city, birthplace of the prophet Mohammed, cannot be visited by non-Muslims.

The key sites in Mecca are the Al-Masjid al-Haram - the Grand Mosque which can accommodate one million worshippers; Jabal Rahmah At Arafah, the tall white pillar marking the place where Adam and Eve met after 200 years of separation; and Muzdalifah where pilgrims pray and collect stones to be used in the Haj rituals.

Mecca is in the Sirat Mountains, 45 miles (72km) from Jeddah.

Kingdom Center

The place to see and be seen in central Riyadh is at the remarkable Kingdom Center, the tallest building in Saudi Arabia, owned by a Saudi prince and built to an unusual elliptical award-winning design. Besides containing modern offices, apartments, the Four Seasons Hotel and a fitness club, the Kingdom Center also houses a state-of-the art three-level shopping mall with more than 160 stores, anchored by Saks Fifth Avenue and Debenhams department stores. The center also bristles with dozens of first class international restaurants.

Riyadh Museum of History and Archaeology

This museum, chief among the numerous museums in Riyadh, showcases local art, religion and culture, as well as the diverse and intriguing history of the Arabian kingdoms, in eight sections. Artefacts such as clothing, weapons, jewelry and musical instruments, dating as far back as the Stone Age, are on display. Other city museums worth visiting are the National Museum, which contains ancient documents and furniture; the King Abdul Aziz Military Museum; and the Museum of Antiquities and Folklore.

Al Musmak Castle

An important landmark and heritage site in the city of Riyadh, the Musmak fortress was built around 1865 and is the site associated with the foundation of the Saudi Arabian kingdom. The castle is open to the public, who can explore its impressive rooms, pillared mosque, gate, watchtowers and well.

Al Murabba'a Palace

A principal component of the King Abdulaziz Darat (an institute and library devoted to preserving Arabian history), situated just outside the original city walls, the palace has been preserved as a living example of Arabian royal life in days gone by. On the ground floor are the guard's room and storerooms, while upstairs visitors can view the reception salons, political offices and private apartments.

City of old Diriyah

The ruins of the historically significant city of Diriyah, standing imposing and silent in the desert about 12 miles (20km) northwest of Riyadh city center, provide an interesting excursion. The city, stronghold of the powerful Saud family, was the site of an important Islamic reform movement in around 1745, when two influential Imams called for the people to return to the true faith and abandon heresy, polytheism and superstition. The city was once the biggest in the Arab Peninsula, but was overtaken by Riyadh after being destroyed by the Turks in the early 19th century. The ruins of many of the mud-brick buildings remain to be explored.

Mecca

Mecca is the holiest city in the Muslim world and is the direction towards which the world's Muslims pray five times per day. The pilgrimage to Mecca as part of the Haj is the centerpiece of Islam's 5 Pillars and a peak experience in the life of any devout Muslim. The city, birthplace of the prophet Mohammed, cannot be visited by non-Muslims.

The key sites in Mecca are the Al-Masjid al-Haram - the Grand Mosque which can accommodate one million worshippers; Jabal Rahmah At Arafah, the tall white pillar marking the place where Adam and Eve met after 200 years of separation; and Muzdalifah where pilgrims pray and collect stones to be used in the Haj rituals.

Mecca is in the Sirat Mountains, 45 miles (72km) from Jeddah.

Kingdom Center

The place to see and be seen in central Riyadh is at the remarkable Kingdom Center, the tallest building in Saudi Arabia, owned by a Saudi prince and built to an unusual elliptical award-winning design. Besides containing modern offices, apartments, the Four Seasons Hotel and a fitness club, the Kingdom Center also houses a state-of-the art three-level shopping mall with more than 160 stores, anchored by Saks Fifth Avenue and Debenhams department stores. The center also bristles with dozens of first class international restaurants.

Riyadh Museum of History and Archaeology

This museum, chief among the numerous museums in Riyadh, showcases local art, religion and culture, as well as the diverse and intriguing history of the Arabian kingdoms, in eight sections. Artefacts such as clothing, weapons, jewelry and musical instruments, dating as far back as the Stone Age, are on display. Other city museums worth visiting are the National Museum, which contains ancient documents and furniture; the King Abdul Aziz Military Museum; and the Museum of Antiquities and Folklore.

Al Musmak Castle

An important landmark and heritage site in the city of Riyadh, the Musmak fortress was built around 1865 and is the site associated with the foundation of the Saudi Arabian kingdom. The castle is open to the public, who can explore its impressive rooms, pillared mosque, gate, watchtowers and well.

Al Murabba'a Palace

A principal component of the King Abdulaziz Darat (an institute and library devoted to preserving Arabian history), situated just outside the original city walls, the palace has been preserved as a living example of Arabian royal life in days gone by. On the ground floor are the guard's room and storerooms, while upstairs visitors can view the reception salons, political offices and private apartments.

City of old Diriyah

The ruins of the historically significant city of Diriyah, standing imposing and silent in the desert about 12 miles (20km) northwest of Riyadh city center, provide an interesting excursion. The city, stronghold of the powerful Saud family, was the site of an important Islamic reform movement in around 1745, when two influential Imams called for the people to return to the true faith and abandon heresy, polytheism and superstition. The city was once the biggest in the Arab Peninsula, but was overtaken by Riyadh after being destroyed by the Turks in the early 19th century. The ruins of many of the mud-brick buildings remain to be explored.

Mecca

Mecca is the holiest city in the Muslim world and is the direction towards which the world's Muslims pray five times per day. The pilgrimage to Mecca as part of the Haj is the centerpiece of Islam's 5 Pillars and a peak experience in the life of any devout Muslim. The city, birthplace of the prophet Mohammed, cannot be visited by non-Muslims.

The key sites in Mecca are the Al-Masjid al-Haram - the Grand Mosque which can accommodate one million worshippers; Jabal Rahmah At Arafah, the tall white pillar marking the place where Adam and Eve met after 200 years of separation; and Muzdalifah where pilgrims pray and collect stones to be used in the Haj rituals.

Mecca is in the Sirat Mountains, 45 miles (72km) from Jeddah.

Kingdom Center

The place to see and be seen in central Riyadh is at the remarkable Kingdom Center, the tallest building in Saudi Arabia, owned by a Saudi prince and built to an unusual elliptical award-winning design. Besides containing modern offices, apartments, the Four Seasons Hotel and a fitness club, the Kingdom Center also houses a state-of-the art three-level shopping mall with more than 160 stores, anchored by Saks Fifth Avenue and Debenhams department stores. The center also bristles with dozens of first class international restaurants.

Riyadh Museum of History and Archaeology

This museum, chief among the numerous museums in Riyadh, showcases local art, religion and culture, as well as the diverse and intriguing history of the Arabian kingdoms, in eight sections. Artefacts such as clothing, weapons, jewelry and musical instruments, dating as far back as the Stone Age, are on display. Other city museums worth visiting are the National Museum, which contains ancient documents and furniture; the King Abdul Aziz Military Museum; and the Museum of Antiquities and Folklore.

Al Musmak Castle

An important landmark and heritage site in the city of Riyadh, the Musmak fortress was built around 1865 and is the site associated with the foundation of the Saudi Arabian kingdom. The castle is open to the public, who can explore its impressive rooms, pillared mosque, gate, watchtowers and well.

Al Murabba'a Palace

A principal component of the King Abdulaziz Darat (an institute and library devoted to preserving Arabian history), situated just outside the original city walls, the palace has been preserved as a living example of Arabian royal life in days gone by. On the ground floor are the guard's room and storerooms, while upstairs visitors can view the reception salons, political offices and private apartments.

City of old Diriyah

The ruins of the historically significant city of Diriyah, standing imposing and silent in the desert about 12 miles (20km) northwest of Riyadh city center, provide an interesting excursion. The city, stronghold of the powerful Saud family, was the site of an important Islamic reform movement in around 1745, when two influential Imams called for the people to return to the true faith and abandon heresy, polytheism and superstition. The city was once the biggest in the Arab Peninsula, but was overtaken by Riyadh after being destroyed by the Turks in the early 19th century. The ruins of many of the mud-brick buildings remain to be explored.

Mecca

Mecca is the holiest city in the Muslim world and is the direction towards which the world's Muslims pray five times per day. The pilgrimage to Mecca as part of the Haj is the centerpiece of Islam's 5 Pillars and a peak experience in the life of any devout Muslim. The city, birthplace of the prophet Mohammed, cannot be visited by non-Muslims.

The key sites in Mecca are the Al-Masjid al-Haram - the Grand Mosque which can accommodate one million worshippers; Jabal Rahmah At Arafah, the tall white pillar marking the place where Adam and Eve met after 200 years of separation; and Muzdalifah where pilgrims pray and collect stones to be used in the Haj rituals.

Mecca is in the Sirat Mountains, 45 miles (72km) from Jeddah.