Riyadh
One of the largest in the Arabian Peninsula, Riyadh’s camel market is a fascinating place to wander. Late afternoon is when the traders really find their…
Must-see attractions in Saudi Arabia
Saudi Arabia
The Red Sands are the most evocative desert dunes near Riyadh. These pristine, windswept mounds of deep red sand are the closest the urban dwellers of…
Jeddah
There is a distinct air of the subcontinent in this square mile just off the King Fahd Rd. Clothes shops sell saris, grocers stock fresh curry leaves and…
Saudi Arabia
This sheltered kidney-shaped bay has beautiful stretches of golden sand and stunning deep-blue waters that are safe for swimming and snorkelling. Between…
Northern Saudi Arabia
The 6km-long Hawaz Beach is dotted with shelters and barbecue pits, and has crystal-clear water that's ideal for swimming and snorkelling. It's popular…
Jeddah
This beautiful snow-white minaret is all that remains of the historic mosque named after one of the four great imams of Sunni theology, Abu Hanifah. It's…
Tabuk
This little market in the old quarter of Tabuk is where the local Bedouin come to get their black and white goat-hair tent covers and all the mod cons a…
Eastern Province
Relive your childhood at the privately owned Taybeen Museum. What started as the personal collection of Majid Al Ghamdi has now evolved into a 300-sq…
Saudi Arabia
The world's second-largest date market might forever be in the shadow of its illustrious neighbour in Buraydah, but it is still a great place to witness…
Al Ula
To protect the ancient village, inhabitants in the 6th century used red-sandstone blocks to build this castle on a promontory that gives a 360-degree view…
Saudi Arabia
The largest rose factory in Taif, the 120-year-old Al Gadhi Rose Factory is well worth a visit, particularly at harvest time (May to July), when it’s open…
Saudi Arabia
The city’s museum occupies a beautiful house built in 1905 on the orders of Sharif Ali Pasha. The palace is the most stunning vestige of old Taif, with…
Tabuk
The Prophet Muhammad prayed here when he arrived with 30,000 men in AD 630 for the Battle of Tabuk against the Byzantines. The battle never took place,…
Northern Saudi Arabia
Arabia's only 'elephant' is a huge red rock three storeys in height. The enormous 'body' connects to a slimmer 'trunk' that bulges in just the right areas…
Northern Saudi Arabia
This is one of the substations located just before the Hejaz Railway terminated at the holy city of Medina. Today this tiny station block and its fort –…
Northern Saudi Arabia
Tucked away in a sandy valley between a series of rocky, black mountains, this Hejaz Railway substation sits abandoned and alone in a barren and desolate…
Riyadh
This verdant swath about an hour outside the city is a worthwhile day trip for hikers and birdwatchers. Camping is allowed, so overnighters have the…
King Abdul Aziz Heritage Castle
Northern Saudi Arabia
This little fort was built by the founder of Saudi Arabia, King Abdul Aziz, early in the 20th century. It's square-shaped, with a central courtyard and a…
Eastern Province
At a mere 225m, Al Qarah is more flat-topped hill than mountain. It is easily scrambled up and locals do this to sit and take in the awesome views over…
Northern Saudi Arabia
Built in 1875 towards the end of the Ottoman period as the headquarters of the municipality, this rectangular fort with its surveillance tower and small…
Saudi Arabia
It doesn't have much of a lake, but this landscaped and well-maintained green park in one of Yanbu's affluent southern suburbs is a pleasant spot for…
Saudi Arabia
Buraydah's city museum isn't one you are going to go out of your way to find. It's designed like a mini Najd fort, and has displays dominated by photos of…
Saudi Arabia
After years of neglect, this evocative old Ottoman-era fort is finally being refurbished, and there are now plans to convert it into the city's museum…
Saudi Arabia
The highlight of this exhibition, which explains the context and historicity of Islam's holiest book, is a collection of nine original Qurans, the oldest…
Riyadh
Al Elb Dam is a coveted wetland area within the city that offers miles of date-palm-lined walkways and shaded picnic spots. Visitors can stroll across the…
Mecca
Many of the Prophet’s family are buried here, including his first wife, Khadija, his sons Qasim and Abdullah, his uncle, Abu Talib, and his grandfather,…
Riyadh
Get a tour of the world at this small and strange spectacle that holds miniature replicas of world landmarks such as the Eiffel Tower and the Taj Mahal…
Mecca
These remnants of Masjid Al Bay'ah mark the spot where tribal leaders pledged their allegiance to Muhammad in AD 621. Simple in design, an arched entrance…
Riyadh
One of Riyadh’s cleanest and best maintained parks, here there are several green lawns that you can picnic on, wide pathways for jogging and cycling, a…
Tabuk
Although a bit sparse in amenities, Prince Fahd Bin Sultan's Park is a decent spot for families to relax in during the late afternoon and early evening…
Eastern Province
South of Al Khobar, this area boasts high-end resorts and spas perfect for an indulgent day out. The public areas are not well maintained, but if you’re…
Riyadh
Until the year 2000, when the Al Faisaliah Tower was built, this was Riyadh's tallest landmark. It remains prominent today, and you can climb to the top…
Eastern Province
Jam-packed with families, joggers, cyclists and locals hoping to catch fish, the Gulf-side Al Khobar Corniche makes for a pleasant evening of people…
Al Ula Antiquities & Heritage Museum
Al Ula
This small museum is attractively designed, with some intriguing and informative displays on the history, culture, flora and fauna of the area, as well as…
Riyadh
This unusual green and white clock tower in the shape of an Egyptian needle sits at the western end of Al Thumairi St in the old Riyadh neighbourhood of…
Mecca
Although the Saudi authorities claim there is no evidence to confirm it, many Muslims believe this is the spot where the Prophet Muhammad was born in…
Jeddah
Built in the early 20th century as the British legation’s headquarters in Jeddah and serving in that role from about 1915 to the mid-1930s, Beit Al Balad…
Al Ula
A few kilometres north of old Al Ula, Umm Al Daraj (Mother of Steps) is worth a detour. Climbing the hill reveals three red-sandstone religious structures…
Al Ula
This 300m-high mountain east of Al Ula features stone settlements and caves with pre-Islamic inscriptions and drawings, but there was no access to it at…
Saudi Arabia
Built by Mohammed Bin Abdul Wahed in 1897, this historic building features a mix of Hejazi and Roman architecture with Islamic flourishes. Last occupied…
