Things to do in Riyadh

1. Visit the Heet Cave: It’s truly a magical and miraculous experience, to swim, snorkel, or even scuba dive in the middle of the desert. Saudi Arabia’s Heet Cave it is! Well, it’s super fun and exciting to spend time exploring one of Saudi Arabia’s most accessible wild caves.

The caves consist of numerous sinkholes to explore and waterways to survey. The enchanting Heet Cave is supremely famous for many activities to do in Riyadh along running water. Arrange a quick visit to the hidden Gem of Riyadh in order to discover the waterholes and dive into the spring depths. Tour prices for a single person start with 470$, for 2-3 people it's 240 $ and for 4-6 people it's 235$.

Location- Alkharj Road, Riyadh Saudi Arabia.
Timing- Opens every Sunday to Saturday from 12 AM to 11:59 PM.

2. National Museum of Saudi Arabia: Visiting a major national museum, The National Museum of Saudi Arabia is one of the best activities to do in Riyadh. The most entertaining museum houses too many striking modernist architects, gardens, antiques from Neolithic rock art, replicas of the buildings of old Jeddah, and eight museum halls to delve into an interactive tour of the ages.

What’s even more interesting than wandering around the centuries of Arabian prehistory, history, galleries arranged chronologically of various eras, cultures, and art at the famous Historical center. Don’t miss to acknowledge the Hall of Hajj and the Two Holy Mosques that define the history of Mecca and Medina.

Location- King Faisal Road, Riyadh 12631, Saudi Arabia.
Timings- Open on Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday, Thursday, Saturday, Sunday at 08:00 AM-9:00 PM. Remains closed every Friday.

3. Visit the historical Masmak Fort: Founded in 1865, the historical Masmak Fort is a profound attraction that serves as a showcase of Saudi Arabia’s storied history. Indulge in the restored building which is now a museum that displays many maps and photographs of Saudi Arabia dating from 1912 to 1937 through many fascinating exhibitions and audiovisual presentations.

Plan a day to visit the spacious Al Masmak Fortress, one of the most popular landmarks of Saudi heritage. You can emerge to the busy streets near the fort confined with bustling markets or shops selling everything from clothes, jewelry, gold, souvenirs, and delicious treats called Corn in a cup.

Location-  Qasr al-Masmak, Al Imam Turki ibn Abdullah ibn Muhammad, Dirah, Riyadh 12652.
Timings- Open from 8 AM to noon and 4 to 9 PM, every day except Fridays but Mondays and Wednesdays are exclusively meant only for families.

4. 3D light show at King Abdullah Park: Embark to the landmark exhibition of light arts from the 1960s till today and get blown away by the historical presentation of the laser light show in all its perceptual and sensory phenomenon. Attending the groundbreaking cultural event in Saudi Arabia is certainly one of the best things to do in Riyadh.

Get enlightened at the gigantic park inculcating dancing water fountains, sprawling green lawns, and vibrant gardens, and many walking tracks for a daily evening walk. You need an entrance ticket which costs SR10/- for adults and SR5/- for kids aged above 10. The park has a wide availability of activities like skateboarding, roller skating, bike riding, flying kites, gaming, and a lot more to enjoy.

Location- 6628 Al Amen Abdullah al Ali Naeem Street, al Malaz, Riyadh, Saudi Arabia.
Timings- Open every Monday to Saturday from 1 PM to 11 PM, except Sundays.

5. Visit the Edge of the World: A trip to the Edge of the World along with the range of routes with rugged terrain, steep climbs, and sharp rocks lead you to the massive cliff. Adventure enthusiasts with enough potential can choose to get to the Edge of the World and walk the thrilling path.

Watching the mesmerizing sunset from the top of the massive cliff towering above an enlarged desert would be one of your favorite things to do in Riyadh. The place is also perfect for a day trip or even an overnight camping trip and to relive in a world full of serenity and peace.

Location-  Dammam Branch Road, Sahaba Road, Riyadh 13246, Saudi Arabia.
Timings- Open 24 hours the whole week.

6. Royal Saudi Air Force Museum: Visit the Royal Saudi Air Force Museum, a museum that preserves the history of the Royal Saudi Air Force from its establishment to the present day. Venture around its outdoor static park and large modern indoor museum containing display halls which exhibits the history of the RSAF, aircraft engines, weaponry, uniforms, insignia, and special displays on Prince Sultan in space during his mission on STS-51-G.

Airplane enthusiasts or children fond of aerospace stuff can head to the amazing museum to come across the history of aviation and enjoy grabbing new knowledge about them through the models, and pieces displayed with information in the museum.

Location- Eastern Ring Riyadh 12451, Saudi Arabia
Timings- Open every Wednesday to Monday from 9 AM-12 PM, 4-9 PM and remains closed on Tuesday.

7. Al Rawda Park: Add an amazing place naled Al Rawda Park on your itinerary to Riyadh and have a great time exploring the monumental park with your family and kids.
Location- Hafsah Bint Umar, Rawdah, Riyadh 13211, Saudi Arabia
Timings- Open 2 hours every day

8. Wadi Namar Waterfall: Enjoy one of the few natural lakes, Wadi Namar Waterfall in Riyadh, also a perfect place for a picnic, sports, and play. This place is one of the finest recreational areas in Riyadh and the best part about it is, you can see its view from the Wadi Namar Promenade at night, and probably this is one of the best things to do in Riyadh.

You would love every single second spent here, as the place is meant only for relaxing and activities like picnic shelters with grills and fireworks. The desert oasis attracts many picnickers for its cool scenery of dam, lake, and modern park that include a beautiful waterfall where one can sit and enjoy the view of the lake and pathways across the cornice and the lake.

Location- HMCJ+52V, Riyadh 14962, Saudi Arabia
Timings- Open 24 hours every day

9. Ringing Bird Lake: The Ringing Bird Lake is a definite place to be visited when you think of Saudi Arabia’s capital city. It's one of the city’s hidden gems and an oasis to hop on if you want to enjoy a wonderful time with friends and family.

The Ringing Bird Lake has an abundance of fish and is characterized by the diversity of nature to provide a great experience for visitors. You can enjoy the stunning views strolling around the paved walkways or even choose to indulge in a picnic, hiking, ride bicycles, or sit quietly in the seating areas. So, don’t hesitate to experience a tranquil atmosphere far from the bustling city.

Location- 9VMR+H84, Riyadh 14584, Saudi Arabia
Timings- Open 24 hours every day

10. Alkhaimah Theme Park: Have a great time setting a day trip to the Alkhaimah Theme Park which offers an innumerable amount of fun and games. For rides, you need to obtain 35 SR bands and take part in all the rides except the jumping castle which separately costs 15SR extra to be accessed.

The mesmerizing park includes many rides like disco jets, roller coasters, water slides, and a lot more. The amusement park is considered as one of the most important Saudi tourist attractions as it has a plethora of activities to do in Riyadh including electronic games, physical activities for all age groups, a number of restaurants and cafes, street vendors that sell toys, gifts and souvenirs.

Location- Al Wurud, Riyadh 11564, Saudi Arabia
Timings- Opens on Thursday, Friday, Saturday at 4-11 PM and remains closed on Sunday, Monday, and Tuesday

11. Riyadh Zoo: Located in the heart of Malaz, The Riyadh Zoo is a popular astounding place for many locals and visitors to spend a fun-filled time. The entrance fees of the zoo are 10.50 SR for 12 years and above group of people, 5.25SR for below 12 years aged and 2SR for train tickets.

The Riyadh Zoo is one of the largest zoos in Saudi Arabia set wonderfully on 22 hectares, housing 196 plus species of animals, 1600 animals including crocodiles, gazelles, and many reptiles. Nothing can be more fascinating and attractive than taking a little train ride that is used for touring the whole of the Zoo in a single go!

Location- 139, Musaab Bin Umayr Street Al Malaz Riyadh 12832 Saudi Arabia
Timings- Opens on Friday and Saturday after 12:30 pm only for families and from Monday to Thursday at 8:30 am-12 pm and 1 pm-4:20 pm. Remains closed on Sundays.

12. Wadi Hanifa Riyadh: Head to one of the global destinations, Wadi Hanifa Riyadh, a famous bike ride at the quiet and peaceful place stretched from the historical village of Diriyah in the north to the neighborhood of Badr in the south.

The flawless and sandy region of Wadi Hanifah offers a perfect site to pitch a tent and stay overnight. Thus, camping out under the stars, with illuminated stone banks and a cool breeze here is one of the best things to do in Riyadh. The alluring valley is truly a major attraction for both Riyadh residents and visitors to visit and have an opportunity to enjoy nature and a clean environment away from built-up places.

Location- 4619 Haneef1 Valley, Dhahran Al Badi’ah, Riyadh 12781, Saudi Arabia
Timings- Open daily from 6 AM-9 PM.

13. Money Museum Riyadh: Visit one of the unique museums named the Money Museum Riyadh which displays pre-Islamic currency. History buffs hop on here to witness the largest collection of 30000 currencies including notes and coins in stone, silver, and gold dating back to the Pre-Islamic era.

Wander around the museum consisting of three halls, the first one containing Islamic currencies from the 14th century, the second hall containing pottery, pieces made from animal skin, arms, and some ancient devices and appliances, and the third one has a great collection of more than 60000 stamps, documents, magazines, and rare photos. Entry fees for adults are SAR 10 and for children it's free.

Location- 3896 Saudi Arabia, 6868 12712
Timings- Open on Sundays: 8:00AM-2:00PM, Monday-Saturday: 8:00AM-8:00PM