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Riyadh Travel Guide

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Things to Do in Riyadh

Reviews and photos of Riyadh attractions posted by real travelers and locals. The best tips for Riyadh sightseeing.
Local Time 11:41 pm Saturday, May 17, 2008
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Ad Diriyah or Old Riyadh
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  • Updated By Cielo_Algaeed on February 20, 2007
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  • Riyadh Things To Do
    by Cielo_Algaeed, 2 more photos
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    Ad Diriyah or Old Riyadh is a 30 minutes drive from Central Riyadh.Here you can find the traditional and old houses of the Saudi people. It is usually brownish in color because it is made of mud or clay. The whole structure gives warmth during winter while it is cold during summer. As part of the government's project to preserve this kind of places....they have special projects which will take care of the few historical sites found here. Although new structures are being built within the area, they are encourage to build somehow a replica of the old structures. Many families do come here for a weekend get away from the city..They do barbeque and just enjoy the weekend with fresh air, the sites and the palm trees.

  • Directions: Take Qassim Rd to its junction with the ring road. Exit 4a of the ring road.Follow the brown signs to Old Dir'iyah.

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    Almamlaka's Sky Bridge
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  • Updated By Cielo_Algaeed on January 20, 2007
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    by Cielo_Algaeed,
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    Almamlaka or the Kingdom Tower is one of the famous landamarks of Riyadh today. It has 99 floors with designer shops at the lower floors while viewing deck/sky bridge is located on the 99th floor. The skybridge is an iron structure weighing 300tons and is located 300mts above ground level. The trip to the transfer level (77th floor) will last for 50 seconds while at the end of which you will transfer to another elevator that will take you to the skybridge. Speed of the levator is 120KPH.


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    Graffiti Rock
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  • Updated By Cielo_Algaeed on March 4, 2007
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  • Behind us is the Graffiti Rock - Riyadh
    Behind us is the Graffiti Rock
    by Cielo_Algaeed
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    All over the Kingdom you will come across rocks covered in ancient graffiti. One of which is the Graffiti Rocks located West of Riyadh near the town on Jelah/Jelh. This is a 110Km drive from the City Center and will take you about 1 1/2-2 hrs travel. We saw two huge rocks with old carving (graffiti) which they said was made thousands of years ago. They left a record on the rock of the animals they hunted, the weapons they used, their rituals of worship and many other details of their daily life. You can also find hand prints, human skeletons, ducks and family of ostrich. It is an amazing sight but to climb about 300 meters is no joke. So prepare your legs and arms going up to the graffiti rock.

  • Address: West of Riyadh
  • Directions: Take the New Makkah Rd. Continue to the exit to Musayqirah about 77km shortly after leaving the town of Jelh/ Jelah. You can see a small pathway leading to the Graffiti rock. The rock is visible from the road.

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    Desert and Sand Dunes
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  • Updated By Cielo_Algaeed on January 20, 2007
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  • Riyadh Things To Do
    by Cielo_Algaeed
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    Saudi and other Gulf States are known for its magnificent deserts and sand dunes. Thumama Desert is one of it...about 30 minutes drive from central Riyadh..it has its own unique beauty that you have to explore again and again... I was amazed with the fine sand with an orange rusty color. Many families visit this place for a weekend get away.They go here for barbeque,picnic, football :-), baggy riding or just simply a breather from the city.


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    Edge of the World
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  • Updated By Cielo_Algaeed on April 10, 2007
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    by Cielo_Algaeed, 2 more photos
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    This can be a things to do tip or off the beaten path tip Edge of the World is located up straight from the Acacia Valley. This place is also called the rock framed window because from the cliffs you can see a dramatic view of the plains below. The view wasnt clear when we went there coz its very windy and dusty but a little glimpse from down below is really relaxing. Climb up the cliff and breath the fresh air...relax and feel the atmosphere :-) It was one of a kind experienced especially when it was just me and my hubby who were at the area. The desert travel was a bit scary worrying about flat tires, engine failure and taking the very steepy slopes and rocky roads. Nevertheless, it was a fun and memorable experienced.


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    Hashing in the desert
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  • By sjazeerah on January 20, 2006
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  • Red Sands area - Riyadh
    Red Sands area
    by sjazeerah, 4 more photos
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    HASH : one word but two meanings Hash is a british invention from the 1930 (founded in Malaysia) and means a group of people gather somewhere outside a city (like the desert) for a walk or run. Joining a Hash group is a real and often the only solution for expatriates in Riyadh who would like to go to the desert. Hash is not official in Saudi Arabia. You can only enter a group by reference. If you are interested proceed like this: ask Westerners at work, on parties, whereever whether they join Hash. If someone confirms ask him/her to join. There are three Hash-groups in Riyadh. Two of them run on Thursdays afernoon, the third one on Friday afternoon. During the walk you will also pass rockets like the the old witch (see my album 'godmade ...') and might find a lot of 30 million years old fossils as the Riyadh area was covered by the sea until that time. Camp outs in the desert are also frequently done by the Hashers. For me the absolute highlight and passion of my stay in Saudi Arabia.

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  • Address: meeting points are unofficial
  • Directions: ask preferably Westerners at work, on parties, visits whether they know about it and join on their own. The Hashers prefer the stone desert outside Riyadh for their walks.

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    Buggy Ride
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  • Updated By Cielo_Algaeed on April 14, 2007
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  • Riyadh Things To Do
    by Cielo_Algaeed, 1 more photos
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    Buggy is a small motorbike designed especially for sand dunes used. Baggy riding is one famous sand dunes activty aside from the 4x4 wheel drive in the sand. It is one fun ride both young and young at heart will enjoy. One hour rent would cost you 50SR though you can bargain upto 35SR. **One great spot to do this activity is near the Hidden Valley. The place is called Red Sand Dunes. The red orange sand looks really great with less stones/rocks **

  • Address: West Of Riyadh City Center
  • Directions: Take New Makkah Road past the entrance to the diplomatic quarter. AT the junction with the old Makkah road take the second exit marked Moqbil/Dirab. Turn Right towards Hafiret Nisah. About 19km more to reach the Red Sand Dunes.

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    Picnic
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  • Updated By Cielo_Algaeed on February 23, 2007
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  • Riyadh Things To Do
    by Cielo_Algaeed
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    Picnic or Camping is one of the famous activity in Riyadh. Having hundreds of sand dunes and deserts to explore, families and friends travel together during weekends and holidays just to be away from the city. A simple yet fun thing to do.


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    Pools of Shai'ib Luha
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  • Updated By Cielo_Algaeed on February 23, 2007
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    by Cielo_Algaeed, 1 more photos
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    **This tip can be a must thing to do or off the beaten path tip** Pools of Sha'ib Luha is located about 80km from Riyadh City Center. It is one of the beautiful Wadi's (valley) which you can find outskirts of Riyadh. The whole area is surrounded by magnificent rock formations and rusty orange sand dunes. There are cliffs, steepy slopes and caves which you can explore. There are standing pools of water within the area which they said was able to survive the heat of the summer but unfortunately it was all dried up when we went there. Palm trees, shrubs and farms can also be found within the area. A little bit secluded and far from the town proper so better be prepared when you plan to go and visit this place. It is advisable to go there before sunrise so it wont be too hot. Many people both families and groups do come here for encampments esp during weeekends and holidays. Note: a. Wear a comfortable clothes and shoes (trekking shoes if possibe) b. Bring water, food, tent or mat. c. Getting closer to the cliff is a little bumpy but a 2 wheel drive can pass through the area. d. No cellphone coverage

  • Address: South Of Riyadh
  • Directions: Take Old Makkah Road towards Dirab passing the New Ministry of Interior. After one km turn left towards Al Ha'ir. Down to the escarpment to the farms in the valley.

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    Dirab Desert
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  • Updated By Cielo_Algaeed on February 17, 2007
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    by Cielo_Algaeed, 1 more photos
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    Located in the lowest area in Riyadh, about 25km from City Center you can find Dirab Desert . It doesnt have fine rusty color sands but the view and the mountains sorrounding it is really breath taking. The whole area was covered by mountains years back and not until the government decided to build the roads for the people to have an easy access to other parts of the Kingdom. The Bin Laden Group was among the construction firms who got the project. Dynamites where used to make a fine cut for the road which all the people are enjyong now. You will pass by the steepest road in Riyadh if you plan to go and visit the place..


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