Top 20 Family-Friendly Destinations in Riyadh
Riyadh, the capital of Saudi Arabia, is one of the largest cities in the country, boasting numerous entertainment and family-friendly places. This article serves as your comprehensive guide to exploring the best places and activities that families can enjoy in this modern city. We will take you on an enjoyable tour to discover Riyadh's family entertainment venues and highlight activities suitable for all family members.
Kingdom Centre
Kingdom Centre has been an architectural icon in the heart of Riyadh since its construction in the late 90s. It stands out as one of the prominent tourist landmarks, strategically located at one of Riyadh's vital intersections. The complex offers world-class entertainment facilities and a unique collection of premium international and local stores. Kingdom Centre provides a distinctive shopping experience, hosting a diverse range of global luxury brands, making it an enjoyable and rewarding shopping destination.
A pioneering and multi-purpose project, Kingdom Centre includes a Four Seasons Hotel, office spaces, luxurious residential apartments, a conference and exhibition hall, and a business center. The tower's most distinctive feature is the Sky Bridge, providing visitors with a panoramic view that reveals the beauty of Riyadh. The bridge is situated at the top of Kingdom Centre, reaching a height of 300 meters. The journey to the Sky Bridge involves two elevators, with the first taking around 50 seconds to reach an elevation of 180 meters and the second taking less than 40 seconds to reach the Sky Bridge.
Note: Timings may vary during Ramadan.
Operating Hours: Daily from 12.00 to 00.00
Observation Deck Operating Hours: Saturday to Thursday from 12.00 to 22.30, and Friday from 16.00 to 22.30
Observation Deck Entrance Fee: SAR 69 per person, SAR 23 for children under 10, and free for infants under two.
Boulevard City
Riyadh City Boulevard is one of the latest entertainment and commercial projects in the Saudi capital, Riyadh. This splendid urban destination represents an amazing blend of commerce, entertainment, and culture, aiming to meet the needs of residents and visitors from across the kingdom. It features a diverse range of upscale restaurants, cafes, and luxury stores, making it an ideal destination for shopping enthusiasts and food lovers. Additionally, Riyadh City Boulevard offers visitors the opportunity to enjoy entertainment activities such as music concerts, cultural events, and art shows.
Operating Hours: Daily from 16.00 to 02.00
Entrance Fee: SAR 25 per person from Saturday to Wednesday, SAR 50 per person on Thursday and Friday, and free for children under 12.
You can book your tickets online to avail all the available offers on the website.
Location
Riyadh Avenue Mall
Riyadh Avenue Mall is located on King Faisal Street and is the preferred shopping destination for city residents. The commercial center sprawls luxuriously over a million square feet, housing over 95 outlets and two six-story towers. It is also home to the first LuLu Hypermarket in Riyadh. The mall offers an excellent mix of fashion stores, upscale restaurants, cafes, and family entertainment centers. It has a spacious underground parking lot. Riyadh Avenue Mall is highly popular not only in Saudi Arabia but throughout the entire Gulf region. On average, the mall receives about 5 million visits annually. Thanks to its impeccable service and customer-focused approach, Riyadh Avenue Mall is one of the preferred shopping destinations in Riyadh.
Operating Hours: Daily from 08.00 to 23.00, except on Thursdays, Fridays, and Saturdays when the mall operates from 08.00 to 00.00.
Al Faisaliah Tower
Al Faisaliah Tower is considered the first skyscraper in the kingdom and one of the prominent tourist landmarks in Riyadh, thanks to its modern and unique design. The tower rises to a height of approximately 267 meters and consists of 44 floors. The tower serves as a shopping and entertainment center, housing many retail stores, restaurants, and cinemas. Al Faisaliah Tower also includes a luxurious hotel that provides a distinctive stay for visitors. Due to its central location in the Saudi capital, Al Faisaliah Tower is an ideal place for shopping, dining, and having a good time in Riyadh.
Operating Hours: Daily from 09.30 to 23.30
Riyadh Park
Riyadh Park opened in 2018, presenting a stunning modern destination that combines vast spaces with contemporary design. It features a variety of shops, restaurants, and entertainment venues suitable for the whole family. Global and local brands await your visit, offering exquisite women's fashion, luxurious jewelry, and refreshing men's clothing. Additionally, excellent stores provide a wide range of products for children.
The food court in the center provides a unique experience where you can taste various international and local cuisines, along with delicious coffee and fresh French pastries. Visitors can enjoy a distinctive entertainment experience in the Mystery Museum, hosting optical illusions and intriguing puzzles. There's also the Magic Planet amusement city to delight children and provide hours of fun and entertainment. The Fox Cinema Lounge offers three unique experiences for watching the latest movies, including dedicated children's screenings.
Operating Hours: Daily from 09.00 to 01.00
Tahlia Street
Tahlia Street is one of the most prominent and well-known streets in the Saudi capital, Riyadh. It is considered one of the most important commercial and entertainment places in the city, famous for its diverse range of shops, restaurants, and cafes. Tahlia Street is a vibrant center for shopping and entertainment, allowing visitors to enjoy a luxurious shopping experience in both international and local stores. Additionally, the street provides a wide range of dining options, making it an ideal destination for delicious meals.
Tahlia Street is also known for the entertainment activities and cultural events it hosts throughout the year, making it a beloved place for Riyadh residents and visitors alike. This street reflects the rapid growth and urban development the city has witnessed over the years, making it one of the modern landmarks that adds a distinctive urban touch to the Saudi capital.
Masmak Fortress
The fortress was built in the 14th Hijri century during the rule of Imam Abdullah bin Faisal, serving as a private residence for the imam and a place for the administration of governance and finance. This castle is like a formidable fortress, characterized by the strength and height of its walls, enhancing protection from external threats. The structure of the castle notably lacks regular windows or openings, featuring only two entrances and small openings designed for firing rifles during battles. The word "Masmak" or "Masmak" refers to the massive and strong structure. The fortress was sometimes used as a storage facility for ammunition and weapons until it was later converted into a historical landmark and then a museum showcasing the cultural and historical heritage of the region.
Operating Hours: Daily from 08.00 to 21.00
The Red Palace
The Red Palace is considered a unique historical palace, being one of the first buildings to use advanced techniques of cement and reinforced iron in Riyadh. Constructed in 1942 AD, it was designated as the residence for Prince Saud bin Abdulaziz and his family after their previous palace in the square area burned down. The palace also served as a venue for hosting guests of the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, including leaders and rulers of foreign countries. What distinguishes this palace is its historical role as the venue for the first Cabinet meetings since its establishment until 1988 AD.
Murabba Historical Palace
Murabba Historical Palace is one of the prominent historical landmarks in the Square area of Riyadh, Saudi Arabia. This palace is the first of its kind built outside the boundaries of the old city and is named for its square shape, with dimensions of 400x400 meters. The palace is one of the magnificent museums in the region, characterized by its square structure surrounded by walls, beautifully reflecting the traditional community character that respected the privacy of homes. The palace consists of 32 rooms distributed over two floors, and it also includes reception halls for the king's guests and administrative offices for its employees and guards.
Operating Hours: Daily from 09.00 to 12.00, and from 17.00 to 20.00, except Friday. On Fridays, it operates from 17.00 to 20.00
Aldho Historic Neighborhood
It is a historical neighborhood extending within the former city walls in the southern part of Riyadh, Saudi Arabia. This neighborhood is surrounded by the area of the Palace of Governance in the Al Batha Municipality. Aldho is located near Wadi Hanifa and is surrounded by abundant palm oasis agricultural areas, where common materials in building houses and structures include local stones and clay.
When you visit the Aldho neighborhood, you will notice the inclined walls of some buildings in the neighborhood, due to their location at pedestrian intersections. Decorations and engravings are a distinctive feature in old Najdi houses, where door edges are adorned with gypsum, and decorated with triangles, holes, and geometric shapes, reflecting the close ties between the residents of this neighborhood and their cultural and land heritage.
At-Turaif World Heritage Site
At-Turaif World Heritage Site is located in the Diriyah area on the outskirts of Riyadh and holds a special status as one of the UNESCO-listed world heritage sites. This district serves as a gateway to travel through history, allowing visitors to explore significant milestones in the history of the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia. In the past, the Diriyah area was the capital of the first Saudi state and home to traders in the Arabian Peninsula.
At-Turaif World Heritage Site provides visitors with a unique opportunity to explore the impact of the birth of the first Saudi state, enabling them to witness the traditional Najdi and Islamic architectural styles. They can explore castles and buildings constructed using local materials such as clay and palm trunks. This architectural style has granted these buildings durability that has withstood the test of time.
Operating Hours: Saturday to Thursday from 10.00 to 00.00 and Friday from 14.00 to 00.00, with the last entry at 23.00.
Salwa Palace
Salwa Palace is considered one of the largest palaces in the Diriyah area on the outskirts of Riyadh, covering an area of about 10,000 square meters. The palace consists of seven residential units on multiple floors, characterized by its intricate and luxurious structure. The palace has witnessed the passage of ages and successive architectural additions, endowing it with unparalleled grandeur and charm.
Next to the palace is an open square that was used to welcome visitors. Its floor is paved with stones, with the southern side having a high and thick wall. A bridge extends along this wall, connecting Salwa Palace with Al-Turaif Mosque. The palace facades feature triangular openings and pyramid-like geometric decorations that provide aesthetic lighting and ventilation. The palace is also surrounded by the Beit Al-Mal (House of Money) and Al-Turaif Mosque, with a well that provides water for the palace residents.
You can visit the Diriyah Museum inside the palace, which houses historical manuscripts and possessions of the ruling family.
The National Museum
The National Museum is located in the Saudi capital, Riyadh, built on the site of the old palace in Al-Murabba, about 1.5 kilometers north of the old part of the city. In 1999, the site witnessed the establishment of several cultural institutions focusing on Saudi history, with the renovation and restoration of remnants of the old palaces to reshape them while preserving their original spirit. The National Museum includes a variety of buildings and facilities, including a courtyard of an old house, a mosque, a library, a conference building, as well as grassy gardens with tall trees and water fountains.
In the southern direction, the garden has a small entertainment area that attracts both local and tourist visitors. Additionally, the center houses a collection of traditional houses that were part of the original museum but are now used as reception centers for hosting major events and celebrations. The museum offers seasonal celebrations during national days and holidays to enrich the visitors' experience and celebrate Saudi culture and heritage.
Operating Hours: From Saturday to Wednesday from 09.00 to 19.00, on Thursday and Friday from 14.00 to 22.00 and closed on Sunday.
You can book tickets online.
King Fahd Cultural Centre
Designed with the latest contemporary architectural methods and state-of-the-art financial techniques, the King Fahd Cultural Centre covers an area of 100,000 square meters and includes several venues such as the main theater, small theater, lecture hall, exhibition hall, the astronomical dome, library, and museum, in addition to some administrative and supporting service facilities. The construction of the center took five years and was executed by international companies specialized in this field under the supervision of the General Presidency for Youth Welfare.
King Abdullah Park
King Abdullah Park is one of the prominent public parks in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia. The park stretches over a vast area and is a popular recreational destination for both residents and visitors alike. King Abdullah Park is known for its picturesque landscapes, including diverse trees and plants, along with designated areas for walking and engaging in sports activities.
The park hosts playgrounds for children, barbecue spots, and picnic areas, making it a suitable place for families to spend enjoyable outdoor time. Additionally, King Abdullah Park hosts various cultural and entertainment events throughout the year, making it a place enjoyed by visitors of all ages. This park reflects a strong commitment to providing an open and beautiful environment for enjoying nature and entertainment in the Saudi capital.
Family Days: Tuesday, Thursday, Friday, and Saturday
Entrance Fee: SAR 10 per person and free entry for children under five
King Abdulaziz Equestrian Field
The Horse Racing Club was established in 1965, with remarkable efforts from Prince Abdullah bin Abdulaziz. The first official horse race in Riyadh took place in the presence of King Abdulaziz. This sport began in the northeast part of the city. During King Saud's reign, bleachers were set up on a high platform for spectators. In 1965, the Equestrian Racing Club was officially founded. The field was leveled, and the first official race was held. Later, the idea of creating a large global field for horse racing in Janadriyah emerged, named the King Abdulaziz Equestrian Square. This field blends the past and present, representing a giant landmark in the evolution of equestrian sports, covering an area of approximately 9 square kilometers.
In addition to many services, you can book a table online in the restaurant and enjoy a delicious meal with a charming view.
Salam Park
This park is one of the most important urban entertainment destinations in Saudi Arabia, spanning over 600,000 square meters of natural beauty and distinctive facilities. Its wonderful green gardens and the enchanting lake create a magical atmosphere for visitors of all ages.
Salam Park offers a comprehensive experience of entertainment and relaxation. Visitors can enjoy sports activities in its equipped fields or stroll through shaded green paths with palm trees and diverse animals. If you're looking for a water experience, you can rent a small boat and sail on its serene lake.
Operating Hours: Daily from 16.00 to 02.00
Wadi Namar Waterfall
Wadi Namar Waterfall in Riyadh is a stunning tourist destination located south of the Saudi capital. Stretching along the banks of Wadi Namar, it features breathtaking natural landscapes, including mountains, valleys, and waterfalls. This park is an ideal place for outdoor enthusiasts, offering opportunities for walking, cycling, and recreational trips. It also provides barbecue and picnic facilities, making Wadi Namar a wonderful destination for families and friends to enjoy nature and spend enjoyable outdoor time.
Entrance Fee: Entry to Wadi Namar Park is free, but several paid events are available, for example:
- Tickets for theater performances in Wadi Namar are around SAR 5 for all age groups.
- Tickets for tourist theater events in Wadi Namar in Riyadh are approximately SAR 50.
- National Day events in Wadi Namar start with an entry ticket for an individual at around SAR 300
Wadi Hanifah
Wadi Hanifah extends over 120 km, from Al-Hayssah in the north to Al-Ha'ir in the south of Riyadh. This vast site is a fantastic opportunity to enjoy the beauty of nature, allowing you to plan many enjoyable activities within it. Wadi Hanifah features complete recreational facilities on both sides of a 57 km-long water channel. Uniquely redeveloped, its banks are equipped with parks containing all services and facilities, enabling visitors to enjoy green spaces along its lake wings and have joyful outdoor experiences.
You can wear sports shoes while touring the recreational areas, so you won't tire while walking and marveling at these distinctive places, giving your children a historical and entertaining journey.
Bujairi Terrace
Bujairi Terrace is a new destination that opened in November 2022, bringing together a collection of restaurants and cafes in the Diriyah area, reflecting the history and heritage of the region in a contemporary style. Located in the old Bujairy neighborhood, historically known for its role in education, science, and housing, this neighborhood has been rebuilt and equipped to become a center for entertainment and relaxation. It provides an opportunity to enjoy breathtaking views of the historic At-Turaif district, a UNESCO World Heritage Site, enhancing Diriyah's status as an innovative cultural and entertainment destination that blends the past and the present.
Operating Hours: Sunday to Wednesday from 10.00 to 00.00 and Thursday to Saturday from 10.00 to 01.00
Entrance Fee: An access fee of SAR 50 is required after 17.00 for entry into Mataal and At-Turaif. The fee is redeemable at restaurants and cafes.
Note: The self-parking service costs SAR 30 for 3 hours, with an additional SAR 10 for each additional hour. The valet parking service is SAR 100.
Al Hokair Time
Since the inception of the Hokair Group with the Malaz Entertainment City in Riyadh, the entertainment sector has been the group's largest expansion. Today, the group owns more than 92 entertainment centers spread across all cities of the kingdom. Often, Hokair entertainment centers host more than ten million visitors annually, successfully maintaining its leading position in the entertainment field as the first and largest Saudi company invested in this sector. Among its prominent attractions is Sky Zone, which is the first and most famous trampoline park in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia.
Operating Hours: Sunday to Tuesday from 08.00 to 23.30 and Wednesday to Saturday from 16.00 to 23.30
In conclusion, you'll find that Riyadh provides fantastic entertainment options for families. Whether you prefer serene natural parks or all-in-one entertainment hubs, this city has it all. Book Riyadh flights on Wingie’s website to start discovering Riyadh's exciting entertainment and adventure spots.
