Saudi Arabia is Challengingly Calling You!

Remained as closed to the external tourists due to impenetrability, the nation welcomed the bravest ones and risk takers such as Richard Burton and Wilfred Thesiger. However, now many travelers visit this land to explore its risky realm and the largest sand sea on the planet called the Empty Quarter holding ship-sized sand dunes.

Further Madain Saleh, the Petra of Saudi Arabia offers the most attractive and epic sites, while Jeddah is the coastal delight with coral homes and sougs. The Red Sea’s treasures off the shore are its stunning and unblemished reefs that leave behind a healthy marine life and clean waters. Apart from the historical sites and natural wonders, the modern heights can be seen in its capital, Riyadh where some stunning buildings rise above the sand dunes to touch the sky. What doesn’t seem to end besides the sand dunes is the ever welcoming nature of the people here.

Saudi Arabia Tourist Attractions

Riyadh

This is the progressing capital of the country that was once a dusty, desert land. It is precisely here that you will find some ambiguity regarding the contemporary Saudi Arabia. If buildings are growing and glittering, the mutawwa (religious police) are always pulling the people for prayers. Further, even though the city is regarded as conservative and vigilant, you can find some gorgeous dining and cafes. Here, we visited the following places.

• Al-Faisaliah Tower:
  This is one of new constructions touching the sky with its huge glass globe made out of 655 glass panels measuring 24 m in diameter. The tower was planned by British architect Norman Foster that was given a shape in 2000 A.D. by the Bin Laden construction company.

• Al-Faisaliah Tower Viewing Platform:
  This is a mind-blowing platform on the 34th floor of the tower whose tapestry summit is at 267 m from the ground level.
• Kingdom Tower:
  This is the most recent familiar sight due to its captivating work of contemporary architecture. Also called the ‘necklace’ because of its remarkable zenith, the tower is worth visiting at night when the top area is decorated with colored lights that keeps on changing.
• Kingdom Tower Sky Bridge:
  Take a high-speed elevator that run at 180km/h and reach the 99th floor of the Kingdom Tower Sky Bridge to take some spectacular views and scenic photos of your family including yourself. I recommend to not to come here on weekends and evenings after 18:00, as it becomes quite crowded.
• Masmak Fortress:
  This is the city’s most noteworthy historical structure built around 1865 A.D. on the land of a former fortification. The fort has witnessed massive restorations to its pre-Saud times.

• Murabba Palace:
  This is the most stunning palace only due to its fearsome white-washed walls constructed by King Abdul Aziz in 1946 A.D. Except this, there is not much to look and explore, yeah! Not forgetting the big, empty, and labeled rooms ringing a central courtyard.
• State-of-the-art National Museum:
  There is no doubt that this is among the best museums of the Middle East. The museum consists of eight floors that houses properly planned, indulging, and instructive exhibits on history, culture, and art, of Saudi Arabia. In addition, the attractive original rock carvings, models, and a complete replica of a Nabataean tomb are not worth missing.

Jeddah

Many people are familiar with this city as the meeting point for pilgrims mainly the Haj ones and traders from several centuries. This is what that makes Jeddah the largest cultural centre in the world. Known as the commercial capital and for its shopping varieties, the town has witnessed great foreign influence in its restaurants, souqs, and shops.

• Al-Tayibat City Museum for International Civilization:
  This is a worth visiting huge palace that holds more than 300 rooms throng with the collected works that are even more than an average life of a local merchant.
• Beaches:
  Many of their best heaps of sand are unfortunately lost due to been hidden below the new and modern buildings. Most of the beaches are flooded by beach lovers on Saturdays and Sundays with their jet skis. A few five-star hotels offer private beach.

• Corniche:
  This is a 35 km long walkway. Follow the local people to take a leisure stroll on a summer’s night. This is where you can feel the vibes of real Jeddah and the current time in the Kingdom. What you will find here is this – students cross-legged bending toward their books, families enjoying picnic on mats with delicious food and exciting games, group of men for debating and business, and young fellows playing cards.
• Naseef House:
  This is a rebuilt coral mansion that was once of one of the city’s most potent trading families. It is unfortunate to say that the ancient coral houses are not at all in even a little good state. The Naseef House is the one among these ruined ones.
• Radisson Blu Hotel Private Beach:
  As I mentioned that there are a few five-star hotels offering their own beach, in that context, the Radisson Blu is one such hotel. On its beach, even a non guest can have fun and use its amenities at the cost of SRIs50 per person per day.
• Shallaby Museum of Traditional Handicrafts & Hejazi Heritage:
  This is a cultural centre offering you a good series of coins, silver antiques – the most worthy is its silver-plated wedding footwear, and conventional Bedouin wear. This visit becomes more worthy and mandatory if you have not visited Jeddah’s ‘Louvre’ (Aka Al-Tayibat City Museum for International Civilization).
• Shorbatly House:
  This is another ruining coral house but offers a few beautiful mashrabiyya, meaning balconies with pierced screens that in bring good breeze. It has been restored up to maximum extent without losing its original look and feel in the 1980s. However, it is again in that state of worsening that requires urgent attention.
• Souq al-Alawi:
  Stretching off Al-Dahab St, this is the most vast and conventional souq in Saudi Arabia. Adorned with attractive ancient dwellings rising to reach the sky, the market stalls passes through the hub of the old city. Hustling with the occupation of the merchants and pilgrims arriving from beyond the sea and desert, this souq is even the same today as before a millennia. Really appreciable! At the time of the Haj (Islamic pilgrimage), it seems more like a cosmopolitan. For visitors, the best time to come here is at sunset when the prayer time packs the streets. This is a best view to know the real Arabia.

Best Time to Visit Saudi Arabia

November and February

Saudi Arabia Accommodation

In Riyadh:

• Al Faisaliah Hotel – 5 star
• Four Seasons Hotel – 5 star
• Golden Tulip Qasr Al Nasiriah Hotel – 4 star
• Holiday Inn Riyadh Al-Qasr Hotel – 4 star
• Al Mutlaq Hotel – 1 star

In Jeddah:

• Al-Bilad Hotel
• Crowne Plaza – 4 star
• Holiday Inn Al Salam – 3 star
• Jeddah Sheraton Hotel – 5 star
• Le Meridien – 5 star
• Moevenpick Resort Al Nawras Jed – 3 star
• Park Hyatt Jeddah – Marina, Club, and Spa – 5 star