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Four Seasons Riyadh Plan your
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Attractions
Attractions by category
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Attractions by travel time
At Four Seasons, you enjoy a unique vantage point from which to explore the sights, sounds and experiences around you. We hope the highlights of local attractions below help simplify your planning. Please let us know how else we can assist you. Attractions on this page
Walk This upscale three-level shopping centre, known as Al Mamlaka, includes the women-only Ladies Kingdom, an entire level where women can shop in comfort and privacy. Shopping centre is connected to the hotel lobby.
This is an impressive restoration of one of the nine city gates that led into the city until the walls were torn down in 1950.
Drive A two-level shopping centre, with upscale boutiques.
The only ice skating arena in Riyadh. Facilities also include tennis courts, a bowling alley, an observation hall and a restaurant.
Horse races at this fully fledged course attract many enthusiastic spectators. Betting is not allowed.
The kingdom's largest zoo, where more than 40 species wander in open spaces throughout the 134,000-square-metre (1,442,000-square-foot) area. Children may be accompanied by either their mother or their father, but not by both parents. Generally, boys of 10 or older are considered adults.
Originally built in the late 19th century, the Al-Musmak Fortress was captured by King Abdul-Aziz in 1902 and thus represents the birthplace of modern Saudi Arabia. Completely restored, it is a gorgeous example of mud and brick desert architecture, with crenellated towers, triangular windows and traditionally decorated doors and ceilings. It has been restored as a museum that focuses on the history of the country, with exhibits in Arabic and English, and includes a traditional diwan or sitting room with an open courtyard and a working well.
Enjoy a cool desert night with friends or colleagues in one of the many shisha places on the outskirts of Riyadh. The largest and best-known is Al-Shallal. It is an exotic complex of indoor and outdoor venues for socialising with tea, Middle Eastern snacks and the traditional shisha water pipe.
Traditional bazaars with Saudi souvenirs, clothing, textiles, jewellery and household items. Bargaining is a must. Dira Souk is one of the larger souks - it is a colourful warren of vendors offering handcrafted good and antiques from throughout the Middle East. Nearby are the Falcon Souk and the Gold Souk, where Bedouin jewellery, spices, pearls and household items are sold.
The King Abdul Aziz Historical Area features outdoor gardens and the 100 Palms Park underneath the famous Water Tower landmark, as well as the new National Museum and Al-Murabba Palace. The former is a stunning architectural monument, opened in 1999, built to celebrate the centenary of Saudi unification. Its eight galleries explore Arabian civilisation from 6000 BC to the present. Its outdoor landscaped gardens are popular after sunset, when families come to enjoy the cool evening air. King Abdul Aziz held court in Al-Murabba Palace from the 1930s, when it was built. An example of more traditional Riyadh architecture, it gives an evocative, historical glimpse into the culture and society of Saudi Arabia during a pivotal time.
This tour includes the following sights:
1. Ad-Dir'iyyah: This is the old ruined capital of the Al-Saud. Many years of meticulous restoration have recreated the outer walls and some of the major buildings, such as the majestic new Dir'iyyah mosque and the visitors centre. The hammam of the Saad Al-Saud Palace is a must-see, featuring a date store and colourfully decorated wooden doors with circles and flowers in red, blue and black. A long walk around the wall offers a view of the Diplomatic Quarter opposite, and from the corner you can see most of Riyadh.
2. Al-Musmak Fortress: The modern Qasr Al-Hokm (ruler's palace) district was created in the 1980s and 1990s in an attempt to reinforce the role of the original Riyadh in the modern-day city. Walk along the Thumairi Street past the gold souq to the left and you arrive at Al-Musmak Square and the majestic Al-Musmak Fort. The fort contains many artifacts from the time of Abdul Aziz and shows a series of videos which catalogue the events of the fort's capture in the past.
3. The King Abdul Aziz Historical Area: Al Murraba Palace was where King Abdul Aziz set up court in the late 1930s, after moving from Al-Musmak Fort. The two-storey building has been restored and features many artifacts and photos.
4. The National Museum: The new National Museum is full of stimulating information and displays, arranged in eight galleries: Man and the Universe, Arabian Kingdoms, Ignorance, The Prophet's Mission, Islam and the Arabian Peninsula, First and Second Saudi States and Unification.
5. Riyadh Zoo - The Kingdom's largest zoo, located on the east side of Al Ihsa Street, is well worth a visit. However, men and women cannot visit together, so families must visit as fathers and children or mothers and children.
Please note: Many sites require prior arrangements for visitation.
A family outing into the desert, where you will be guided to discover precious stones like topaz, amethyst and citrine. Tours include transportation, meal and professional guides.
The Saudi dynasty’s first capital, an oasis city, was founded in 1446 and razed in 1818. Reconstructed palaces, mosques and the old city wall, made from the traditional mud brick, form what is now the country’s most popular archaeological site.
An exotic excursion into the desert for an evening of camping under the stars.
Day or evening trips to visit traditional Bedouin communities can be arranged. Various tours offer meals, interactions with Bedouin hosts and discussions about their culture and folklore, as well as expeditions into the desert to enjoy dune or camel rides.
The stadium's unusual tent-shaped architecture provides maximum protection from the weather to approximately 80,000 spectators who come to watch track and field sports.
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