It's a fact that Saudi Arabia is not necessarily a destination we think of when we book our holidays. And yet it is overflowing with natural treasures, cultural activities and modern, lush metropolises like Riyadh, its capital since 1932. It is still the country's most populous city, with over 7.5 million inhabitants. Built in the 17th century on the ruins of the ancient fortified village of Hajr, it has undergone a fairly rapid transformation to become today an ultra-modern city, with numerous skyscrapers such as the Kingdom Center, which rises to a height of 302 metres. An impressive city with no shortage of places to discover.
Riyad, capitale de l'Arabie Saoudite, de nuit
- © adznano3 / Shutterstock
Thanks to its status as the cultural capital of Saudi Arabia, Riyadh is brimming with historic museums, such as Al Masmak Palace and Murabba Palace. Art lovers will not be outdone by the various art galleries, such as the Naila Art Gallery and the Faisal Museum of Islamic and Arabic Art. There's something for everyone.
Palais Al Masmak, de nuit
- © Zaki Ghawas / ShutterstockBut if we had to pick just one, the National Museum of Saudi Arabia would come out on top. Despite its modern exterior, visitors are taken back in time inside. They discover the history of the country from prehistoric times to the present day. More than 3,700 objects are on display in eight different sections. A must-see in the capital for history buffs and the simply curious.
Musée national saoudien
- © jessmine / 123RF📍 Location: King Saud Rd، 2722 حي 8745, Riyadh 12631
⏰ Opening hours: Monday to Wednesday 9am to 7pm, Thursday 9am to 10pm and Friday 2pm to 10pm.
👉 More information about the works on display by downloading their Android or IOS app.
Le Kingdom Center avec son pont sur le ciel
- © Logen Wang / ShutterstockThis is the city's most impressive landmark by far. With its 99 storeys and 302m height, the Kingdom Center overlooks the city and offers an exceptional panorama. In fact, it's almost as tall as the Eiffel Tower. The top of the monument forms an arch, a sort of bridge 65m long, which allows you to discover a number of viewpoints from different angles.
Getting there couldn't be easier. All you have to do is get into the lifts to reach the ** SkyBridge**. There are two stages to the ascent. The first takes 50 seconds to climb 180m and the second 40 seconds to reach the final destination. A word of advice? Go in the late afternoon or at night! It's even more dazzling at these times. For a different view, don't hesitate to climb to the top of the Al Faisaliah tower. Don't forget your camera!
⚠️ Make sure the site is accessible on the day of your visit!
📍 Location: Kingdom Centre, King Fahad Road, POBox 230011 Riyadh 11321
⏰ Opening times: Saturday to Thursday from midday to 10.30pm and Friday from 4pm to 10.30pm.
👛 Price:
During your visit to the Kingdom Center, you can enjoy the view, take advantage of the shopping centre, savour food in the restaurants, relax in front of a film in the cinema but also ... sleep. The Four Seasons Hotel is located within the famous tower and has rooms with splendid views over the capital.
Riyadh
The city of Riyadh and its province offer a host of natural wonders, including Al Bujairi Park, the archaeological site of Graffiti Rock, and the fabulous Heet Cave with its limestone formations and crystal-clear waters.
Once again, choosing a single location is no easy task. We opted for an excursion to the rocky desert to the north-west of Riyadh known as Jebel Fihrayn, or the 'edge of the world'. From the top of the cliffs, rising almost 300m above the ground, you can enjoy an incredible view of the desert horizon. A change of scenery guaranteed!
Jebel Fihrayn ou "le bord du monde"
- © jessmine / 123RF📍 Location: it's here on Google Maps
🚌 Getting there: The "edge of the world" is less than 100km from Riyadh. By 4x4 allow around 1h30 for the journey. Once you've parked at the bottom of the cliffs, you'll need to walk for around 20 minutes to get to the top.
⚠️ Don't forget your bottle of water
We've put together a non-exhaustive list of must-see places to visit during a stay in Riyadh. If your holiday is long enough, don't hesitate to discover other places like the old town of Diriyah, Riyadh Zoo, the Al Rajhi Mosque, and much more!
Old town of Diriyah
- © Fedor Selivanov / ShutterstockThe capital of Saudi Arabia is located right in the centre of the country. It is an easily accessible destination by plane from several French cities. If you land at other airports, it is possible to reach Riyadh by car. In this case, allow more than 9 hours' drive from Jeddah, for example. It is possible to drive to Riyadh from France, but it is an obstacle course. Admittedly, it takes more than 55 hours, but it can be done.
The city is very big and the surrounding area is full of activities. We recommend a week's stay to make the most of the capital.
As in the rest of the country, the sale and consumption of alcohol are strictly prohibited and heavily punished, sometimes even with imprisonment.
As everywhere in this country, loose clothing covering the elbows and coming down below the ankles is recommended for both men and women. A local woman must wear this type of garment called the abaya. These garments are no longer compulsory as of 2019, but are strongly recommended. Short shorts and Bermuda shorts are frowned upon.
