Riyadh

The clay and mud brick fort of the Masmak Fort is an important landmark and heritage site in the centre of Riyadh. Built around 1865, the site is associated with the foundation of the Saudi Arabian kingdom as the original stronghold of King Mohammed bin Abdullah bin Rasheed. The castle was the setting of the Idn Saud's legendary raid in 1902, where a spear was hurled at the main entrance with such force that the head is still intact in the main arch. Visitors can explore its impressive rooms, pillared mosque, gate, watchtowers, and well.

Address : 3153 Al Thumairi St, Ad Dirah, 6937

Website : www.arriyadh.com/ar/Tourism/Left/Musems/getdocument.aspx?f=/openshare/ar/Tourism/Left/Musems/hoson.doc_cvt.

Telephone : +966 11 411 0091

Opening times : Sunday to Thursday 8am-12pm, 4pm-9pm, Friday 4pm-7.30pm, Saturday 9am-12am

Just outside the original city walls, is the spectacular Al Murabba'a Historical Palace. Built in the early 1900s, the palace originally functioned as the private accommodation for the king of Saudi Arabia.Now a principal component of the King Abdulaziz Darat, an institute and library devoted to preserving Arabian history, the palace has been preserved as a living example of Arabian royal life in days gone by and is a site history lovers enjoy year after year. On the ground floor are the guard's room and storerooms, while upstairs visitors can view the reception salons, political offices, and private apartments.

Address : Khazzan Street

Website : www.arriyadh.com/Eng/Tourism

Opening times : Weekly 8am-3pm, closed on weekends.

The ruins of the historically significant city of Diriyah, statuesque and silent in the desert about 12 miles (20km) northwest of Riyadh city centre, provide an interesting excursion. The city, originally the stronghold of the powerful Saud family, was the site of an important Islamic reform movement in around 1745, when two influential imams called for the people to return to the true faith and abandon heresy, polytheism, and superstition. In its heyday, the city was the biggest in the Arab Peninsula, but was overtaken by Riyadh after being destroyed by the Turks in the early 19th century. The ruins of many of the mud-brick buildings remain to be explored.

Opening times : Saturday to Thursday 8am-6pm, 3am-6pm on Fridays.

Admission : Free

The place to see and be seen in Riyadh is at the remarkable Kingdom Centre, the fifth tallest building in Saudi Arabia, owned by a Saudi prince and built to an unusual elliptical award-winning design. The 99-storey colossus is the world's third largest building with a hole that visitors can walk across on the sky-bridge on the highest floor.Besides containing modern offices, apartments, the Four Seasons Hotel and a fitness club, the Kingdom Centre also houses a state-of-the art three-level shopping mall with more than 160 stores, anchored by Saks Fifth Avenue and Debenhams department stores. The centre also boasts dozens of world-class international restaurants.

Address : Al-Urubah Road, between King Fahd Road and Olaya Street, in the Olaya business district

Website : www.kingdomcentre.com.sa

This museum, chief among the numerous museums in Riyadh, is truly worth visiting. Incorporating local art, religion, and culture that explore the diverse and intriguing history of the Arabian kingdoms, the National Museum sees many visitors each year. Artefacts such as ancient documents, furniture, weapons and more, dating as far back as the Stone Age, are on display. Unlike most attractions in Riyadh, the museum charges a small entrance fee.Other city museums worth visiting are the King Abdulaziz Military Museum and the Museum of Antiquities and Folklore.

Address : King Abdul Aziz, Historical Center

Website : www.nationalmuseum.org.sa

Telephone : +966 11 402 9500

Opening times : Saturday to Thursday 8am-8pm, Friday 4pm-8pm.

Admission : SAR10 adults, free for children and students.