Discover the best of Saudi Arabia

Saudi Arabia has a lot of things to discover, from the beautiful mosques, to the amazing attractions, to the diversity of local food that you must try. Believe it or not, this should be a destination in your bucket list, as you will not regret visiting Saudi Arabia, even if it's only a stopover. With Visit Saudi Arabia, we've decided to show you the top things to do to discover the best of Saudi Arabia.

Things to know before going to Saudi Arabia

Top activities & attractions in Saudi Arabia

Saudi Arabia is a kingdom full of things to do, but here are the top activities & attractions to discover when visiting Saudi Arabia:

Stunning mosques in Saudi Arabia

You could think that the most beautiful mosques in Saudi Arabia would be in Makkah and Medina, the two holy cities, but there are many more cities containing architecturally noteworthy mosques accessible to the public all across Saudi Arabia. The must-visit mosques are:

  • Jawatha Mosque in Al Ahsa, which is thought to be the oldest mosque in the eastern Arabian Peninsula;
  • Al Rajhi Grand Mosque in Riyadh, one of the capital city’s most important Islamic institutions;
  • Al Rajhi Mosque in Hail, which contains one of the largest chandeliers in the world;
  • Al Rahma Mosque in Jeddah, also called the floating mosque, which is uniquely perched atop a stack of white concrete stilts on the Red Sea.

The Great Outdoors: open-air activities

Here are the top 5 open-air activities that you cannot miss when visiting Saudi Arabia:

1. Hegra

If you want to go back in time, Hegra is the perfect destination. Hegra in an ancient city in Saudi Arabia, untouched since its discovery. It became an archeological site but also Saudi Arabias’s first UNESCO World Heritage Site. Today it's open for tourists to discover and find the clues about the mysterious empire that built it.

2. Al Wahbah Crater

The crater was once thought to be created by an ancient meteor strike, but actually the cause was a volcanic eruption. This giant crater is one of Saudi Arabia’s most dramatic natural wonders, measuring 4km wide and 250-metres deep. Everyone is welcome to climb it and enjoy the glorious views over the desert from the crater’s rim.

3. Fanateer Marina Corniche in Jubail

The Fanateer Marina Corniche is perfect for weekends. This family-friendly beach and marina in the Eastern Province of Saudi Arabia is the place for lounging or for renting a boat to enjoy the beautiful view of the corniche. Plus, if you get hungry over there, you must try the fresh seafood which you can find in several restaurants in the area.

4. Wadi Al Baida (Valley of the Ghosts)

Wadi Al Baida, located northwest of Medina on Gravity Hill, is a magical place. A place where water flows uphill and a bus in neutral gear will be “magnetically” propelled forward, incredible right? But actually this happens because of an optical illusion, which makes things seem as if they were pulled in the opposite direction, making this place a must visit during your trip to Saudi Arabia! Go and check if the name "Valley of the Ghosts" is really appropriate for this surreal place.

5. Empty Quarter

Empty Quarter, or as you may know it by, Rub Al Khali, is the world’s largest contiguous sand desert, spanning the southern third of the Arabian Peninsula and covering more than one-fourth of Saudi Arabia's total area. Even if it's called Empty Quarter, this desert is not quite empty. Many tribes have and still live in this part of the Arabian Peninsula, and new-comers are always encouraged to discover the massive area with a tour guide. Go and explore the west, where the sand dunes reach as high as 600 metres above sea level, or the east, where the elevation dips to about 180 metre.

Best sunset views in Saudi Arabia

You cannot go to Saudi Arabia and not enjoy its beautiful Arabian sunsets, so to help you out, here are the top places to enjoy the golden hour when visiting Saudi Arabia:

  • Edge of the World: the actual name of this place is Jebel Fihrayn, but it's called the "Edge of the World" as it has an uninterrupted view of the horizon atop its 300-metre-high cliffs. So just imagine watching the sunset there, where all the fossils come to life when the golden hour reflects on them.

  • Jeddah Corniche: as said before, the Jeddah Corniche is one of the top places to spend the day in Saudi Arabia, and it's worth it to wait until the sun sets. Here you will be able to see the sun setting behind King Fahd Fountain, or stare at the Floating Mosque, which with the sunset looks even more magical.

  • Asfar Lake: the Asfar Lake is a wonder day or night, as the contrast between the blue lake and golden dunes is striking. But during the golden hour, the colours come even more alive, making it as spectacular as it can be.

  • Al Disah Valley: Waldi Al Disah, or Al Disah Valley in English, is as stunning as the Grand Canyon (some say that it's even more stunning). Here, because of the high canyon walls, with a bright red colour, and the reflective pools on the ground, the sunset it's said to be breathtaking, bringing out all the colours visible in this amazing place.

  • Farasan Island: after spending the day discovering the island, the best time to head back is when the sun is setting. This way you will enjoy a beautiful sunset on top of the water, making the island shine in a unique way. And if lucky, you might even be able to see the dolphins swimming around during the golden hour.

Traditional Saudi Arabian cuisine: a must-try

As big as the kingdom is, is how big the cuisine in Saudi Arabia is. Every city and region has its local dishes, which is why to enjoy all of them you will need to do a whole trip around the kingdom. Here are the top flavours to try when discovering Saudi Arabia:

Flavours of Abha

Abha is the capital of the Aseer Region, which is considered one of the ancient regions that preserved its identity and folk heritage, and this includes their food. The traditional Aseeri dishes have been passed from generations to generations, which piques the curiosity of travellers when arriving to this beautiful region. Some of the foods to try are: Hanith, Arika and Asedah (the main traditional winter dishes), Altsabee, Shadkh and Rijla, and the Mefa Bread.

Flavours of Jazan

Jazan owes its rich culinary cuisine to its wide geographical resources, as it's a pivotal agricultural heartland. Plus, in this beautiful city some of the dishes were named after the instruments with which they were cooked, which were crafted from scratch by family matriarchs. Three of the must-try dishes when visiting Jazan are: Samak Mkashan, Mahshoosh and Mafalet (Thareed).

Flavours of Jeddah

Jeddah, also known as the "Bride of the Red Sea", has a treasure of delicious culinary dishes, even more as most of them are made with freshly caught seafood. So if you're a seafood lover visiting Saudi Arabia, you must visit Jeddah and try their tasty seafood dishes, like fried Najil, fried Sijan, fried shrimp and fried crab, fish Kofta, Mashramel, Matfi Samak, and lastly, Kozi Samak.

Flavours of Najd

Najdi cuisine is hearty and wholesome, dominated by stews, wheat and rice dished, with fragant spices making the dishes delicious and unique. This traditional cuisine is known for its lengthy preparation, which is why you should enjoy this food even more, as it has been made with a lot of effort and love. Top dishes to try when visiting Najd are: Jareesh, Mataziz, Marquq, Ghorsan, Kabsa, Hinaini, and Kleija.

Flavours of Medina

Medina's cuisine is known by its locally grown produce, mostly being dates, herbs, and mint, and most of the recipes use these ingredients, one way or the other. But the dishes you must try to taste the true flavours of Medina are the Shorbat Hub, Medini Rice, the Makhtoom Bamia Okra with Yogurt and Saffron, Samboosak Buff, and the Buraik.

Flavours of Makkah

Pilgrims have come to Makkah since anyone can remember, and bringing many different cultures to the beautiful city. This diversity of cultures has influenced what today is the Makkawi kitchen, mixing the original Makkawi flavours with the flavours from the pilgrims that came to the city. To experience this cultural exchange, the dishes you must try when in Makkah are Sobia, the hummus rice, Kebab Miro, Tagatea and Aish Bil Lahm.

Plan your trip to Saudi Arabia!

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