Riyadh is the capital and largest city of Saudi Arabia. The city has many tourist attractions and received around 19.1 million tourists in 2023. It is the second-most visited city in the country, after Mecca. Before the introduction of tourist visas in 2019, the city received around 5 million tourists each year, making it the forty-ninth most visited city in the world and the 6th in the Middle East. The numbers almost doubled in 2021, with 10.44 million tourists visiting Riyadh in 2021. The Kingdom Centre and Al Faisaliah Tower are among the world's most recognizable symbols of Riyadh. Prominent festivals of city that attract visitors include Jenadriyah, Riyadh Season, Riyadh International Book Fair and Noor Riyadh.
Skyline and sightseeing
- Kingdom Centre
- Al Faisaliah Tower
- Public Investment Fund Tower
- KAFD World Trade Center
- Al Majdoul Tower
- Olaya Towers
- Boudl Tower
- Al Nakheel Tower
- Al Rajhi Bank Tower
- Burj Al Anoud
- Burj Rafal
- Villas in the Sky
- Hamad Tower
- Riyadh Water Tower
- Riyadh TV Tower
- Khaldia Towers
- Riyad Bank Tower
- Etlal Tower
- Crowne Plaza Riyadh Palace
- KAFD metro station
- Ministry of Interior building
- Royal Secondary Industrial Institute
- Sohaibani and Partners Law Firm Head Office
Shopping centers and mixed-use developments
- Boulevard City
- Boulevard World
- Digital City
- King Abdullah Financial District
- VIA Riyadh
- Roshn Front
- U Walk
- Laysen Valley
- Riyadh Gallery Mall
- Riyadh Park
- The View Mall
- Tala Mall
- Sahara Mall
- Granada Center
- Centria Mall
- Al Kindi Plaza
- Souq al-Zal
- Swaigah Trade Center
- Al Maigliah Market Center
- Al Deira Market
- Souq al-Thumairi
- Souq al-Awaleen
- Souq Haraj Ibn Qasim
- Souq al-Hilla
Parks and gardens
- Riyadh Zoo
- King Abdullah Park
- Salam Park
- National Museum Park
- Al-Watan Park
- Wahat al-Nakheel
- Al-Suwaidi Park
- Al Fouta Garden
- Thumamah Wildlife Park
- King Abdulaziz Manakh Park
- Jabal Abu Makhruq
- Al Khalidiyah Park
- Wadi Hanifah Park
- Wadi Laban Park
- Wadi Namar Park
- Ha'ir Lakes Park
- Ein Heet Cave
- King Salman Park, Banban
Forts, monuments and other landmarks
- Masmak Palace
- Murabba Palace
- Thumairi Gate
- Dakhnah Gate
- Al Abtal Gate
- Nasiriyah Gate
- Safat Clocktower
- Red Palace
- Thulaim Palace
- Al Ma'dhar Palace
- Al-Shamsiyya Palace
- Al-Badi'a Palace
- Irqah Hospital
Mosques
- Imam Turki bin Abdullah Grand Mosque
- Al Rajhi Grand Mosque
- King Khalid Grand Mosque
- Hayy Assafarat Grand Mosque
- KAFD Grand Mosque
- King Abdullah Mosque
- Sheikh Muhammad bin Ibrahim Mosque
- Al-Qibli Mosque
- Hilla Mosque
- Sohoom Mosque
- King Khalid Airport Mosque
- Princess Latifa bint Sultan Mosque
- Salam Mosque
- King Abdulaziz Mosque
- Al Madi Mosque
- King Fahd Mosque
- Al Dakheel Mosque
Museums and libraries
Main article: Museums in Riyadh- National Museum of Saudi Arabia
- King Fahad National Library
- Royal Saudi Air Force Museum
- King Abdulaziz Public Library
- SAMA Money Museum
- Archaeological Museum at King Saud University
- Al Hamdan Heritage Museum
- Naila Art Gallery
Stadiums and sports venue
- Kingdom Arena
- Mohammed Abdo Arena
- Prince Faisal bin Fahd Sports City
- King Fahd Sports City
- King Saud University Stadium
- Al-Shabab Club Stadium
- GPYW Indoor Stadium
- Prince Turki bin Abdul Aziz Stadium
- King Abdulaziz Racetrack
- Al Areen Equestrian Club
References
- "Saudi welcomed 109.3M tourists in 2023, spending hit SAR 256B". ArgaamPlus. Retrieved 2024-12-24.
- "Four Saudi cities among world's top 100 destinations in 2019". ArgaamPlus. Retrieved 2024-12-24.
- "A look at tourist arrivals, spending in 2015-2021". ArgaamPlus. Retrieved 2024-12-24.
- Cavendish, Marshall (2006-09). World and Its Peoples. Marshall Cavendish. ISBN 978-0-7614-7571-2.
{{cite book}}: Check date values in:|date=(help) - Al-Kodmany, Kheir; Ali, Mir M. (2013). The Future of the City: Tall Buildings and Urban Design. WIT Press. ISBN 978-1-84564-410-9.
- "Jenadriyah festival showcases best of Arab heritage, culture". Al Arabiya. 10 February 2017. Retrieved 17 July 2019.
- "Riyadh Season". Saudi Seasons. 11 July 2019. Archived from the original on 12 November 2020. Retrieved 12 November 2020.
- "Let there be light: 17-day festival to illuminate Riyadh". Arab News. 2021-03-04. Retrieved 2021-03-06.