One of the three remaining absolute theocratic monarchies in the world attracts visitors from all over the world with its abundance of attractions. Saudi Arabia has attractions on every corner – it is essential to allocate your time wisely, choosing to explore those that are well-located and interesting for you and your companions (friends, family, etc.). The country preserves the ancient traditions of the Islamic people, so it is best to explore everything accompanied by a guide. We will tell you what to see in Saudi Arabia in 1 day and where to go if you have an extended vacation. You will only have to choose the most interesting tourist attractions.
What to see first in Saudi Arabia
Regardless of which sights you decide to visit in Saudi Arabia, consider admiring the regulations on clothing, alcohol intake, and socializing with neighborhood girls. The consequences for violating the laws (each legitimate and unofficial) are severe and may encompass deportation and imprisonment. It is extremely risky to leave the hotel grounds in Saudi Arabia without a companion. Be careful when choosing your wardrobe – during the tourist season, it can be very hot here – you will need hats, breathable shoes, and sun protection. There is air con in the homes and at bus stops.
The essential sights in Saudi Arabia are historic monuments and cultural sites. However, there are herbal wonders that outdoor lovers will appreciate. Top sights include:
1. City of Mecca
Mecca is the most crucial city for followers of Islam, where tens of thousands of people do the Hajj every year. It is an hour’s drive from the Red Sea coast and has an abundance of historical and architectural monuments. If you are not a Muslim, Mecca should be left off the list when planning what to see in Saudi Arabia. A tent camp has been set up, primarily for pilgrims on the city’s outskirts, where Muslims come to pray in the Reserved Mosque. In Mecca, ancient buildings are interspersed with ultra-modern complexes, such as Abraj al-Bayt. A land metro has been in operation since 2010. There are various family umrah packages available in which you can explore Mecca city.
2. Al-Haram Mosque
Al-Haram Mosque, or the Grand Mosque, was constructed over centuries from the 7th century AD and is globally renowned as it contains the central Islamic shrine (the Cube of the Kaaba). It spans over 357,000 square meters and has over forty doors to provide space for as many people as possible. During peak holidays, the crowds are enormous, so choose the best time for umrah of the year to visit this Saudi Arabian site wisely.
3. The Kaaba is a cube
Kaaba – Muslim shrine in the courtyard of the Masjid al-Haram mosque
The Kaaba—a cube—is a unique black rectangular structure about thirteen meters high, before which Muslims bow during prayer. According to legend, the cube was built by angels who descended from heaven, but later, it was subjected to many changes and reconstructions. Major reconstruction works were carried out in the 7th, 17th, and 19th centuries.
4. Al-Nabawi Mosque
The Al-Nabawi Mosque is the second most vital temple for fans of Islam, and the Great Prophet himself is considered its creator.
This Saudi Arabian attraction is worth visiting because of its burial place of Muhammad and numerous minarets over a hundred meters high. Two of the country’s caliphs are also buried here. The mosque was designed for the simultaneous prayer of 600,000 Muslims, and during the Hajj, their number increased to one million. The peculiarity of the design is an open rectangular courtyard. The construction principle of the shrine became the basis for the architectural designs of other mosques. In the past, prayers were not only said here, but court sessions, public meetings, Islamic lessons, and solemn events were also held here.
5. Al-Quba Mosque
The Al-Quba Mosque is a universal solution for where to go in Saudi Arabia because any tourist will want to see with their own eyes the oldest temple built for the believers of the Prophet Muhammad. Initially, it was built far from Medina, but gradually, the city expanded, and now the temple is on its territory. In the 20th century, a major reconstruction was carried out according to the project proposed by an architect from Egypt. On the site of the old building, a huge mosque was erected with a prayer hall, offices, a book depository, living quarters, a place of purification, and auxiliary rooms. The building has six domes and four minarets so that one can appreciate the size of the prayer hall.
6. Fahd’s Fountain
The Fahd Fountain is a Saudi Arabian enchantment visited by tens of heaps of foreigners, placed in Jeddah, and committed to the 5th ruler of the state. To ensure the fountain’s non-stop operation, it’s far ready with an effective pumping mechanism able to pump as much as 600 liters of water in a single second. The jet-shaped peak is 312 meters, and the float rate reaches nearly four hundred kilometers, keeping with the hour.
7. King Fahd Bridge
The King Fahd Bridge is a complex of bridges and dams built to facilitate traffic between the country and neighboring Bahrain, and it costs the local government more than $1 billion. The reinforced concrete structure took five years to build (1981-1986) and was named after one of the kings. The 25-meter-long bridge regularly causes traffic jams and is used to transfer police and military personnel when necessary.
Saudi Arabia attractions: what else to see in Saudi Arabia
Traveling to this mysterious state can be even more exciting if you use the recommendations below on what to see in Saudi Arabia. Our review includes the best tourist attractions according to reviews, so if you have time to spare, it is worth including them in your itinerary.
8. Masmak Fortress
Masmak Fortress is a fortification constructed in 1865, which exceeded Abdul-Aziz (the country’s first ruler) in the twentieth century and is considered one of the most visited sites in the capital. In addition to the preserved historic buildings, visitors to Er Riyadh can further research the city’s records via museum exhibits, and there’s a mosque geared up for religious Muslims.
9. Madain-Salih
Madain Salih is an excellent choice for those considering what to visit in Saudi Arabia during a long holiday. The complex contains the ruins of the most important settlement of Kheragarh from the 1st century BC, where traders from all over the peninsula used to arrive. What makes this attraction interesting is the gathering in one place of architectural monuments from different nations: Assyrians, Phoenicians, and Egyptians.
10. Asir National Park
Asir National Park is continually indexed as one of the few regions in Saudi Arabia with preserved vegetation and fauna. Activities to be had by vacationers encompass walks via the enormous territory of the park, at some stage in which you may see the rarest animals (together with the Nubian ibex and the chamois) and flora of their herbal habitat, barbeque and picnic regions, and playgrounds for kids and sports activities enthusiasts. Some areas are designated for camping so you can come here for several days. The reserve has been operating since the 1980s and is fully funded by the state.
11) Burj Al Mamlaka Skyscraper (Kingdom Center)
The Burj Al Mamlaka (Kingdom Center) skyscraper is a massive structure built in just three years at the beginning of the 21st century. It has become one of the most popular attractions in Saudi Arabia. From a height of three hundred meters, tourists can admire stunning views of the largest metropolis, filled with modern and ancient buildings. There are 99 floors, which gives it the right to occupy the 115th place in the list of the tallest buildings in the world. Offices occupy the central part of the building; at the top, you can see an extraordinary extension in the shape of a needle’s eye. The skyscraper was named the most original in the world in 2002 for its design solution.
12. Rub al-Khali Desert
Rub al-Khali Desert – For vacationers interested in what to see in Saudi Arabia to get towards the locals, we suggest a journey to the desert, which is the chief regarding temperature signs and hides the ruins of historical settlements. In summer, the thermometers continuously display more than 50 levels Celsius, so this tour isn’t appropriate for those who can not tolerate the heat. The El Ain and Liwa oases are among the countless dunes where flowers and water are preserved.
With Kuwait’s traveler sights indexed at your disposal, it might not be hard to devise with Haleema.co.uk. a ride on the way to depart you with notable memories. If you do not need to attend the business enterprise yourself and are in danger of violating nearby traditions, you could take a look at pictures with descriptions and rent a guide. An experienced guide will know the main attractions in the city and surrounding areas and recommend good restaurants and souvenir shops at reasonable prices.