Top 10 Places to Visit in Saudi Arabia

Saudi Arabia is the religious center for all the muslim’s worldwide, it is the home to the Holy Prophet (PBUH) and it is the epi-center where the Islamic religion started. And of course the religion cannot be complete without visiting the House of Allah (SWT), commonly known as the Kabbah. It is situated in Mecca which is one of the Holiest Cities to the Islamic world, and the most commonly visited site by all visitors, in the form of Hajj or Umrah.

Being the birthplace of Islam and the Holy Prophet (PBUH), and this being his final resting place as well, Saudi Arabia is very closely tied to the religion Islam. It is for this reason that the Country has built its laws, culture and lifestyles around Islam. With this it can uphold the sanctity and spirit of Islam and be the Country the whole Islamic world looks up to due to its Islamic values. This is the reason that majority of the Saudi Tourism revolves around Islamic pilgrimage and most of the popular attractions are of a religious origin. KSA has just recently opened its doors in 2013 towards tourism, due to which it is a bit lacking in terms of recreational activities such as cinemas but you will find a lot of archaeological and religious spots to explore. Following is a guide to the most popular places to visit in Saudi Arabia:

Masjid Al Haram, Mecca -Only fro Muslims

Also known as the Grand Mosque is the center of worship for all Muslims, where the Kabbah the house of Allah is situated. Being a Muslim this would be at the top of your places to visit, the holiest of all holy places in Islam. It is the largest mosque in the whole world, which can hold up to 4 million worshippers during the Hajj period.Since Hajj is the biggest religious gathering of any religion in the world and due to ever increasing population of Muslims, the mosque keeps going under expansion projects to increase its capacity.Zamzam well, black stone,maqam-e-ibrahim; all these significant religious features would be found in this mosque.Although it is to be noted that this is only a spot for Muslims to visit.Non-Muslims are not allowed to enter this place.

Masjid Al Nabawi, Madina -Only fro Muslims

Also known as the “Mosque of the Prophet” is the second mosque built in the history of Islam. It was built by the Holy Prophet (PBUH) and his Sahabas, after his migration to Madina. Originally it was situated right next to the Prophets home and he himself also took part in the heavy labor involved in its construction. Apart from a place of worship the mosque also serves as a community center, court and religious school for the Muslim Society. This is the second holiest site after the Kabbah and is included in one of the largest mosques in the world. The mosque is particularly famous for its green dome, which was built long after the passing of the Prophet, along with various other added constructions to the mosque in order to increase its size to house a large number of Muslim worshippers. The original mosque built by the Prophet was an open air building, and this design is still used in the construction of mosques around the world.

Mada’in Saleh

Situated 400km north-west of Madinah and 20km north of Al-`Ula town is one of the most famous archaeological sites dating back to pre-Islamic times, as far as the First Century AD, the Nabatean kingdom.  This site is particularly famous for the 131 Enigmatic tombs, most of which are created by wealthy women. These monumental rock cut tombs contain traces of Greco-Roman architecture and Nabatean, and Babylonian imagery. If you are an Indiana Jones fan and appreciate fine historic architecture, then this site is a must visit. This is a go to spot for all tourists traveling to Saudi Arabia.

Al Tayibat City Museum for International Civilization, Jeddah

If you are looking for a trip through history in a more indoor setting then this privately owned City museum is the place for you. This four floor museum complex houses all kinds of artefacts dating back to the pre-Islamic era, consisting of Islamic manuscripts, coins, weaponry, pottery, furniture and traditional Saudi dresses. With each exhibit you are also provided with a detailed information panel regarding the exhibit, as well as dioramas of the Kingdom’s provinces.

Souq Al Alawi, Jeddah

This is one of the famous and extensive Market places in KSA, situated just off Al Dahab St in Jeddah. This bazar present at the heart of the old city is buzzing with merchants and pilgrims, where you can find various items ranging from, Arabic jewelry, Arabic art and authentic traditional dresses. This is an open market in the cosmopolitan area, and if you’ve got the knack to buy items at a bargain, then this is the place for you to try out your skills.

Masmak Fortress, Riyadh

If you love forts, than the Masmak Fortress in Riyadh is the right place for you to visit. It is a beautiful setting of a fortress surrounded by a sandy desert, which feels beautiful when you see the sun setting in the sand; it looks like a scene right out of an Arabian tale. This fort was built in 1865 and is famous for the daring raid of Ibn Saud in 1902, during which a spear was hurled with such tremendous force at the main entrance that you can still find its head lodged in the doorway. Inside the fort you can now find exhibits providing the history of the fort along with the tales of the storming of the fortress.

Najd Village, Riyadh

If you are up for getting your hands on some Saudi food in and authentic Saudi central-region village setting, then you better give the Najd Village in Riyadh a try. This restaurant is pretty famous among the locals and tourists alike for their kasba (meat with rice) and the Najd-region specialty, hashi (baby camel).

Fish Market, Jeddah

One of the famous bazars in Jeddah is the Fish market west of the Corniche. It is quite famous because you can find at least 50 species of sea creatures on display, from hammerhead sharks, grouper, parrotfish and squid. If you hate sushi then this is probably not the place for you to be.

Corniche, Jeddah

If you are up for some sightseeing coupled with long walks, then we’d suggest you to visit the 35km long corniche in Jeddah. While walking along this long path you will get to enjoy some famous sculptures and get a real feel of the life in Jeddah, because this is a hot spot for locals and tourists alike.

Yanbu Industrial City

The Industrial City in Yanbu is one of the most advanced cities in terms of infrastructure and planning. This is an ideal place to go diving as much of the coral is untouched. You wont find huge shopping malls or the congestion of the big cities. Yanbu is a quiet and small city. An ideal getaway! One of the top places to visit in Saudi Arabia.