Riyadh Trip Overview
Explore Riyadh’s historical district and learn about Riyadh’s origins as capital and how it’s changed over the past 300 years. Visit Riyadh’s famous souqs, magnificent mosques, and cultural sights and begin to understand how this town, in the middle of a massive desert, has become one of the most developed cities in the world!
Join Tom and local historian Yasmeen on this walk around Al Masmak Fortress, Al Safat Square, The Imam Turki bin Abdullah Mosque, Souq AlZzal Market, and Ath Thumayry Street as we track the history of this fascinating city.
This immersive audio tour is the ultimate guide to Riyadh’s most historical neighborhood and can be downloaded anytime directly onto your smartphone.
Additional Info
Duration: 50 minutes
Starts: Riyadh, Saudi Arabia
Trip Category: Cultural & Theme Tours >> Cultural Tours
Explore Riyadh Promoted Experiences
What to Expect When Visiting Riyadh, Riyadh Province, Saudi Arabia
Explore Riyadh’s historical district and learn about Riyadh’s origins as capital and how it’s changed over the past 300 years. Visit Riyadh’s famous souqs, magnificent mosques, and cultural sights and begin to understand how this town, in the middle of a massive desert, has become one of the most developed cities in the world!
Join Tom and local historian Yasmeen on this walk around Al Masmak Fortress, Al Safat Square, The Imam Turki bin Abdullah Mosque, Souq AlZzal Market, and Ath Thumayry Street as we track the history of this fascinating city.
This immersive audio tour is the ultimate guide to Riyadh’s most historical neighborhood and can be downloaded anytime directly onto your smartphone.
Stop At: Al Masmak Fortress, 3153 Al Thumairi St, Riyadh 12634 Saudi Arabia
Begin the tour outside Al Masmak Fortress, a building is foundational to the history of modern Saudi Arabia. Follow the story of the Royal Saudi Family and King Abdulaziz’s recapture of this Fortress back in 1902. Come back here later if you want and we can follow King Abdulaziz’s footsteps through Al Masmak.
Duration: 5 minutes
Stop At: Al Safarat, Riyadh Saudi Arabia
Head into Al Safat, a square established during Imam Turki bin Abdullah’s reign. It was redesigned during the first master plan for the new city of Riyadh. Despite this area being the oldest part of Riyadh, it actually underwent a lot of change! As the city plan went on, a lot of neighbourhoods opened up massively and ditched the traditional narrow streets and densely packed houses.
Duration: 5 minutes
Stop At: Qayasriat Al Kitab Riyadh, JPJ6+CR4, Ad Dirah, Riyadh 12634, Saudi Arabia
Wander into Qayasriat Al Kitab, a beautiful bookshop surrounded by palm trees and little fountains. This place brings together intellectuals, readers, and writers in one place in the heart of Riyadh by the Palace of Governance. Learn about Riyadh’s other cultural sights, from the King ʿAbd al-ʿAzīz Historical Centre and the National Museum to Al-Murabaa Palace and the famous Al-Jinādiriyyah national cultural festival.
Duration: 5 minutes
Stop At: Imam Turki Bin Abdullah Grand Mosque, Al Imam Turki Ibn Abdullah Ibn Muhammad, Riyadh Saudi Arabia
Visit the Great Mosque, also known as the Imam Turki bin Abdullah Mosque. This mosque was established during the reign of Imam Turki bin Abdullah in the 19th century and is one of the most important mosques in the city of Riyadh. Citizens could come here to meet and speak to their ruler.
Duration: 10 minutes
Stop At: Riyadh, Riyadh, Riyadh Province
Weave through Souq Al Zal, a truly authentic market here in the heart of Riyadh. The souq is over 100 years old and is still a go to destination for Saudis to buy and barter for carpets, perfumes, traditional clothes, and food. Learn about the history of Arabian markets, from the first souqs that appeared 2500 years ago to Saudi Arabia’s modern trade.
Duration: 5 minutes
Stop At: Al Thumairi Street, Al Thumairi St, Ad Dirah, Riyadh 12634, Saudi Arabia
Stroll down Al-Ath Thumayry Street, a favourite spot for handicrafts and local gifts. This is considered to be one of Riyadh’s most famous streets and it sums up Riyadh perfectly with authentic produce. Keep an eye out for the clock tower at the end of this road that was built in 1966, making it one of the city’s first public clocks!
Duration: 10 minutes
Stop At: Riyadh, Riyadh, Riyadh Province
Finish the tour at Ath Thumayry Gate, a reconstruction of an old city gate. It’s part of the Qasr Al Hokm project, which reconstructs old parts of the heart of the city, and is made from the original materials that made up the old wall. Walk around it and you feel you are living in history.
Duration: 10 minutes
