Women-Friendly Travel in Riyadh
The Riyadh women-friendly travel guide places explicit women-friendly and family confidence signals first, while keeping uncertain details visible for review.
Riyadh
Souq al-Thumairi
Souq al-Thumairi, Deira (next to Masmak Fortress). Also known as Antique Souq, this is Riyadh's most tourist-friendly souq. It specializes in Arabic goods ranging from cheap to expensive and authentic to fake. Goods offered include carpets, coffee pots, daggers, jewelry, and more. English is generally spoken, and haggling is obligatory.
Riyadh
Al Faisaliah
Located in the same complex as the Faisaliah Tower (but not in the tower itself), is probably Riyadh's top hotel. Impeccably stylish, excellent service and priced to match — a coffee in the lobby will set you back SR60! Rooms are around SR1400 a night. Address: King Fahd Rd, Phone: +966-1-2732000.
Riyadh
Four Seasons
It doesn't get any fancier than staying in the 302-meter Al-Faisaliah Tower, and the Four Seasons provides all the standard features what you expect from the luxury hotel chain. Singles from SR1200, doubles from SR1400 per night.
Riyadh
Holiday Inn Al-Qasr
Holiday Inn Al-Qasr, Olaya Main Rd, +966-1-4625000. Formerly the Howard Johnson Olaya Palace, this hotel was completely renovated and reopened in 2007. The hotel exudes a modern design, decent rooms, central location, and basic gym. Internet costs SR100/day while the breakfast buffet runs at SR105. Rooms are priced at SR550 per night.
Riyadh
Intercontinental Hotel
This is a popular hotel for visiting businessmen. It contains large meeting facilities and good restaurants; it is also close to Olaya Road business district.
Riyadh
Luthan Spa and Hotel
This is the first and only women-only hotel in Saudi Arabia. Most visitors are locals coming here for the spa, but there are also twenty-five rooms for overnight visitors. It is highly recommended for women traveling alone into Saudi Arabia. SR350-979 per night.
Riyadh
Marriott Riyadh
This hotel is in desperate need of a facelift and is awkwardly located east of the city core. About the best that can be said about its location is that it is clean and quiet ( though this can be said for most of the city. Nevertheless, the rooms meet the high standards set by any Marriott. It does offer an excellent large-size indoor swimming pool and excellent fitness room (included in the room charge). SR1000 per night,
Riyadh
Radisson SAS Riyadh
This is a very comfortable modern hotel with a European touch. It contains a nice gym with two saunas and pools, free Internet, and good breakfast. It also has four in-house restaurants including both Japanese and Italian. SR800 per night.
Riyadh
Sheraton Hotel
This is an older structure, but it has been well-maintained and is located three kilometers north of the city center.It’s proximity to both the airport and the business district makes it an attractive option for business travelers. The hotel also has a solid array of tasty in-house restaurants, but there are virtually zero other restaurants within walking distance. SR900 per night.
Riyadh
Al Khozama
Once among Riyadh's top hotels, it is now getting a more rustic feel. Its rooms are small, but well kept and sanitary. The pool right by the hotel is outdoor only (making it somewhat dirty), but hotel guests have access to the fitness center in the next building (Khozama Center, 1st floor) which offers a superb gym, a large indoor pool, tennis, and bowling. Free internet in the business rooms (located on the 5th floor). SR800 per night. Address: Olaya Rd, Phone: +966-1-4654650.
Riyadh
Almuthana
Almuthana is a modern, four-star hotel priced reasonably compared to its better known peers, though service has a reputation for being sub-standard. Free, but notoriously inefficient wireless internet, a small indoor pool, and a limited gym (open only in the evening) are available to customers. The cafe on the mezzanine provides a relaxed breakfast buffet and the 8th floor restaurant dinner buffet, while tasty, is expensive at SR120 per night.
Riyadh
White Palace 'Al-Qasr Al-Abiyad'
This is a thoroughly decent hotel in the Al-Dubat district with a sense of history and a total of 135 rooms, all furnished with a TV and ensuite bathrooms. Singles/doubles SR160/200 per night.
Riyadh
Al Jazeera Hotel
A value for money hotel on Main Street, this hotel offers singles and doubles from SR60/120 per night. Behind this hotel is a multistory building (Nostro Hypermarket) for shopping and car parking for SR5 per 24Hrs.
Riyadh
Al Mamlaka (Kingdom Centre) Shopping Mall
This upscale three-level shopping center includes the women-only Ladies Kingdom, an entire level where women can shop in comfort and privacy. The shopping center is connected to the Hotel lobby.
Riyadh
The National Museum and Riyadh Zoo
The National Museum and Riyadh Zoo are safe bets for enjoyable places to take children and the Desert Diamond hunt is family friendly, even if it does take an entire day. The Ice Skating center is also a great distraction for the children, especially since the center also contains tennis courts, a bowling alley, and a restaurant.
Riyadh
Kingdom Centre
Kingdom Centre Daily 4-9 PM. Kingdom Center is situated in Al-Urubah Road between King Fahd Road and Olaya Road in the growing business district of Olaya. The Kingdom Center, opened in 2001, is currently the tallest building in Saudi Arabia with a height of 302 meters. It is Riyadh's most celebrated piece of modern architecture, and is quite a sight, especially when lit at night. The center is home to a pricey three-story shopping mall, with one floor reserved for women only, but its main highlight is the 99th-floor Sky bridge that connects the two top floors at a height of three hundred meters and gives a sublime view of the city. SR25 (Skybridge) The Kingdom Center was the winner of the 2002 Emporis Skyscraper Award selected as the "Best Skyscraper of the World for Design". A five-level shopping center, which also won a major design award, fills the east wing. The large opening is illuminated at night in continuously changing colors. Other neighborhood notables include Al Faisaliyah Center, the first skyscraper in Saudi Arabia, the King Faisal Foundation, an esteemed charity foundation, and Najd National Schools, one of the best and most prestigious schools in the country.
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The Diplomatic Quarter
The Diplomatic Quarter, or DQ as it is popularly known, is home to foreign embassies and international organizations, as well as residential structures and malls. With lush gardens and numerous sports facilities, it is also one of the city's greenest areas. It is especially known for its fine architecture, and is considered a model for other Islamic cities around the world. Despite its name, the special privileges offered in the Diplomatic Quarter constitute a controversial issue. All Saudi laws must be obeyed and there are occasional patrols by the Mutaween, or Saudi religious police. However, foreign diplomats and their families are allowed certain privileges and it is not uncommon to see foreign diplomats and their wives strolling on the streets of the DQ in shorts and short-sleeve shirts. The district is also generally more walking friendly.
Riyadh
Masmak Fortress
The heart of old Riyadh, this was the fortress stormed by King Abdul Aziz and his men in their daring conquest of Riyadh in 1902. It was completely renovated in 2008 and the historic mud brick structure now appears brand new, but the museum inside recreates the story of the raid and has some excellent photos of old Riyadh. It was originally built in the late 19th century and, as the Al-Musmak Fortress, was the main prize captured by King Abdul Aziz in 1902. It thus represents the birthplace of the modern day Kingdom of Saudi Arabia.
Riyadh
National Museum
Opened in 1999, this museum is undoubtedly one of the top sites in Riyadh. The museum is infused with the latest technology and is very accessible to visitors, with almost everything available in English. There are a vast number of video presentations and mini-theatres for the dedicated museum enthusiast to spend an entire day doing virtual tours of Madain Salih or watching re-enactments of the Prophet Mohammed's battle of Medina. The Kiswah cloth that once covered the Ka’aba in Makkah is a main attraction. Note: Many cabbies will not recognize the English name, ask for the neighboring Murabba Palace (Qasr al-Murabba) instead. Ticket price: SR15. Open Su-Mo,We-Th 9-noon for men, 4:30-9 PM families; Tu 9-noon women only, 4:30-9 PM men; Fr 4:30-9 PM families; Saturday closed.
Riyadh
Murabba Palace (Qasr al-Murabba)
Murabba Palace (Qasr al-Murabba), (next to National Museum). (6-9 PM Sun-Fri). This is Riyadh's second old mud-brick palace, built by King Abdul Aziz after he conquered Masmak Fortress because he wanted a more strategically powerful fort. This two-story structure does have an intimidating look and feel to it, but permits are no longer needed to venture inside, where you can find interesting items including the first royal Rolls-Royce. Free.
Riyadh
Dirab Golf & Country club
This attraction is a thirty minute drive west of Riyadh. It features a traditional country club layout with superb grassy greens; the last nine holes are even floodlit for night golf. The club also offers tennis, swimming, and horse-back riding activities as well.
Riyadh
Al-Thumairi Gate
This is an impressive restoration of one of the nine city gates that led into the city until its walls were torn down in 1950. It is a quaint reminder of the city’s past.
Riyadh
Riyadh Zoo
The park is located in the Malaz area, east of Al-Ahsa Street and North Street Musab bin Amir. The zoo is home to over 1,400 animals of 40 different species of animals and birds including reptiles, crocodiles, rhinoceros, snakes, gazelle, leopards, monkeys, lions, hyenas, vultures, kangaroos, seals and camels. Timings are 8:30 am – 12:00 PM and then 1:00 PM to Magrib Prayer (Sunset) Men are allowed on Monday, Wednesday and Friday and Women are allowed on Sunday, Tuesday and Thursday. Tickets are priced at SR 10.00 for adults, SR 5.00 for children and SR 2.00 for school trips.
Riyadh
Al Faisaliyah Center
This commercial skyscraper is the second tallest building in Saudi Arabia (after the Kingdom Center) and is located in the business district of Riyadh. It contains a shopping center with international brands at its base and a viewing deck on higher floors, as well as a luxury hotel and numerous restaurants. The tower is most famous for the glass globe near its summit.