A Fun-Filled Weekend in Jeddah: Aquarium, Theme Park, Rural Getaways & Much More

Jump-start your weekend with an adventure! We’ve put together an exciting list of experiences for you to enjoy in and near Jeddah.

  1. Fakieh Aquarium: More than 200 Marine Species, Dolphin & Sea Lion Show & More

Dive into the mysteries of the underwater world at Fakieh Aquarium in Jeddah. It’s the only aquarium open to the public in Saudi Arabia! You’ll find more than 200 marine species and can also enjoy amazing dolphin and sea lion shows. If you’re feeling adventurous enough, you can even swim with the dolphins! There’s also an on-site restaurant and a variety of activities to enjoy.

Price starts from 60 SAR.

2. Fakieh Planetarium: An Immersive & Educational Journey Through Space

Are you fascinated by space? Fakieh Planetarium in Jeddah is the perfect place to go on an educational journey through the Universe. You’ll explore planets in our solar system and far away galaxies, learn about the life of astronauts and much more!

Price starts from 29 SAR.

3. Full Day Tour of Historic Jeddah: Golf Cart Tour, Activities, Landmarks & More

Immerse yourself in the rich culture and history of Jeddah on this unique adventure. You’ll visit Historic Jeddah and tour around in a golf cart as you marvel at landmarks such as the Gate of Makkah, Masjid Alshafei, Dahab Square and more. The trip also features a trip to the House of Nasif where you’ll explore artifacts and exhibits, followed by a traditional dinner at one of the local shops.

Price starts from 150 SAR.

4. Aerial Art with Coach Hanadi: Combining Yoga & Performance

Kickoff your fitness journey with an adventurous and fun activity. If you’ve ever marveled at acrobatic performers dangling from the air performing beautiful movements while using nothing but fabric, try aerial art with Coach Hanadi in Jeddah and discover their secrets! It’s suitable for beginners and advanced performers, so give it a whirl.

Price starts from 150 SAR.

5. Al Jazeera Equestrian Center: Learn Horseback Riding

Spend time learning how to ride horses at Al Jazeera Equestrian Center in Jeddah. It’s one of the largest centers in Saudi Arabia for horseback riding. Located on 43,000 square meters, it contains a number of horse stables, five tracks for training horses, a racetrack, seating areas, a cafeteria and an amusement park for children.

Price starts from 150 SAR.

6. Hiking, Motocross, Horseback Riding, and More at Yazen Ranch

The perfect fun-filled getaway, Yazen Ranch is a beautiful and peaceful place to visit in Jeddah. The Ranch has a variety of activities that are suitable for all ages, like camel riding, moonlight horseback tours, horseback riding, hiking, motocross, utv and atv rides and archery. So pack your bags and get ready for a truly unforgettable experience!

Price starts from 215 SAR.

7. Al Shallal Theme Park: Roller Coaster, Ice Rink, Boat Ride & More

Do you love amusement parks? Then you’ll have the time of your life at Al Shallal Theme Park on the Jeddah Corniche. Spread over an area of 60,000 square meters, it’s got a variety of rides and activities to enjoy. You can also enjoy dinner at their themed Chinese and Lebanese restaurants.

Price starts from 30 SAR.

8. Boat & Diving Trip, Jeddah to Bayada Islands

On this adventurous boat trip from Jeddah to the Bayada islands, you’ll dive into crystal clear waters to explore the wonderful underwater world with Al-Haddad Scuba. The dive guides will take you to the most amazing underwater places where you’ll see coral reefs and colorful fish. The package also includes diving equipment and snacks without any additional prices.

Price starts from 300 SAR.

9. Go Trampoline Jeddah: Jump into Fun

Looking for a fun and safe activity for your kids? Visit Go Trampoline in Jeddah and jump into fun! Your kids will have the time of their life bouncing on their world-class trampolines. They’ll be supervised by trained staff so don’t worry. More than just fun, trampoline jumping has many positive effects such as developing better balance and motor skills. 

Price starts from 90 SAR.

10.  Half Day Tour of Jeddah: Al Balad, Corniche & More

Discover the rich culture and history of Jeddah on this half-day tour. You’ll start off with a visit to historical Jeddah (Al Balad) where you’ll discover hidden gems like the Old Souk, hidden exhibits of Old Jeddah and delicious local food. Also included in the tour is visit to historical houses where you will enjoy traditional architecture. Lastly, you’ll visit Jeddah’s vibrant corniche which features recreational areas, pavilions and urban sculptures. 

Price starts from 203 SAR.

11. Horse Riding, Hiking & More: Rural Life at Mishaal Farm

This last experience is not in Jeddah but it’s such an unforgettable experience that we had to include it just for you! Nestled in the Shafa mountains of Taif, Mishaal Farm is the perfect rural getaway. Inside the farm you’ll find different facilities such as rural huts, a cafe, stable for horses, caravans, a honey shop and a shop for roses. You can also spend the day in one of their cottages which accommodate up to 5 people. What’s not to love about this fun-filled experience?

Price starts from 479 SAR.


With all these fun activities to experience, you’ll have the time of your life, so get out there and start exploring.

 

Top 5 Most-Visited Historical Places in Riyadh

The capital city of Saudi Arabia has grown from a mud-bricked trading hub in the middle of nowhere with barely any visitors to being one of the busiest and wealthiest cities in the world. Despite the well-reserved and traditional social upbringing that many of its inhabitants have had, they are among the most welcoming, generous, and kind people you’ll ever come across. As Saudi Arabia continues to focus on growing its tourism sector through the means of attracting international visitors, as well as its local people, one can expect to see a lot of historically rich places being open to the public. So if you’re looking for the most-visited historical places in Riyadh, you’ve come to the right place! 


Al Masmak Fort:

Al Masmak Fort

Built-in 1865 and located in the central part of Riyadh. It’s home to a museum that’s rated as one of the most visited tourist destinations in the city. The word “Masmak ” stands for high and forfeited, and it has served multiple functions throughout its existence. From being a warehouse for weapons and ammo to turning into a prison and later overseen and maintained by King Salman Ibn Abdul Aziz who was responsible for establishing Al Masmak Historical Museum in 1995 AD. The SCTH launched an app for a virtual tour through 3D images of Al Masmak Fort to chronologically display the history of modern Saudi Arabia. The museum houses a wide variety of historical artifacts and is an excellent place for those who want to learn about the country’s heritage. The entrance is free.

 


Deerah Souq:

Deerah Souq

Not so far from Al Masmak Fort lies quite a noteworthy shopping center, immensely popular for the gold shops that some people call it the Deerah Gold Souq. It has a plethora of small shops selling carpets, traditional clothes, and many eye-catching antiques and handcrafts. And what makes it so special is the existence of a wide variety of options selling the same commodity but with slight differences that only an expert such as yourself would be able to notice, so it’s an excellent opportunity for bargaining (most of the shop owners speak English) and comparing merchandise in order to end up with the best deal possible.

 


Murabba Palace:

Murabba Palace

Built-in 1938 as a governmental facility for hosting official meetings and conferences, it was here where the convention of opening the country for oil inspection was signed. And it was also King Abdul Aziz’s personal residence, a spacious and comfortable place to accommodate the King’s family. The Murabba Palace houses many historical artifacts and photos about the country’s creation, as well as personal belongings and gifts that the King had received.

 


The National Museum:

National museum

Part of King Abdul Aziz Historical Center, it was established in 1999 as a historical and cultural center while being the Kingdom’s biggest museum. The museum consists of 8 exhibitions walking the visitors through different periods of time in chronologically correct order: Man and the Universe, Arabian Kingdoms, The Pre-Islamic Era, Prophet Mohammad’s Mission, Islam and the Arabian Peninsula, First and the Second Saudi States, The Unification, and The Hajj and the Two Holy Mosques. It’s a charming scenery for those who seek to learn more about the history and heritage of the Arab Peninsula.

Book now!

 

Historical Diriyah:

Historical Diriyah

 How can we finish an article on the most-visited historical places in Riyadh without talking about the home of the Saudi Royal family and the first Saudi capital, the city of Diriyah. It’s among the 5 Saudi historical sites identified by the UNESCO List of World Heritage. One of the largest Arabian Peninsula cities before it was later destroyed in 1818 by the Ottoman armies, the city is now one of the most sought-after places worldwide, a  bright and shining cultural, historical, and tourist attraction spot.

Planning to spend this winter in Saudi Arabia? Check this article out!

For more information, and to read about other historical places in Riyadh: Click

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UNESCO’s 5 Saudi World Heritage Sites you need to visit

Visit these 5 Saudi World Heritage Sites by UNESCO

History leaves its mark in the form of architecture, culture, and arts. Each of these forms asks for preservation. But one thing that still remains even after centuries is the art. Preserved in the form of these 5 Saudi World Heritage Sites.

Saudi Arabia is a relatively young country when it comes to history. Its history starts from the 1700s but history in Saudi Arabia dates back to 125,000 years.  

The places, architecture, Saudi heritage, and ruins of history are well preserved and well maintained so that the stories of the past could be passed on from one generation to the next, in its perfect form.

There are many historic and pre-historic places in Saudi Arabia. UN acknowledges 5 of these places and lists them in the UNESCO World Heritage Sites. 

Read about these 5 gems in Saudi Arabia…

1. Al- Hijr Archeological Site (Madain Saleh)

Saudi World Heritage Site - Madain Saleh

In 2008, Al- Hijr Archeological Site was the first Saudi destination to make the list of UNESCO World Heritage Site.

Located in the Hejaz region, Madain Saleh’s monumental tombs with decorated facades tell stories dating back to the 1st century BC. It features 111 tombs and water wells. 94 of the tombs have inscriptions and cave drawings.

The ancient name of the site was Hegra. Nabataean Kingdom was the first inhabitants who lived from 1st BC- 1st CE. 

2. At- Turaif District (Ad Diriyah)

Diriyah's architecture

Right in the heart of the Arabian Peninsula, Ad- Diriyah is the oldest city of modern Saudi Arabia. It was the first capital of the first Saudi dynasty (1744 to 1818). 

In 2010, the site was declared as a UNESCO World Heritage Site due to the old Najdi architectural style buildings and forts, which is specific to this site only. The site also includes the remains of many ancient palaces on the outskirts of Riyadh- the current capital of Saudi Arabia. 

The site has mud-brick structures from the 15th century that are still intact. These places include Salwa Palace, Saad bin Saud Palace, and Imam Mohammad bin Saud Mosque.

Read about mysterious and unique places in Saudi Arabia here

3. Historic Jeddah

Old buildings in historic Jeddah

The city dates back to the pre-Islamic era as an important place across different civilizations. The gateway to Makkah, Historic Jeddah served as a major port with several trade routes, welcoming pilgrims. 

Located on the eastern shore of the Red Sea, the history of these buildings date back to the 18th and 19th centuries. Some notable buildings are Roshan tower houses and Ribats. 

The Old Jeddah Wall is the most distinctive structure in Historic Jeddah. The wall was built to protect the city from external threats.

Historic Jeddah was added to the UNESCO list in 2014.

4. Rock Art in Hail

Rock carvings in Hail

In the Hail province, two sites are archeological assets of the Kingdom.

The rock art of the Hail region is located at the Jebel Umm Sinman hill range. The site has large sandstones that have carvings and inscriptions on the faces of the rocks. There are human figures and animals drawing on the stones.

According to UNESCO, these drawings were made using stone hammers by the ancestors of today’s Arab population.

In 2015 this rock art became the fourth site from Saudi Arabia to make it to the list of World Heritage Sites. 

5. Al- Ahsa Oasis

Bird-eye view of Al-Ahsa Oasis

Al- Ahsa Oasis is the largest oasis in the world for its 3 million trees. 

The oasis has a number of gardens, canals, springs, wells, and a drainage lake. In addition to these natural resources, the site also has historical buildings and archeological sites. 

It’s the largest governorate in east Saudi Arabia representing 20% of the Kingdom’s area. 

The strategic, geographical, and historical location of Al- Ahsa oasis made it one of the UNESCO World Heritage Sites in 2018. This site also serves as a connection between ancient and modern Arab civilizations. 

Sites on UNESCO World Heritage Sites’ Tentative List:

These are the Saudi places the UN is considering nominating for the UNESCO World Heritage Site list.

1. Al-Faw Pre-Islamic City in Central Arabia

On the outskirts of the Empty Quarters, this site has strategic importance. It exists on the ancient trade route heading from south of the Arabian Peninsula to the Arabian Gulf.

2. Darb Zubayda

To visit the Islamic Holy Sites, people from all over the world came to Makkah through this route. Darb Zubayda was the most important ancient travel and trade route.

3. The Farasan Islands

The Farasan Islands consists of over 170 islands and islets of coral reefs. It’s 40- 90 km offshore the south-eastern coast of the Kingdom. 

4. Hejaz Railway

During Ottoman rule, Hejaz Railway was built for travel and trade.  It was built by Sultan Abdulhameed II in 1909. The purpose of the construction was to provide better transportation to the people visiting Islamic Holy Sites. A number of stations are located in the Kingdom but the most prominent stations are in Tabuk, Madain Saleh, and Madinah.

5. Bir Hima- a rock art site in Najran

Bir Hima is a rock art site in Southwest Saudi Arabia. The stone carving belongs to the stone age period (2500- 1000 BC). The area is known for ancient diverse rock art on the faces of the mountains and ancient writings in the Arabian Musnad script.  

In addition to the above-stated sites, ‘Uruq Bani Mu’arid Protected Area’, ‘Dumat Al-Jandal Historical Oasis in Al- Jawf Region’, ‘Egyptian Hajj Road’, ‘Rijal Almaa Heritage Village in Asir Region’ and ‘Syrian Hajj Road’ are also in the tentative list. 

Saudi Arabia is a historical country with modern infrastructure and technology. It offers you a fusion of the 21st century and the 1st millennium in one place. 

Visit the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia and experience history with a twist of modernity with Hala Yalla. Stay updated with the local community, book experiences, events and be part of Saudi culture.

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