Top 7 Must-Visit Tourist Sites in Saudi Arabia

Saudi Arabia is a historical country with beautiful and interesting places. Its global value is improving every year due to increased tourism and its modernization. It has not only a rich history with Islamic culture and values but also a very old history, thousands of years before Islam. This history and its associated places attract tourists from around the world. Muslims perform their religious visits Hajj and Umrah here. If you are planning to visit some interesting places in the world. You should visit these top 7 places in Saudi Arabia. Let’s explore what’s particular about them!

1. Makkah Al Mukarramah

Makkah has a rich history with Islam. From the birth of the Prophet Muhammad (PBUH), Islamic history began. Prophet Muhammad (PBUH) was born in Makkah and grew up here. He spent most of his time in the cave of Hira (located at Jabal Al-Noor), worshipping Allah Almighty, before the first revelation of the Quranic Verses was brought by the chief of the angels Jibril (A.S.).

After the migration of the Prophet Muhammad (PBUH), the Holy Kaaba was declared the Qibla of Muslims. The Holy Kaaba was first constructed by the First Prophet Adam (A.S.). It is in the Masjid Al Haram, where Muslims come to perform Hajj and Umrah. The historic hills of Safa and Marwa are also located there. Muslims also visit Arafat, Muzdalifa and Mina to perform the rituals of Hajj. There’s also a graveyard “Jannat-ul-Mualla” in Makkah. A lot of Muslims, including the companions of the Prophet Muhammad (PBUH), have been buried here.

Note: Only Muslims are allowed to enter Makkah and there is no airport in it. If you are a Muslim, you can take a flight to Jeddah and then head to Makkah by the Harmain High-Speed Railway.

2. Madinah Al Munawarah

Madinah is the city of the Holy Prophet (PBUH). When the Holy Prophet Muhammad (PBUH) migrated from Makkah to Madinah, he ordered Muslims to be like brothers by getting united with each other. Prophet Muhammad (PBUH) built several mosques and led several battles in this city.

Masjid Quba is the first mosque in Islam, Masjid Qiblatain is popular for switching the Qibla direction to the Holy Kaaba, Masjid Al-Nabwi has been a major centre of Muslims and the second Haram in Islam after Masjid Al-Haram. The battle of Uhud took place in the grounds of Uhud. The Battle of Ahzab took place near Sela Mountain and the boundaries of the old Madinah city. These places attract tourists and increase their curiosity to visit them. Muslims often come here after performing Hajj and Umrah.

Note: Madinah has its own airport, and non-Muslims are allowed to visit it.

3. Al-Ula: An Ancient Desert

Al-Ula is the home of Hegra (Madain Saleh). It is a sister site of Jordan’s Petra, having over 110 preserved tombs. These tombs date from the 1st century BCE to the 1st century AD. This desert is Saudi Arabia’s first UNESCO World Heritage Site. People come here to see different ancient masterpieces like Qasr-Al Fareed. Qasr al-Fareed means “The Lonely Castle” and it’s a tomb isolated in the desert. This Nabataean city has a lot of ancient wells, water channels, and defensive walls.

Note: Try to visit this place in the winter season for friendly weather. The tour should be guided. Keep yourself hydrated and use sunscreen in the desert.

4. Riyadh: The New Era

Riyadh is an incredible combination of old heritage and modern construction. There are old and new sites that attract tourists from other countries.

Diriyah (At-Turaif) is the first capital of Saudi dynasty. It is a home to the royal family of Kingdom of Saudi Arabia. This city is also listed at UNESCO. It is decorated with traditional lanterns.

Kingdom Centre is a magical skyscraper that is 302 meters (about 990.81 ft) high, and it offers a panoramic 360° view of the whole city that illuminates its viewers. This showcases the construction and decorating abilities of modern architecture.

The National Museum is a state-funded institute. It has a collection of the stuff related to the heritage, before and after the revelation of the religion of Islam. These cultures are related to astronomy, geology, archaeology, religion, and kingdoms.

Note: Riyadh has its own airport, so you can take a flight to it. Winter is preferable to visit.

5. Jeddah

Jeddah is the bride of the Red Sea. It is the gateway to enter Makkah and Madinah for the pilgrims, as there is no airport in Makkah. There are several places, deserving the sights of the visitors. Following are some of them:

Al-Balad is an old region of Jeddah and a UNESCO World Heritage Site. There are a lot of old merchant houses in this place. One of these places is the Jeddah corniche, which is a beautiful road alongside the sea. It is perfect for cycling and a morning walk to enjoy the sea breeze. Another place to see is Al-Rahma Mosque, which is built inside the Red Sea at a height. King Fahad’s Fontain is also a center of the attention of the tourists as it throws water at a height of 312 meters (about 1023.62 ft). And it’s the tallest fountain in the world.

Note: Jeddah has its own airport so you can fly to Jeddah to visit these incredible places. And just like other places, the winter season is suitable.

6. Taif: The City of Roses

Taif is one of the most popular cities of Saudi Arabia in terms of culture and heritage. It is popular for the cultivation of roses. An annual Taif Rose festival is celebrated and rose water, and attar is made from the prize-winning roses. Subra Palace is a historical palace, showcasing a combination of Roman and Islamic architecture. Al Wahbah Crater is a natural scenery with a huge volcanic crater with a sodium phosphate lake at its bottom. Souq Okaz was a popular festival of poetry, trading, and culture. It continues to be hosted today.

7. The Edge of the World

If you love adventure, all Saudi Arabia is full of such places. One of these places is The Edge of the World. It is not the actual edge of the world, as the earth is spherical. It actually looks like the edge because of its height and shape. To react to its height, there are cable vehicles. It offers an incredible view of the desert, good for photography.

Conclusion

Saudi Arabia is full of adventurous, beautiful and interesting places. All you need is a visa to enter Saudi Arabia through an ATOL-Protected travel agency. It is suggested to visit these places in winter for a friendly temperature and environment. If you are thinking and looking for an incredible country to visit, such amazing places. Get your visa today to Saudi Arabia and enjoy visiting its historical and modern sites.