The Citadel and other Riyadh, Saudi Arabia Things to Do Tips

At the heart of Riyadh's Al-Bathaa district lies the citadel, also known as Masmak fortress. It's built in mud, which makes it very interesting when it rains a lot (part of it melts and has to be patched).

The forest is a museum, obviously closed on Fridays (when I went there).

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Directions: Al-Bathaa pedestrian area, near the grand mosque

Right, what to do there?
The answer is: very little. Yes, the city does offer excellent shops and nice food, but it's not worth the trip unless (like me) you have business to do in there. However, it does offer some little gems like the citadel (see my other tip) and a unique glimpse of how life in the most conservative country in the world may be. Enjoy!

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Directions: Around

You are missing something if you haven't been to the desert by night. The amount of stars, the incredible light (especially if the moon shines) and the sight of bedus picknicking near their tents are worth the short drive from Riyadh. Absolutely recommended, especially if (unlike me) you hit a clear day.

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Directions: Just drive about half an hour in any direction and get off whatever highway you're on, then ask. Better, be guided by your instincts and wander around (the desert is everywhere!)

This gate lies just outside the citadel, and is the product of a very sophisticated restoration of the gates that used to stand all around the old town before 1950, when someone decided to tear the walls down.

The gate is not too enjoyable since it lies behind a busy street, but is worth a hop to get a feeling of arab architecture.

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Address: In Baatha
Directions: Near the crossing of Al-Malek Faisal street and Tariq ibn Ziyad street.

Winner of the Empire Skyscraper award for 2002, this 302-metre tall building truly has changed the profile and image of the whole capital of Saudi Arabia.

Its shape is visible from pretty much any corner of the city. It makes for an alluring sight especially at night, when the 100-metre-tall hole at the top (which earned the building the "bottle opener" nickname) is lit with different colours.

The building hosts a hotel, a design award winning shopping mall with a floor that is reserved for ladies, some apartments, offices, a fancy restaurant on the 77th floor, right below the hole, and a corridor that crosses over the hole.

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Address: Al-Urubah Road
Directions: Between King Fahd Road and Olaya Street. You can't miss it.

The main door of the Masmak fortress (which you can see in the pic) still bears the head of a spear inside, dating back from the 1902 siege when king Abdul Aziz reconquered the kingdom. At that point, the legend goes, one of Abdul Aziz's soldiers heaved the spear so strongly in order to force the door open that the head is still inside.

You can still see the head of the spear in the central part of the smaller door which is built inside the main door.

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Directions: In the heart of Baatha

This large, airy square is called Midan Aladl, or Justice Square. It is the heart of the old town (Baatha), and lies right next to the Grand Mosque and a few steps from the Masmak fortress.

In the square are a couple of sugar cane juice stands and a lousy fast food joint.

The most interesting moment to be in the square is at the end of the prayer, when the bangladeshis that populate large parts of Baatha flock out of the mosque and get by doing their own business. That is, if you don't enjoy seeing public beheadings, which are carried out in the square starring drug dealers, murderers and other various offenders of the Shah'ria, the Islamic law that the Wah'habis (the ruliing religious sect) severely enforce throughout the country.

The Square of Justice couldn't but be the place where to find the headquarters of the Ministry for the Promotion of Virtue and the Prevention of Vice, an outstanding Saudi invention that takes care of strategic social issues that are vital for the survival of the country's integrity. Such issues include dragging muslims to prayer five times a day, making sure women and men don't talk to each other in public and having you switch your mobile off whenever they think it's offending the Islamic belief.

See the web link and judge for yourself!

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Address: http://www.coxandforkum.com/archives/000532.html
Directions: In the middle of Bathaa - you can't miss it.