Whether they’re water babies, adventurers, animal lovers, sports fans or little ones who love to learn, kids will find Riyadh a superb place for a holiday. The local culture is very warm towards children and it’s the norm for kids to be out and about with their families, so you can expect your tiny travellers to receive a kind welcome wherever you go.
There’s a wealth of family-friendly activities on offer across the capital, so toddlers and teenagers alike will have a blast in the parks, entertainment centres and museums, not to mention the endless places for an ice-cream. These are some of the best things to do in Riyadh with kids – plus a few top tips to make your visit go smoothly.
Why is Riyadh great for kids and families?
Riyadh is a very safe, family-friendly place to visit or live, with children’s needs carefully considered in most public places, from play areas in parks and kiddie menus in restaurants to baby-changing facilities in malls. It’s not a very walkable city overall and you’ll probably need to take taxis or buses when moving between neighbourhoods, but Riyadh is more outdoorsy than you might expect.
There are well-maintained, stroller-friendly parks full of shady areas and fountains where kids can cool down day or night. Even in the hottest months, there’s no need to stay home as the air-conditioned malls and entertainment venues mean there are plenty of indoor places to burn off energy – there’s even an indoor snow centre!
Travelling with picky eaters? There’s no need to worry in Riyadh. Common local dishes such as kabsa (rice with meat) and mutabbaq (stuffed pastry, often with cheese) are very easy on a kid’s palate, while there’s also no shortage of international restaurant chains (especially fast food outlets) here too.
Best things to do in Riyadh with kids
1. Sky Bridge at Kingdom Centre
Daring kids of all ages will feel like superheroes as they walk across the Sky Bridge viewing platform, 300m above the city. Located on the 99th floor of the iconic Kingdom Centre building, it features floor-to-ceiling windows that look out over the cityscape. If you’re planning a visit, up the anticipation by pointing out the Kingdom Centre when you’re out and about in Riyadh – its distinctive shape is visible across the capital and is illuminated by coloured lights at night. The centre contains a shopping mall, cinema and plenty of food outlets, so there’s lots to keep kids occupied here before and after your walk among the clouds.
2. Snow City
If you and the kids need to chill out in every way, head to Snow City in Al Othaim Mall, where it’s -3°C year round. This frankly astonishing place is a 6000-sq-meter complex filled with enough artificial snow for all manner of winter sports, games and activities. For bigger kids, snow tubing, ice bumper cars and snowmobiles might be just the thing, while smaller ones might enjoy the snow play area and carousel. There’s also an on-site ski school. Fortunately (since most travellers won’t have packed their snow gear) jackets and snow boots are provided as part of the entry fee. Tickets start at SAR 169.
3. Riyadh Zoo
Animal lovers can see zebras, elephants, giraffes and even endangered red pandas at Riyadh Zoo, which also features a mini train and an on-site Zoo Theatre. Extra experiences are available during Riyadh Season, as the zoo is one of the entertainment festival’s official zones. These include safaris that bring visitors up close and personal with the zoo’s lions, feeding sessions with monkeys, tigers and kangaroos, and a gentle farm experience.
4. Boulevard City
There’s no end of family-friendly activities in Boulevard City, the major entertainment zone in the northwest of the capital. Times Square, a replica of New York's famous original, with musical fountains and giant LED screens is lots of fun and very buzzy in the evenings – a perfect area for a family selfie. Many major activities and experiences are based here (though not all of them are year-round or every season). No tickets are needed for entry, and it’s open until 3am.
5. Hanging Strawberry Gardens
Strawberry picking in Al Ammariyah (around 40km outside of Riyadh) makes for a very wholesome, not to mention cheap, family day out. The pretty Hanging Strawberry Gardens is a working farm that offers organic strawberry picking (also cherry tomatoes and figs) for just SAR 30, which includes the box of fruit that you fill yourself. Pick up a pot of the farm’s sweet strawberry jam to take home as a souvenir.
6. Salam Park
The large lake at Salam Park attracts families all year round as there are heaps of fun water-based activities on offer here. Hire boats for an outing on the water all together, or pack the kids into a zorb ball and let them tumble about for a while. You’ll also find pony rides, playgrounds, bird-watching, sports fields and picnic areas here, so there’s no chance of anyone getting bored.
Salam Park is a smart evening-to-night option, as most of the attractions here are open late and it’s a very safe place for kids to make the most of the cooler hours. Entrance fees are SAR 5.75 (water sports and pony rides are priced separately).
7. Red Sands
Most children visiting Saudi Arabia for the first time will expect an epic desert experience and luckily they can get one very close to Riyadh. Red Sands, an open area of spectacular dunes is a beautiful destination and very popular with families. It’s easy to get there by car, as it’s just a 45-minute drive outside the city. This scenic desertscape is basically a giant sandy playground for kids, where they can climb the dunes, try sandboarding or have a go on a dune buggy or quad bike. Bring a picnic, or pick up supplies from one of the supermarkets en route.
8. Qiddiya City
Another option just a 40-minute drive from Riyadh, Qiddiya City is a new development that is focused on bringing world-class family entertainment, concerts and sporting events to the Kingdom. This entirely new city has a diverse mix of residential neighbourhoods and has been a magnet for families with kids due to the recently opened attractions – namely Six Flags Qiddiya City and Aquarabia. The former is the latest outpost of one of the biggest names in theme parks, boasting record-breaking rollercoasters, family-friendly entertainment and a wealth of restaurants across six different zones that appeal to kids of every age.
The latter is the biggest waterpark in the entire region – a staggering 250,000 square metres to be exact. Whether you want to chill out in a wave pool or lazy river (and we mean in every sense, the water is chilled and refreshing in the hot weather) or enjoy an adrenaline rush on the Junoon Drop slide, not a single member of the family will be disappointed after a day at Aquarabia.
