KSA has it all, from the majestic elephant rock to a whole historic town made from clay. Let’s not forget the delicious cuisines with equally delicious views, and the bustling old and new markets filled with shoppers and hagglers. Scuba diving in the wonderous Red Sea, caving in the Jabal Qara, camping out in the empty quarter (if you dare), 4x4-ing on the Red Desert dunes, and so much more.
On the National Day of Saudi Arabia, we’d like to feature the peculiar things about the kingdom. Not the usual touristic listicles, but the real things suggested by locals; the details that make the country so mysterious, yet so inviting. Want to know how this conundrum works? Here are 88 things to wrap your head around:
1- Cave diving in Heet cave
2- Ride a cable car in Abha
3- Have Al Beik chicken
4- Have an Instagram photoshoot in Rijal Alma Village
5- Go graffiti hunting in Jeddah
6- Visit Ithra
7- Be a drifting racer for a day at FunXtreme in Riyadh
8- Experience the Yemeni infused cuisine of Najran city
9- Watch King Abdullah fountain at night in Riyadh
10- Try (or indulge in, if you already swing the green way) vegan food at Riyadh’s Sinless restaurant
11- Have brunch with an ocean backdrop at the Sunroom Cafe in Al Khobar
12- Re-live your childhood at Shallal Theme Park in Jeddah
13- Try mind-boggling riddles in Escape the Room SA in Khobar
14- Watch the sunset by the Al Rahma Mosque in Jeddah
15- Re-live history at the Hejaz Railway Museum in Medina
16- Visit a 2,000-year-old ghost town made of stone and mud in Al 'Ula
17- Get adventurous at “The Lonely Castle,” Al-Qasr al-Farid
18- Admire the architectural wonder of the KAFD Mosque, Riyadh, Saudi Arabia
19- Never be without a date in Al Ahsa’s date farms
20- Take in the wonder of the Jebel Qahar mountains
21- Visit one of Saudi’s natural treasures: Al Kharrarah Park
22- Pretend you’re a royal when you visit Tabuk castle
23- Visit Scitech
24- Desert camping with Saudi Safari
25- Get pampered at one of these spas
26- Experience the extraordinary Hajj Pilgrimmage
27- Get a glimpse at what will soon be the tallest building in the world, Jeddah Tower
28- Shop till your drop at the Kingdom Centre Tower
29- Horseback riding at the Royalty Equestrian Club
30- Check out the coral houses in Jeddah made from the Red Sea corals
31- Try all the locally produced oud scents
32- Try camel milk, a specialty in the kingdom
33- Indulge in mouth watering street food at one of these food trucks
34- See all the sea wonder at Fakieh Aquarium (ladies-only night is Wednesday)
35- Enjoy British afternoon tea-time at Sky Lounge in the Kempinski, Al Khobar
36- Discover Armenian cuisine at Lusin Restaurant
37- Have dinner with a view at Tugra’s Turkish restaurant
38- Get a taste of Thai culture in the Thai Market in Dhahran
39- Get your juice on at Vitamin Palace
40- Feel mighty fine at one of these fine dining restaurants
41 Buy a vintage piece of jewelry in Owais Souq in Riyadh
42- Make Saudi native friends, so they’d invite you over for traditional home-cooked Kabsa
43- Try Mutabbaq from a street vendor
44- Delve into Chinese cuisine at Gulf Royal
45- Be amazed by the architecture of the KAPSARC Mosque
46- Dine at Cipriani on a Thursday Riyadh night
47- Look over Riyadh’s skyline from the Globe Lounge in Al Faisaliyah Centre Skyscraper in Riyadh
48- Do yoga next to the Yanbu Lakes in Yanbu
49- Try Section B’s scrumptious burgers
50- Feast your eyes on a wonderful lake surrounded by sand dune, in Al Ahsa
51- Try the Saudi x Italian pasta dish, Matazeez at the Najdi Village Restaurant
52- Take a trip to Rawdat Khuraim, KSA’s forest
53- Visit the dreamy Farasan Islands
54- Get a taste of Lebanon at Assir or Shababik
55- Book your own dining room at Sultana Moroccan Restaurant, Riyadh
56- Climb to the top of Raum Mountain
57- Unleash your inner artist at Gharem Studio by Najlan Gharem
58- Bargain at the old souk in Al Balad town in Jeddah
59- Visit the Riyadh Zoo
60- If you’re a skateboarding fan, have a go at it in the Kaust Skatepark in Thuwal
61- Go history hunting in the National Museum of KSA
62- Take a cooking lesson at Yalla Cook
63- Have a wonderful Ladies night at the Dardasha restaurant at the Park Hyatt Jeddah
64- Try the tantalizing pizza at Vera Pizza in Jeddah
65- Get a taste of Hawaii at Poke Bowl in Jeddah
66- Step out of your comfort zone and try Peruvian food at Peruvi
67- Feast your eyes on the flower carpets at Yanbu
68- Drive through Wadi Lajab for a once in a lifetime experience
69- Visit 500 years worth of history at the Ibrahim Palace in Al Hofuf region
70- Snap pictures of the Al Uqair Fort and the old town around it
71- Take a class with boxing powerhouse Hala al-Hamrani in her FLAG (Fight Like A Girl) gym
72- Rejuvinate at the Half Moon beach in Dammam
73- Get on a ferry ride with your loved on at the Al Marjan Islands
74- Ride a bicycle on the Dammam Corniche
75- Take a walk on the “Edge of the world” in Riyadh
76- Take on authentic Saudi culture at the Janadriyah Festival
77- Jump your worries away at the trampolines at Skyzone
78- Have a day out at the gorgeous Wadi Hanifa wetlands
79- Go quad biking in the red sand dunes
80- Try going into the Haunted House of Jeddah, if you dare
81- Have you ever seen a volcanic crater? Now you can at Wahba Crater
82- Catch the latest feature at one of the newly opened movie theaters
83- Try the stuffed dates or the date shakes at Bateel stores
84- Attend the magnificent Souk Okaz Festival
85- Go windsurfing at the Durrat Al Arus Resort, even if you’re a beginner
86- Shop at Sid, a cool concept boutique located in both Jeddah and Riyadh
87- Visit the stunning Al Tayebat Museum, especially during the evening when the glass windows light up
88- Check out the wonders of Diriyeh village
