Looking for fun things to do with the kids in Riyadh? Whether you’re looking to tire the kids out, embark on an educational trip, get back to nature or inspire creative young minds, you can do all that and much more in Riyadh. Here are our top picks for the best things to do with the kids in Riyadh.
Adventura Kids Play
A fabulous place for little ones to burn off pent-up energy. Adventura Kids Play is all about offering an alternative to screen time and encouraging children to get active and have plenty of fun while doing so. Ideally suited to kids up to eight years old, there’s a toddler area, large indoor playground and an arts and crafts station. Meanwhile, there’s also a toy-filled sandpit, among other attractions. For the under tens, this is one the most fun things to do with the kids in Riyadh.
Open Sun-Sat noon-midnight. The Zone Mall, adventura.com.sa (050 719 0090).
Ahaji
A brilliant treat for slightly older children, particularly inquisitive types that love a good mystery. Ahaji is an escape room experience with an Arabic-themed storyline. Visitors are tasked with completing puzzles, mysteries and riddles against a ticking clock. As well as being mentally challenging and lots of fun, it’s a great way to encourage teamwork and collaborative thinking, and one of the most fun things to do with the kids in Riyadh.
Open Sun-Wed 5pm-1am, Thu-Sat 3.45pm-1am. An Narjis Trading Center, Abi Bakr As-Siddiq Road, ahaji.sa (053 637 0770).
Al Safi Farm
From watching cows being milked and plants being packed to learning about farming methods and the history of the farm itself, a trip to Al Safi Farm (one of the world’s largest integrated dairy farms in the world), offers the opportunity to embrace rural living the hassle-free way. If you’re lucky, you might even have the chance to bottle-feed a newborn calf. Forget about most fun things to do with the kids in Riyadh, this one will certainly appeal to the animal-loving adults, too.
Sun-Thu 8am-5pm. Al Safi Dairy Farm, Al-Kharj, alsafidanone.com (050 544 5026).
BOUNCE Rawdah
As the name suggests, it’s all about getting active and embracing those freestyle moves at Bounce. Featuring an extensive network of interconnected trampolines, padded climbing walls, launch pads and an adventure course we challenge anyone – young or old – to spend an hour or so at BOUNCE and not leave exhausted. Note: the space is for ladies only, but boys up to the age of ten are permitted.
Open daily 2pm-10pm. 4466 Khurais Branch Road, Ar Rawdah, bounce.sa (092 000 6744).
Café Ceramique
A charming, and indeed calming alternative to some of the more high-octane fun things to do with the kids in Riyadh. Café Ceramique is enduringly popular for good reason. The art studio offers the perfect opportunity for children to unleash their imaginations and creativity as they paint their own ceramics overseen by experienced staff. Parents, meanwhile, can refuel at the on-site café.
A win-win for all ages (and it’s not often you can say that and really mean it). One of the best things to do with the kids in Riyadh, and one both Mum and Dad can take part in too. Why just sit there sipping coffee when you could paint the cup, too?
Sat-Thu 9am-midnight, Fri 1pm-midnight. Various locations including Sahara Mall, King Abdul Aziz Road, King Fahd, cafe-ceramique.com.sa (055 623 2092).
Ebda Adventure Park
Get ready to challenge yourself and the kiddos. This amazing indoor adventure park offers all activities from rock climbing and zip-lining to trampolining. It also has an amazing XXL play cage, custom-built climb-up panels, an indoor rope climbing panel, and so much more.
From SAR150. Open daily 5pm-2am. Muhammad Ibn Muhaizi, Hittin, ebdaadventureparks.com.
Go4Fun
From the team behind Goal in Riyadh, Go4Fun is (as implied) a fun indoor play area that features football, trampolines, bowling, laser strike, and arcade games too. Head here for a (varied) fun time.
Open Sat-Wed 3pm-11pm. Thu-Fri- 3pm-midnight. Prince Muhammad Ibn Saad Ibn Abdulaziz Rd, Al Makan Mall, instagram.com/go4fun.ksa.
Museum of Happiness
Turning the idea of museums as austere, look-but-don’t-touch institutions on its head. At the Museum of Happiness, playfulness and interaction are actively encouraged. From art installations and themed rooms filled with giant teddy bears, marshmallow-filled pools, oversized gumball machines and more, there’s plenty to inspire and delight. A place for the imagination (and the kids) to run wild, in the best way possible.
Open Sun-Wed 3pm-11pm, Thu-Sat 2pm-midnight. Riyadh Front, Gate 4, instagram.com/museumofhappiness.sa (050 009 4121).
Museum of Illusions
Managing to be both entirely immersive and educational at the same time, the Museum of Illusions invites visitors to embrace an Alice in Wonderland-style outlook and prepare to be befuddled. From vortex tunnels to clone tables, anti-gravity experiences, a clever rotating room and optical illusions at every turn, there’s a sense of the magic about this place. One of the more quirky fun things to do with the kids in Riyadh.
Open Sat-Thu 10am-midnight, Fri 1pm-midnight. Park Mall, Northern Ring Branch Road, Al Aqiq, Riyadh 13511, museumofillusions.sa (011 263 0523).
National Museum of Saudi Arabia
Introduce them to the rich history and culture of Saudi Arabia early. At SAR10 per person, The National Museum of Saudi Arabia is an impressive 28,000 square feet space full of amazing relics from Islamic history, replicas of the Tuwaiq Mountain Range, and more.
SAR10. Open Mon-Wed 9am-7pm. Thu 9am-10pm. Fri 2pm-10pm. Sat 9am-7pm. Closed Sun. King Saud Rd, Historical Centre, instagram.com/saudimuseum.
Riyadh Zoo
Home to more than 1,500 animals (and almost 200 different species) and spread out across acres of open land, a visit to Saudi Arabia’s largest zoo should be on every family’s to-do list. Start your trip off with a tour of the zoo on a mini train to get your bearings, then task intrepid mini explorers with seeking out tigers, crocodiles, chimpanzees, elephants, and flamingos and more. A pre-sunset picnic by the lake and amidst the flowers and greenery is a rather lovely way to end the day.
Mon-Thu, Sat, 9am-6.15pm, Fri 1pm-6.15pm. Al Ihsa, Al Malaz, zoo.com.sa (023 4567 8900).
Saudi Skate Park
Grab a board and hit the rails at Saudi’s first purpose-built skate park. The park has something for just about everyone on all manner of wheels, from BMXers to those on scooters. The massive 15,050 square metres offers training lessons for beginners too, so don’t be shy to ask for help.
From SAR80. Open daily 2pm-midnight. Boulevard Riyadh City, Hittin, saudiskateparks.com
Sparky’s
Love amusement parks? Us too. Take the tiny kiddos to Sparky’s, one of the biggest indoor arcades and amusement parks in Riyadh. The fun area offers everything from 3D movie screenings to rides and photo booths too. The arcade features grapple hook games (test your luck), fireball and a variety of car games too.
Open Sat-Wed 10am-11pm. Thu 10am-12.30am. Fri 2pm-12.30am. Al Imam Saud Ibn Abdul Aziz Branch Rd, Al Mughrizat, Al Nakheel Mall, instagram.com/sparkysme.
Snow City
From sledging to igloo building, ice tubing and zooming about on snowmobiles, a trip to Snow City is an excellent opportunity to switch things up and embrace all those winter wonderland feels, without leaving Riyadh. A good old-fashioned snowball fight in the fluffy white powder is essential. One of the coolest (literally) fun things to do with the kids in Riyadh.
Open Sat-Thu noon-midnight, Fri 1pm-midnight. Al Othaim Mall Al Rabwa, Eastern Ring Branch Rd, othaimmalls.com (092 000 8331).
Tiny Dancer Riyadh
What a name, what a dance studio. This cutesy family-owned dance studio was created in 2015, and the trainers are all Saudi women. It offers dance classes for kids including gymnastics, ballet and hip-hop. Children aged between three and 12 can join the classes and you can block book sessions or sign up siblings for a cheaper rate.
Makkah Al Mukarramah Road, Al Mathar Ash Shamali, tinydancerksa.com (058 294 7384).
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