Riyadh Province
Museum
Historical Site

Al Masmak Palace Museum

4.6Reviews
Al Masmak Palace Museum, Al Thumairi Street, Riyadh Saudi Arabia
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Description

Sitting in the heart of Saudi Arabia’s biggest metropolis, Riyadh, the 150-year old Al Masmak Palace serves as a museum displaying different historical artifacts, works of art, weapons, maps, and other exhibits of Saudi history.  Built in 1865, this historic palace served many purposes over the years and was originally used as a base for the military . The fortress was eventually conquered by King Abdul Aziz when his forces took control of Riyadh in 1902 and unified the kingdom.

Historical Value

The fortress is a proud indicator of the Saudi kingdom’s regain of control over Riyadh, which makes it the perfect place to display remnants of Saudi history and roots. Exhibits at this museum include photographs dating to the early 20th century, works of art, and audiovisual presentations. Visitors to the museum can also watch a documentary exhibiting the regain of control of the fortress by the kingdom. 

Attractions

A palm tree gate leads into the museum from an open plaza and is known as al-Khokha, which only allows one person to pass through at a time for security measures. Some of the major museum attractions include the spacious courtyard outside the fortress which is a common point of exploration for tourists, the watchtowers that look over the city, historic artworks dating back to the early 20th century and even earlier, and several freshwater wells. Souq Al Zal, a famous Saudi market, is located right next to the museum which is a great place to get souvenirs that represent Saudi culture in the form of jewelry and handicrafts.

Destination Type
Historical Site
Landmark
Museum

Location

Al Masmak Palace Museum, Al Thumairi Street, Riyadh Saudi Arabia

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Reviews

Reviews
4.6
Excellent
from 55 reviews
Excellent
38
Very Good
13
Good
3
Average
0
Poor
1
Customer service
0.0
Experience
0.0
Value for money
0.0
Cleanliness
0.0
Safety
0.0
Reviews
Snax Alot

Snax Alot

09/10/2022 12:34

Google review

Excellent historical site. Extremely atmospheric location. Numerous artifacts, photographs, maps, and detailed information about the fort’s history are found within. Highly recommended.
Mohammed Mustafa Ali Khan

Mohammed Mustafa Ali Khan

07/11/2022 18:03

Google review

Good place/ for history lovers. Many antique pieces like swords and guns cannons. Historic pictures of Riyadh.
Muhammed Rayyan

Muhammed Rayyan

05/29/2022 02:49

Google review

A well museum introducing the History of Saudi Arabia. Fully maintained kept neat and clean. Attracts Tourists from all over the world.
Martti Vaidla

Martti Vaidla

05/03/2022 20:49

Google review

Fortress Museum introducing the history of Saudi Arabia. A well-designed exhibition that provided an excellent overview of the history of Saudi Arabia. Historical objects also played an important role in the exhibition. Weapons used in the last century were also presented. The interior design of the castle allowed us to think about how people once lived there. The castle is a building with interesting architecture with exciting places and spacious rooms. The modern climate keeps the rooms comfortable and cool. I definitely recommend taking a little time and visiting the whole exhibition when visiting.
Muhammad Umer

Muhammad Umer

05/03/2022 17:32

Google review

Very good place to know about history of kingdom. Well organized and maintained museum. Highly recommend for history lovers. And it's free.
Showing 26 - 30 of 55 total
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