From Islamabad International Airport, Saudi Arabian Airlines, Pakistan International Airlines (PIA), Flynas and Airblue operate direct flights to Riyadh. Saudi Arabian Airlines operates 5 flights per week (except for Tuesdays and Saturdays). PIA operates 2 flights per week (Tuesdays and Saturdays). Flynas operates a single flight on Tuesdays, Thursdays and Saturdays whereas Airblue flies on Sundays and Tuesdays only.
From Allama Iqbal International Airport in Lahore, Saudi Arabian Airlines, Pakistan International Airlines (PIA) and Flynas operate non-stop Riyadh flights. Saudi Arabian Airlines operates 4 flights per week (Tuesdays, Wednesdays, Thursdays and Saturdays), PIA operates 3 flights per week (Tuesdays, Thursdays and Saturdays), and Flynas also flies thrice a week; every Sunday, Wednesday and Friday.
From Jinnah International Airport in Karachi, only Saudi Arabian Airlines offers direct flights for Riyadh. Saudi Arabian Airlines operates a single flight on all days of the week except for Wednesdays.
From Bacha Khan International Airport in Peshawar, Saudi Arabian Airlines and Pakistan International Airlines (PIA) offer non-stop flights for Riyadh. Saudi Arabian Airlines operates flights on 5 days of the week except for Wednesdays and Sundays. PIA flies every Thursday – one flight per week.
From Islamabad to Riyadh, the minimum time duration is 4 hours and 45 minutes on a direct flight with Saudi Arabian Airlines. The shortest connecting flight is offered by Gulf Air – 6 hours and 5 minutes. Bahrain is the stopover.
The minimum flight duration from Lahore to Riyadh is 4 hours and 40 minutes on a non-stop flight with Saudi Arabian Airlines. Emirates offers the shortest connecting flight from Lahore to Riyadh. The total flight duration is 6 hours and 40 minutes. This is a one-stop flight via Dubai.
From Karachi, it takes 3 hours and 30 minutes minimum on a direct flight with Saudi Arabian Airlines. Gulf Air offers the minimum time on a connecting flight – 5 hours and 25 minutes. Bahrain is the default stopover for Gulf Air flights.
From Peshawar, it takes 4 hours and 40 minutes to reach Riyadh on a direct flight with Saudi Arabian Airlines. The minimum flight duration from Peshawar to Riyadh on an indirect flight is 5 hours and 55 minutes. Gulf Air is the operating airline and Bahrain is the stopover.
From Quetta to Riyadh, PIA offers a connecting code-shared flight with Saudi Arabian Airlines via Karachi. This flight takes 6 hours and 25 minutes to reach its target destination.
King Khalid International Airport is the main receiving airport in Saudi Arabia for cheap flights to Riyadh. Located 35 kilometres from central Riyadh, the airport is easily accessible. It is a 30-minute drive in a taxi during rush hours. RUH is the IATA code for this airport. The second biggest airport in the kingdom handled 24.8 million passengers in 2017 alone.
Currently, there are 3 operative terminals. Saudi Arabian Airlines and Flynas operate from the Terminal 2 of this airport whereas the rest of international flights are hosted at Terminal 1. Terminal 5 is exclusively used for domestic flights. Passengers can move to and from the terminals on moving walkways. There are duty-free shops, restaurants, hotel counters, banks, and other conveniences (like mosque) available here.
Having a desert climate means that Riyadh can only be visited during the winter season and early spring (November to March) when the weather is somewhat milder and ideal for outdoor sightseeing. From December to February, the average daytime temperature is 16 °C with an overall dry climate. This is why the famous Al Janadriyah Festival is also celebrated in late winter. The festival is notable for camel racing, air shows and falconry.
But apart from the weather-factor, Riyadh is also crowded during the month of Ramadan, on Eid-al-Fitr and Eid-al-Adha when the Saudi expatriates return to their homes and families to celebrate these events.
Travellers can save big on their next flight to Riyadh by travelling during the low-season, May to September. Not many tourists prefer to visit Riyadh when the summer is at its peak. Especially during the months of June and July, temperatures skyrocket (as high as 36°C on average during daytime). Both hotels and airlines offer flash sales and last-minute packages to boost tourism. This is the best time to visit Riyadh on a budget.
The National Museum of Saudi Arabia:
Here we see an outstanding example of an ensemble, artefacts conceptually or tangibly associated with the events and personalities of the region's history. There are 8 halls in total. Each hall offers artistic masterpieces, religious relics, and interactive displays relevant to major stages of Arabian history. The Hall of Man and the Universe is part astronomy, part anthropology whereas the Hall of the Arab Kingdoms details the rich history of the region predating Islam. The Hall of the Prophet's Mission records the prophet's (PBUH.) struggle in the early days of Islam. The main attraction here is the family tree of the Prophet Muhammad (PBUH.) The rest of the halls continue that timeline till the Third Saudi State (present Kingdom of Saudi Arabia). Each hall has its own gallery. Only the most relevant artefacts make their way to these shelves and panels, taken in after major evaluations.
The Masmak Fortress:
This mud and clay fortress holds significance in a global context as it was here that the forces of Ibn-e-Saud hoisted the flag of their victory over Riyadh. This stronghold bears a unique attribute to the traditional Arab architecture and holds a special interest among foreigners. It stands in all its prestige at the centre of Riyadh. Tourists love to photograph the building itself and visit the inside of the fortress where they find different items of interest.
Star City:
Star City is an amusement park in Riyadh featuring an ice-rink, a roller coaster, teacups and many other exciting rides. When travelling with family, an amusement park is, of course, a top priority. Star City is a great place for all ages. On your way back from the rides, lounge at the food court and have some quality time with your kids. Make note of it that most of these rides are for children 9 and above.
Salam Park:
The Salam Park is designed so as to resemble an oasis in the desert. Nestled between date palms is a lake which attracts local families and foreign tourists alike for picnic and recreation. The best compliment that a visitor can give to the lake is to ride a pedal boat. You can pack your picnic basket or try doing bar b cue
Center Point:
Riyadh is home to a number of sites both cultural and commercial. When travelling to Saudi Arabia, tourists have shopping on the top of their to-do list. Center Point is a 99-storey skyscraper with a large-scale shopping centre. Top brands from across the globe have their outlets here. While they are at it, visitors might as well like to view the city from the Skybridge located on the 99th floor.
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