Al Masmak Palace Museum in Riyadh

The epic theater of the recovery of Riyadh and the symbol of the unification of the kingdom

If you are looking at getting to know more about Saudi culture and history this is the place to visit. It’s best if you go in the morning as it would give you enough time to explore the museum and the surroundings. There is no gate fee and no wait time too. The staff are really helpful and respectful.

Such an amazing Museum to visit in Riyadh Saudi Arabia. Brought back many memories, very inspiring and informative exhibitions. I am really amazed about the factual histories of Saudi Arabia.

Such a awesome place to must visit...Arranged the things in such a wonderful ambience....

Very good wonderful museum, excellent exhibition of Saudi Arabian history. Must visit place for all. Tourist must visit this place.

A Historical Place to VisitReally enjoyed 🤙

Feels like you travelled back time . A totally amazing place for history of Arabia, a journey through time.

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

Explore about leadership and King of Saudi Arabia since 1902, 1932. The history of Riyadh is here, highly recommend for all tourist.

Al Masmak Fort is one of the most important landmarks to visit in Saudi! It tells you the history of the unification of Saudi Arabia! It was built in 1865 by Emir Najd.It has the main gate, a mosque 🕌, majlis, courtyards and multiple watchtowers!Must see great architecture that was built with Clay and Mudbrick.They organize private tours for groups in multiple languages!

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

Amazing local heritage museum, entrance is free of charge, explains how KSA been established.

You can watch the history of the kingdom inAl masmak palace museum. It is the birth place of modern saudi arabia. One of the most beautiful monument in riyadh. You can go and watch the museum with your kids and teach them. Kids want to understand so many things from their especially the tradition and culture. So, Dont miss the fantastic journey into the history of riyadh and the kingdom. Evening os the perfect time for visit their.

Fantastic journey into the history of Riyadh. Something for everyone, all ages welcome.

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

We went here on Friday evening. Unfortunately it was closed. Didnt get chance to visit the museum but outside view was very beautiful and enjoyable. Visited the local Abaya market as well where you can get the Abbaya in 30 SAR to 80 SAR.

We a group of friends visited to this museum during Eid holidays. But unfortunately, we’re not allowed to enter the museum. Guard told, it is for families only (but no instructions about this). Don’t know it’s allowed for families all the days or only during certain days. Totally we had no idea about that. So sadly, it was a disappointing visit.

Nice place to visit for history lovers. Visit is free of cost and parking is also available for free at the end of the street.

Very good place to know about history of kingdom. Well organized and maintained museum. Highly recommend for history lovers. And its free.

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.

Despite sign outside saying open during the day in Ramadan was told it was only opening at night. Probably shouldn’t have expected any different. Looked impressive and unique from the outside at least. Paid parking available nearby.

Its a heritage museum in the heart of the city Riyad, everyone should visit there and understand the history of Saudi and culture. Here we can see the heritage items and cultural change and kingdom history.

The fortress is well preserved. The museum tells the story of the storming of it and the recapture of Riyadh by King Abdul Aziz.The walls are adorned with old paintings and pics that take you back in time of the annexation of Riyadh.

It is free of charge, not crowded, and very informative. Enjoyed the time spent there.

I had a great experience visiting this museum. Very cool to learn about the history of Riyadh with lots of stuff to see. There is no entry fee. I went on a weekday afternoon and it was not busy.

Nice place representing Saudi history you can enjoy the museum and the surrounding markets the Masmak Fortress or Masmak Palace, is a clay and mudbrick fort in ad-Dirah, Riyadh,Saudi Arabia. Built in 1865 for princeAbdurrahman ibn Sulaiman AlDabaan under the Emirate of Jabal Shammar. The fortress played an integral role in the Unification of Saudi Arabia, with the Battle of Riyadh, one of the most important conflicts of the Saudi unification, taking place in the fort. Since 1995, the fortress has been converted into a museum showcasing one of the most important landmarks of Saudi heritage.

Beautiful museum with exceptional lighting at night time. There is ample space for families to sit down, relax and take photos. Alot of street snacks available at site. Next to the fort is a huge market for clothing and accessories. Only con is small parking with SR 5 per hour charge rate. A must go place atleast once

It shows a part of Saudi Arabia history . There is a near large square and a luxurious mosque, in addition to a number of buffets and cafes. There is also a large market in the back that includes a number of shops selling womens and mens abayas and accessories. The place is nice and has different activities.

Beautiful fort with a interesting story. Also from the outside beautiful to see.The opening hours were unclear, when we arrived it was closed.

Excellent experience 👏🧐Under guide you will find so many interesting and clear information about Arabia 🇸🇦 Saudi

Nice place representing Saudi history you can enjoy the museum and the surrounding markets 🌹🇸🇦💚 the Masmak Fortress or Masmak Palace, is a clay and mudbrick fort in ad-Dirah, Riyadh, Saudi Arabia. Built in 1865 for prince Abdurrahman ibn Sulaiman AlDabaan under the Emirate of Jabal Shammar. The fortress played an integral role in the Unification of Saudi Arabia, with the Battle of Riyadh, one of the most important conflicts of the Saudi unification, taking place in the fort. Since 1995, the fortress has been converted into a museum showcasing one of the most important landmarks of Saudi heritage.

Nice place. For history lovers the doors are huge and walls are thick. Overall nice experience

Its a historical palace and we get more information about Saudi Arabia. We can see Saudi old market photos and kingdoms rare pictures.

I visit it in weekend evening time so I cant enter inside museum, but still outside of museum be nice place to enjoy sit n gather with family/friend or only for walk.

Great atmosphere, historic and neighborhood. Museum has records of this fort. There is also a video room showing.

Al Masmak Fortress was built in 1865, and you’ll find it in the heart of Riyadh’s old quarter. Today, the restored building is a museum — a favorite among tourists wanting to step back in time and explore Saudi’s roots. Some of the fascinating exhibitions on display feature maps and photographs of the country dating from 1912 to 1937, plus a range of historical artifacts, works of art and audiovisual presentations.

Been here 3 times post Covid , its still CLOSED, so dont waste your time if planned to visit only this museum, since its very hard to find a parking spot and given the renovations in the street u cant find a proper route. There is an announcement saying "Closed until further notice". But you can visit the Diera market , and Alsafat Square adjacent to Grand mosque, still worth a visit.

It took 1 hour to reach there at 5pm and was disspointed to see that the museum was closed due to covid. Regardless it was a good visit. Also the old market right besides made up for it.Recommended time= Before 5PM.

Al Masmak is a thick-walled fortress that was established in Riyadh during the second Saudi state time in the 19th century. It was built mainly for defense purposes, but later had different uses.After the fall of the second Saudi State, members of the Saudi royal family including, Abdulaziz ibn Saud (father of the current king), left Riyadh to live in Kuwait.Abdulaziz, who later baceme king, wanted to take back Riyadh from Ibn Rasheed. He had several attempts to recapture Riyadh but he did not succeed until his last attempt on an early morning of January 1902 (1319 AH). On that morning, Abdulaziz ibn Saud and his men reached Riyadh managed to recapture Riyadh from the chief of Riyadh at that time “ibn Ajlan” in a battle known today as The Battle Of Riyadh right at Al Masmak Fort.This battle was the starting point for re-unifying the different emirates and tribes of the arabian peninsula. which makes Al Masmak one of the most iconic places in Saudi Arabias modern history.After the recapture of Riyadh; Al Masmak was used as a town hall and then served as a warehouse for munitions. What most people might not know about Al masmak is, that not too long after being used as a warehouse, the fort served as a prison until mid 20th century.Nowadays, Al-Masmak is a museum that covers the history of The kingdom with more focus on Riyadh and the battle of Riyadh. The museum contains artifacts, weapons, maps, a small theater showing the story of the Battle of Riyadh and a really good photo-gallery that gives visitors a brief insight of how life in Riyadh looked like in the first half of the 20th century.Al Masmak was built on top of a strong rocky foundation using local building substances such as clay, palm tree materials, straw, rocks and tamarix trunks. The fortress is one of few, well perserved mud buildings in Riyadh, which makes it a very good illustration of traditional najdi architecture.It is one of the kingdoms must visit museums and it’s free Entry.

Loved the mud walls. Safe to take pictures. Afternoon close to sunset is great time to go.

Free museum in heart of Riyadh. It tells the story of how King Abdulazziz founded The Kingdom of Saudi Arabia. It is well organized and the area around it worth visiting (Alsafat square and Althumiri Market). Highly recommend even if have been to it. There is always temporary and new shows. The area around it also has lots of events.

Great place to visit; I can’t believe that after 15 years in KSA this was our first time inside! Why oh why didn’t we visit before? Free entry and beautifully restored and maintained and lots of Saudis around who are ready and willing to tell you about the history of the place although there is plenty of information to read as you walk through the fortress too.

The castle/fort is impressive situated in the middle of the old town right next to the old souk.Inside the is a wealth of history nearly presented to show the reunification of Saudi Arabia. This one topic of their history is of proud importance to the saudis and this attracts many national visitors. More than foreignersThe presentations and artefacts are spread out within the fort and the history of the seige and taking if the castle is extensive.A good visit if you want to learn of the beginning of Riyadh and the house of saud.

The castle/fort is impressive situated in the middle of the old town right next to the old souk.Inside the is a wealth of history nearly presented to show the reunification of Saudi Arabia. This one topic of their history is of proud importance to the saudis and this attracts many national visitors. More than foreignersThe presentations and artefacts are spread out within the fort and the history of the seige and taking if the castle is extensive.A good visit if you want to learn of the beginning of Riyadh and the house of saud.

Historical fortress with an integrated museum inside. The entry is free but make sure to get a guided tour, otherwise it might get a little confusing for foreigners. You should probably see it once but dont expect to be overwhelmed since it mostly tries to appeal to the locals

Very nice museum. It is small and could easily be done in an hour...i recommend it for those who are interesting in history as it covers the history of Riyadh city

This fortress is quite small in size but the information is well displayed in English and the guide was excellent. If you want to visit somewhere that is a very important site of Saudi Arabian history then go here.

An interesting place in the heart of city takes you back ages. opens the door to the history to the past and to the present of Saudi Arabia. I visited this place long time ago the difference from then Tu now is that this place has been digitised with many rooms containing televisions running movies about the history of the formation of Saudi Arabia. Visit this place to get lost in time and you will be welcomed with the artefacts with clothes weapons used during the time of the formation of Saudi Arabia that is between 1900 to 1960s

Great place to visit in Riyadh. Free entry. Tells whole history of Saudi Arabia. Nicely Built and very well maintained. Neighborhood is very beautiful with grand mosque and markets.

Very cool this museum, because it talks about the history of the Kingdom of Arabia and its ancestors.Also inside the Museum has original pieces of antiquity to buy and acquire.