A great place to visit in the evening. The historical fort is free to access with excellent commentary and exhibits. The external walls are illuminated , adding to the ambience. The fort is located next to the old square , surrounded by cafes, a mosque and a royal palace. The square has historical and cultural significance and is well worth a visit. There are some great outdoor cafes between the Fort and Square. Be cautious about photographs in between the square and the royal palace area, this is a sensitive area. The large flag is spectacular , nearby are ships and a Souq.

Beautiful and historical site both day and night. Spent a couple of hours here to visit the Al Masmak museum, grab a small bite to eat and watch the sunset as the mosque was calling people to prayer. Highly recommend (free)

One of the oldest historical monuments in the city, therefore it shall be visited if you are in Riyadh. You can learn about the history of the country and the establishment of the Emirate of Riyadh. 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. Various exhibitions can be found in the fortress.

I took a taxi straight from the airport to this historical area of Riyadh. This is the Saudi Arabia I envisioned and wanted to visit. The rest of Riyadh is like any other modern metropolis. It takes about an hour plus in traffic to reach. The whole area was an island of calm and peace. There is paid parking. The fort/museum was well preserved. You can learn a lot about desert lifestyle in the past and the history of the modern Saudi state. After a visit to the museum, there is plenty of shopping to do in the bylanes. Most items looked of good quality. The best purchase would be the famous Arabian Oud and merchants sell them by the gram here.