Free and low-cost family days out in Riyadh
Parks, festivals and attractions in Riyadh with free entry or low prices — Happy Land, Foodsphere, Sports Boulevard, community parks and more.
"Where can we take the kids this weekend without spending a fortune?" is one of the questions I get most. The good news: Riyadh has more free and cheap family spots than most people realise. Here are the ones I've filmed and would go back to.
Entry rules and prices change from season to season — always check the latest before you go.
Happy Land
A festival with shopping and kid-friendly rides. When I visited in 2024, entry was free and each ride cost SAR 15 — a good way to control the budget, since you only pay for what the kids actually ride. Watch the Happy Land reel (531K views).
Foodsphere at Riyadh Oases
Part of Riyadh Oases, with totally free entry — an easy, free evening out that a lot of people still haven't discovered. Here's what it looks like.
Sports Boulevard
The first phase of Sports Boulevard opened with free entry — tracks and open space for walking, running and cycling, ideal if you want an active evening with the family. Watch the reel (161K views).
Riyadh's community parks
I've been nicknamed the "parkman" for a reason. Riyadh's newer community parks are free, well kept and packed with play areas, walking tracks and seating — perfect for cooler evenings. A few favourites:
- The community park in Al Taawun — one of the newest and best equipped.
- A hidden park with an outdoor gym — free, and with something you don't see in most parks.
- A family park in Olaya — grab a cone from the ice-cream trucks.
Budget amusement parks
If the kids want rides, I've found an amusement park that's about as affordable as it gets in the city — the "sasta tareen" amusement park reel did 272K views because so many parents were looking for exactly that.
Free events and exhibitions
- Riyadh International Book Fair — the 2025 edition had free tickets; you just book online.
- Free science exhibition — a hands-on science event in 2025 that many people didn't know about. See the reel.
- Rainforest in Riyadh — a rainforest-themed attraction in the middle of the desert city. Watch it here.
