Jeddah is not only the gateway for pilgrims, but also offers a wide array of summer entertainment places for children, teenagers and adults.
Arab News selected 10 places where children and their families can enjoy themselves.
1. Al-Shallal Theme Park
This is one of the best places for families to visit because it has a wonderful combination of adult and children’s entertainment activities. The park has various leisure areas with beautiful landscapes, a lake and restaurants.
The games for children and teenagers include the famous Amazon Wood roller coaster and the bowling hall. There is also an auditorium, theaters, education facilities and various activities and programs. It is quite popular and attracts visitors all year.
Expect to pay SR25 to SR50 to enter. Some rides are included in the entrance fee.
2. Atallah Happy Land Theme Park
This is the oldest, largest and most elegant theme park in Jeddah on over 45,000 square meters, with an outstanding seaview. The park plans to become the number one attraction in Jeddah with entertainment for the whole family.
It has a section of rides especially for children from ages three to seven and an outstanding action zone for adults. It has indoor and outdoor games.
It was founded in 1986, renewed in 2008 and reopened in 2010 with more rides including a water boat, roller coaster, merry-go-round, bouncing ride and giant wheel. Smoking is only allowed in certain demarcated areas.
It is open from 5 p.m. to midnight from Friday to Tuesday, and from 5 p.m. to 2 a.m. on Wednesday and Thursday. Expect to pay SR25 to SR50 to enter.
3. Chuck-e-Cheese
This is another place where families can have food and fun away from the scorching summer heat. It’s located in front of the newly developed Jeddah Corniche, on 60,000 square meters It is contained in a beautiful two-story building with outstanding views of the Red Sea.
The location offers over 220 of the latest games for 400 players at any given time. This includes Diving Games and Rides, the huge Sky Tube, Toddler Zone and Studio C. The facility also has six huge indoor arcade attractions including the Bumper Car Raceway, Airplane Ride, Camel Race, bowling, ice-skating and the memorable Carousel Ride. The raceway and airplane rides are the most popular.
Expect to pay from SR30 to SR50. Game cards are available at the reception.
4. Funtimes
This family entertainment center at the Red Sea Mall has specially designed rides for small children, with varieties of small roller coasters, bumper cars, a merry-go-round and electronic games. There are also various food stalls available selling pizza, sandwiches and donuts.
5. Stationery Fantasies Water Park or Royal Maktabat
The water park on Sultan Street is only for children and has a variety of pools and slides.
The water park is attached to a plaza that offers shopping, a restaurant, arts and crafts, cooking, a sand box, dress-up area, large ball pit and more. Mothers can watch from an elevated position behind air-conditioned glass windows inside the plaza.
Parents can buy tickets from the counter and send them to the activity rooms. The children are supervised by staff. Snacks and drinks are available for purchase.
6. Sail Island
Sail Island is a fantastic place for children and adults to enjoy in the hot weather. It is located in front of the Red Sea Corniche. There are rides, sandy playground and water pool. Entrance tickets can be redeemed at the restaurant for meals. It has a café overlooking the sea. Expect to pay SR60 per adult and SR40 per child.
7. Moon Toon, Andalus Mall, Aziz Mall and Arabian Mall play lands and Adventure World at Falcon Mall
These are ideal places for children where they can enjoy different rides, physical activities, computer games, jumping castles, bumping cars, adventure cave rides, hide and seek, climbing walls and many others. There are also food courts and shopping areas for the family.
Expect to pay between SR50 to SR500, depending on how many rides are requested.
8. Intenso
This is the best place for teenagers to enjoy themselves is in Serafi Mega Mall. It has snooker tables, play stations and car racing.
There is also a wide range of challenging games, a bowling area and a leisure area to enjoy snacks and beverages.
Expect to pay SR50 to SR100 depending on the number of activities chosen.
9. Café Ceramique
Café Ceramique in Stars Avenue and is the ideal place for children of all ages especially those who love arts and crafts. Children can choose ceramic pieces and paint them in the colors of their choice. They then have to wait a week to have them glazed.
Parents can also have a go at becoming creative by picking up the paintbrush.
The café also has a full menu available. Expect to pay between SR30 and SR100 depending on the size of the ceramic piece chosen.
10. Fayfa Garden, zoo and gift center
Fayfa Gardens on Tahlia Street in Jeddah is a place where you can find lots of plants and flowers, a pet shop and a zoo.
The store’s back door leads to a pleasant area, which is home to a variety of animals including parrots, cats, puppies, rabbits, different types of fish, monkeys and snakes.
It also has different rides for children, a small cafeteria, decorative garden items and beautiful patio sets.
