Your guide to Riyadh
Riyadh highlights
The great outdoors
About 90 kilometres northwest of Riyadh, the Edge of the World delivers sheer cliffs overlooking an ancient seabed, with hiking trails that reveal fossils underfoot and wide-open desert views. Closer in, King Abdullah Park offers a greener escape, where locals spread out picnics beneath date palms on the city’s largest stretch of lawn.
Modern perspectives
For a literal overview, the Sky Bridge on the 99th floor of Kingdom Centre Tower delivers sweeping city views. On the ground, places like the Misk Art Institute spotlight contemporary Saudi artists. And nearby gift shops such as Kingdom Heritage reinterpret traditional crafts, with weaving, pottery and metalwork reworked into clean, modern designs.
Iconic landmarks
Kick off your stay in Riyadh at the 19th-century Al Masmak Fortress, which commemorates the 1902 Battle of Riyadh. UNESCO-listed Diriyah is the ancestral home of the Al Saud family, the founders of Saudi Arabia. Get lost in the maze of mudbrick buildings that make up the country’s former capital. And look out for cultural performances like the Saudi sword dance.
Riyadh: Know before you go
| Language | Arabic |
|---|---|
| Currency | Saudi riyal (SR) |
| Time zone | UTC+3 (AST) |
| High season | November - February |
| Low season | June - September |
Find the best time to go to Riyadh
Weather in Riyadh
March – May: Spring in Riyadh is warm and pleasant, with temperatures dipping come nightfall. The odd dust storm can whip up in the desert, so keep your sunglasses close.
June – September: Extremely hot summers can top highs of 40°C. Retreat to air-conditioned shops, cafes and hotels during the day, reserving outdoor activities for early morning and dusk.
October – November: Autumn brings tolerable temperatures, with warm days giving way to cooler nights. It also marks the beginning of festival season, including some of the biggest art and music events.
December – February: Winters in Riyadh bring daytime highs of 20°C and chilly nights. Rainfall is rare, but wet days are perfect for ducking into a cafe.
Events in Riyadh
National Day (September): Saudis party hard to honour the kingdom’s unification. Wear green as you take in the parades, fireworks and military air shows.
Riyadh Season (October to March): This citywide entertainment festival brings temporary venues, art installations, concerts, theme park rides and large-scale sporting events to Riyadh, with rotating attractions spread across multiple districts.
Noor Riyadh (November to December): Iconic buildings across the city become the backdrop for large-scale light installations, with interactive artworks and evening events that encourage participation and family-friendly exploration after dark.
Eid al-Fitr (varies): Non-Muslims are welcome to observe Eid al-Fitr, which marks the end of Ramadan. Wander street markets aglow with colourful lights, feasting on festive sweets like date-filled biscuits as you go.
The best neighbourhoods in Riyadh
Al Malaz
Let the kids run wild among the green lawns of Al Malaz, one of Riyadh’s most family-friendly neighbourhoods. Enjoy a gentle stroll in low-key Al Malaz Park, or explore the playgrounds and kids’ attractions of sprawling King Abdullah Park. Need a cooling drink? You’ll find plenty of cafes along buzzy Jarir Street.
Good for: Families, parks, casual dining
Al Murabba
Al Murabba places you close to Riyadh’s early history, with wide streets and a calmer pace than the city’s newer districts. Murabba Palace, once home to King Abdulaziz Al Saud, offers a glimpse into royal life, while the nearby National Museum traces Saudi history from Bedouin traditions to the modern state.
Good for: History, museums, relaxation
Diplomatic Quarter
Home to foreign embassies and international schools, this leafy area attracts a global crowd. Known locally as ‘The DQ’, it’s often where to stay in Riyadh when you want distance from the city’s pace. Shaded plazas host restaurants serving global cuisines, while cooler months invite walks along gentle trails overlooking farms and date plantations.
Good for: Dining, hotels, hiking
Things to do in Riyadh
Free things to do
Roam traditional souks to get a feel for daily life, including Souk Al-Zal, where lively auctions focus on antiques and collectables. In the JAX District, contemporary galleries and creative spaces are easy to explore on foot. On the city’s edge, Wadi Hanifa offers walking trails through a restored oasis, where water features soften the surrounding desert landscape.
Shopping
Shopping in Riyadh often starts in the souks, where the scent of oud incense hangs in the air. Long prized for welcoming guests into the home, it remains a popular purchase. Food-focused souvenirs include ajwa dates from the Medina region and locally made camel milk chocolate, both easy to pack and widely available across the city.
Nightlife
Evenings stretch late here, with cafe culture at the centre of social life. Tahlia Street draws crowds hopping between dessert cafes and shisha lounges, fuelled by strong Arabian coffee. For a bigger scene, Boulevard Riyadh City brings outdoor dining, live entertainment and illuminated promenades together, creating a lively atmosphere that runs well past midnight.
Places to eat
Restaurants in Riyadh range from fast-evolving fine dining to deeply traditional spaces. Najd Village stands out for its village-style setting, where you slip off your shoes and settle onto floor cushions. Meals are shared family style, often centred on ‘kabsa’, the spiced rice-and-meat dish long associated with Bedouin cooking and communal dining.
Take in the culture
Start with immersive exhibits at the National Museum, one of the most engaging museums in Riyadh, where reconstructed Bedouin tents bring history to life. During Ramadan, you may be invited to join locals for iftar, the sunset meal. Beyond the city, guided outings lead to ancient desert petroglyphs, while workshops introduce traditional perfume-making with Saudi rose oils.
Family friendly
Kids of all ages will delight in the dancing fountain show in King Abdullah Park. For teens, there’s dune bashing in the Al Thumama Desert, north of Riyadh. And Six Flags Qiddiya City offers a variety of adrenaline-pumping rollercoasters — don’t miss Falcon’s Flight, built directly into the cliff and plummeting thrill seekers off its edge.
Get ready for Riyadh
Budget
Public art, green spaces and citywide festivals help keep an inexpensive stay in Riyadh within reach. An inexpensive restaurant meal costs around 35 Saudi riyals (SAR), while a cappuccino averages about SAR16. Getting around is affordable too, with short taxi rides typically priced near SAR10, especially within central districts.
Day trips from Riyadh
Head north of the city towards the rust-red dunes of the Al Thumama Desert, a popular escape for sandboarding, guided walks and creative workshops. Closer to Riyadh, date palm groves offer tours that explain traditional harvesting before tastings. With hundreds of date varieties grown across the kingdom, sampling is part of the experience.
Getting around Riyadh
Riyadh’s public transport network is expanding quickly, led by the new metro linking key neighbourhoods and landmarks. Several stations double as public art spaces. While driving is possible, traffic can feel unpredictable, so many visitors rely on ride-hailing apps like Uber to move comfortably and avoid navigating unfamiliar roads themselves.
