2 days in Riyadh

Day by day

1. Day 1: At-Turaif District, Diriyah and Wadi Hanifa

   At-Turaif District, Diriyah, Wadi Hanifa, JAX District and Masmak Fortress, then Kingdom Centre Sky Bridge in the evening.

   1. Morning

      At-Turaif District, Diriyah

      Restored palaces, mosques and houses stand above Wadi Hanifa, with Salwa Palace at the centre and galleries explaining Najdi architecture, daily life and the history of the Saudi state.

   2. Late morning

      Wadi Hanifa

      Its restored banks have walking and cycling paths, palm groves, picnic spots and small lakes, and on cooler evenings and weekends families gather here for barbecues and walks.

   3. Lunch

      Lunch: Kabsa

      Traditional Saudi restaurants across the city, including family restaurants in Olaya and the old centre.

   4. Afternoon

      JAX District

      It has hosted the Diriyah Contemporary Art Biennale and is the centre of Riyadh's growing contemporary art scene.

   5. Late afternoon

      Masmak Fortress

      The museum inside tells the story with photographs, weapons and a spearhead still lodged in the original wooden door.

   6. Evening

      Kingdom Centre Sky Bridge

      Go around sunset to see the city by day and lit up after dark in one visit.

2. Day 2: National Museum of Saudi Arabia and Murabba Palace

   National Museum of Saudi Arabia, Murabba Palace, Al Faisaliah Tower and Souq Al Zal, then Bujairi Terrace in the evening.

   1. Morning

      National Museum of Saudi Arabia

      It is the best single introduction to the country's history.

   2. Late morning

      Murabba Palace

      Its arcaded courtyards, painted wooden ceilings and reception rooms show traditional Najdi building, and displays include the king's belongings and early cars.

   3. Lunch

      Lunch: Mandi

      Mandi restaurants with floor seating are found in every district; Al Batha has many inexpensive ones.

   4. Afternoon

      Al Faisaliah Tower

      It was the first skyscraper in the kingdom and forms one end of Olaya's skyline.

   5. Late afternoon

      Souq Al Zal

      In the late afternoon an informal auction of antiques often takes place on the street.

   6. Evening

      Bujairi Terrace

      Reserve a terrace table facing At-Turaif for sunset, especially on Thursday and Friday evenings.

Before you go

• At-Turaif District, Diriyah: Entry is by timed ticket; book online, especially on weekend evenings.
• Bujairi Terrace: Popular restaurants fill up on weekend evenings; book ahead.

Where to stay for this itinerary

Pace and daylight

The sights in this plan add up to roughly 13–17 hours of visiting over 2 days, before meals and getting between them. Daylight runs from about 10.6 hours in December to 13.7 hours in June.

Getting between stops: Metro. Six colour-coded driverless lines connect the main districts, including the Blue Line along Olaya Street and the Yellow Line to the airport.

More or fewer days

• One day in Riyadh
• 3 days in Riyadh

Questions travellers ask