3 days in Riyadh

Day by day

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

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

   1. Morning

      At-Turaif District, Diriyah

      The mudbrick capital of the first Saudi state in the 18th century was destroyed by Ottoman-Egyptian forces in 1818 and inscribed by UNESCO in 2010.

   2. Late morning

      Wadi Hanifa

      Walk the stretch near Diriyah in the early evening from October to March, when temperatures are comfortable.

   3. Lunch

      Lunch: Kabsa

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

   4. Afternoon

      JAX District

      A former industrial area of warehouses in Diriyah has been converted into an arts district with galleries, artists' studios, cinemas and cafés.

   5. 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: Masmak Fortress and Souq Al Zal

   Masmak Fortress, Souq Al Zal and National Museum of Saudi Arabia, then Bujairi Terrace in the evening.

   1. Morning

      Masmak Fortress

      Combine it with Souq Al Zal and the old souqs around Al Adl Square on the same morning.

   2. Late morning

      Souq Al Zal

      Riyadh's oldest market, a few minutes' walk from the Masmak Fortress, sells carpets, antique coffee pots, swords, incense burners, oud and bakhoor incense, and the bisht cloaks worn by Saudi men on formal occasions.

   3. Lunch

      Lunch: Mandi

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

   4. Afternoon

      National Museum of Saudi Arabia

      Allow at least two hours and start at the top of the chronology; the gardens of the historical centre are pleasant in the evening.

   5. Evening

      Bujairi Terrace

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

3. Day 3: Murabba Palace and Al Faisaliah Tower

   Murabba Palace, Al Faisaliah Tower and King Abdullah Financial District, then Tahlia Street in the evening.

   1. Morning

      Murabba Palace

      King Abdulaziz moved his court to this square mudbrick palace outside the old walls in the 1930s.

   2. Late morning

      Al Faisaliah Tower

      See it lit from King Fahd Road after dark, when the globe glows above the street.

   3. Lunch

      Lunch: Jareesh

      Restaurants specialising in Najdi heritage food; also served as a side dish in traditional Saudi restaurants.

   4. Afternoon

      King Abdullah Financial District

      A cluster of contemporary towers linked by shaded pedestrian walkways and landscaped plazas, KAFD is the clearest view of Riyadh's new architecture.

   5. Evening

      Tahlia Street

      Come after 9pm for the full evening atmosphere, and try a Saudi coffee or a specialty pour-over.

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

With 3 nights, Al Olaya keeps most of this route within easy reach. For a calmer or cheaper base, Deira and Al Batha ($) suits budget, culture and solo travellers. Compare every area.

Pace and daylight

The sights in this plan add up to roughly 15–21 hours of visiting over 3 days, before meals and getting between them. Daylight runs from about 10.6 hours in December to 13.7 hours in June.

More or fewer days

• One day in Riyadh
• 2 days in Riyadh

Questions travellers ask