One day 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

      Go in the late afternoon so you are walking the lanes as the mudbrick turns golden, then cross to Bujairi Terrace for dinner. Allow 2–3 hours.

   2. Late morning

      Wadi Hanifa

      Walk the stretch near Diriyah in the early evening from October to March, when temperatures are comfortable. Allow 1–2 hours.

   3. Lunch

      Lunch: Kabsa

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

   4. Afternoon

      JAX District

      Check the Diriyah or gallery programmes before visiting, as exhibitions change regularly. Allow 1–2 hours.

   5. Late afternoon

      Masmak Fortress

      Combine it with Souq Al Zal and the old souqs around Al Adl Square on the same morning. Allow 1 hour.

   6. Evening

      Kingdom Centre Sky Bridge

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

Before you go

• At-Turaif District, Diriyah: Entry is by timed ticket; book online, especially on weekend evenings.

If it rains

• Swap in National Museum of Saudi Arabia (Al Murabba): Allow at least two hours and start at the top of the chronology; the gardens of the historical centre are pleasant in the evening.

Where to stay for this itinerary

Pace and daylight

The sights in this plan add up to roughly 6–9 hours of visiting over one day, 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

• 2 days in Riyadh
• 3 days in Riyadh

Questions travellers ask