Things to do · Riyadh · Saudi Arabia
14 best things to do in Riyadh
14 sights and experiences ranked for a first visit, with honest notes on time, cost and crowds.
Updated By the AMZBooking editorial team
Photo: Hamza A. Durrani, CC BY-SA 4.0
Quick answer
The essential sights in Riyadh are At-Turaif District, Diriyah, Masmak Fortress and Kingdom Centre Sky Bridge. Of the 14 picks below, 5 are free, 2 work on a rainy day and 6 suit children. Allow about 3 days to see the highlights without rushing.
Key facts
- Top sight
- At-Turaif District, Diriyah
- Free sights
- 5
- Good on a rainy day
- National Museum of Saudi Arabia
- Time to see the highlights
- 3 days
At a glance
| Sight | Area | Time needed | Cost |
|---|---|---|---|
| At-Turaif District, Diriyah | Ad Diriyah | 2–3 hours | Mid-priced |
| Masmak Fortress | Deira and Al Batha | 1 hour | Low cost |
| Kingdom Centre Sky Bridge | Al Olaya | 1 hour | Mid-priced |
| National Museum of Saudi Arabia | Al Murabba | 2–3 hours | Low cost |
| Murabba Palace | Al Murabba | 45 minutes | Low cost |
| Bujairi Terrace | Ad Diriyah | 2 hours | Expensive |
| Al Faisaliah Tower | Al Olaya | 1 hour | Mid-priced |
| Wadi Hanifa | Ad Diriyah | 1–2 hours | Free |
| Souq Al Zal | Deira and Al Batha | 1 hour | Free |
| King Abdullah Financial District | King Abdullah Financial District (KAFD) | 1–2 hours | Free |
| Tahlia Street | Al Sulimaniyah | 1–2 hours | Low cost |
| Boulevard City and Boulevard World | Hittin and Al Malqa | 3–4 hours | Mid-priced |
| JAX District | Ad Diriyah | 1–2 hours | Free |
| Riyadh Camel Market | Eastern outskirts | 1–2 hours | Free |
The 14 best things to do
Historic site · Ad Diriyah
1.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. 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.
Go in the late afternoon so you are walking the lanes as the mudbrick turns golden, then cross to Bujairi Terrace for dinner.
- Time needed
- 2–3 hours
- Cost
- Mid-priced
- Book ahead
- Entry is by timed ticket; book online, especially on weekend evenings.
- Iconic
- History
- Architecture
- Photo spot
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Castle · Deira and Al Batha
2.Masmak Fortress
This clay-and-mudbrick fort with four watchtowers was built in the 1860s and is where Abdulaziz Ibn Saud's men captured Riyadh in 1902, the event that began the founding of modern Saudi Arabia. The museum inside tells the story with photographs, weapons and a spearhead still lodged in the original wooden door.
Combine it with Souq Al Zal and the old souqs around Al Adl Square on the same morning.
- Time needed
- 1 hour
- Cost
- Low cost
- Iconic
- History
- Architecture
- Kids
Viewpoint · Al Olaya
3.Kingdom Centre Sky Bridge
The 302-metre Kingdom Centre, completed in 2002, is crowned by a parabolic opening spanned by a glass-sided bridge about 300 metres up. Two lifts take visitors up for a view over the grid of the city and the desert beyond; a large mall fills the base.
Go around sunset to see the city by day and lit up after dark in one visit.
- Time needed
- 1 hour
- Cost
- Mid-priced
- Iconic
- Views
- After dark
- Kids
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Museum · Al Murabba
4.National Museum of Saudi Arabia
Within the King Abdulaziz Historical Center, the National Museum's galleries run from geology and prehistoric rock art through the incense trade, pre-Islamic kingdoms, the life of the Prophet and the Hajj, to the unification of the kingdom. It is the best single introduction to the country's history.
Allow at least two hours and start at the top of the chronology; the gardens of the historical centre are pleasant in the evening.
- Time needed
- 2–3 hours
- Cost
- Low cost
- History
- Rainy day
- Kids
- Art
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Palace · Al Murabba
5.Murabba Palace
King Abdulaziz moved his court to this square mudbrick palace outside the old walls in the 1930s. Its arcaded courtyards, painted wooden ceilings and reception rooms show traditional Najdi building, and displays include the king's belongings and early cars.
It shares the King Abdulaziz Historical Center grounds with the National Museum, so visit both together.
- Time needed
- 45 minutes
- Cost
- Low cost
- History
- Architecture
- Off the beaten path
Experience · Ad Diriyah
6.Bujairi Terrace
Across Wadi Hanifa from At-Turaif, this restored dining quarter has outposts of international and Saudi restaurants, cafés and terraces looking over the floodlit ruins. It is one of the most popular evening outings in the city.
Reserve a terrace table facing At-Turaif for sunset, especially on Thursday and Friday evenings.
- Time needed
- 2 hours
- Cost
- Expensive
- Book ahead
- Popular restaurants fill up on weekend evenings; book ahead.
- Food
- Couples
- After dark
- Views
Architecture · Al Olaya
7.Al Faisaliah Tower
Designed by Foster and Partners and completed in 2000, the 267-metre tower tapers to a point above a golden glass sphere that holds a restaurant and viewing area. It was the first skyscraper in the kingdom and forms one end of Olaya's skyline.
See it lit from King Fahd Road after dark, when the globe glows above the street.
- Time needed
- 1 hour
- Cost
- Mid-priced
- Architecture
- Views
- After dark
Park · Ad Diriyah
8.Wadi Hanifa
This long valley runs along the western side of the city past Diriyah. 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.
Walk the stretch near Diriyah in the early evening from October to March, when temperatures are comfortable.
- Time needed
- 1–2 hours
- Cost
- Free
- Free
- Outdoors
- Nature
- Kids
Market · Deira and Al Batha
1.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. In the late afternoon an informal auction of antiques often takes place on the street.
Come in the late afternoon or evening, when traders are most active and the heat has eased.
- Time needed
- 1 hour
- Cost
- Free
- Free
- Shopping
- History
- Photo spot
Architecture · King Abdullah Financial District (KAFD)
2.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. Its metro station by Zaha Hadid Architects, with a flowing latticed facade, is worth seeing in its own right.
Arrive by metro to see the station interior, then walk the elevated pathways between the towers.
- Time needed
- 1–2 hours
- Cost
- Free
- Architecture
- Free
- Photo spot
Street · Al Sulimaniyah
3.Tahlia Street
Prince Mohammed bin Abdulaziz Road, still widely called Tahlia Street, is lined with specialty coffee shops, restaurants, fashion boutiques and dessert shops. It is busiest late in the evening, when locals stroll and drive between cafés.
Come after 9pm for the full evening atmosphere, and try a Saudi coffee or a specialty pour-over.
- Time needed
- 1–2 hours
- Cost
- Low cost
- Food
- After dark
- Shopping
Experience · Hittin and Al Malqa
4.Boulevard City and Boulevard World
These large entertainment zones in the north of the city are the main venues of Riyadh Season, usually held from autumn through the winter. Boulevard City has restaurants, theatres and concert venues, while Boulevard World is laid out as country-themed zones around a lake, with rides and shows.
Check what is running before you go, as attractions and opening periods change from season to season.
- Time needed
- 3–4 hours
- Cost
- Mid-priced
- Book ahead
- Tickets are sold online for each season; some shows and concerts sell out.
- Kids
- After dark
- Food
Neighbourhood · Ad Diriyah
5.JAX District
A former industrial area of warehouses in Diriyah has been converted into an arts district with galleries, artists' studios, cinemas and cafés. It has hosted the Diriyah Contemporary Art Biennale and is the centre of Riyadh's growing contemporary art scene.
Check the Diriyah or gallery programmes before visiting, as exhibitions change regularly.
- Time needed
- 1–2 hours
- Cost
- Free
- Art
- Off the beaten path
- Rainy day
- Free
Market · Eastern outskirts
6.Riyadh Camel Market
On the city's eastern outskirts, traders buy and sell camels, sheep and goats in a large open-air livestock market, with feed sellers and stalls of camel gear around it. It is a working market rather than a show, and gives a sense of the desert economy that predates the towers.
Go in the late afternoon, wear closed shoes and ask before photographing traders.
- Time needed
- 1–2 hours
- Cost
- Free
- Free
- Off the beaten path
- Photo spot
- Kids
Pick by interest
| Interest | Best picks |
|---|---|
| Art and museums | National Museum of Saudi Arabia and JAX District |
| History | At-Turaif District, Diriyah, Masmak Fortress, National Museum of Saudi Arabia and Murabba Palace |
| Views | Bujairi Terrace, Kingdom Centre Sky Bridge and Al Faisaliah Tower |
| Outdoors and nature | Wadi Hanifa |
| Food and markets | Bujairi Terrace, Souq Al Zal, Tahlia Street and Boulevard City and Boulevard World |
| After dark | Bujairi Terrace, Kingdom Centre Sky Bridge, Al Faisaliah Tower and Tahlia Street |
| With children | Masmak Fortress, National Museum of Saudi Arabia, Kingdom Centre Sky Bridge and Wadi Hanifa |
| On a rainy day | National Museum of Saudi Arabia and JAX District |
What to book ahead
- 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.
- Boulevard City and Boulevard World: Tickets are sold online for each season; some shows and concerts sell out.
Plan the rest of your trip
Questions travellers ask
+What is the number one thing to do in Riyadh?
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.
+What can you do for free in Riyadh?
Wadi Hanifa, Souq Al Zal, King Abdullah Financial District, JAX District and Riyadh Camel Market. More free things to do.
+What is there to do in Riyadh when it rains?
Head indoors to National Museum of Saudi Arabia and JAX District.
+What is there to do in Riyadh at night?
Bujairi Terrace, Kingdom Centre Sky Bridge, Al Faisaliah Tower and Tahlia Street are best after dark.