Where to stay · Riyadh · Saudi Arabia
Where to stay in Riyadh
6 neighbourhoods compared, with the trade-offs hotel listings don't tell you.
Updated By the AMZBooking editorial team
Photo: Hamza A. Durrani, CC BY-SA 4.0
Quick answer
For a first visit, stay in Al Olaya. Business towers, malls and hotels along Olaya Street and King Fahd Road. Best alternatives — budget: Deira and Al Batha; nightlife: Al Sulimaniyah.
Key facts
- First visit
- Al Olaya
- Families
- Al Olaya
- Budget
- Deira and Al Batha
- Nightlife
- Al Sulimaniyah
Best area for each kind of trip
| Trip type | Area | Why |
|---|---|---|
| First-timers | Al Olaya | Business towers, malls and hotels along Olaya Street and King Fahd Road |
| Families | Al Olaya | Business towers, malls and hotels along Olaya Street and King Fahd Road |
| Couples | Ad Diriyah | Mudbrick heritage, Wadi Hanifa palm groves and boutique hotels |
| Budget | Deira and Al Batha | Old souqs, the Masmak Fortress and the historic core |
| Luxury | Al Olaya | Business towers, malls and hotels along Olaya Street and King Fahd Road |
| Nightlife | Al Sulimaniyah | Cafés, restaurants and shopping around Tahlia Street |
| Food lovers | Al Sulimaniyah | Cafés, restaurants and shopping around Tahlia Street |
| Solo travellers | Al Sulimaniyah | Cafés, restaurants and shopping around Tahlia Street |
| Shopping | Al Olaya | Business towers, malls and hotels along Olaya Street and King Fahd Road |
| Quiet stays | Ad Diriyah | Mudbrick heritage, Wadi Hanifa palm groves and boutique hotels |
Riyadh neighbourhoods in detail
$$$ · Best for first-timers, shopping, luxury and families
Al Olaya
Olaya is Riyadh's commercial spine, home to the Kingdom Centre and Al Faisaliah towers, large international hotels and malls. It is the most central base for first-time visitors, with metro stations on the Blue Line and quick ride-hailing access to the old centre, Diriyah and KAFD.
- Good
- Central for most sights; Wide choice of hotels and restaurants; Metro and malls on the doorstep
- Watch out
- Heavy traffic at rush hour; Hot, car-oriented streets
- Nearby
- Kingdom Centre, Al Faisaliah Tower, Tahlia Street
$$$ · Best for food lovers, nightlife and solo travellers
Al Sulimaniyah
Just west of Olaya, Sulimaniyah is where much of Riyadh goes out in the evening, with specialty coffee shops, international restaurants and fashion stores along Prince Mohammed bin Abdulaziz Road, known as Tahlia Street. Mid-range hotels and serviced apartments are well placed for evening strolls.
- Good
- Lively in the evening; Many restaurants within walking distance; Close to Olaya
- Watch out
- Parking is difficult; Little historic character
- Nearby
- Tahlia Street, Kingdom Centre
$ · Best for budget, culture and solo travellers
Deira and Al Batha
The old city around Al Adl Square and the Masmak Fortress holds traditional souqs such as Souq Al Zal, gold and perfume shops and simple restaurants, and the Al Batha area nearby is busy with South Asian eateries. It suits budget travellers and those who want the historic centre on foot, but hotels are basic.
- Good
- Walk to the old souqs and fortress; Low prices; Traditional street life
- Watch out
- Basic hotels; Crowded and noisy streets; Far from Diriyah and the north
- Nearby
- Masmak Fortress, Souq Al Zal, National Museum, Murabba Palace
$$$$ · Best for couples, luxury, culture and quiet stays
Ad Diriyah
On the north-western edge of the city, Diriyah combines the At-Turaif World Heritage Site, Bujairi Terrace's restaurants and the farms and palm groves of Wadi Hanifa. A growing number of upscale hotels make it a calm base for couples, with the city centre about 20–30 minutes away by car.
- Good
- Heritage setting; Evening dining by the wadi; Quieter than the centre
- Watch out
- Expensive; Taxi needed for most other sights
- Nearby
- At-Turaif, Bujairi Terrace, Wadi Hanifa, JAX District
$$$$ · Best for luxury, solo travellers and quiet stays
King Abdullah Financial District (KAFD)
KAFD is a newly built financial district north of Olaya, with pedestrian walkways between towers, cafés and international chain hotels. Its metro station, designed by Zaha Hadid Architects, is an interchange for several lines, which makes it a practical base for business travellers.
- Good
- Walkable, landscaped streets; Major metro interchange; Modern hotels
- Watch out
- Quiet outside working hours; Few traditional restaurants
- Nearby
- KAFD Metro Station, Kingdom Centre
$$$ · Best for families, food lovers and nightlife
Hittin and Al Malqa
These northern districts have many of Riyadh's newer restaurants, cafés and dessert shops, plus Boulevard City and Boulevard World, the main venues of Riyadh Season. Hotels and serviced apartments here suit families and repeat visitors who want space and parking.
- Good
- Modern restaurants and cafés; Near Riyadh Season venues; Spacious apartments
- Watch out
- Long drive to the old centre; Traffic around events
- Nearby
- Boulevard City, Boulevard World
Areas compared
| Area | Price | Nearby |
|---|---|---|
| Al Olaya | $$$ | Kingdom Centre, Al Faisaliah Tower, Tahlia Street |
| Al Sulimaniyah | $$$ | Tahlia Street, Kingdom Centre |
| Deira and Al Batha | $ | Masmak Fortress, Souq Al Zal, National Museum, Murabba Palace |
| Ad Diriyah | $$$$ | At-Turaif, Bujairi Terrace, Wadi Hanifa, JAX District |
| King Abdullah Financial District (KAFD) | $$$$ | KAFD Metro Station, Kingdom Centre |
| Hittin and Al Malqa | $$$ | Boulevard City, Boulevard World |
Getting to your hotel
King Khalid International Airport is about 35 km north of central Riyadh. The metro's Yellow Line serves the airport terminals, and a taxi or ride-hailing car takes about 30–45 minutes to Olaya depending on traffic.
Questions travellers ask
+What is the best area to stay in Riyadh for first-time visitors?
Al Olaya. Olaya is Riyadh's commercial spine, home to the Kingdom Centre and Al Faisaliah towers, large international hotels and malls.
+Where should families stay in Riyadh?
Al Olaya: Central for most sights.
+Which area of Riyadh is best for a budget stay?
Deira and Al Batha ($): Old souqs, the Masmak Fortress and the historic core.