By air
King Khalid International (RUH), ~35 km
Middle East · Saudi Arabia
Riyadh, Saudi Arabia
A desert capital of towers and history
Getting there
Best time to visit
November to March — mild
Don't miss
Diriyah (At-Turaif)
Masmak Fort
The National Museum
The Kingdom Centre
Things to do
The Kingdom Centre skybridge
Diriyah
Masmak Fort
Where to eat
Sources: Photo: B.alotaby · CC BY-SA 4.0
What to pack
Modest clothing
A quieter corner
The Edge of the World cliffs
Questions travellers ask
What's the best time to visit Riyadh?
November to March, when it's mild. Pack modest clothing.
What's worth seeing in Riyadh?
Diriyah (At-Turaif), Masmak Fort and the National Museum, then cross the Kingdom Centre skybridge.
What's a hidden gem around Riyadh?
The Edge of the World cliffs. Afterwards, sit down to a plate of kabsa.
How far is Riyadh's airport from the city?
King Khalid International (RUH) is about 35 km away.
About Riyadh
- Desert
Where it is
Riyadh is the capital and largest city of Saudi Arabia, on the Najd plateau in the centre of the Arabian Peninsula, spread along Wadi Hanifa and ringed by desert, with the Tuwaiq escarpment to the west.
History
Riyadh grew from oasis settlements in Wadi Hanifa, and neighbouring Diriyah was the capital of the first Saudi state in the 18th century until an Ottoman-Egyptian army destroyed it in 1818. Riyadh became the capital of the second Saudi state, and in 1902 Abdulaziz Ibn Saud captured Masmak Fort, the first step towards the founding of the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia in 1932. Oil wealth has since made it a city of millions.
People
Riyadh's Saudi families, many with roots in the tribes and towns of Najd, share the city with large communities from South Asia, the Arab world and beyond. Arabic is spoken, Najdi traditions include the ardah sword dance and kabsa rice dishes, and Arabic coffee with dates is served at gatherings.
Known for
- Diriyah and the At-Turaif district
- Masmak Fort
- The Kingdom Centre's sky bridge
- The National Museum
- The Edge of the World cliffs
Did you know?
At-Turaif in Diriyah, on the edge of Riyadh, was the first capital of the Saudi dynasty; its mud-brick palaces in the Najdi style have been a UNESCO World Heritage Site since 2010.
We haven't written a guide for this place yet — you can still plan a trip here.