Riyadh is the capital and largest city of Saudi Arabia, and the easiest starting point for a first trip inside the Kingdom. It mixes landmark towers, large malls and restaurants with the mud-brick heritage of the old Najdi towns that surround it.
Just north-west of the city lies Diriyah, the original seat of the first Saudi state, whose At-Turaif district is a UNESCO World Heritage Site. To the west, the Tuwaiq escarpment drops sharply into the desert at the viewpoint widely known as the Edge of the World.
The places most worth your time, grouped by type.
HeritageThe mud-brick heart of the first Saudi state and a UNESCO World Heritage Site. Restored palaces, towers and lanes overlook the palm groves of Wadi Hanifa, with the Bujairi terrace of restaurants just across the valley.
North-west Riyadh · allow half a day
NatureSheer cliffs of the Tuwaiq escarpment rise hundreds of metres above an endless plain. Sunset here is one of the most photographed views in the Kingdom.
~90 min drive · 4x4 recommended
HeritageA clay-and-mud fort with round watchtowers in the old city, tied to the 1902 recapture of Riyadh by King Abdulaziz. Today it is a museum on the founding of the Kingdom.
Al-Dirah, old centre · 1 hour
MuseumsGalleries trace the Arabian Peninsula from prehistory to the modern Kingdom, set inside the King Abdulaziz Historical Center with gardens and the Murabba Palace nearby.
Al-Murabba · 2–3 hours
LandmarksThe bridge across the top of Kingdom Centre's arch gives a 360° view of the capital. Go after sunset to see the city lit up.
Olaya · 1 hour
NatureA long green valley running through western Riyadh, with walking and cycling paths, lakes, palm farms and picnic spots — a calm break from the city.
West Riyadh · free
Souqs & shoppingOne of the city's oldest markets, known for carpets, bisht cloaks, incense, perfumes, antiques and traditional coffee pots.
Al-Dirah, next to Masmak · evenings
AdventureDeep orange dunes off the Makkah road are popular for dune bashing, quad biking and desert camps at sunset.
~45 min west · tours available
Ideas worth trying — book them with tour operators listed in our directory.
Dune driving, sandboarding and a sunset camp dinner on the Nafud Al-Thuwayrat dunes outside the city.
Half dayA guided 4x4 trip and short hike to the Tuwaiq cliffs, timed for sunset.
6–8 hoursExplore At-Turaif's lanes, then dine at the Bujairi terrace overlooking Wadi Hanifa.
3–4 hoursA suggested plan you can adjust to your own pace.
Everything for your trip from our directory: stays, food, shopping and services.
Two to three days cover Diriyah, the old centre, a museum and a trip to the Edge of the World.
It is roughly a 90-minute drive north-west of the city, with the last part on unpaved tracks.
Red Sea gateway with historic Al-Balad and a long seafront
Hegra's Nabataean tombs and some of Arabia's most striking desert landscapes
Cool mountain air, green terraces and colourful Asiri villages
One of the world's largest palm oases, with caves and old souks
