SA
Riyadh
A skyscraper capital rising from the desert heartland
A skyscraper capital rising from the desert heartland
The city’s iconic bottle-opener skyscraper offers a glass Sky Bridge viewpoint high above Riyadh, with sweeping views over the endless grid of the capital and the desert beyond.
💡 Go up at dusk to catch the city as it lights up.
The UNESCO-listed birthplace of the Saudi state, the restored mudbrick city of At-Turaif is a beautiful maze of Najdi architecture, museums and palm groves along the old wadi.
💡 Visit in the cool evening when the mud walls glow gold.
This restored clay-and-mud fort in the old centre was the site of the 1902 raid that launched the modern Saudi state, now a museum of the Kingdom’s founding.
💡 Combine it with the nearby old souq and Deira market.
Part of the King Abdulaziz Historical Centre, this excellent modern museum traces Arabian history from prehistory and early Islam to the unification of the Kingdom.
💡 Allow a couple of hours; it is well laid out and air-conditioned.
About 90 minutes from the city, dramatic cliffs of the Tuwaiq escarpment drop away to a vast desert plain, an unforgettable viewpoint reached by 4×4.
💡 Go with a tour or 4×4; the final track is rough and unmarked.
Riyadh’s dining spans traditional Najdi feasts and a booming international scene. Try kabsa, the fragrant spiced rice and meat that is the national dish, jareesh, grilled kebabs and dates with Arabic coffee. The city’s malls and districts brim with cafes, global restaurants and street food, though note that alcohol is prohibited nationwide and many places close during prayer times.
Explore the National Museum and Masmak Fortress, then ride up the Kingdom Centre Sky Bridge for sunset over the capital.
Spend the evening wandering the restored mudbrick city of At-Turaif in Diriyah, with its museums, cafes and palm-lined wadi.
Take a 4×4 trip to the Edge of the World for the spectacular Tuwaiq cliffs and desert panorama.
Shops and restaurants close briefly for each of the five daily prayers; plan errands and meals around them.
Cover shoulders and knees; women no longer need an abaya but modest dress is expected and appreciated.
Cards are widely accepted, but keep some riyals for souqs, taxis and small vendors.
November to March is comfortable; summer heat regularly tops 40C.
Skyscraper Riyadh, Red Sea Jeddah, the Nabataean tombs of AlUla, misty-mountain Abha and the reefs of the Farasan Islands — five faces of Saudi Arabia.