9 Great Things to Do in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia

When planning my trip to Saudi Arabia, I didn’t expect Riyadh, the capital, to be a very interesting place to visit. After my disappointment with Dubai, I don’t have very high expectations about modern cities in the Middle East. Fortunately, Riyadh surprised me positively, and even if it wasn’t the most exciting place to visit in Saudi Arabia, I had a really good time there.

Even if this is a vast city, you can enjoy all the best things to do in Riyadh in two days. You will find interesting museums, historical landmarks (including a UNESCO World Heritage Site), a great food scene, and breathtaking nature. It’s definitely worth putting Riyadh in your Saudi Arabia itinerary, and below you will see why.

If you are planning a trip to the Saudi capital, I have put together this guide to the best Riyadh attractions, along with practical tips to help you organize a smooth trip. Read on and enjoy visiting Riyadh, Saudi Arabia.

Things to do in Riyadh

Visit At-Turaif District

Even though Riyadh is a modern city, you can find one of the most important historical sites in Saudi Arabia within its city borders. Founded in the 15th century, At-Turaif was the first capital of the country from 1727 to 1818 and the original home of the House of Saud. After the place was besieged and destroyed by the Ottomans in the first half of the 19th century, At-Turaif has been neglected for years. In 2010, the place was designated a UNESCO World Heritage Site as a great example of Najdi architecture in the region.

Visiting At-Turaif is free of charge. You can wander around the narrow, winding lanes, visit small museums and the bath house, see the mosques and palaces, and of course, admire the historical architecture. This is such a charming place to explore and a must-visit place in Riyadh. 

You can also visit At-Turaif District with a guide, here is the recommended tour:

Enjoy Al Bujairi Heritage Park

Across the street from the At-Turaif District, you can find the Al Bujairi Heritage Park. The place was designed to relax, and it’s a perfect stop after exploring the nearby UNESCO World Heritage Site. At the Al Bujairi Heritage Park, you will find a lovely green oasis where you can enjoy the outdoor space in the shade of palm trees.

There are also numerous cafes, restaurants, and food stalls to try local food or have a quick bite while you are here. If you want to do some shopping, there are a few souvenir shops with heritage products. Al Bujairi Heritage Park is such a pleasant place to spend time in and a perfect addition to the At-Turaif District.

See the Masmak Fortress

In the heart of Old Riyadh, you can see the Masmak Fortress, dating to the end of the 19th century. It was built of clay and mud brick, with thick walls and four watchtowers. Even if the place doesn’t look very impressive, this is one of the few historic buildings that remain in Riyadh.

Inside, you can find a museum dedicated to the history of the city and the accomplishments of Saudi Arabia. Unfortunately, during my trip to Riyadh, the Masmak Fortress was closed, but if it’s open to visitors, be sure to see it inside, too.

While you are at the Masmak Fortress, you can also stop at the nearby Deira Square, with the Great Mosque attached to it. The place looks like a regular city square, but until recently, this was where the public executions by beheading took place (hence the unofficial name “Chop-Chop Square”). It’s really hard to comprehend that this random place was home to such cruel practices.

Visit the National Museum

One of the best things to do in Riyadh is a visit to the National Museum. It’s a huge place, packed with exhibitions and artifacts that focus on local culture, history, and science, so you need a few solid hours to explore the museum properly. It is a very interactive institution, with numerous installations and video presentations, which make your time there much more interesting. While there, be sure to visit the gardens that surround the museum building – it’s another lovely green space to relax in.

Visit the Murabba Palace

Located across the National Museum, the Murabba Palace served as the main residence and the official workplace of King Abdulaziz ibn Saud (the founder of Saudi Arabia) from 1938 to 1953. It’s one of the first structures built outside the old walled part of Riyadh; construction was completed in 1945.

During the king’s reign, the Murabba Palace hosted numerous official events and state visits; it was also where important agreements were signed. Even though this is a relatively new place, it holds great significance in recent Saudi Arabian history.

It is possible to visit the Murabba Palace, as it was recently opened to the public. Inside, you can see historical rooms surrounding the large central layout, a few interesting artifacts from the country’s history, and the collection of state cars, including the first royal Rolls-Royce. Exploring the Murabba Palace with all its features and hidden corners is such an enjoyable experience and was one of my highlights when visiting Riyadh. 

See the city from above

One of the symbols of Riyadh is the Kingdom Center, which is a wonderful example of modern architecture. With a height of 305 meters, this is the second-tallest building in Saudi Arabia – you can see its distinctive structure from all over the city. It’s impressive both from afar and up close, and it looks especially beautiful at night when it’s lit up.

Inside, you can find a fancy shopping center, but the real reason to visit the Kingdom Center is the viewpoint located here. The Skybridge is placed on the 99th floor, 300 meters above ground, on the section connecting the two peaks of the building.

The view from up there is breathtaking. You can see how huge Riyadh is; it seems like the city has no limits. The best time to go up to the Skybridge is around sunset, so you can see the vast city with the soft light at the end of the day and the lights illuminating the place. 

Enjoy Boulevard Riyadh City

One of the biggest attractions of the Saudi capital is Boulevard Riyadh City. This is the largest entertainment center in the country, with numerous shops, cafes, restaurants, and performances to enjoy. The place is divided into nine sub-zones, including a dancing fountain, a replica of Times Square, a garden, and a sports area. Everyone will surely find something interesting to their taste there. 

Visit shopping malls

When I talked to locals during my trip to Riyadh, every single person mentioned shopping malls as the highlight of the city. I’m not a big fan of shopping, but I had to see what the whole fuss was about. There are so many shopping malls around that it’s easy to include at least one in your Riyadh itinerary.

I visited Riyadh Park Mall, mainly because one of the Urth Cafe restaurants was there. The shopping mall itself was nothing special, just like other similar places all over the world, but it was an interesting experience nevertheless. This is where Saudi social life takes place, and it was great for people-watching and observing local customs and interactions. Not to mention, on hot days (like most in Riyadh), shopping malls are great places to escape the heat.

Go on a day trip to the Edge of the World

Located only around 100 km from Riyadh, the Edge of the World is one of the most popular places to visit in Saudi Arabia. It was also one of the highlights of my trip, as this area is simply breathtaking. 

The Edge of the World is a real wonder of nature. The cliffs of the Tuwaik Mountain range drop sharply 1131 meters to the flat land, creating spectacular scenery. No pictures can fully show you the magnitude of this place and the vast space around it; you need to see it yourself.

Fortunately, there are many tours from Riyadh to choose from, making visiting the Edge of the World such an easy trip. The driving time is around 2 hours (a big part of it is off-road), but you will be rewarded with this jaw-dropping place and views you will never forget.

On the downside, most tours go to the Edge of the World at the same time, to be there around sunset, when the place looks its most stunning in the soft orange light. It can be a bit busy at the spot, but you will have free time to go hiking around a bit, and the higher you get, the less crowded it gets (and the views are still spectacular). Depending on the tour, you might have dinner under the stars included, which is a great experience, too, as the sky is very clear here.

Here are the recommended tours from Riyadh to the Edge of the World:

Visiting Riyadh – practical information

Female travelers in Saudi Arabia

Knowing how conservative Saudi Arabia is and having various experiences in other Middle East countries, I was a bit anxious about traveling there as a woman. I was there with a friend, which made things much easier, but we were still two females exploring the country independently.

As it turned out, there was nothing to worry about. We felt very safe everywhere; we didn’t have any issues with the male-dominated culture, and we had an absolutely best experience with hospitable local people. For some women, conservative clothing that covers the knees and elbows might be an issue, but I didn’t mind it at all. 

Visa to Saudi Arabia

You need a visa to enter Saudi Arabia. You can apply for it online before your trip or at the airport upon arrival. I applied for mine online and received it back in literally 2 minutes (I’ve never gotten a visa that fast). I recommend obtaining your visa before your trip, as going through immigration at a Saudi airport will be quicker. You can do it on this official website.

How to get to Riyadh

There are plenty of airlines that fly to Riyadh from numerous destinations in Europe, the Middle East, and beyond. I flew directly with LOT Polish Airlines from Warsaw, as this was the easiest option for me, but you can also find flights from major airports worldwide. 

How to get from Riyadh airport to your hotel

Both times I flew to Riyadh, I arranged airport transfers via WelcomePickups. There were no issues; communication with the drivers was smooth, and we found each other easily. You can also try Uber, but I always find it confusing in a new place after landing, hence I choose the prearranged transfer. On the way back to the airport, I used Uber, though, and it was just fine.

You can book your airport transfer in Riyadh here.

Where to stay in Riyadh

There is no universal area to stay in Riyadh, as all the attractions and the airport are spread all over the city. You should pick the accommodation based on reviews, price, and what you need.

Here are some recommended places to stay in Riyadh

How to get around Riyadh

Recently, the new metro system was opened in Riyadh, making getting around the city so much easier. But still, the best option is Uber. We used it all the time when traveling around Riyadh and never had to wait too long for a car. The prices are very fair too, considering the big distances in the city.

Riyadh tours

If you would like to explore Riyadh with a guide, here are a few recommended tours:

Internet in Saudi Arabia

For the trip to Saudi Arabia, I got internet data via an eSIM with Airalo. I always used it when traveling, and it worked well for me in Saudi Arabia as well. It was really necessary to have an online connection all the time, as we used it to order Uber, stay in touch with the drivers at the airport, and find good cafes and restaurants. You can get the eSim for your trip here.

Money in Riyadh

In most places, it was possible to pay by card, and my Revolut card worked perfectly everywhere. We took some cash from the ATM on our first day, but we still mostly used cards.

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