20 Best Places to Visit in Riyadh as a Tourist + Travel Guide & Map

Riyadh, the capital of Saudi Arabia, is one of the best places to visit in Saudi Arabia.

I have been to Riyadh several times in the past couple of years. Each time I’m there, I discover new places. In this guide, you will find the top 20 places to visit in Riyadh. Moreover, you will find out everything you need to know about visiting Riyadh from this guide.

Make sure you go through my entire guide. I have a lot of beautiful pictures spread all over this guide.

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1. Where is Riyad? Riyadh is situated in the center of the an-Nafud desert in Saudi Arabia in the northern part of the Arabian Peninsula in the Middle East.

2. It’s the capital of the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia since 1823 and the largest city in the Arabian Peninsula.

3. The population of Riyadh is nearly 7.5 million out of which 40% is non-Saudi. The two largest groups of non-Saudis living in Riyadh are Indians and Pakistanis.

4. Riyadh is the birthplace of King Abdulaziz, the founder of modern Saudi Arabia.

5. Riyadh is a major business and financial hub in the Middle East.

6. The official workplace and the residence of the Saudi royal family, the Al Yamamah Palace, is located in Riyadh.

7. The current King of Saudi Arabia is Salman bin Abdulaziz Al Saud.

1. Edge of the World Tour including Dinner & Hike from Riyadh

This Edge of the World Tour is the most popular tour. It has also great reviews. It is also a full-day trip from Riyadh.

You will visit the Edge of the World (Jebel Fihrayn), the Bats Cave, an old village ruin built 500 years ago, you will also enjoy an epic sunset, a delicious dinner, and listen to ancient stories of the region.

2. Edge of the World Tour from Riyadh

It’s a full-day trip from Riyadh.  You will visit the Edge of the World (Jebel Fihrayn) and also see other beautiful natural wonders of Arabia along the way, such as the Elephant Rock and Jabal Abyad. You will experience the sunset at the Edge of the World and some snacks.

3. Second Edge of the World Tour from Riyadh

It’s a full-day trip that will take you to the Second Edge of the World and organize a traditional dinner for sunset. This tour has only 5-star reviews.

4. Red Sand Dunes with Dinner

It’s a half-day excursion. You will start with dune-bashing on the red dunes. Then, you will visit a desert camp where you can try sandboarding and archery. Also, you will enjoy chatting around a campfire and watching the stars.

Dinner, coffee, tea, and snacks are served during the tour. Overall, the reviews are very good with a few exceptions.

5. Quad Biking & Camel Riding in Riyadh Desert

It’s an awesome trip to the Al Thumama desert. This trip includes desert quad biking over the dunes and camel riding across the sands. This tour has extremely positive reviews.

Quad biking is by all means one of the most fun things to do in Riyadh.

6. Historical Riyadh Self-Guided Audio Walking Tour 

This is a super interesting thing. With this, you get access to an audio guide that you can follow to discover and learn about some of the best places to visit in Riyadh at your own pace.

The guide includes the Al Masmak Fortress, Al Safat Square, Imam Turki Bin Abdullah Grand Mosque, Souq Al Zal traditional market, and the Al Thumairi Street full of handicrafts and local gifts.

The reviews for this audio tour are all 5-star.

If you are planning to travel to Riyadh, the following table will be very useful. I collected all the apps and portals that you need to get prepared for your trip to the capital of Saudi Arabia.

The 4 best areas to stay in the Saudi capital, Riyadh as a tourist are Olaya, Boulevard City, Ad Dirah, and near the Riyadh International Airport.

I think it’s quite hard to find hotels in Riyadh with great reviews. So, I looked for the hotels with the best reviews.

Please refer to my

AL OLAYA – ONE OF THE BEST AREAS TO STAY IN RIYADH

Al Olaya is one of the most popular neighborhoods in Riyadh. It’s the most convenient area for travelers because it’s in the center of Riyadh.

It’s a modern and beautiful area. It’s full of skyscrapers, amazing restaurants, cafés, and malls. I really liked this area, I tried a lot of cafés and restaurants in Al Olaya.

Cantonal Hotel by Warwick is the best-rated and most affordable hotel in Al Olaya.

Narcissus Riyadh Hotel & Spa and The Ritz-Carlton, Riyadh are also extremely popular but their average rating is not as good as for the Cantonal Hotel by Warwick.

BOULEVARD CITY – ONE OF THE BEST AREAS TO STAY IN RIYADH

It’s the best place to stay for you if are mostly interested in going to the Boulevard World, Boulevard City, and Diriyah. You will be close to them but you will be far from other points of interest in Riyadh.

AD DIRAH – ONE OF THE BEST AREAS TO STAY IN RIYADH

Ad Dirah is the Old City of Riyadh. If you stay in this neighborhood, you will be very close to the Al-Masmak Fortress, Alsafat Square, Souq Al Zel Traditional Market, Imam Turki Bin Abdullah Grand Mosque, as well as the Al Murabba Historical Palace the National Museum of Saudi Arabia.

In this neighborhood, the hotels are much cheaper but less well-rated.

In Ad Dirajh, check out Hayat Al Riyadh Washam Hotel.

NEAR RIYADH INTERNATIONAL AIRPORT

If you want to stay near the airport in Riyadh, check out the most booked hotel near the King Khalid International Airport in Riyadh, the Radisson Hotel Riyadh Airport.

Riyadh offers a myriad of unique places to visit and also offers countless cool things to do both for local and international tourists. Check out the top 20 places to visit in Riyadh city.

You can visit all these places in the winter season (from the end of October until March).

But before we get to the 2 best places to visit in detail, let me give you an introduction to the best places to visit in Riyadh answering some common questions.

Places to visit in Riyadh for FREE

There are a lot of places in Riyadh that you can visit for free.

You can visit pretty much all the main tourist attractions free of charge.

• Al Masmak Palace Museum, Al Safat Square, Imam Turki Bin Abdullah Grand Mosque, Souq Al Zel
• King Abdul Aziz Memorial Hall & the Al Murabba Palace, National Museum of Saudi Arabia
• At-Turaif World Heritage Site in Diriyah, Al-Bujairi Terrace in Dirijah when you get the free visitor ticket
• Kingdom Center without going up to the Sky Bridge
• Boulevard City

Places to visit in Riyadh AT NIGHT

There is more life in Riyadh at night than during the day because during the day because at night the weather is more pleasant than during the day. Most places are open until pretty late.

My favorite places at night are normally very beautifully lit at night and full of people enjoying their time.

You will see the general opening hours here but always refer to the exact opening hours in the next section when I talk about each place separately in detail. The opening hours and how long places are full of people depends on whether it’s a weekday or weekend.

• Al-Bujairi Terrace in Diriyah open until midnight / 1 am
• At-Turaif World Heritage Site in Diriyah until midnight / 1 am
• In front of and behind Al Masmak Palace Museum lively until midnight
• As Safat Square (Deera Square) lively until midnight
• Souq Al Zel Traditional Market where shops are open until late 10:30 pm
• Al Murabba Palace is open until 8 pm and the park outside is lively until very late
• Boulevard World open until midnight
• Boulevard City where cafés and restaurants are open until 2 am
• Kingdom Center Sky Bridge open until 10.30 pm
• Cafés and restaurants are generally open until midnight/2 am
• Malls are also open at least until midnight

Places to visit in Riyadh WITH FAMILY

Riyadh is an extremely family-friendly city. Thus, you can visit pretty much every single place on my list with children. But here are three places that children will probably like the most.

• Boulevard City: It’s full of entertainment options for children.
• Boulevard World: It’s a huge theme park offering a lot of fun for children.
• Outside Al Murabba Historical Palace: Saudi families gather here for picnics in the evenings, especially on the weekend. The park between Al Murabba Palace and the Saudi National Museum is full of children playing in the evening and at night.

6.1. AL-BUJAIRI TERRACE IN DIRIYAH – ONE OF THE BEST PLACES TO VISIT IN RIYADH

Diriyah in Riyad is the birthplace of the first Saudi State.

The two most beautiful places to visit in Diriyah are the At-Turaif Heritage Village and the Al Bujairi Terrace.

Beautiful restaurants at the Al-Bujairi Terrace in Diriyah – Best Places to Visit in Riyadh

Bujairi Terrace, located in Diriyah, is a top-tier fine dining location in a truly beautiful setting in the heart of the historical Diriyah district in Riyadh.

It’s a fairly new place but it has quickly become one of the top places to visit in Riyadh.

The architecture of the site is simply mind-blowing. This magnificent culinary destination also overlooks the ancient At-Turaif World Heritage Site. When you are there, it feels like you are in a Middle Eastern fairy tale.

Bujairi Terrace is awesome both during the day and at night. I visited it both during the day and at night. Both are very different experiences but equally amazing.

DIRIYAH ACCESS PASS FOR THE BUJAIRI TERRACE

This was so confusing.

Most of the time, you need an entrance ticket to enter. Online, you can get a free ticket if you plan ahead. When I was there for the first time in the evening, I was asked to pay 50 Riyals for the entrance. Luckily, my friend had a free access pass. So, in the end, I got in for free. That’s when I learned that there is a thing called a free access pass.

To visit and explore the Bujairi Terrace and At-Turaif, book your free Diriyah Access Pass, here.

When I visited the Bujairi Terrace for the second time, I didn’t have the access pass, I was asked to pay 50 Riyals again. But in the end, they let me in free.

I tried the Brunch & Cake Al Bujairi for breakfast. I absolutely loved it.

Brunch & Cake Al Bujairi at the Al-Bujairi Terrace in Diriyah – Best Places to Visit in Riyadh

It’s a very beautiful cafe with a cool atmosphere, great customer service, and delicious food and drinks. I had a green detox for 39 riyals (~10.40 USD) and an avocado toast for 72 riyals (~19.20 USD).

They are open already from 9 am. I recommend it for breakfast before visiting the At-Turaif Heritage Site.

This is where I learned that in case you have to pay 50 Riyals for the Diriyah Access Pass, the 50 Riyals will be deducted from your bill at any restaurant or café within Bujairi Terrace and At-Turaif.

Nevertheless, if you just want to roam around, you had better get your free Diriyah Access Pass. But I highly encourage you to try one of the cafés or restaurants of the Bujairi Terrace as most of them seem to be super awesome.

Restaurant at the Al-Bujairi Terrace in Diriyah – Best Places to Visit in Riyadh

Locals at the Al-Bujairi Terrace in Diriyah – Best Places to Visit in Riyadh

6.2. AT TURAIF WORLD HERITAGE VILLAGE IN DIRIYAH – ONE OF THE BEST PLACES TO VISIT IN RIYADH

The Historic Diriyah Fort in Riyadh – One of the best places to visit in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia

The most beautiful and charming part of Diriyah is the At-Turaif World Heritage Site which is one of five UNESCO World Heritage sites of Saudi Arabia. It’s home to centuries-old architecture such as a labyrinth of traditional mud-brick houses.

The main highlight of the At-Turaif district is the Salwa Palace, the original home of the Al-Saud royal family built in the middle of the 18th century. Today, it’s home to the Diriyah Gallery including the traditional architecture gallery, Arabian Horse Gallery, and the military gallery.

MY EXPERIENCE THE AT-TURAIF WORLD HERITAGE SITE

To enter the At-Turaif World Heritage Site, first, you have to enter the Al-Bujairi Terrace. So, don’t forget your free Dirayah Access Pass.

I went to the Salwa Palace for the first time in the evening and it was amazing walking around the palace with the lights on. Visiting the Salwa Palace and its galleries is much better in the evening and at night than during the day as the weather is more pleasant in the evening and at night.

Nevertheless, I wanted to experience the Salwa Palace during the day. Let me tell you my personal experience about it.

The second time, I visited it in the morning when they opened at 10 am. I planned to have breakfast at one of the cafes there and then take pictures. When I got there, I was super hungry, I just learned that the cafe where I wanted to have breakfast was only going to open at 1 pm.

They don’t even sell coffee or snacks there at all. It was so annoying. They have dozens of people working there showing directions but nobody to sell coffee or snacks to the tourists. This was an unexpected situation.

I walked to the Al-Bujairi Terrace to find a place to eat. In the morning most of them are closed. That’s when I found the Brunch & Cake Al Bujairi that I talked about previously.

Once I finished my amazing breakfast, I went back to the Salwa Palace. I spent some time taking pictures and making videos.

After having enough of taking pictures, I got super tired under the sun. I wanted to sit down for a coffee for 20 minutes at Cafe Bateel located at the palace. It was around 1:20 pm. I told the waiters that I just wanted to drink a coffee and I was alone. They said that the minimum charge was 100 riyals.

Al Bateel was almost empty and the waiters didn’t want me to sit down as I just wanted to have a coffee alone which would have cost much less than 100 riyals. They even asked how long I wanted to stay.  Such a place should not operate at a tourist landmark with such a horrible hospitality system during the day.

Al Bateel is the worst cafe in the world for me. It was literally the worst hospitality I have ever experienced in the Middle East.  I had to walk a lot again to drink a coffee.

6.3. NAJD VILLAGE TRADITIONAL RESTAURANT

Inside the Najd Village traditional restaurant – One of the best places to visit in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia

Najd Village is a beautiful traditional restaurant that tourists in Riyadh cannot miss.

They have three locations where they serve authentic Saudi dishes. I tried the one on the Abi Bakr As Siddiq Road.

Plate with traditional Saudi dishes in Najd Village restaurant – Best places to visit in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia

I was there with a friend and we ordered together a big plate called Sofra which included a lot of traditional Saudi dishes. We couldn’t even finish 20% of all we got.

They have different Sofras in each season.

We paid 220 riyals (~60 USD) for our plate in total.  I think it would have been enough for about 6 people.

6.4. AL MASMAK PALACE MUSEUM – ONE OF THE BEST PLACES TO VISIT IN RIYADH

Let’s start with the old quarter of Riyadh where you can find some of the most famous landmarks of Riyadh,

Al Masmak Palace Museum, aka Al Masmak Fortress,  is located in the heart of Riyadh, in the historic district called ad-Dirah. By all means, it’s one of the best places to visit in Riyadh, especially for history buffs.

This clay and mudbrick fort was built in 1895 and has been under Saudi control since 1902.

Since 1995, it has served as a museum displaying exhibits of Saudi history such as historical artifacts, works of art, maps, and weapons.

This is surely a place where you can learn about KSA’s history.

I visited the fort both during the day and in the evening. It’s very nice both during the day when it’s sunny and there are only a few people and in the evening when the fortress is illuminated and there are a lot of people hanging around and shopping.

I can say it’s one of the best places to visit in Riyadh at night is the Masmak Palace Museum along with the Deera Square and the  Souq Al Zel.

TOUR YOU CAN BOOK: Historical Riyadh Self-Guided Audio Walking Tour

This tour will take you to Al Masmak Fortress, Al Safat Square, an old bookshop, Imam Turki Bin Abdullah Grand Mosque, Al Thumairi Street to buy handicrafts, and the Ath Thumairi Gate.

6.5. CAFÉ BOOK TRADITIONAL CAFÉ – ONE OF THE BEST PLACES TO VISIT IN RIYADH

As you leave the Al Masmak Palace Museum on the way to Deera Square (Chop Chop Square), you will see a nice traditional café on the left. It’s called Café Book.

You can find it as مقهى قيصرية الكتاب on Google Maps.

They have a lot of types of coffee and tea. To eat, they have sweets and simple food such as filled chapati.

For a small filled chapati, you pay  7 – 12 Riyals (~2 – 3 USD). For a cup of tea, you pay generally 6 – 8 Riyals. They have very delicious sweets as well, such as Kunafa with ice cream for 23 Riyals (~6.10 USD).

6.6. AL SAFAT SQUARE (CHOP CHOP SQUARE) – ONE OF THE BEST PLACES TO VISIT IN RIYADH

Al Safat Square, also known as Deera Square, is the main square of the Saudi capital, Riyadh.  It’s another must-visit place to see in Riyadh

In the past, this square was a place for public executions. That’s also why the square was called Justice Square or Chop Chop Square.

Generally, the executions took place on Friday afternoon, after the Friday prayers.

Today, you will find a huge open area, shops, and a few coffee shops here. The shops and most of the cafe shops are only open after 15:30.

As for having a drink or something to eat, there are a couple of options. If you just want to grab something to eat, you can buy a hot dog for 2 Riyals (~0.55 USD), a hamburger, or a corn cup for 5 Riyals (~1.30 USD) from one of the local fast food eateries.

Also, there are nice cafes to drink very delicious tea and coffee. A couple of them are open before 15:30. But most of them are open only late afternoon and in the evening.

In the evening, there are a lot of locals at the square and it has a very pleasant and fun ambiance. You can see friends and families hanging out there until late at night.

6.7. IMAM TURKI BIN ABDULLAH GRAND MOSQUE – ONE OF THE BEST PLACES TO VISIT IN RIYADH

Al Safat Square with the Imam Turki Bin Abdulla Grand Mosque in the background – Best places to visit in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia

This beautiful mosque, also known as the Grand Mosque of Riyadh, is right at Al Safat Square.

It’s the most famous and oldest mosque in Riyadh. It’s an architectural Islamic masterpiece that you cannot miss. It features a blend of traditional and modern design elements.

Imam Turki Bin Abdullah Grand Mosque is only open to Muslims for prayers.

I walked around the mosque to see if there was a way to get in as a visitor. I found out then that it’s only open for prayers. Later, when I joined a free walking tour, our tour guide confirmed that it was always closed to tourists.

6.8. SOUQ AL-ZEL TRADITIONAL MARKET – ONE OF THE BEST PLACES TO VISIT IN RIYADH

We still have a lot more to see in the neighborhood of Ad-Dirah. Now, let’s see Souq al-Zal, an authentic traditional marketplace, which is one of the major tourist attractions in Riyadh.

When you are here, it feels like you’ve stepped back in time. This market has been open since 1901. It offers beautiful traditional artifacts such as handmade carpets, hooked daggers, glinting swords, and mesmerizing perfumes.

It’s not open all day. It opens at 15:30 when the temperatures cool down. It’s an awesome place to visit in Riyadh from late afternoon until late night.

One of the most interesting experiences I had there was witnessing the antique auction at the Al-Zel Souq.

Auction at the antique market of Souq Al Zal – Best places to visit in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia

In the auction, there are a lot of local men gathering to buy old stuff. This is super cool. I felt like I was in a movie scene.

There are also shops selling bisht which is a woolen cloak worn by men or abayas worn by women. They’re gorgeous traditional attires that Saudis love to wear. Make sure you try them.

There is also a section where women can buy abayas super cheap. Abaya is a very popular over-garment that most women wear in Saudi Arabia.

Saudi traditional attire such as abayas are great to buy when you are in Saudi Arabia because they conform to the local cultural norms.

One of the best things to do when you visit a new country or city is to buy unique local dresses and attires. If you wear traditional clothes in Saudi Arabia, you can’t go wrong.

Buying traditional clothes and wearing them is one of the best ways to immerse yourself in a new culture.

Did you know that traditional clothes worn by locals are normally the most suitable for the weather circumstances?

Also, wearing traditional clothes in Saudi Arabia shows that you appreciate, value, and respect the local culture and traditions.

Last but not least, I want to tell you the best place to buy food at the market. Right behind the Al-Masmak Fort, next to the abaya market, there is a line of street food sellers mostly selling corn. I bought homemade stuffed cabbage and grape leaves from two local women. A portion cost only 5 Riyals (~1.30 USD). Go for 2 portions right away. They were so well done and delicious. I loved them.

6.9. MUQLAT ALFURAYJ TRADITIONAL RESTAURANT – ONE OF THE BEST PLACES TO VISIT IN RIYADH

Traditional Saudi Breakfast at Muqlat Alfurayj – Best places to visit in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia

Muqlat Alfurayj is perfect for breakfast. Without a doubt, it’s one of the best places to eat in Riyadh.

I was there with one of my friends and we ordered a traditional Saudi breakfast plate and karak tea together.

Everything was super delicious there. All in all, it’s my favorite place to eat. The food was flavorful and aesthetically pleasing. The restaurant is super pretty and cozy.

The breakfast plate was 45 riyals (12 USD) and the pot of karak tea was 26 riyals (7 USD). With tax, in total, we paid 71 riyals (20 USD).

If you want to have breakfast there, if possible, make a reservation or just get there no later than 9:30 am. By 10.30 am, the restaurant was full and people were waiting for their turn.

If you want to have a really nice table, you had better be there already at 9 am.

6.10. KING ABDULAZIZ MEMORIAL HALL & AL-MURABBA HISTORICAL PALACE – ONE OF THE BEST PLACES TO VISIT IN RIYADH

Al Murabba Historical Palace – Best places to visit in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia

Visiting the King Abdulaziz Memorial Hall & the Al Murabba Palace is one of the top things to do in Riyadh.

It’s also one of the most beautiful places to visit in Riyadh, especially at night.

Al Murabba Historical Palace – Best places to visit in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia

The King Abdulaziz Memorial Hall and the Al-Murabba Palace belong to the same building. I really loved this place.

Murabba Historical Palace is one of the most beautiful traditional buildings in Riyadh. Its unique design will blow you away.

It was built by the founder of modern Saudi Arabia, King Abdulaziz, in the 1940s. It was one of their residential palaces. As of today, it’s one of the most interesting museums in Riyadh where you can learn more about the royal family of Saudi Arabia.

Inside Al Murabba Historical Palace during sunset – Best places to visit in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia

Even if you get there early, I recommend that you stay there in the evening as well. I went there before sunset and I was there also when it already got dark. The palace was so pretty during the sunset and also very beautiful at night illuminated.

As the weather cools down, there will be more and more families around the palace having a picnic. I really loved that. It was a very interesting cultural experience. You see many families and children everywhere having a great time.

Just between the palace and the national park, there is a big space full of children playing. And around the kids playing, the parents are having a picnic and watching out for their children. It’s really beautiful to see a place with so many families.

It’s for sure one of the best places to visit in Riyadh at night.

6.11. NATIONAL MUSEUM OF SAUDI ARABIA – ONE OF THE BEST PLACES TO VISIT IN RIYADH

If you are in Riyad, it’s worth visiting the National Museum of Saudi Arabia. It’s right next to the Al Murabba Palace.

This is the most important museum in the kingdom where you can learn about the rich history and local culture of the Saudi kingdom.

As soon as you are in the museum, you are teleported on a journey that takes you through thousands of years of history. Take your time here because there is a lot to learn here. My favorite sections of the museum were all about Islam.

Learning about Islam is by all means the best thing to do in the national museum.

At the Murabba Palace and National Museum, there is no cafe or shop open where you can buy snacks or water. So, you had better bring water and snacks with you.

I found a restaurant close to the museum: قهوة الأصيل which is Aseel in English. I recommend if you get hungry before or after the museum.

6.12. RIYADH SEASON – ONE OF THE BEST PLACES TO VISIT IN RIYADH

One of the best things to do in Riyadh is to have fun at the Riyadh Season.

It’s an annual entertainment and sports festival taking place from the beginning of October to the end of March.

They have a lot of awesome events both during the day and at night. You can download the Riyadh Season app so that you can easily discover their fun events and cool activities.

6.13. BOULEWARD WORLD – ONE OF THE BEST PLACES TO VISIT IN RIYADH

One of the best things during the Riyadh Season is the Boulevard World. It’s a fun place to visit with family and friends.

Boulevard World is an awesome seasonal entertainment zone and recreational complex. Going there is the most fun thing to do in Riyadh.

Is it something for international tourists? Yes, absolutely. It brings together the cultures of so many countries through its themed areas. You can learn about the cultures of Egypt, Morocco, Tunisia, China, India, Thailand, Italy, Greece, France, the USA, Japan, and Mexico.

You can ride a Venetian gondola, taste Mexican food, buy Indian spices, enjoy Thai dance performances and so much more.

Also, they have an awesome theme park with thrilling rides and loads of fun stuff.

BOULEVARD WORLD OPENING TIMES

It is open only from 2 November 2023 to 22 March 2024:

Daily from 16:00 to midnight, you can enjoy the place.

Make sure you are there already at 16:00. I stayed there for the entire time for 8 hours and it wasn’t enough for me.

BOOKING A TICKET FOR BOULEVARD WORLD

The most important thing to know about the Boulevard World is that if you want to go there, you must book your ticket in advance.

There are times when it’s really hard to get a general admission ticket. That’s why you need to plan ahead.

First, download the webook.com app. You need the app to book your ticket and enter Boulevard World.

In the app, search for Boulevard World and book your ticket.

You can only book 7 – 12 days in advance and the cheapest tickets are sold out very quickly.

When I booked for the first time, I could only book a Boulevard World Gold Ticket for 218 Ticket. For the day when I wanted to go, only the two most expensive tickets, the Gold and VIP Tickets, were available.

When I wanted to book for a second time on a Saturday 6 days in advance, all the tickets except the VIP tickets were sold out.

BOULEVARD WORLD TICKET TYPES

When you are in the app, you can see what the tickets include.

Weekday Entry: 29 SAR

This is just the entrance fee. For the activities, you will need to pay extra. But even without paying for extra activities, you will have a lot of fun there. Boulevard World is a fascinating place where you can have a glimpse of amazing countries, such as Egypt, France, Morocco, India, Italy, Japan, and Mexico.

In each country, you will find markets, awesome food stalls, and restaurants. Moreover, many of them also offer dance performances such as Indian and Thai dance.

Weekend Entry: 58 SAR

This is the same as the previous one. It’s only the most expensive because the ticket is sold for the days of the weekend.

BLVD World Value Ticket: 109 SAR
Entry for 1 person + Playing any 10 rides (Rides include: Skyloop, Wave swinger, Dragon’s fury, Jumper jumper, Turbo 360, Jumpoline, Rodeo bull, Taxi mania, View tower, Carousel, Bumper boats)

BLVD World Gold Ticket: 218 SAR
Entry for 1 person + Playing all rides (see above), unlimited times.

This is the Boulevard World ticket that I booked. With this ticket, I spent 8 hours in Boulevard World. I tried almost all the rides included in the ticket.

From 16:00 to 18:30, I walked around the entire place, took pictures, and tried some food and sweets. If you want to look around the Boulevard World, and try food, there is no time to try the rides too many times because of the time you have to spend lining up.

The big roller coaster was the only ride where we didn’t have to stay too long in the line.

I started with the rides at 18:30 and finished somewhat after 23:00, I had enough of the rides.

This ticket costs twice more than the Value Ticket and it costs more only because you can take the rides unlimited times. However, as I mentioned, you won’t necessarily have the time to ride them more than once or you don’t want to queue up too many times.

BLVD World VIP Ticket: 327 SAR
Entry for 1 person + Playing all rides, unlimited times, and Fast Track access.

As a matter of fact, lining up was so tiring. It was not that bad at the roller coaster but for the most part, we had to line up for too long. If I wanted to go to a theme park again, I would prefer purchasing a

BLVD World Family Ticket: 520 SAR
Entry for 5 family members + Playing any 10 rides for each member.

EXTRA ACTIVITIES AT BOULEVARD WORLD

There are too many things to try in the Boulevard World: a lot of fun activities. For me going there once was not enough for sure.
The extra activities cost extra. You can find some of them online on Webook and book them in advance.

After the rides, I tried the House of Dolls for 50 Riyals. This is a place where dead men keep scaring the visitors. It was fun. It was totally worth it.

6.14. BOULEVARD CITY – ONE OF THE BEST PLACES TO VISIT IN RIYADH

This is not a tourist attraction in Riyadh either. It’s a place where locals love to go.

The Boulevard City is a fantastic place to have fun in Riyadh. This part of Riyadh is full of amazing cafes and restaurants.

I celebrated the New Year (2023/2024) there. That time it was full of people enjoying concerts and awesome restaurants there. I had a fantastic time there. It was interesting to experience New Year’s Eve in a country that just started publicly celebrating it.

6.15. AL-FAISAL MUSEUM FOR ARAB-ISLAMIC ART – ONE OF THE BEST PLACES TO VISIT IN RIYADH

I never miss Islamic Art Museums. The Al-Faisal Museum for Arab-Islamic Art displays among others incredibly beautiful manuscripts.

6.16. KINGDOM CENTER SKY BRIDGE – ONE OF THE BEST PLACES TO VISIT IN RIYADH

From the Sky Bridge of the Kingdom Center, from 300 meters,  you can take a stunning panoramic view of the Saudi capital, Riyadh.

To reach 300 meters, you need to take an elevator to the 99th floor.

There are many shops and restaurants in the Kingdom Center. Moreover, this is where you can find the highest mosque of KSA, the King Abdullah Mosque which is located on the 77th floor.

It can be a great experience both during the day and at night. I experienced the Kingdom Tower and Sky Bridge at night. It was a great choice. I think it’s more exciting at night with the night-time city lights than during the day.

6.17. EDGE OF THE WORLD – ONE OF THE BEST PLACES TO VISIT NEAR RIYADH

Edge of the World near Riyadh is one of the best places to visit in Saudi Arabia

Edge of the World is an incredibly stunning natural beauty in Saudi Arabia that will take your breath away.

Edge of the World is the name of a cliff in the Tuwaik Mountain range about 100 km (62 mi) from Riyadh.

Visiting the Edge of the World is one of the top things to do near Riyadh. It’s a fantastic travel destination for admiring spectacular mountain views and hiking.

HOW TO GET TO THE EDGE OF THE WORLD

You can drive to this scenic place from Riyadh or join a tour.

If you want to travel there independently, make sure you rent a 4×4 and you know how to tackle some unmade roads.

There are several routes leading to the Edge of the World. Make sure you have your GPS offline available as there is no internet on the way there.

EDGE OF THE WORLD TOURS

If you want to make everything easier and more enriching, skip self-drive and join a small-group tour.

BOOK THIS TOUR TO VISIT THE EDGE OF THE WORLD: Edge of the World Tour from Riyadh

OR THIS TOUR: Edge of the World Tour including Dinner & Hike from Riyadh

6.18. SECOND EDGE OF THE WORLD – ONE OF THE BEST PLACES TO VISIT NEAR RIYADH

The Second Edge of the Word is also one of Saudi Arabia’s popular tourist destinations. It’s also known as the Al Manjour Trail.

Those who love mountains and hiking, make sure you also visit this one as well.

SECOND EDGE OF THE WORLD TOUR

BOOK THIS TOUR TO VISIT THE SECOND EDGE OF THE WORLD:

Second Edge of the World Tour from Riyadh

6.19. RED SAND DUNES – ONE OF THE BEST PLACES TO VISIT NEAR RIYADH

The Red Sand Dunes is a red desert area with beautiful dunes near Riyadh. One of the most fun and coolest things to do there is camel riding, sandboarding, quad biking, dune bashing, and sleeping among the dunes and under the stars.

The above desert activities are some of the most fun things to do in Riyadh.

RED SAND DUNES TOURS

BOOK THIS TOUR TO VISIT THE RED DUNES OF RIYADH: Red Sand Dunes with Dinner
OR THIS ONE: Quad Biking & Camel Riding in Riyadh Desert

6.20. USHAIGER HERITAGE VILLAGE – ONE OF THE BEST PLACES TO VISIT NEAR RIYADH

Historical Fulaigiyeh Mosque made of mud brick in Ushaiqer – One of the most beautiful places to visit near Riyadh

The Ushaiger Heritage Village is located 200 km (124 mi) northwest of the capital city of Saudi Arabia, Riyadh. It’s one of the most beautiful places that you can visit on your trip to Riyadh.

This village will give you a sneak peek into the traditional village life of Saudi Arabia. About 1,500 years ago bedouin tribes settled here and built yellow mud houses that you can still see today.

Inside the Ushaiger Heritage Village, there are a lot of gorgeous heritage museums, houses, and mosques such as the Fulaigiyeh Mosque. And outside the heritage village, you can find old abandoned houses, ancient farmlands, an oasis and palm groves, and date plantations.

HOW TO GET TO THE USHAIGER HERITAGE VILLAGE

First, travel to the Saudi capital, Riyadh. You can reach Riyadh by plane, train, and bus depending on your location. Once, you are in Riyadh, rent a car and drive to Diriyah.

Enter Ushaiger Heritage Village in Google Maps and follow the suggested route. You can easily drive there in a regular car.

There are a lot of international flights to Saudi Arabia. Wizzair is one of the airlines operating flights from several European countries to Riyadh.

If you prefer more comfort and luxury, check out Qatar Airways.

You can compare the prices on Skyscanner.

When I flew to Qatar from Riyadh, I used Flynas.

Since Saudi Arabia is a huge country, taking domestic flights is common. There are a lot of flights daily to Riyadh from many places in Saudi Arabia.

The following three airlines are flying to and from Riyadh:

Saudia – the flag carrier of Saudi Arabia

Flynas – one of the Saudi low-cost airlines

Flyadeal – also a Saudi low-cost airline

I tried Flyadeal from Abha to Riyadh. And I paid 332 SAR (~88 USD) for a last-minute purchase.

When I took an international flight to Riyadh, this is how it went

8.1. PASSPORT & E-VISA CONTROL, AND VISA ON ARRIVAL AT THE RIYADH INTERNATIONAL AIRPORT

The Riyadh International Airport, also known as the King Khalid Airport has 4 terminals. I arrived at the North Terminal.

The passport and eVisa control were quick. Everything was checked in less than 2 minutes. I didn’t even have to queue up.

8.2. EXCHANGING MONEY & WITHDRAWING MONEY AT THE RIYADH INTERNATIONAL AIRPORT

In the arrival hall, there are, of course, exchange offices and ATMs. I withdrew money from the SNB Bank. It worked out perfectly fine.

8.3. BUYING A SIM CARD AT RIYADH INTERNATIONAL AIPORT

There were three mobile phone companies in the arrival hall: STC, Mobily, and Zain.

I bought a SIM card and data from STC for 195,50 SAR (~52 USD). The purchase of the SIM card was really quick.

Sim card prices are the same both at the airport and everywhere else in Saudi Arabia. Thus, the smartest thing to do is to get your SIM card right away upon arrival at the airport.

If you want to know about the Saudi SIM card prices, check it out here.

The national railway company of Saudi Arabia called Saudi Arabia Railways (SAR) runs regular trains between Riyad and some cities.

From Riyadh, you can get to Hufuf, Abqaiq, Dammam, Majmaah, Qassim, Hail, Jauf and Qurayyat.

Let me tell you about two popular routes from Riyadh.

Riyadh to Hufuf: 2 h 21 min, 75 Saudi rials for economy class and 120 rials for business class

Riyadh to Damman: 3 h 57 min, 105 Saudi rials for economy class and 170 rials for business class

Check the train schedules here.

SAPTCO, the Saudi Public Transport Company, operates urban buses to a lot of places in Saudi Arabia.

To Riyadh, you can travel to a lot of places by bus.

Moreover, there are international buses from Riyadh to the UAE (Dubai, Abu Dhabi, Sharjah, and Ajman), Egypt (Hurghada) via ferry connection, and Bahrain.

Unfortunately, there is no bus

SAPTCO has an app. It never worked on my iPhone. I managed to download it. However, I could never check the schedule. But it always works on the web browser.

10.1. BY RENTAL CAR

Renting a car in Riyadh and generally in Saudi Arabia is very practical. If you want to rent a car, I recommend Budget. They don’t ask for an International driving license and they accept international credit cards for the deposit.

10.2. TAXI APPS IN RIYADH

If you don’t have a car, the best way to get around in Riyadh is by taxi.

In Riyadh, you can use taxi apps to move around. There are many taxi apps. Check out some of them!

Uber, Bolt, Careem, Jeeny, Kaiian

I normally used BOLT or UBER to order a taxi. Bolt is somewhat cheaper than Uber.

TAXI APP FARES

The prices below are correct. When I paid more, it was because of the traffic.  With the below prices, I just want to indicate that prices can be different in different situations.

4 km / 2.50 mi: 13 SAR (~3.50 USD)
7 km / 2.50 mi: 13 SAR (~3.50 USD)
8 km / 5 mi: 22 SAR (~5.90 USD)
17 km / 10.50 mi: 25 SAR (~6.70 USD)
20 km / 12.40 mi: 51 SAR (~13.60 USD)
24 km / 15 mi: 44 SAR (~11.70 USD)
31 km/ 19 mi: 55 SAR (~14.60 USD)
38 km / 23.6 mi: 50 SAR (~13.30 USD)

10.3. HOW TO GET AROUND RIYADH BY LOCAL BUS

There are local buses in Riyadh.

Taking a bus is super cheap. I only tried the bus in Riyadh once. It was enough for me once. The public bus system is not efficient at all in Riyadh.

I paid for the ride using my credit card on the bus. I paid a super small amount.

As a tourist, you might save a lot of money by using buses but you will lose a lot of time.

If you want to use the bus in Riyadh, download the app of Riyadh Bus. It’s a very confusing app. But you might have more patience to use it than I had.

The prices are as follows:

2-hour pass: 4 riyals
3-day pass: 20 riyals
7-day pass: 40 riyal
30-day pass: 140 riyals.

Alternatively, you can purchase a darb card via ticket vending machines at certain bus stations.

10.4. HOW TO GET AROUND RIYADH BY METRO

You might have heard that Saudi Arabia is building a metro system. But it’s still under construction. But it will be ready soon. When I was there last time I saw the metro being tested already.

ENTRANCE TICKETS IN RIYADH

First of all, remember that there are a lot of places to visit in Riyadh for free. You can visit pretty much all the main tourist attractions free of charge.

• Al Masmak Palace Museum, As Safat Square, Imam Turki Bin Abdullah Grand Mosque, Souq Al Zel
• King Abdulaziz Memorial Hall & the Al Murabba Palace, National Museum of Saudi Arabia
• At-Turaif World Heritage Site in Diriyah, Al-Bujairi Terrace in Dirijah when you get the free ticket
• Kingdom Center without going up to the Sky Bridge
• Boulevard City

Kingdom Center Sky Bridge: 69 SAR
Boulevard World: Starting at 29 SAR

EATING OUT IN RIYADH

I spent at least 173 USD on eating out in 7 days.

You can find cafés and restaurants for all budgets in Riyadh. In most restaurants, they also add taxes to the cheque.

Mama Noura: It’s a super affordable local fast-food chain. I really loved it.
Chicken Shawarma: 7 SAR (~1.90 USD)
Small fruit juice:  7 SAR (~1.90 USD)

Boulevard World:
Greek gyros with chicken: 25 SAR (~6.70 USD)
Thai sticky rice with mango: 39 SAR (~10.50 USD)
Mexican chicken fajitas: 27 SAR (~7.30 USD)

Cafe Book at Al Masmak Fortess
Small cheese chapati: 7 SAR (~1.90 USD)
Moroccan tea: 8 SAR (~2.20 USD)

Brunch & Cake Al Bujairi Terrace
Avocado toast: 72 SAR (~19.30 USD)
Green smoothie: 39 SAR (~10.50 USD)

El & N London – The Zone
Rose Spanish latte: 20 SAR (~5.40 USD)
Rose Macaron: 39 SAR (~10.50 USD)

Najd Village traditional restaurant
Chicken Kasbah: 29 SAR (~7.80 USD)
A portion is enough for 2 persons.

Muqlat Alfurayj traditional restaurant
Traditional Saudi Breakfast Plate: 45 SAR (~12 USD)
Pot of karak tea: 26 SAR (~7 USD)
A portion is enough for 2 persons.

TAXI FARES IN RIYADH

I spent 182 USD on taxis. It can be much more. A couple of times, I shared the ride with someone else, and a couple of times, my friends took me home.
If you go out every day and you visit most of the places I recommend, in 7 days you can easily spend 200 USD just on taxis.

Again, here is the summary of the fares I paid.

4 km / 2.50 mi: 13 SAR (~3.50 USD)
7 km / 2.50 mi: 13 SAR (~3.50 USD)
8 km / 5 mi: 22 SAR (~5.90 USD)
17 km / 10.50 mi: 25 SAR (~6.70 USD)
20 km / 12.40 mi: 51 SAR (~13.60 USD)
24 km / 15 mi: 44 SAR (~11.70 USD)
31 km/ 19 mi: 55 SAR (~14.60 USD)
38 km / 23.6 mi: 50 SAR (~13.30 USD)

Riyadh is a very interesting place. Even if you just have 1 or 2 days, it’s worth visiting Riyadh.

I have a 6-day plan for you. If you want your days more relaxing and not so busy and intense, you can spread the activities of the first 3 days to even 4 days.

Also, if you have time, it’s nice to experience many of the places in Riydh both during the day and at night.

Make sure, you check the opening house for each place before deciding about your final itinerary. If you have more time, you can make it more relaxed.

DAY 1:

• Breakfast at 9 am: Brunch & Cake Al Bujairi
• Sightseeing: Al-Bujairi Terrace & At-Turaif World Heritage Site in Diriyah
• Lunch: Pick a restaurant in Boulevard City
• From 16:00: Boulevard World

DAY 2:

• Breakfast at Muqlat Alfurayj Traditional Restaurant
• Museum: Al-Faisal Museum for Arab-Islamic Art
• Snack: Cafe Book
• Sightseeing from 15:30: Al Masmak Palace – Alsafat Square – Imam Turki Bin Abdullah Grand Mosque – Souk Al Zel – Antique Market
• Dinner: Al Atherya Village Restaurant

DAY 3:

• Lunch at Najd Village
• Sightseeing: National Museum of Saudi Arabia – Murabba Historical Palace
• Kingdom Center Sky Bridge, Boulevard Riyadh City
• Snack: Mama Noura

DAY 4:

• Edge of the World

DAY 5:

• Red Sand Dunes, Quad biking

DAY 6:

• Ushaiqer Heritage Village

As a solo female traveler, I find Riyadh very safe. I mostly hung around in Riyadh by myself at different times of the day.

I always felt 100% safe in Riyadh. People were always helpful, kind, and respectful to me. The same applies to Saudi Arabia in general. It’s a super safe country.

The tourist season runs from October to March.

But the best months to visit Riyadh are between November and February when the weather is coldest which means 22°C /72°F to 28°C /82°F.

This is basically the winter season in Riyadh city. During winter, you can visit all the best tourist places I listed in this travel guide.

When you travel to Riyadh in winter, make sure you have winter clothes as well. The winter nights in Riyadh are super cold.

During the day, the temperatures might be low but because it’s super sunny, you won’t feel cold.