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The Kingdom Centre tower, Riyadh

No. 76 Top 100 City Destinations 2025

Riyadh

Saudi Arabia

Saudi Arabia's fast-changing capital: mud-brick heritage, sky-high towers and desert escarpments on the doorstep.

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Photo: Wajahat Mahmood from Perth, Australia, CC BY-SA 2.0, via Wikimedia Commons

Overview

Riyadh is No. 76 in Euromonitor International's Top 100 City Destinations Index 2025. The capital of Saudi Arabia sits on a plateau in the heart of the Arabian Peninsula and has grown from a walled oasis town into a city of more than seven million people.

Visitors come for the restored mud-brick district of At-Turaif in Diriyah, a UNESCO World Heritage Site, for the museums and souqs of the old centre, and for big seasonal events, concerts and restaurants in new districts such as Boulevard City.

Masmak Fort in the old centre of Riyadh
Masmak Fort in the old centre of Riyadh. Photo: Rick McCharles from Calgary, Canada, CC BY 2.0, source

Best time to go

November to March is the most comfortable, with warm days and cool evenings; many outdoor events run in the winter season.

Summers are extremely hot, often above 45 °C, so plan indoor sightseeing for the middle of the day.

Top sights

  • 1

    Diriyah and At-Turaif

    The restored mud-brick palaces and lanes of At-Turaif, on the western edge of the city, with the Bujairi Terrace restaurants beside them.

  • 2

    Masmak Fort

    A 19th-century clay-and-mud-brick fort in the old centre, now a museum.

  • 3

    National Museum

    Galleries on the history and cultures of the Arabian Peninsula, in the King Abdulaziz Historical Center.

  • 4

    Kingdom Centre Sky Bridge

    A walkway between the tops of the tower's twin peaks, about 300 m above the city.

  • 5

    Souq Al Zal

    A traditional market near Masmak Fort, known for carpets, perfumes, incense and antiques.

  • 6

    Edge of the World

    Dramatic cliffs of the Tuwaiq escarpment about 90 km north-west of the city; go with a tour or a 4x4.

Getting there

King Khalid International Airport (RUH) is about 35 km north of the centre. The metro's Yellow Line, taxis and ride-hailing apps link it with the city.

Saudi Arabia's railways connect Riyadh with Dammam and the east of the country.

Getting around

The Riyadh Metro has six lines across the city. Distances are large, so most visitors combine the metro with taxis or ride-hailing apps such as Uber and Careem.

Practical tips

Currency
Saudi riyal (SAR). Cards and phone payments are accepted almost everywhere.
Language
Arabic. English is widely spoken in hotels, malls and restaurants.
Dress & customs
Dress modestly in public, covering shoulders and knees. Alcohol is not available.
Safety
Riyadh is generally safe. The emergency number is 911.
Visa & entry
Citizens of many countries, including the US, the UK, Canada, Australia and EU countries, can get a tourist e-visa online or a visa on arrival. Apply only through Saudi Arabia's official visa platform and check the rules for your nationality before you travel.
Power
230 V, 60 Hz; plug type G.

Official information: Visit Saudi (official tourism website). Check opening hours, prices and entry rules there before you go.

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