The Best Places to Visit in Riyadh

The first mention of Riyadh is recorded by an Arab chronicler and dates back to 1590. The city was established on the ruins of the ancient city of Hajr in the Yamamah region. This place used to be the epicentre of the trade caravans. Originally a fortified village, Its rapid growth from the 17th century onwards has been truly astounding. It continued to serve as the capital for the ruling dynasties thought history and with the proclamation of the unified Kingdom of Saudi Arabia in 1932, it was made the capital of Saudi Arabia.

At Turaif is the historical district in Riyadh which was the home royal family of Saudi Arabia until 1818. It is only a 30 minute drive from King Khalid International Airport  and has recently been restored as part of the billion dollar Diriyah Gate Project. 

At Turaif was added to the UNESCO World Heritage List in 2010 and is now known as the At Turaif UNESCO World Heritage Site. Visitors to At Turaif can also visit the nearby Al Buraiji Heritage Park and Buraiji Terrace which offers world class restaurants and cafes.  The Bujairi Terrace restaurants overlook the historical and beautifully restored At Turaif district.

Riyadh has undergone a massive transformation due to the influx of new residents, migrant workers, and expats. The skyline is highly recognisable with towering buildings like the Al-Faisaliah Tower and the Kingdom Tower Center dominating the skyline. Being the capital city, Riyadh also contains important government buildings as well as a separate Diplomatic Quarter that houses foreign embassies and international organizations.

The city is designed on a well-organized grid system that consists of city blocks of 2 km by 2 km. This system allows easy access and navigation. There are over 4,000 mosques in the city along with numerous shopping centres, with a large portion of the population living in proximity to them. The new King Abdullah Financial District (KAFD) is also an impressive infrastructure project funded by the Public Investment Fund (PIF) as is the new Riyadh Metro which is planned to be the centrepiece of the city's new public transport system. The King Abdullah Financial District also features the PIF Tower which is currently the tallest building in Riyadh standing at 385m.

Both the Sky Bridge of the Kingdom Center and the Faisaliah Tower offer great views of the city. To access the sky bridge, you have to take two lifts to reach the 99th level of the Kingdom Center. From here the city skyline can be enjoyed during the daytime as well as during the night and is perfect for Riyadh sightseeing.

Apart from the National Museum, you will also find other great museums like the Al Masmak Palace Museum and the Diriyah Museum. Visitors interested in learning the history and getting a first-hand look at the desert village life must visit the Historical At-Turaif District as well as the Ushaiqer Heritage Village and the Murabba Historical Palace.

The Riyadh National Zoo is another popular tourist attraction. Located in the heart of Malaz, the Riyadh zoo is home to over 1,500 animals in over 40 species including endangered species. You can also visit Riyadh Season which runs during the winter months and features diverse entertainment zones.

Lastly, Riyadh also offers some exceptional natural wonders like the Heet Cave, Al Bujairi Heritage Park, and Jebel Fihrayn, where you can witness some breathtaking, uninterrupted views of the horizon from the ‘Edge of the World’.