Why go
- Capital and largest city of Saudi Arabia.
- 1 curated must-see attraction on record, including Qasr al-Masmak Fort/Palace.
- Served by King Khalid International Airport (RUH).
History
Riyadh is the capital and largest city of Saudi Arabia. It is also the capital of the Riyadh Province and the centre of the Riyadh Governorate. Located on the eastern bank of Wadi Hanifa, the current form of the metropolis largely emerged in the 1950s as an expansion of the 18th-century walled town, following the dismantling of its defensive fortifications.
Restaurants & places to go
Dessert, Cafe · Eastern Desert Opening hours: Mo-Su 15:00-07:00 Features: outdoor seating, delivery, air conditioning · 4240 الأمير محمد بن عبدالعزيز, riyadh,… · caesar.tryorder.net
Juice, Fast Food · عصير، باقات فواكه، ايس كريم🍇 · الشيخ عبدالله العنقري, الرياض, ١٢٢٥٢ · instagram.com
Burger, Fast Food · Opening hours: Mo-Su 12:00-02:00 Features: takeaway · mcdonaldsarabia.com
Regional, Barbecue, مطعم بخاري, أفضل مطعم بخاري في الرياض, مطعم رز بخاري, مطعم, مطعم فاتح الآن, مطعم سعودي, مطعم دجاج, Restaurant · Opening hours: 10:00-23:00… · linktr.ee
Peruvian, Restaurant · Opening hours: Mo-Su 13:00-01:30 · coyarestaurant.com
Italian, Restaurant · Opening hours: Mo-Su 13:00-01:30 · crazypizza.com
American, Restaurant · Opening hours: Mo-Su 17:00-1:00 Features: halal · 113317 عثمان بن عفان, riyadh · bofksa.com
Arab, Chicken, Meat, Asian, International, Restaurant · Opening hours: Mo-Su 13:00-01:00 Features: halal · التحليه مع الملك فهد, طريق الامير محمد بن… · macboos.rf.gd
Coffee Shop, Cafe · Opening hours: Mo-Su 07:00-01:00 · urthcaffe.sa
Chinese, Fast Food · Opening hours: Fr 12:30-04:00; Mo-Th,Sa-Su 11:30-04:00 · canton-express.com
Pizza, Fast Food · Opening hours: 06:00-02:00 Features: takeaway · شارع عبد العزيز بن مساعد بن جلوي
Cafe, Tea, Cafe · Opening hours: Mo-Su 07:00-23:30 Features: air conditioning · طريق التخصصي, الرياض · instagram.com
Chicken, Fast Food · Features: takeaway · Takhassusi St.
Restaurant · Opening hours: Mo-Su 13:00-01:30 · beefbar.com
Fast Food · Opening hours: Mo-We,Sa,Su 13:00-02:00; Th 13:00-03:00; Fr 16:00-03:00 Features: takeaway, delivery · Imam Saud Bin Abdulaziz Bin Mohammed Rd,… · shaa.com.sa
Indian, Restaurant · Opening hours: Mo-Su 00:30-23:00 · طريق الملك فهد
Donut, Cake, Cafe · Opening hours: 06:00-24:00 Features: outdoor seating · أبي بكر الصديق, الرياض, 11564
كنافة, Cafe · Opening hours: 12pm-1am · الرياض
International, Restaurant · Features: halal · التحليه مع الملك فهد, طريق الامير محمد بن عبدالعزيز, Riyadh Saudi Arabia طريق الملك فهد, riydah · topkapirest.com
Turkish, Shawarma, Kebab, Chicken, Restaurant · Features: outdoor seating, step-free access, air conditioning · zoqalmazaq.com
Lebanese, Restaurant · Lebanese restaurant · الإمام سعود بن عبدالعزيز بن محمد, الرياض, 12381 · linktr.ee
Swiss, Restaurant · Swiss restaurant · entrecote-cdp.com
Friture, Restaurant · Friture restaurant · 7524 شارع الشيخ محمد بن عبد اللطيف بن عبد الرحمن · herfy.com
Sandwich, Fast Food · Features: takeaway
Shawarma, Fast Food · Features: takeaway
Ice Cream, Ice Cream · Ice Cream ice cream
Cafe · Opening hours: Mo-Su 10:00-23:55 · شارع خريص · shurfa.com
Malabar, Restaurant · Opening hours: 06:00-23:00
Bubble Tea, Smoothies, Coffee Shop, Ice Cream, Taro, Matcha, Cafe · Opening hours: 12:30-00:30 · 12232 عبد العزيز بن مساعد بن جلوي, riadyh
Middle Eastern, Restaurant · Opening hours: Mo-Su 09:00-02:00 Features: outdoor seating, air conditioning
Oriental, Arab, Local, Restaurant · Opening hours: Mo-Su 10:00-00:00 · South Ring Road
Asian, Restaurant · Features: takeaway, delivery, step-free access · Tahliya Street, Riyadh
French, Restaurant · French restaurant
Kebab, Restaurant · Kebab restaurant
Indonesian, Restaurant · Indonesian restaurant
Mexican, Restaurant · Mexican restaurant
Buffet, Restaurant · Buffet restaurant
Moroccan, Restaurant · Moroccan restaurant
Seafood, Restaurant · Seafood restaurant
Frozen Yogurt, Ice Cream · Frozen Yogurt ice cream
Levantine, Lebanese, Restaurant · Levantine/Lebanese restaurant
Sushi, Restaurant · Sushi restaurant
Barbecue, Restaurant · Barbecue restaurant
Pasta, Restaurant · Pasta restaurant
345 more places in the Ultimate edition. See the Ultimate edition →
Airports
King Khalid International Airport (RUH) 34 km to the centre
Riyadh, 01, SA — You board from the indoor waiting area — no need to plan for the weather. ✈ 38 airlines (Saudi Arabian Airlines, Nas Air, Pakistan International Airlines, Air India Limited…) · direct flights to 80 destinations incl. Jeddah, Alexandria, Dubai, Kuwait, Abu Dhabi… (OpenFlights route data).
✈ Airlines & flight paths — 38 airlines, 80 direct destinations
- Saudi Arabian Airlines SV (A320, Embraer 170, A321, 777-200, 777, A330-300…) · 67 routes: Abha, Abu Dhabi, Addis Ababa, Al-ahsa, Al-Jawf, Al-Ula, Alexandria, Amman, Arar, Bahrain, Bangalore, Beirut, Bisha, Cairo, Calicut, Casablanca, Colombo, Dammam, Delhi, Dhaka, Doha, Dubai, DWD, El-baha, Frankfurt, Gassim, Geneva, Gizan, Guangzhou, Guriat, Hafr Al-batin, Hail, Hyderabad, Islamabad, Istanbul, Jakarta, Jeddah, Karachi, Khartoum, Kochi … +27 more
- Nas Air XY (A320, A330-200, A340-600, 777-300ER) · 18 routes: Abha, Abu Dhabi*, Alexandria, Amman, Asyut, Dammam, Dubai, Gizan, Hatay, Istanbul, Jeddah, Khartoum, Kuwait, Luxor, Madinah, Sharm El Sheikh, Sohag, Taif
- Pakistan International Airlines PK (310, 777) · 5 routes: Islamabad, Karachi, Lahore, Peshawar, Sialkot
- Air India Limited AI (777-300ER, 777-200LR) · 4 routes: Calicut, Delhi, Mumbai, Trivandrum
- Egyptair MS (A320, 330, A330-300, 737-800, Embraer 170) · 3 routes: Alexandria, Cairo, Sharm El Sheikh
- Shaheen Air International NL (A330-300, A320) · 3 routes: Islamabad, Lahore, Peshawar
- Alitalia AZ (A320) · 2 routes: Milano*, Rome*
- Korean Air KE (A330-200) · 2 routes: Jeddah, Seoul
- Lufthansa Cargo LH (A330-300) · 2 routes: Frankfurt, Munich
- Singapore Airlines Cargo SQ (A330-300) · 2 routes: Jeddah, Singapore
- Yemenia IY (310, A320) · 2 routes: Sanaa, Taiz
- Air Arabia G9 (A320) · 1 route: Sharjah
- Air Arabia Egypt E5 (A320) · 1 route: Alexandria
- Air Europa UX (A320) · 1 route: Jeddah
- Air France AF (A330-200) · 1 route: Paris
- Biman Bangladesh Airlines BG (777-200) · 1 route: Dhaka
- British Airways BA (747-400, 777) · 1 route: London
- Cathay Pacific CX (A330-300) · 1 route: Hong Kong
- Emirates EK (777-200, 777-300, 777-300ER) · 1 route: Dubai
- Ethiopian Airlines ET (737-800) · 1 route: Addis Ababa
- Etihad Airways EY (A320, A330-200, A330-300, 777-300ER) · 1 route: Abu Dhabi
- Fly Dubai FZ (737-800) · 1 route: Dubai
- Gulf Air Bahrain GF (A320, A321) · 1 route: Bahrain
- Jazeera Airways J9 (A320) · 1 route: Kuwait
- Jet Airways 9W (737-900, 737-800) · 1 route: Mumbai
- Kuwait Airways KU (310, A320, AB6) · 1 route: Kuwait
- L MJ (A340-300) · 1 route: Colombo*
- Malaysia Airlines MH (A330-200, 777, 787) · 1 route: Doha*
- Middle East Airlines ME (A320, A321, A330-200) · 1 route: Beirut
- Oman Air WY (737-800, Embraer 175, 737-700) · 1 route: Muscat
- Philippine Airlines PR (330) · 1 route: Manila
- Qantas QF (777-200, 777-300) · 1 route: Dubai*
- Qatar Airways QR (A320, A321, A330-300, 787-8) · 1 route: Doha
- Royal Air Maroc AT (737-800) · 1 route: Cairo
- Royal Jordanian RJ (A320, 340, Embraer 175, Embraer 195) · 1 route: Amman
- SriLankan Airlines UL (A330-200, A340-300) · 1 route: Colombo
- Sudan Airways SD (AB6) · 1 route: Khartoum
- Turkish Airlines TK (A321, 330, A330-200) · 1 route: Istanbul
Routes and aircraft from OpenFlights (open data; a point-in-time snapshot). * = codeshare. Linked destinations open their own guidebook. Flight numbers are not in the open data — they come from the airline or a paid schedule feed.
Thumamah Airport 62 km to the centre
01, SA
Al Kharj Airport 100 km to the centre
Al Kharj, 01, SA
Where to stay
Kingdom Centre, Olaya St, Al Olaya, Riyadh 11321, Saudi Arabia · fourseasons.com
King Saud Rd, Al Mutamarat, Riyadh 11481, Saudi Arabia · ihg.com
King Fahad Rd, Al Olaya, Riyadh 12212, Saudi Arabia · mandarinoriental.com
Area, Makkah Al Mukarramah Rd, Al Hada, Riyadh 11493, Saudi Arabia · ritzcarlton.com
Building No. 3554, Al Takhassousi, Al, Riyadh 12311, Saudi Arabia · ihg.com
District, 8187 King Abdulaziz Road 3910 al Dhubbat, Riyadh 12623, Saudi Arabia · ihg.com
Rcra 3298, Al Murabba, Building No. 3298, Riyadh 12612, Saudi Arabia · all.accor.com
King Abdulaziz Rd, Al Murabba, 7237 Prince Abdul Rahman Bin Ministries Area, Riyadh 12628, Saudi Arabia · ihg.com
MPF9+J6V, King Abdulaziz Rd, Al Wizarat, Riyadh 12626, Saudi Arabia · brairahotels.com
Olaya St, Al Olaya, Riyadh 54541, Saudi Arabia · frasershospitality.com
MMJR+8CV, Al Olaya, Riyadh 12211, Saudi Arabia · novohotel.net
King Fahd Rd, An Namudhajiyah, Riyadh 12734, Saudi Arabia · wyndhamhotels.com
King Fahd Rd, Al Murabba, Riyadh 12612, Saudi Arabia · samtinnhotels.com
Olaya St, Al Olaya, Riyadh 11547, Saudi Arabia · ihg.com
Main Street, Al Olaya, Riyadh 12221, Saudi Arabia · all.accor.com
King Fahd Rd, District, Olaya, Riyadh 11482, Saudi Arabia · ihg.com
2235 6075 شارع البطحاء الفرعي, Almarqab, Riyadh 12645, Saudi Arabia · gloriainn.sa
at the Crossing With, King Fahd Rd, Khurais Rd, Riyadh 11415, Saudi Arabia · ihg.com
Ouyoun Al Yamamah, As Sulimaniyah, Riyadh 12621, Saudi Arabia · warwickhotels.com
Abdulmalik Ibn Marwan, Al Olaya, Riyadh 12611, Saudi Arabia · bluerosegardenhotels.com
District, 8333 King Saud Road Al Wizarat, Riyadh 12622, Saudi Arabia · marriott.com
6970 شارع رقم 34، 3431, No 34 RHOC3431, Riyadh 12211, Saudi Arabia · turahotels.com
2385 Olaya St, Al Olaya, Riyadh 12611, Saudi Arabia · marriott.com
Al-Hada District Abdullah Bin Huzafah, Al-Sahmi Street, Riyadh 64819, Saudi Arabia · marriott.com
Imam Faisal Bin Turki Street, Ad Dirah, Riyadh 11421, Saudi Arabia · marriott.com
Al Takhassousi, Al Mathar Ash Shamali, Riyadh 12312, Saudi Arabia · ewaahotels.com
7232 Ibrahim Ibn Muammar, Ash Sharafiyah, Riyadh 12724, Saudi Arabia
Wadi AlDawasir Street, Al Olaya, Riyadh 12211, Saudi Arabia
King Saud Rd, Al Nasiriyyah, Riyadh 12732, Saudi Arabia
King Ibn Saud Abdulaziz Saudi, As Sulimaniyah, Riyadh 12621, Saudi Arabia
Olaya St, Al Olaya, Riyadh 12221, Saudi Arabia
Indoor
Where things are
Local search powered by Geoverts and geo-intelligence by Better Mapping
base map © OSM
Photographs
credit: Wikipedia / Wikimedia Commons · See source page
When to go
Tourist season
May – September
The warmer, longer-day half of the year is the safest bet for a first visit.
Shoulder season
April, October
Cooler and quieter, with fewer visitors and better value.
Worth avoiding
Deep winter
Short days and the coldest weather — check local conditions before travelling.
Getting there & around
Getting there. The nearest airport on record is King Khalid International Airport (RUH); 6 other airports serve the wider area. Check rail and road links from the tourism sources below. By air: RUH has direct flights to 80 destinations on 38 airlines (incl. Jeddah, Alexandria, Dubai, Kuwait, Abu Dhabi…).
Getting around. Use the map above to orient yourself; nearby hotels, attractions and places to eat are listed from the live Ultimate data for Riyadh, Saudia Arabia. Local transit details will be added as the guide is expanded.
Private aviation
On-demand charter, jet cards and the semi-private scheduled carriers that serve this city.
Broker · Any aircraft via operators worldwide · Global charter broker with 30+ offices; private jets, group charters and cargo.
FBO, charter, management · Managed fleet · FBO network and management across Europe, Africa, the Middle East and Asia-Pacific.
Fractional, jet card · Embraer Praetor, Bombardier Challenger & Global, Gulfstream · Fractional ownership and jet cards in North America and Europe.
Charter, management · Large-cabin & VIP airliners · Geneva-based operator known for large-cabin and VIP airliner charters.
Charter, management, FBO, MRO · Managed fleet worldwide · General Dynamics company: charter, completions and FBOs in Europe, the Middle East, Asia and the US.