Riyadh

Riyadh is where the story of Saudi Arabia began and is an ideal point from which to begin your exploration of the Kingdom. Characterised by gleaming skyscrapers and multi-lane highways, the Saudi capital sprawls across the Najdi plain and has a very modern face, but it is also home to history, museums, art, and culture. A visit to Riyadh and its surroundings juxtaposes old charm with the 21st century and will reveal several of Saudi Arabia’s ‘must-see’ attractions.

Many visitors start their Riyadh tours at Al Masmak Fortress, a 150-year-old mud-brick citadel turned museum. Nearby, is the city’s famed traditional Souq Al Zal market where you can shop for handicrafts, spices, incense and colourful rugs. Time permitting, stop at the Murabbah Palace – a fine example of a courtyard building that was built for King Abdul Aziz in the late 1930s. Then, for an overview of the history of Arabia through the ages, visit the National Museum of Saudi Arabia.

For views over modern Riyadh, there is no better place than the Sky Bridge observation deck at the city’s landmark Kingdom Tower (aka the ‘Bottle Opener’ building). To the northwest is the UNESCO World Heritage Site of Diriyah, the capital of the first Saudi state, where you will find carefully restored examples of Najdi architecture and can wander through the atmospheric twisting mud-brick lanes. For another spectacular example of Saudi architecture, as well as an insight into a once time honoured way of life, visit Ushaiger, a two-hour drive outside the city.

Desert adventure is available right on Riyadh’s doorstep at the Red Sands, where thrill seekers can enjoy off-roading and Quad biking through the dunes. For many visitors, the perfect finale to their tour of Riyadh involves a 90-minute drive out to the Tuwaiq escarpment and watching the sunset from the Edge of the World over the arid plains below.