15 of the best · Riyadh, Saudi Arabia
The National Museum, the arts district of JAX in Diriyah, the towers of Foster + Partners and Zaha Hadid Architects, the King Fahad National Library, and the coffee, weaving and dance on UNESCO’s lists.
Our 15 favourites, listed A–Z · Updated October 2026
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Three places we would send a friend to first in Riyadh: At-Turaif at dusk, a Saudi table and the view from the top of the Kingdom Centre.
Arabia from prehistory
The national museum in the King Abdulaziz Historical Center, from prehistoric Arabia to the modern Kingdom.
Home of the Diriyah Biennale
The former industrial quarter of Diriyah turned arts district, home of the Diriyah Biennale Foundation.
Zaha Hadid Architects
Zaha Hadid Architects’ station for the financial district, a lattice of waves on the Blue, Yellow and Purple lines.
The museum, the arts district of Diriyah, the towers and the traditions on UNESCO’s lists.
The back story
The National Museum, the arts district of JAX in Diriyah, the towers of Foster and Zaha Hadid, the national library in its woven skin, and the coffee, weaving and dance on UNESCO’s lists.
Visual arts
Arabia from prehistory at the National Museum, and the city’s story in the Masmak and Murabba Palace.
In the Historical Center
The mud-brick palace in the gardens of the King Abdulaziz Historical Center, beside the National Museum.
Arabia from prehistory
The national museum in the King Abdulaziz Historical Center, from prehistoric Arabia to the modern Kingdom.
JAX District in Diriyah, home of the Diriyah Biennale Foundation.
Home of the Diriyah Biennale
The former industrial quarter of Diriyah turned arts district, home of the Diriyah Biennale Foundation.
From the mud brick of At-Turaif to Foster + Partners, the Kingdom Centre and Zaha Hadid Architects.
The golden sphere
The Foster + Partners tower on King Fahd Road, with a golden glass sphere near its tip.
The mud-brick capital
The 18th-century mud-brick quarter of Diriyah, restored and opened in the evenings: a UNESCO World Heritage Site since 2010.
Zaha Hadid Architects
Zaha Hadid Architects’ station for the financial district, a lattice of waves on the Blue, Yellow and Purple lines.
The bridge at the top
The landmark tower on Olaya Street, its arch crossed at the top by the Sky Bridge viewing deck.
Performing arts
The national library in its woven skin.
A woven façade
The national library, wrapped by Gerber Architekten in a textile façade that recalls a tent.
Folk & cultural traditions
Al Sadu weaving, Arabic coffee and the souqs of the old centre.
UNESCO intangible heritage
The Bedouin weaving of bright geometric textiles, on UNESCO’s Representative List.
A UNESCO-listed tradition
Pale, cardamom-scented Arabic coffee poured from the dallah and served with dates: the welcome you will meet everywhere.
Gold, oud and textiles
The old-centre souqs around the Masmak: gold, oud, perfumes, textiles and abayas.
Alardah, the Najdi dance of drums and poetry, and the winter of Riyadh Season.
UNESCO intangible heritage
The Najdi dance of drums, swords and poetry, performed at festivals and national celebrations.
From 21 October 2026
The capital’s winter season of zones, concerts, shows and sport, opened on 21 October 2026.
