UltimateCity Guide Riyadh
Our favourites
Riyadh at dusk: the Kingdom Centre and the Al Faisaliah tower with its golden sphere, above the lights of the city Riyadh at dusk: the Kingdom Centre and the Al Faisaliah tower with its golden sphere, above the lights of the city The restored mud-brick palaces of At-Turaif in Diriyah under a clear sky The Kingdom Centre at night, its arch lit at the top, above palms on Olaya Street The Masmak, the mud-brick fort of 1865, framed by palms in the old centre of Riyadh

The city guide to Riyadh, Saudi Arabia

Best of Riyadh

Mud-brick At-Turaif lit after dark across Wadi Hanifah, the Masmak and the souqs of the old centre, the towers of King Fahd Road and KAFD, Saudi kitchens with a Bib Gourmand, and the cliffs of the Edge of the World: Riyadh, checked place by place.

Launch edition · Autumn 2026

Where to eatWhat to see
The red carriages of the Glacier Express crossing the stone arches of the Landwasser Viaduct below a snow-capped peakSister guideULTIMATE Rail JourneysThe story of the train, the great journeys and where to book themA cruise ship in the Bay of Kotor, MontenegroSister guideULTIMATE CruisesLines, ships and itineraries, from river to expeditionThe Matterhorn in winter above ZermattSister guideULTIMATE Ski ResortsSeason dates, hotels, après and ski schools, resort by resort
The Villa Ephrussi de Rothschild and its gardens, Saint-Jean-Cap-FerratSister guideULTIMATE PropertyThe new law for foreign buyers, KAFD, Diriyah and the northern districts

Riyadh, from the mud-brick wadi to the glass towers

Riyadh is a capital of two cities: the mud-brick oasis town of Najd, still standing in At-Turaif and around the Masmak, and the glass city of King Fahd Road and KAFD that has grown around it. Here are its grand hotels from the Kingdom Centre to Diriyah, the Saudi kitchens and grand tables of the first MICHELIN Guide Saudi Arabia, lounges for mocktails and qahwa, seven areas from Diriyah to the northern districts, the six-line metro, and journeys to the Edge of the World, Ushaiqer, Qiddiya, Al-Ahsa and AlUla. We’ve checked every listing against the venue’s own website or an official source, and we leave out anything we can’t confirm.

Riyadh, a city of mud brick and glass

In depth

A city of mud brick and glass

Riyadh·In depth

At-Turaif on the wadi, the Masmak and the souqs, the National Museum and the towers of King Fahd Road: how to read the capital.

Read the story

Riyadh by area

From the mud-brick lanes of Diriyah and the souqs of the old centre to the towers of King Fahd Road, KAFD and the northern districts where Riyadh goes out: each area has its own guide.

The restored mud-brick palaces of At-Turaif in Diriyah under a clear skyArea guideDiriyahThe mud-brick city on the wadiThe Kingdom Centre at night, its arch lit at the top, above palms on Olaya StreetArea guideAl Olaya & King Fahd RoadThe landmark towersThe towers of the King Abdullah Financial District at night, with the full moon risingArea guideKAFDThe financial districtThe Masmak, the mud-brick fort of 1865, framed by palms in the old centre of RiyadhArea guideThe old centreThe fort and the souqsVia Riyadh at dusk, its stone buildings lit with floral projections around a fountain courtArea guideDiplomatic Quarter & Al HadaGardens and Tuwaiq stoneRiyadh at dusk: the Kingdom Centre and the Al Faisaliah tower with its golden sphere, above the lights of the cityArea guideThe northern districtsWhere Riyadh goes out

Getting about

The Blue Line runs through Al Olaya to KAFD: take the metro by day, and keep a car for Diriyah after dark.

The towers of King Fahd Road at duskArea guideAs Sulimaniyah & TahliaCafés and boutiques

Plan your trip

The practical things to know before you go: the tourist e-visa, dress and prayer times, the six-line metro, and itineraries from a first day to a weekend in Diriyah.

The towers of King Fahd Road at duskBefore you goRiyadh essentialsThe e-visa, dress, prayer times and the numbers to callEscalators and the wave-patterned lattice inside the KAFD metro stationGetting aroundGetting around RiyadhThe airport, six metro lines and the trainsThe restored mud-brick palaces of At-Turaif in Diriyah under a clear skyItineraryA day in RiyadhFrom the Masmak to At-TuraifThe Kingdom Centre at night, its arch lit at the top, above palms on Olaya StreetLuxury guideLUX LivingThe finest addressesThe Al Faisaliah tower, with its golden glass sphere near the tipItineraryThe Gold weekendThe Kingdom Centre, Julien and DiriyahRiyadh at dusk: the Kingdom Centre and the Al Faisaliah tower with its golden sphere, above the lights of the cityItineraryThe Edge of the WorldUshaiqer and the cliffs at sunset

Our advice

At-Turaif after dark

At-Turaif opens in the evening: buy your pass on diriyah.sa, arrive as the light goes, and book dinner on Bujairi Terrace facing the walls you have just walked. Our Diriyah guide

Beyond the city

The cliffs of the Edge of the World, the Najdi village of Ushaiqer, the theme parks of Qiddiya, the great oasis of Al-Ahsa by train and the Nabataean tombs of Hegra.

Riyadh at dusk: the Kingdom Centre and the Al Faisaliah tower with its golden sphere, above the lights of the cityBeyond the cityThe Edge of the WorldCliffs at the end of TuwaiqMud-brick houses among palms at Ushaiger Heritage Village in NajdBeyond the cityUshaiqerA Najdi villageThe Six Flags Qiddiya City sign and entrance plaza, with the escarpment behindBeyond the cityQiddiyaThe theme parksThe arched, lantern-lit lanes of Al Qaisariya souq in Hofuf, Al-AhsaBeyond the cityAl-AhsaThe great oasisQasr al-Farid at Hegra, the Nabataean tomb carved into a lone sandstone outcropBeyond the cityAlUla & HegraNabataean tombs

Our advice

Go in the cool months

From November to March the days are warm rather than hot: the season for the Edge of the World, the dunes and walking the old centre. Go to the cliffs with a licensed operator. The Edge of the World

In depth: the stories of Riyadh

Riyadh Season, the mud-brick city and the glass one, its museums and traditions, its table, its hotels, its metro and the new rules for buying a home.

Riyadh at dusk: the Kingdom Centre and the Al Faisaliah tower with its golden sphere, above the lights of the cityThis winterRiyadh Season 2026–2027From 21 October: concerts, shows and Boulevard WorldThe restored mud-brick palaces of At-Turaif in Diriyah under a clear skyFeatureRiyadh, the wadi and the towersMud brick, glass and the desertThe Masmak, the mud-brick fort of 1865, framed by palms in the old centre of RiyadhIn depthA city of mud brick and glassDiriyah, the old centre and the towersRiyadh at dusk: the Kingdom Centre and the Al Faisaliah tower with its golden sphere, above the lights of the cityIn depthMuseums, architecture and traditionsFrom the National Museum to JAXA platter of kabsa: spiced rice and lamb with tomato, cucumber, onion and lemonIn depthEating in RiyadhSaudi kitchens and the first MICHELIN guideThe Kingdom Centre at night, its arch lit at the top, above palms on Olaya StreetIn depthThe hotelsFrom the Kingdom Tower to Diriyah

Dress and conduct

Men and women cover elbows and knees; women need not wear the abaya or cover their hair. Shops close briefly at prayer times.

Inside a Riyadh Metro carriage, with its blue seats and white interiorIn depthGetting aroundSix metro lines and the trainsThe towers of the King Abdullah Financial District at night, with the full moon risingIn depthBuying in RiyadhThe new law and the first stepsA lane of mud-brick houses with carved wooden doors and lanterns in DiriyahFun factsRiyadh fun factsThings you might not know

Onward with the ULTIMATE guides

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ULTIMATE City Guides: Europe & beyond

Planning a longer journey? Each city in the network has its own independent guide, written with the same care and checked place by place. Here are the guides that are live, with more on the way.

Europe

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Canal houses and bridges in Amsterdamthe NetherlandsULTIMATE AmsterdamThe canal ring, the Rijksmuseum and the Van Gogh Museum, canal-house hotels, twenty MICHELIN-starred tables, brown cafés, and day trips to Haarlem and Keukenhof.Visit the guide The Alhambra in Granada in the evening lightSpainULTIMATE AndalusiaSeville, Granada and the Alhambra, Córdoba, Málaga, Cádiz and Jerez, Ronda and the white villages, Doñana and Cabo de Gata.Visit the guide The floodlit Acropolis and Parthenon at dusk, seen from Philopappos HillGreeceULTIMATE AthensThe Acropolis and the Plaka, rooftop bars facing the Parthenon, the Athens Riviera and the Greek islands: our original guide, and our deepest.Visit the guide The road winding out to the lighthouse on Cap de Formentor, Mallorca, above the open seaSpainULTIMATE Balearic IslandsMallorca, Menorca, Ibiza and Formentera side by side, and how to hop between them by ferry.Visit the guide The Sagrada Família lit up at nightSpainULTIMATE BarcelonaGaudí and the Sagrada Família, the Gothic Quarter, four Three-Star MICHELIN kitchens, the beaches and day trips to Montserrat and Girona.Visit the guide Belgrade's old town and the spire of the Cathedral Church of St Michael above the Sava at sunsetSerbiaULTIMATE BelgradeWhere the Sava meets the Danube: a buzzing capital of art, classical music and famous nightlife, with a new waterfront and the mountains of Zlatibor and Kopaonik.Visit the guide The Brandenburg Gate in Berlin against a blue skyGermanyULTIMATE BerlinThe Brandenburg Gate and Museum Island, the Philharmonie and three opera houses, the story of the Wall, and day trips to Potsdam and Dresden.Visit the guide The Royal Pavilion in Brighton under a blue skyEnglandULTIMATE BrightonThe Royal Pavilion and the piers, the Lanes and the North Laine, Kemptown and Pride, and the South Downs on the doorstep.Visit the guide The Romanian Athenaeum in its gardenRomaniaULTIMATE BucharestBelle Époque palaces, concerts at the Athenaeum, a buzzing food and coffee scene, and the castles and mountains of the Carpathians.Visit the guide The Hungarian Parliament lit up at night on the DanubeHungaryULTIMATE BudapestThermal baths, grand coffee houses, ruin bars and MICHELIN-starred dining on both banks of the Danube, with day trips to the Danube Bend and Lake Balaton.Visit the guide Nyhavn, CopenhagenDenmarkULTIMATE CopenhagenNyhavn and Tivoli, Rosenborg and Amalienborg, smørrebrød at lunch, Geranium and Kadeau’s three stars, Danish design and the harbour baths.Visit the guide A cruise ship in the Bay of Kotor, Montenegroships & regions)ULTIMATE Cruises (linesThe world’s cruise lines for every budget, from family resort ships to yachts, expedition ships and river boats, with the cruising regions port by port.Visit the guide The Ha’penny Bridge on the Liffey, DublinIrelandULTIMATE DublinTrinity and the Book of Kells, the Georgian squares, The Shelbourne, the pubs and their music, and the coast from Howth to Dalkey.Visit the guide Edinburgh Castle on its rock above the trees of West Princes Street GardensScotlandULTIMATE EdinburghThe castle and the Royal Mile, the Georgian New Town, seven MICHELIN stars from Leith to Stockbridge and the August festivals.Visit the guide Aerial view of the white sand spit of Ses Illetes and Llevant, the salt pans and, across the strait, Ibiza and Es VedràSpainULTIMATE FormenteraThe white sands of Ses Illetes, the lighthouses of La Mola and Barbaria, the craft markets and an island made for bikes.Visit the guide The Baie des Anges, NiceFranceULTIMATE French RivieraNice, Cannes, Antibes, Cap Ferrat, Èze, Menton, Saint-Tropez and Cassis: palace hotels, three-star tables, beach clubs, the Festival de Cannes and the painters’ coast.Visit the guide Blue domes of Oia above the Santorini calderaGreeceULTIMATE Greek IslandsIsland hopping made easy: Mykonos, Santorini, Paros, Naxos, Milos and the Cyclades, plus Crete, Rhodes and Corfu, with ferries, beaches, hotels and tavernas.Visit the guide Helsinki Cathedral above the South HarbourFinlandULTIMATE HelsinkiSuomenlinna and the South Harbour, saunas by the sea, Aalto and the Design District, two-starred Palace and day trips to Porvoo and Tallinn.Visit the guide The walls of Dalt Vila and the cathedral above the harbour of Ibiza Town, in late sunSpainULTIMATE IbizaDalt Vila’s UNESCO walls, Es Vedrà, three MICHELIN-starred kitchens, the beach clubs and the quiet north, 30 minutes from Formentera.Visit the guide Hagia Sophia and its minarets in golden evening lightTurkeyULTIMATE IstanbulTwo continents, one city: Hagia Sophia and the bazaars, Bosphorus ferries, meyhanes and rooftop bars, Sinan’s hammams and the car-free Princes’ Islands.Visit the guide Varenna on Lake ComoItalyULTIMATE Lake ComoVilla d’Este and the Villa del Balbianello, Bellagio and Varenna, the gardens of the villas, Riva boats and the four MICHELIN stars of the lake.Visit the guide Lisbon’s rooftops falling to the Tagus under a clear blue skyPortugalULTIMATE LisbonBelém’s monastery and tower, the castle above Alfama, palace hotels, Belcanto’s two stars, and day trips to Sintra, Cascais and Comporta.Visit the guide Congress Square, Ljubljana, with the castle on its hill behindSloveniaULTIMATE LjubljanaSlovenia’s green, car-free capital of river cafés and Plečnik’s bridges, an hour from Lake Bled, the Julian Alps, the caves and the Adriatic.Visit the guide The Palace of Westminster and the Elizabeth Tower lit at dusk across the ThamesUnited KingdomULTIMATE LondonRoyal palaces and the Thames, great museums, West End theatre, grand hotels, and the restaurants and bars of Soho, Mayfair and the City.Visit the guide The Metrópolis building at the start of the Gran VíaSpainULTIMATE MadridThe Prado and El Retiro, the Royal Palace, DiverXO’s three stars and cocido since 1870, with day trips to Toledo and Segovia.Visit the guide La Seu, Palma’s Gothic cathedral, and the Almudaina above the old sea wall, seen from the Parc de la MarSpainULTIMATE MallorcaPalma’s cathedral and palace hotels, the UNESCO Tramuntana, Deià and Sóller, nine MICHELIN-starred kitchens, and Menorca, Ibiza and Formentera.Visit the guide Valletta’s honey-coloured skyline, with the dome of the Carmelite church and the spire of St Paul’s, above the harbour at sunsetGozo & CominoULTIMATE MaltaValletta’s knights’ city, temples older than the pyramids, Caravaggio, seven MICHELIN-starred kitchens and the Blue Lagoon.Visit the guide Yachts in Puerto BanúsSpainULTIMATE MarbellaWhitewashed lanes and orange trees in the Old Town, the yachts of Puerto Banús, beach clubs on the Golden Mile and day trips to Ronda and Gibraltar.Visit the guide Turquoise water below the pine-topped cliffs at Cala Macarella, MenorcaSpainULTIMATE MenorcaA UNESCO Biosphere Reserve: the coves of Macarella and Turqueta, World Heritage Talayotic sites, Ciutadella and Maó’s great harbour.Visit the guide The Duomo di Milano and the Galleria Vittorio Emanuele II on the Piazza del DuomoItalyULTIMATE MilanThe Duomo and the Last Supper, La Scala and Brera, the Quadrilatero della Moda, Bartolini’s three stars, and day trips to Lake Como.Visit the guide Monaco from above, Port Hercule and Monte-Carlo below the mountainsOur sister guideULTIMATE MonacoThe Casino and Monte-Carlo’s palace hotels, the Prince’s Palace on the Rock, superyachts in Port Hercule, Larvotto’s beach clubs and the Grand Prix streets.Visit the guide The Oslo Opera HouseNorwayULTIMATE OsloThe Opera House you can walk on, MUNCH and Vigeland, the polar ships of Bygdøy, Holmenkollen and Maaemo’s three MICHELIN stars.Visit the guide The Eiffel Tower seen from the Trocadéro in ParisFranceULTIMATE ParisThe Eiffel Tower and the Louvre, Notre-Dame reopened, the palace hotels, nine three-star tables, the bouillons, and day trips to Versailles and Giverny.Visit the guide The Millennium Bridge over the MoračaMontenegroULTIMATE PodgoricaMontenegro’s relaxed capital of rivers and café terraces, and the gateway to the Bay of Kotor, Lake Skadar, Cetinje and the mountains.Visit the guide Prague Castle and Charles BridgeCzechiaULTIMATE PraguePrague Castle and Charles Bridge, the Old Town and Malá Strana, Mozart, Dvořák and the opera, the Christmas markets and the five MICHELIN stars of 2026.Visit the guide The Villa Ephrussi de Rothschild and its gardens, Saint-Jean-Cap-FerratOur sister guideULTIMATE Property (prime markets worldwide)Prime neighbourhoods, estate agents, new developments and how buying works, market by market across the ULTIMATE network.Visit the guide The red carriages of the Glacier Express crossing the stone arches of the Landwasser Viaduct below a snow-capped peakOur sister guideULTIMATE Rail Journeys (great train journeys worldwide)The story of the train, the great rail journeys of the world and where to book them, from the Orient Express to the Glacier Express.Visit the guide The Church of St John at Kaneo above Lake Ohrid, North MacedoniaOur sister guideULTIMATE Regions (editor’s letters & regional guides)Editor’s letters and the food, markets, nature and seasons each region shares, starting with the Balkans.Visit the guide Reykjavík and Mount Esja from HallgrímskirkjaIcelandULTIMATE ReykjavíkHallgrímskirkja and Harpa, the geothermal pools and Sky Lagoon, whales and the northern lights, and the Golden Circle a morning away.Visit the guide St Peter’s Basilica in Rome under a clear blue skyItalyULTIMATE RomeThe Colosseum and the Vatican, the grand hotels above the Spanish Steps, La Pergola’s three stars, the trattorias, and day trips to Tivoli and Pompeii.Visit the guide The Sebilj fountain and the square of BaščaršijaBosnia & HerzegovinaULTIMATE SarajevoWhere East meets West at a line in the pavement: an Ottoman bazaar, Habsburg boulevards, Bosnian coffee and the 1984 Olympic mountains, with Mostar two hours away.Visit the guide The Matterhorn in winter above ZermattOur sister guideULTIMATE Ski Resorts (Europe & North America)Ski resorts in Europe and North America, country by country, for every budget: season dates, hotels, mountain restaurants, après, ski schools and getting there.Visit the guide The Warrior on a Horse fountain in Macedonia Square, Skopje, lit at nightNorth MacedoniaULTIMATE SkopjeA 15th-century stone bridge between a 21st-century square and an Ottoman bazaar, Kenzo Tange’s concrete city, Matka Canyon, and Lake Ohrid three hours away.Visit the guide The Alexander Nevsky Cathedral, Sofia, under a pink evening skyBulgariaULTIMATE SofiaRoman streets beneath the city, golden domes, warm mineral springs and a mountain at the end of the main boulevard.Visit the guide Gamla Stan, StockholmSwedenULTIMATE StockholmGamla Stan and the Royal Palace, the Vasa and Skansen, Frantzén’s three stars, fika and the archipelago of 30,000 islands.Visit the guide The restored Pyramid of Tirana under a blue skyAlbaniaULTIMATE TiranaAn Ottoman mosque painted with waterfalls, museums in bunkers, Blloku’s cafés and the Dajti cable car, with Berat, Gjirokastër, the Alps and the Riviera within reach.Visit the guide Rolling green hills and a farmhouse near Pienza in the Val d’OrciaItalyULTIMATE TuscanyFlorence, Chianti, Siena, the Val d’Orcia, Pisa and Lucca, Versilia, Bolgheri, the Maremma, Arezzo and Elba.Visit the guide Calatrava’s Hemisfèric lit at twilight, reflected in its poolSpainULTIMATE ValenciaCalatrava’s City of Arts and Sciences, the Gothic Lonja, paella by the sea, Las Fallas and the nine-kilometre Turia Garden.Visit the guide The Grand Canal and Santa Maria della Salute, VeniceItalyULTIMATE VeniceThe Grand Canal and St Mark’s, palace hotels, Two MICHELIN Stars at Glam, the bacari, the Biennale, and Murano, Burano and Torcello.Visit the guide The tiled roof of St Stephen’s Cathedral and the rooftops of central ViennaAustriaULTIMATE ViennaThe State Opera and the Musikverein, Schönbrunn and Klimt, the coffee houses and Heurigen, and Railjets to Budapest every hour.Visit the guide St Mark's Church and its tiled roof on St Mark's Square, Zagreb's Upper TownCroatiaULTIMATE ZagrebCroatia’s elegant capital of cafés, museums and markets, and the gateway to Plitvice Lakes, Istria, Dubrovnik and the islands of the Adriatic.Visit the guide Zurich and the LimmatSwitzerlandULTIMATE ZurichThe Limmat and its two minsters, Chagall’s windows, the Bahnhofstrasse and Sprüngli, the lake, Baur au Lac and The Dolder Grand, and the city’s MICHELIN stars.Visit the guide

North America

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Bixby Creek Bridge on the Big Sur coastUSAULTIMATE CaliforniaSan Francisco, Napa and Sonoma, Big Sur and the Pacific Coast Highway, San Diego, Palm Springs, Lake Tahoe and the national parks.Visit the guide A schooner silhouetted against the sunset off Key WestUSAULTIMATE FloridaOrlando and the theme parks, Palm Beach, Tampa Bay, Sarasota, St. Augustine and Scenic Highway 30A.Visit the guide The Las Vegas Strip at duskNevadaULTIMATE Las VegasThe Strip and its shows, MICHELIN dining, Sphere and Fremont Street’s neon, with Red Rock Canyon, Hoover Dam and the Grand Canyon beyond.Visit the guide Downtown Los Angeles at sunset beneath the snow-capped San Gabriel MountainsCaliforniaULTIMATE Los AngelesHollywood and the Walk of Fame, Beverly Hills’ grand hotels, the Sunset Strip, the Getty and the beaches from Santa Monica to Malibu.Visit the guide The Palacio de Bellas Artes at duskMexicoULTIMATE Mexico CityThe Templo Mayor and the Zócalo, Bellas Artes and the murals, Pujol and Quintonil’s two stars, Día de Muertos, and day trips to Teotihuacan and Puebla.Visit the guide Art Deco hotels on Ocean Drive, Miami BeachFloridaULTIMATE MiamiSouth Beach and the Art Deco district, Wynwood’s murals, the Design District, Little Havana’s cafecito and the beaches of Key Biscayne.Visit the guide Sunset at the Naples PierFloridaULTIMATE NaplesWhite-sand beaches and sunsets on the Gulf of Mexico, Fifth Avenue’s terraces, grand beach resorts and golf, with the Everglades and Marco Island close by.Visit the guide The New York City skyline from Top of the RockNew YorkULTIMATE New YorkManhattan’s grand hotels and MICHELIN dining, Broadway and the Met, Fifth Avenue shopping, Central Park and the walk across the Brooklyn Bridge to DUMBO.Visit the guide The Golden Gate Bridge seen from Battery SpencerCaliforniaULTIMATE San FranciscoCable cars over Nob Hill, North Beach cafés, the murals of the Mission, three-star tables and the Golden Gate Bridge.Visit the guide

Caribbean

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The pink sand beach of Harbour Island, the BahamasOur sister guideULTIMATE The BahamasSeven hundred islands: Nassau and Paradise Island, the Exuma Cays and the swimming pigs, Harbour Island’s pink sand, marinas and island hopping.Visit the guide The golden sand and calm water of Paynes Bay, St. JamesOur sister guideULTIMATE BarbadosThe Platinum West Coast and Sandy Lane, UNESCO-listed Bridgetown, rum where it was born, Friday nights in Oistins and the wild Atlantic east.Visit the guide Gros Piton and Petit Piton, the twin volcanic spires of the UNESCO-listed PitonsOur sister guideULTIMATE St LuciaThe UNESCO Pitons and Soufrière’s drive-in volcano, Marigot Bay, Rodney Bay and the Gros Islet street party, reefs, rum and cocoa.Visit the guide

South America

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Christ the Redeemer on the Corcovado and Sugarloaf in silhouette at sunrise, above the bay and the cityBrazilULTIMATE Rio de JaneiroChrist on the Corcovado, the cable car to Sugarloaf, the Copacabana Palace, Lasai’s two stars, the Carnival, and day trips to Paraty and Ilha Grande.Visit the guide

Asia & Indian Ocean

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The Grand Palace reflected at dawnThailandULTIMATE BangkokThe Grand Palace and Wat Arun on the river, the grand hotels of Charoen Krung, MICHELIN stars from street food to tasting menus, rooftop bars and the Thai islands.Visit the guide Hong Kong Island and the harbour at night from Victoria PeakOur sister guideULTIMATE Hong KongThe harbour from the Peak, the Star Ferry, Cantonese dining rooms with MICHELIN stars, dim sum in the lanes of Central and the museums of West Kowloon.Visit the guide An aerial view of a small island ringed by reef in the MaldivesOur sister guideULTIMATE MaldivesUndersea restaurants and overwater bars, Hanifaru Bay’s mantas, the whale sharks of South Ari, private islands and the little capital, Malé.Visit the guide The Taj Mahal Palace and the Gateway of India from the harbourIndiaULTIMATE MumbaiThe Taj and the Gateway of India, Marine Drive’s Queen’s Necklace, three UNESCO sites, modern Indian restaurants and day trips to Elephanta and the Ghats.Visit the guide The Lujiazui skyline lit up at night across the Huangpu RiverChinaULTIMATE ShanghaiThe grand hotels of the Bund facing the towers of Pudong, every MICHELIN star, Yu Garden, the two Shanghai Museums and day trips to Suzhou and Hangzhou.Visit the guide The towers of the Central Business District lit up at night, reflected in Marina BayOur sister guideULTIMATE SingaporeMarina Bay and Raffles, three restaurants with three MICHELIN Stars, the hawker centres, and the Botanic Gardens, a UNESCO World Heritage Site.Visit the guide A caparisoned elephant in the Esala Perahera procession, KandyOur sister guideULTIMATE Sri LankaColombo, the ramparts of Galle Fort, the Temple of the Tooth in Kandy, the tea country by train, Sigiriya and leopards in Yala.Visit the guide Longtail boats on West Railay beach beneath the limestone cliffsOur sister guideULTIMATE Thai IslandsWinter sun on two seas: Phuket, Krabi and Railay, Phi Phi and Koh Lanta on the Andaman, Koh Samui, Koh Phangan and Koh Tao in the Gulf.Visit the guide

Middle East & North Africa

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The pyramids of Giza across the desertEgyptULTIMATE CairoThe Pyramids and the Grand Egyptian Museum, the minarets of Islamic Cairo, feluccas on the Nile and journeys to Luxor and Aswan.Visit the guide Burj Khalifa and Business Bay at blue hourUnited Arab EmiratesULTIMATE DubaiBurj Khalifa and the Fountain, abras on the Creek, resorts on the Palm, every MICHELIN star of 2026 and day trips to Abu Dhabi and Hatta.Visit the guide

Africa

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Table Mountain and the Twelve Apostles above Cape TownSouth AfricaULTIMATE Cape TownTable Mountain and Robben Island, The Silo and the Mount Nelson, the great tables of Constantia and Camps Bay, and day trips to the Winelands and Cape Point.Visit the guide

HOT TOPICS · Have Your Say

What readers are saying about Riyadh: At-Turaif at dusk, the best Saudi kitchens, the metro, Riyadh Season and the road to the Edge of the World.

    Have your say in HOT TOPICS

    Boulevard City

    This week's pick

    Boulevard City

    Hittin·Entertainment district

    Riyadh Season 2026–2027 opened on 21 October: concerts, plays, fight nights, family rides and restaurants across the city, with the Boulevard World experiences running from 30 October. Programmes and tickets on riyadhseason.com.

    Find out more

    Every list in the guide

    Plan your day

    The restored mud-brick palaces of At-Turaif in Diriyah under a clear skyItineraryA day in Riyadh, from the Masmak to At-TuraifOne dayThe Kingdom Centre at night, its arch lit at the top, above palms on Olaya StreetItineraryForty-eight hours in RiyadhTwo daysBujairi Terrace in Diriyah at dusk, its mud-brick restaurants lit behind the palmsItineraryDiriyah at duskAn eveningThe towers of the King Abdullah Financial District at night, with the full moon risingItineraryA property viewing day: the north, KAFD and DiriyahOne dayThe Kingdom Centre at night, its arch lit at the top, above palms on Olaya StreetItineraryThe Gold weekend: a luxury weekend in RiyadhTwo daysRiyadh at dusk: the Kingdom Centre and the Al Faisaliah tower with its golden sphere, above the lights of the cityItineraryThe Edge of the World and UshaiqerOne day

    Know your neighbourhoods

    Our favourites right now

    Restaurants

    1. 1Eating in Riyadh: kabsa, qahwa and the new Saudi tableRiyadh · In depth
    2. 2Najd VillageAl Olaya · Saudi
    3. 3Fi GlbakAl Mohammadiyyah · Saudi
    See all 21

    Cafés

    1. 1Saudi coffee: qahwa and datesCitywide · Tradition
    2. 2Elixir BunnCitywide · Coffee roaster
    3. 3Camel StepCitywide · Coffee roaster
    See all 6

    Lounges

    1. 1Tonic Bar, Four SeasonsAl Olaya · Mocktail bar
    2. 2Il Baretto, KAFDKAFD · Restaurant and mocktails
    3. 3Obaya Lounge, Four SeasonsAl Olaya · Hotel lounge
    See all 6

    Hotels

    1. 1The hotels of Riyadh, from the Kingdom Tower to DiriyahRiyadh · In depth
    2. 2Four Seasons Hotel Riyadh at Kingdom CentreAl Olaya · Luxury hotel
    3. 3Mandarin Oriental Al Faisaliah, RiyadhAl Olaya · Luxury hotel
    See all 7

    Sights

    1. 1Riyadh, a city of mud brick and glassRiyadh · In depth
    2. 2At-Turaif, DiriyahDiriyah · UNESCO World Heritage
    3. 3Bujairi TerraceDiriyah · Dining terrace
    See all 8

    Arts & Culture

    1. 1Riyadh’s museums, architecture and traditionsRiyadh · In depth
    2. 2The National Museum of Saudi ArabiaAl Murabba · Museum
    3. 3JAX DistrictDiriyah · Arts district
    See all 15

    Outdoors

    1. 1Wadi HanifahWest Riyadh · Restored wadi
    2. 2The Diplomatic Quarter gardensDiplomatic Quarter · Landscaped quarter
    3. 3Salam ParkAl Dirah · City park
    See all 5

    Walks

    1. 1At-Turaif and Bujairi Terrace at duskDiriyah · Walk
    2. 2The old centre: the Masmak to the National MuseumAl Dirah · Walk
    3. 3Wadi Hanifah below DiriyahDiriyah · Walk
    See all 5

    Shopping

    1. 1Via RiyadhAl Hada · Luxury destination
    2. 2Kingdom Centre MallAl Olaya · Shopping mall
    3. 3Al Faisaliah MallAl Olaya · Shopping mall
    See all 5

    Health

    1. 1Emergencies: call 911Riyadh · Emergency numbers
    2. 2King Faisal Specialist Hospital & Research CentreRiyadh · Hospital
    3. 3Dr. Sulaiman Al Habib HospitalCitywide · Hospital
    See all 8

    Property

    1. 1Buying in Riyadh: the new law and the first stepsRiyadh · In depth
    2. 2Real Estate General Authority (REGA)Riyadh · Regulator
    3. 3Savills Saudi ArabiaRiyadh · Property consultancy
    See all 4

    Developments

    1. 1Riyadh MetroCitywide · Project
    2. 2DiriyahDiriyah · Project
    3. 3King Abdullah Financial District (KAFD)KAFD · Project
    See all 6

    Cars & Drivers

    1. 1Driving in Riyadh: a city made for the carRiyadh · In depth
    2. 2Rolls-Royce Motor Cars RiyadhAl Nafel · Showroom
    3. 3Porsche Centre RiyadhRiyadh · Showroom
    See all 6

    Getting Around

    1. 1Riyadh by metro, train and planeRiyadh · In depth
    2. 2King Khalid International AirportNorth Riyadh · Airport
    3. 3Riyadh MetroCitywide · Metro
    See all 5

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