Riyadh, the wadi and the towers

A mud-brick capital on the wadi

Riyadh begins at Wadi Hanifah. On its bank in Diriyah stands At-Turaif, the 18th-century mud-brick capital of the first Saudi state and a UNESCO World Heritage Site, its palaces and lanes restored and opened in the evening; across the water, the restaurants of Bujairi Terrace face its walls, and the valley below has been restored as a green corridor of palms and paths.

Diriyah →

The fort and the souqs

In the old centre, the Masmak, a mud-brick fort of 1865, now tells the city’s story as a museum, and the souqs of Al Dirah sell gold, oud and textiles, with antiques and carpets in Souq Al Zal. A short drive north, the National Museum sets Arabia’s history in the gardens of the King Abdulaziz Historical Center.

The old centre →

Glass on King Fahd Road

The modern city runs along King Fahd Road and Olaya Street, marked by two towers: the Kingdom Centre, with the Sky Bridge across its top, and Foster + Partners’ Al Faisaliah, with a golden sphere near its tip. Further north, KAFD’s towers are linked by climate-controlled skywalks around Zaha Hadid Architects’ metro station.

Al Olaya & King Fahd Road →   KAFD →

A Saudi table, and the first MICHELIN guide

The first MICHELIN Guide Saudi Arabia, in 2026, gave Bib Gourmands to four Saudi kitchens in Riyadh, Najd Village, Fi Glbak, Mirzam and Tameesa, alongside the grand tables of the hotels. With no alcohol served, evenings are built around coffee, mocktails and late dinners.

Where to eat in Riyadh →

To the edge of the world

North-west of the city, the Tuwaiq escarpment ends in sheer cliffs above the plain, the Edge of the World. Go with a licensed operator on a cool winter afternoon, and stay for the sunset.

The Edge of the World →   ULTIMATE Dubai →   ULTIMATE Cairo →

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