Riyadh
Everything you need for your Riyadh trip: where to stay, landmarks, weather, currency, and a ready-to-follow daily plan.
TerhalRiyadh
https://trhal.app/en/riyadh.html
Quick facts
CurrencySaudi Riyal (ر.س) — already your home currency
Best monthsNovember, December, January, February, March
Suggested trip length3-5 days
Power plug
Type Type G
Coming from Saudi Arabia: No adapter needed
Airports & getting there
King Khalid International Airport (RUH)
Riyadh's only operating airport, about 35km north of the city center (roughly 30-45 minutes by car depending on traffic and destination); 5 passenger terminals after a February 2026 terminal reshuffle — double-check your terminal before travel, as assignments changed. Note: the new King Salman International Airport is still under construction and has not begun commercial operations as of this check.
Riyadh Metro (Yellow Line / Line 4) directly from the airport terminals to King Abdullah Financial District (KAFD) — about SAR 4 for a 2-hour ticket, journey roughly 30-35 minutes; transfer at KAFD for other lines (e.g. the Blue Line toward Olaya and downtown)
Official airport taxi (green/turquoise cars) from the designated rank outside each terminal — about SAR 70-150 to the city center, roughly 30-45 minutes
Uber or Careem from designated pickup points inside the airport — similar price to a taxi, with the fare shown upfront in the app
Pre-booked private transfer — convenient especially at night or with heavy luggage, usually starting around SAR 120-220 depending on vehicle type
Transit & the transit card
Riyadh Metro (6 lines)A driverless metro network that opened in phases from December 2024, with all six lines (Blue, Red, Orange, Yellow, Green, Purple) fully operational by January 2025; covers most major business and residential areas including KAFD, Olaya, downtown, and the airport. A 2-hour ticket costs about SAR 4.
Riyadh public buses (SAPTCO)A complementary bus network reaching points the metro doesn't cover directly; usually paid with the same transit card (darb card).
Darb appThe official app for planning metro/bus connections and checking arrival times — useful for avoiding congestion.
Traditional taxis and Uber/CareemWidely available across the city; the apps (Uber/Careem) are generally preferred by visitors for upfront pricing and a clear pickup point.
Car rentalA practical option given Riyadh's large geographic sprawl, especially for reaching Diriyah or moving between spread-out districts; driving is on the right, and an international or GCC driving license is usually accepted.
Getting between the main areasDowntown Riyadh (Deera/Al-Murabba) to Olaya: a direct metro ride or taxi, about 20-30 minutes. To the Diplomatic Quarter: faster by car from Olaya (about 15-20 minutes); the metro doesn't serve directly inside the DQ itself. To Diriyah: about 20km from downtown, needs a car, taxi, or ride-hailing app (no direct metro station at At-Turaif as of this check), roughly 25-35 minutes depending on the starting point. To/from the airport: direct metro (Yellow Line) or taxi/ride-hailing, about 30-45 minutes.
Connectivity & eSIM
⚠ Important notice
Unlike some neighboring Gulf countries, multiple recent sources (early 2026) report that WhatsApp voice and video calls now work in most of Saudi Arabia on local networks and visitor SIMs, after years of broader VoIP restrictions. That said, performance isn't guaranteed everywhere and varies by carrier and location; an international eSIM is a reasonable backup if you run into issues.
STC (Sawa Visitor)
Mobily (Visitors 90)
Zain (Visitor 40)
Practical recommendation
Cheapest for a short tripZain's Visitor 40 plan (7GB/2 weeks) for a short, budget trip
Best for heavy dataMobily's Visitors 90 plan (55GB) for the best data value on a longer trip
Best for a family (hotspot)Not officially confirmed for any provider — check directly before travel if this matters for your plan
Activate before travelAn international eSIM (Airalo/Holafly/Saily) for instant activation on landing, no registration queue
Recommendation by trip length
3-5 daysZain's Visitor 40 plan or an equivalent short-duration international eSIM
7 daysSTC's weekly/4-week bundle if the data allowance suits your needs
10-14 daysMobily's Visitors 90 plan (30 days) comfortably covers this length
More than two weeksMobily's Visitors 90 plan, or renew a local SIM as needed
A traditional local SIM
Buying directly from the official STC, Mobily, or Zain counters inside the airport terminals on arrival is the easiest route for visitors; it requires a passport and sometimes a fingerprint. A Saudi residency permit (Iqama) is not needed to buy a visitor SIM.
Riyadh weather month by month, and the best time to travel
January
High/Low21° / 7°
Rainy days2
WalkabilityVery high
CrowdsMedium
Seasonal price levelMedium to high
February
High/Low24° / 10°
Rainy days2
WalkabilityVery high
CrowdsHigh
Seasonal price levelHigh
March
High/Low28° / 14°
Rainy days3
WalkabilityHigh
CrowdsMedium
Seasonal price levelMedium
April
High/Low34° / 19°
Rainy days4
WalkabilityMedium
CrowdsMedium
Seasonal price levelMedium
May
High/Low40° / 24°
Rainy days1
WalkabilityLow
CrowdsLow
Seasonal price levelLow to medium
June
High/Low43° / 26°
Rainy days0
WalkabilityLow
CrowdsLow
Seasonal price levelLow
July
High/Low44° / 27°
Rainy days0
WalkabilityLow
CrowdsLow
Seasonal price levelLow
August
High/Low44° / 27°
Rainy days0
WalkabilityLow
CrowdsLow
Seasonal price levelLow
September
High/Low41° / 24°
Rainy days0
WalkabilityLow
CrowdsLow
Seasonal price levelLow to medium
October
High/Low36° / 19°
Rainy days0
WalkabilityMedium
CrowdsMedium
Seasonal price levelMedium
November
High/Low27° / 13°
Rainy days2
WalkabilityVery high
CrowdsHigh
Seasonal price levelHigh
December
High/Low22° / 9°
Rainy days2
WalkabilityVery high
CrowdsVery high
Seasonal price levelVery high
Best months
For familiesNovember through February — mild daytime temperatures work well for full days outdoors, though this is also Riyadh Season, the busiest and priciest period
For budgetMay through September — the hottest months bring the lowest hotel rates and fewest crowds, but outdoor time needs to be limited to early morning or evening
For the mildest weatherNovember and February specifically — comfortable daytime temperatures without the absolute peak crowds of December-January
Approximate daily budget
BudgetAbout $65-120/day per person — budget hotel or hostel, metro and buses, cheap local food (casual restaurants), free or low-cost activities
Mid-rangeAbout $145-265/day per person — 3-4 star hotel, mid-range restaurants in Olaya or KAFD, a mix of metro and taxi/ride-hailing, paid attractions
LuxuryStarting around $480+/day per person — 5-star hotels or the Diplomatic Quarter, upscale dining, private transport, custom tours
Where to stay
Deera (Historic Downtown) — price 2/5 · families 4/5Details ›
Al-Murabba & National Museum District — price 2/5 · families 4/5Details ›
Olaya (Business & Hotel District) — price 4/5 · families 3/5Details ›
King Abdullah Financial District (KAFD) — price 5/5 · families 2/5Details ›
Riyadh Front & North Riyadh — price 3/5 · families 4/5Details ›
Diplomatic Quarter (DQ) — price 5/5 · families 4/5Details ›
Historic Diriyah & At-Turaif — price 4/5 · families 5/5Details ›
Religious landmarks
Historic & cultural landmarks
Markets & public places
Shopping
Restaurants & cafes
Other
Ready-made Riyadh itineraries
Hotels in Riyadh by area and budget
Olaya (Business & Hotel District)
ibis Riyadh Olaya Street — 3★Budget ›
Hyatt Regency Riyadh Olaya — 5★High ›
Four Seasons Hotel Riyadh at Kingdom Centre — 5★Luxury ›
Mandarin Oriental Al Faisaliah, Riyadh — 5★Luxury ›
King Abdullah Financial District (KAFD)
Executives Hotel - KAFD Riyadh — 3★Mid-range ›
Historic Diriyah & At-Turaif
Bab Samhan, a Luxury Collection Hotel, Diriyah — 5★Luxury ›
Diplomatic Quarter (DQ)
Radisson Blu Hotel & Residence, Riyadh Diplomatic Quarter — 4★High ›
Al-Murabba & National Museum District
IntercityHotel Riyadh Malaz — 4★Mid-range ›