Even if you haven’t been to Riyadh, you’ve probably heard of it: The capital of Saudi Arabia. This bustling city is literally bursting at the seams with culture, history and modernity. Riyadh translates to “the Gardens,” a reference to the area’s past that dates back to the 14th century when the land was revered for its fertile soil, many canals and trees. It is the largest city on the Arabian Peninsula, and is situated in the center of the an-Nafud desert, on the eastern part of the Najd plateau.

Like other cities around Golf monarchies, Riyadh is not a very walkable city and right now there is no public transport either, as they are currently building metro system, but not yet opened. Therefore the best way to get around the city is either by booking tours or by taxi. You’ll find Uber, Bolt or Careem wildly available and used in the city.

What to do and see

1. Diriyah

In 1744, Muhammad ibn Abdul Wahhab formed an alliance with Muhammad ibn Saud, the ruler of the nearby town of Diriyah. Ibn Saud then set out to conquer the surrounding region with the goal of bringing it under the rule of a single Islamic state. Diriyah is a must-see area with carefully restored mud-brick district known as At-Turaif. Named a UNESCO World Heritage Site in 2010, the quarter offers a glimpse into the country’s extraordinary heritage. Stroll through its living museum featuring exhibition galleries sprinkled throughout the ruins for a dose of history and education.

2. Masmak Fort

The magnificent Al Masmak Palace stands erected gracefully in the middle of Riyadh city. The palace was built in the hijri year 1416 during the reign of Imam Abdullah bin Faisal. It was his residence and the center of power and money. The palace has only two entrances and small openings in the walls for gun barrels at the time of battles. Today, it stands as a symbol of the history of regaining power and rule of the country displaying in its corridors the features of that era and its leaders after it had been turned into a museum in 1995/1416.

3. Deerah Souq

Deerah Souq is in the old part of the city near the Al Masmak Fort. It’s famous for its gold souq section, so sometimes it goes by the name of Deerah Gold Souq. It has a plethora of little shops arranged in rows along narrow streets. Shops are organized or bunched together by product, so that shoppers can browse and bargain all in the same area.

4. National Museum of Saudi Arabia

Saudi National Museum will take you on an adventure that transcends time and space. You will witness artistic and historical evidence in the heart of Riyadh in Al Murabba neighborhood near King Abdulaziz palace. The National Museum of Saudi Arabia is one of the great affordable things to do in Riyadh. It’s a 28,000 square feet space that houses an impressive collection of artifacts from ancient times, and the entrance fee per person is SAR10.

5. Sky Bridge at Kingdom Center

It’s time to take in the view of the city from a height of 300 meters in the sky, and the best way to do it is from the Sky Bridge.

This incredible structure gives you a chance to enjoy Riyadh’s beauty through highly secure glass panels. You can also take in the starry nights and contemplate the yellow lights reflected on the streets and buildings of Riyadh from up here. Another way to seize the moment is by taking selfies where the glamour of the city behind you on a clear day. The ticket for adult costs about SAR70.

6. Najd Village

Discover the authentic Saudi cuisine of Kabsa, Mogalgal, Margoog, Jreesh, Gursan and explore the traditional authentic Saudi Najd flavors. Make a visit to one of the Najd Village restaurant branches for a delicious meal.

7. Edge of the world

Edge of the World is the perfect destination for mountain climbing and hiking lovers. With off-cliff spectacular views, you can discover an astonishing world that lies 100 km from Riyadh at the end of the 800 km extending Tuwaik Mountain range.

It’s important to equip yourself with everything you need as the area is wild and barren with no services available. You may encounter a mobile network outage, so it’s advisable to go with a group of people or a tourism expert. It is also advisable to put on trainers appropriate for hiking and climbing cliffs for a spectacular adventure in the mountains.

The best time to reach the top of the cliff is at sunrise or sunset, so pick your time to enjoy the magnificent view of the gradation of the sky colours.

8. Boulevard World

Complete with 11 sub-zones, Boulevard World is located adjacent to Boulevard Riyadh City. Each sub-zone is dedicated to a different country from across the globe, celebrating the best of that destination’s shopping, culinary and cultural experiences. It’s all set out around the largest man-made lake in the world, which visitors can enjoy with gondola, car and even floating submarine rides. A perfect place to spend at least half of your day.

9. Alsafat square

Deera Square is a public space in Deera, Riyadh, Saudi Arabia. It is also known as Justice Square, and derisively as Chop Chop Square by Western visitors. It is a former site of public executions, where those sentenced to death in Saudi Arabia were publicly beheaded.

10. King Abdullah Park

King Abdullah Park, formerly al-Malaz Square is an equestrian field-turned municipal park in the al-Malazz neighborhood of Riyadh, Saudi Arabia, located adjacent to Prince Faisal bin Fahd Stadium. Popular for its 12-meter wide pedestrian corridor, 110-meter giant laser fountains and an artificial lake, the park gets flooded by visitors during festive seasons of Eid al-Fitr, Eid al-Adha and publicly organized events such as the Saudi National Day where the park also displays fireworks before midnight