Riyadh Metro guide: six lines, airport link, hours and tickets

The Riyadh Metro is the simplest way to cross the capital, and for many visitors it replaces a rental car. This guide is built from the Saudi Tourism Authority's Visit Saudi page on the Metro and its getting-around guide, with safety and conduct notes from the UK government's Saudi Arabia advice. It belongs with the Riyadh travel guide, and the wider Saudi Arabia guide covers entry and country rules.

Visit Saudi describes a network of six lines spanning 176 km with 85 stations and four main hubs: the Qasr Al Hokm Downtown Station, the King Abdullah Financial District Station, the Western Station and the STC Station. It says the Metro links government, educational and healthcare centers and prominent landmarks, and that it offers comfortable, seamless transport for visitors. The practical question for a traveler is which line serves your hotel, the airport and the places you want to see.

One caution first. The UK does not advise against travel to Riyadh, but it says that since 13 July 2026 the Houthis have launched missiles and drones at Saudi cities, Riyadh among them, and that Saudi Civil Defence issues alerts. Canada advises avoiding non-essential travel to Saudi Arabia. The Metro does not change that advice. Read both pages, keep plans flexible and follow the instructions of the authorities if an alert is issued.

Visit Saudi lists the six lines by color, with start and end points. The Blue line runs from Alawwal Bank Station to Ad Dar Al Baida Station. The Red line starts at King Saud University and extends east toward King Fahd Sports City. The Orange line runs from Jeddah Road through several stations and ends at Khashm Al Aan Station. The Yellow line connects Terminals 1 and 2 at King Khalid International Airport with the King Abdullah Financial District. The Green line begins at the Ministry of Education Station and ends in the city center at the National Museum Station. The Purple line starts at the Financial District and heads east to the Al Naseem neighborhood.

For a first visit, two lines matter most. The Yellow line is the airport link: Visit Saudi says it connects Terminals 1 and 2 with the financial district, which is also a main hub. The Green line serves the city center and ends at the National Museum Station, and the Saudi Ministry of Culture places the museum in the Murabba district, on the eastern side of the King Abdulaziz Historical Center. That makes the Green line the natural route for a heritage day.

The operator's journey planner and ticket page are linked from Visit Saudi at rpt.sa. The planner is the live source for line maps and interchange details. Check it for the exact route between two stations and for any closures.

Visit Saudi gives operating hours and ticket prices on its Metro page, which it presents as a guide for visitors. The Metro operates daily from 6:00 am to midnight, Saturday to Thursday, and from 8:00 am to midnight on Fridays. Treat the Friday start as the one to plan around: an early-morning trip on Friday will not start before 8:00.

The same page lists two classes of ticket. Standard tickets are SAR 4 for 2 hours, SAR 20 for 3 days, SAR 40 for 7 days and SAR 140 for 30 days. First-class tickets are SAR 10 for 2 hours, SAR 50 for 3 days, SAR 100 for 7 days and SAR 350 for 30 days. Visit Saudi says the Metro offers competitive prices and comfort for different lifestyles, and links to the operator for booking.

For a short trip, the 3-day standard ticket at SAR 20 is the number to compare against taxis. For a one-day stopover, the 2-hour ticket may cover a single transfer. Prices and ticket types can change, and Visit Saudi's page is a tourism listing, so check the operator's site before you rely on the numbers.

The right choice depends on the trip, not on loyalty to one mode. Use the Metro for the airport, for trips between hubs and for any journey where you would otherwise sit in traffic. Visit Saudi frames the project as a way of saving time and reducing congestion, which is the main reason to prefer it at busy hours. Use a taxi or ride-hailing car for the last stretch when the walk from a station is long in heat, for luggage-heavy arrivals if your hotel is not at a station and for any trip after midnight, when the Metro has closed.

Sample journeys show the pattern. From the airport to the financial district, take the Yellow line from Terminals 1 and 2. From the financial district to the city center, use the planner to find the interchange between the lines, because Visit Saudi names the Qasr Al Hokm Downtown and financial district stations as two of the four main hubs. From the city center to the National Museum, use the Green line, which ends there. Group travelers should compare four taxi seats against four tickets, and families should check whether a longer pass is cheaper than repeated short tickets.

The Metro covers the center and the financial district, but not everything a visitor wants to see. Visit Saudi's line list does not name a stop for Diriyah, where At-Turaif sits north-west of Riyadh according to UNESCO, so plan on a taxi, a ride-hailing car or a tour for that evening. Visit Saudi's getting-around page also lists car rental, and the UK says driving standards are poor, there are a high number of serious accidents and some cities use an automated traffic system that sends fines by text and records them in the Absher system against your passport.

For travel beyond the capital, Visit Saudi says the Saudi Railway network runs a North line from Riyadh to Al Qurayyat and an East line from Riyadh to Dammam. Check the SAR site for timetables and fares before you plan a day trip, and read the current UK and Canadian advice for the destination, because the regional risks differ by area. The UK advises against all travel to within 10 km of the Yemen border and all but essential travel to areas 10 to 80 km from it, including the cities of Abha and Khamis Mushait, and Canada advises avoiding all travel to the provinces of Asir, Jazan and Najran.

The UK says to carry ID at all times and advises tourists to carry a copy of their passport and visa. It says men and women must wear loose-fitting clothing that covers the elbows and below the knees, that female visitors do not have to wear an abaya or cover their hair, and that you should avoid showing affection in public, swearing and playing loud music. It also says it is illegal to film or photograph government buildings, diplomatic premises, military installations and palaces, and that you should only photograph local people with their consent.

Plan for heat and for alerts. Visit Saudi's predicted temperatures for Riyadh run to 43 degrees Celsius in summer, so walking to and from a station is the hardest part of the day. If an alert is issued, the UK says to stay indoors and under hard shelter, monitor local media and follow the authorities. Keep your phone charged and your hotel address saved, and set up an eSIM for Saudi Arabia before you land so maps and alerts work.

The Metro is not the right tool for everyone. Travelers with mobility needs should check station access on the operator's site before relying on it. Late-night travelers should check the closing time, since service ends at midnight. Visitors whose hotel is far from any station may do better with a hotel closer to a hub, and the where to stay in Riyadh guide compares four bases. For a day built around heritage, see Riyadh in 2 days.

The first mistake is assuming the Metro reaches every sight. Diriyah is not on the list of named stops. The second is planning an early Friday start before 8:00. The third is buying a long ticket for a short trip, or the reverse. The fourth is forgetting the heat on the walk to the station.

The fifth is ignoring current advice. Compare travel insurance that covers delays and regional disruption, keep flexible bookings and check the UK and Canadian pages again before you travel. For the other transport options, see getting around.