Travel advisory · Saudi ArabiaGovernments advise against all travel to Saudi Arabia.Advice depends on your passport. Read your own government's advice before you book.Official advice

Areas with warnings

King Fahd International Airport, Dammam · avoid all travel · Canada, France
King Khalid International Airport, Riyadh · avoid all travel · Canada, France, New Zealand
Asir province · avoid non-essential travel · Canada, Italy
Jazan province · avoid non-essential travel · Canada, Italy
Najran province · avoid non-essential travel · Canada, Italy

Also named by one government: 10 km strip along the Yemen border (UK), 100 km strip along the Yemen border (France), 20 km strip along the northern border (Italy), 30 km strip along the Yemen border (Canada), Aramco administrative building, Dhahran (New Zealand), Aramco headquarters, Dammam (New Zealand), Aramco refinery, Riyadh (New Zealand), Border area to Hafar Al Batin and Khafji (Italy), King Abdulaziz International Airport, Jeddah (France), Mecca (Italy), Yemen border (US)

Government	Advice	Updated	Read the advice
United Kingdom (FCDO)	FCDO advises against all but essential travel to the rest of Saudi Arabia	–	Read the advice
United States (State Dept)	Reconsider Travel	Oct 23, 2026	Read the advice
Canada (Global Affairs)	Avoid non-essential travel	–	Read the advice
Germany (Auswärtiges Amt)	Vor Reisen nach Saudi-Arabien wird gewarnt	Oct 29, 2026	Read the advice
New Zealand (SafeTravel)	Do not travel to Saudi Arabia (military conflict, missile and drone strikes)	–	Read the advice
France (Ministry for Europe and Foreign Affairs)	Rest of the territory: avoid unless imperative reason	–	Read the advice

Checked daily from the governments' published advice; last checked Nov 2, 2026. RoamLedger summarises official advice; it is not advice from any government.

Riyadh

Riyadh is the capital of Saudi Arabia. Go for Diriyah, the mud-brick old town on the northwest edge of the city, then add the National Museum and a Metro line to reach the modern districts.

Find a room in Riyadh Start with the essentials Plan a trip to Riyadh

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Riyadh is the capital of Saudi Arabia, in the Najd region of the central plateau. The city is large and spread out, with wide roads, so plan each day around one area rather than around distances on a map. The Riyadh Metro has six lines and reaches many of the main districts and the airport, which makes it practical for getting between neighborhoods without a car.

The historic core is Diriyah, on the northwest edge of the city. Its mud-brick district of At-Turaif is a UNESCO World Heritage Site and was the seat of the first Saudi state in the 18th century. The National Museum covers the wider history of the country. Summers are very hot, so November to March suits walking and outdoor visits best. Two to three days covers the city and Diriyah at an easy pace.

Riyadh in five

Read the UK and Canadian advice firstThe UK says the Houthis have fired missiles and drones at Saudi cities including Riyadh since 13 July 2026, and advises following Saudi Civil Defence alerts. Canada advises avoiding non-essential travel to Saudi Arabia.UK travel advice
Sort your entry document before you bookA tourist e-visa, an ETA or an electronic visa waiver covers tourism, and an e-visa includes health insurance up to 100,000 SAR. Apply only on official portals.Saudi Arabia visa guide
Use the Metro, including from the airportVisit Saudi lists six lines, 176 km and 85 stations; the Yellow line links King Khalid International Airport Terminals 1 and 2 with the financial district. Daily hours differ on Fridays.Riyadh Metro guide
Time Diriyah for the cool of the eveningUNESCO lists At-Turaif as the first capital of the Saudi dynasty, north-west of Riyadh. Diriyah's own pages list different opening hours, so check them for your date.Riyadh in 2 days
Follow the dress, photography and alcohol rulesLoose clothing covering elbows and knees, no alcohol, and no photographing government buildings or military sites. Carry ID or a passport copy at all times.UK safety advice

Things to do in Riyadh

See all attractions in Riyadh

a large building with two towers on top of it

Palace · RiyadhMasmak Fortress

Park · RiyadhWadi Namar WaterfallBring your own food and drink, since no restaurants are nearby.

Zoo · RiyadhRiyadh ZooArrive before 3 PM. Entry stops at that hour, and the interactive activities finish by 4 PM.

Free trip plannerPlan a trip to RiyadhPut the places you like in Riyadh on a map, give them days, and let one button order each day. Free, with no account.Plan a trip

Need to know

Airport: King Khalid International (RUH); Metro Yellow line from T1 and T2
Getting there: Domestic flights, plus SAR trains on the North and East lines
Getting around: Six-line Metro, taxis and ride-hailing apps
Best base: Qasr Al Hokm for sights; the financial district for modern hotels
Time needed: 2 days; add an evening at Diriyah

Weather by month

Rainy days

Best
Mixed
Poor

JanuaryClear2 rainy daysHigh21°Low10°Cool, pleasant
FebruaryClear3 rainy daysHigh23°Low12°Mild
MarchClear3 rainy daysHigh29°Low17°Warm
AprilClear3 rainy daysHigh33°Low21°Hot
MayClear1 rainy dayHigh39°Low26°Very hot
JuneClear0 rainy daysHigh42°Low29°Very hot
JulyClear0 rainy daysHigh44°Low30°Hottest
AugustClear0 rainy daysHigh43°Low30°Hottest
SeptemberClear0 rainy daysHigh40°Low27°Very hot
OctoberClear0 rainy daysHigh35°Low22°Hot, easing
NovemberClear2 rainy daysHigh28°Low17°Warm, pleasant
DecemberClear2 rainy daysHigh23°Low12°Cool, pleasant

Average daily high and low in Riyadh, 2016–2025. Rainy day: 1 mm of rain or more.

Right now in Riyadh

Local time, today's weather and the exchange rate, refreshed through the day.

Feels like: 26°
Humidity: 19%
Wind: 7 km/h
Chance of rain: 0%

Riyadh

12:58 AM

Tuesday, November 3

GMT+3

Today35°25°0%Tuesday: Cloudy. High 35°, Low 25°. Chance of rain 0%.
Wed34°23°0%Wednesday: Clear. High 34°, Low 23°. Chance of rain 0%.
Thu33°22°0%Thursday: Clear. High 33°, Low 22°. Chance of rain 0%.
Fri33°23°0%Friday: Cloudy. High 33°, Low 23°. Chance of rain 0%.
Sat32°23°0%Saturday: Clear. High 32°, Low 23°. Chance of rain 0%.
Sun34°23°0%Sunday: Clear. High 34°, Low 23°. Chance of rain 0%.

Updated 09:09 PM local time · Powered by WeatherAPI.com · Weather data by Open-Meteo.com

Money

Mid-market rate1 USD = 3.75 SAR

Amount

Converted to

SAR · Saudi Riyal

Rates from Nov 2, 2026 · Rates By Exchange Rate API

Day trips by train

Diriyah and At-Turaifnorth-west of the center, by taxi or ride-hailingThe first capital of the Saudi dynasty, a UNESCO site of Najdi mud-brick architecture.
Dammamby SAR East Line trainVisit Saudi lists the East Line from Riyadh to Dammam; check the schedule and fares on the SAR site.
Jeddahby domestic flightA Red Sea port with the UNESCO-listed Al-Balad district and a warmer climate in winter.Read the guide

Before you go to Riyadh

Hotels near Qasr Al HokmSights and Metro within reachCheck availability

Diriyah and city toursEvening visit with transportCompare day trips

eSIM for RiyadhAlerts, rides and Metro ticketsRead the guide

Insurance for RiyadhCheck strike and delay termsRead the guide

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Rules for Riyadh, checked

Since 13 July 2026 the Houthis have fired missiles and drones at Saudi cities including Riyadh; the UK says follow Civil Defence alerts and shelter indoors.Checked Oct 4, 2026 · Source
Riyadh Metro runs 6am to midnight Saturday to Thursday and 8am to midnight on Fridays, according to Visit Saudi.Checked Oct 4, 2026 · Source
Riyadh Metro standard tickets are listed at SAR 4 for 2 hours, SAR 20 for 3 days, SAR 40 for 7 days and SAR 140 for 30 days.Checked Oct 4, 2026 · Source

All Riyadh guides

How toRiyadh Metro guide: six lines, airport link, hours and ticketsChecked Oct 4, 2026

Where to stayWhere to stay in Riyadh: downtown, financial district, DiriyahChecked Oct 4, 2026

ItineraryRiyadh in 2 days: National Museum, Metro and Diriyah at nightChecked Oct 4, 2026

Plan around Riyadh

Jeddah travel guide

The Red Sea port and Al-Balad, by domestic flight

Read the guide All of Saudi Arabia

Country entry rules, laws and the regional advice

Read the guide Travel insurance

Cover for flight disruption and regional risk

Read the guide

Riyadh FAQ

Is Riyadh safe to visit right now?

The UK does not advise against travel to Riyadh, but it says the Houthis have fired missiles and drones at Saudi cities including Riyadh since 13 July 2026. Canada advises avoiding non-essential travel. Read both pages and follow Civil Defence alerts.

Does Riyadh have a Metro?

Yes. Visit Saudi lists six lines, 176 km and 85 stations, with a Yellow line linking Terminals 1 and 2 at King Khalid International Airport to the financial district. It runs 6am to midnight Saturday to Thursday and 8am to midnight on Fridays.

What should you wear in Riyadh?

Loose clothing that covers the elbows and below the knees for men and women. The UK says women do not have to wear an abaya or cover their hair, and warns against tight clothes and political slogans.

Can tourists visit Diriyah?

Yes. At-Turaif is a UNESCO World Heritage Site that Diriyah's own pages show as open daily, with last entry at 11:30 pm. The official pages list different opening times, so check the date. Buy passes only on official sites.

When is the best time to visit Riyadh?

Visit Saudi's predicted temperatures run from 13 to 23 degrees Celsius in winter and 25 to 43 in summer, so November to March is the comfortable window. Summer midday heat makes outdoor sightseeing hard.