Tip #1: Everything is halal. Alcohol does not exist.
Saudi law requires all food to be halal-certified. Pork does not enter the country. There is no alcohol anywhere, not in hotels, not in restaurants, not in shops. After years of reading labels and asking questions in other cities, Riyadh feels like exhaling for the first time.
Tip #2: Eat kabsa until you cannot move.
Kabsa is the national dish: fragrant spiced rice with slow-cooked chicken or lamb, garnished with raisins, almonds, and a tomato sauce called daqoos. Eat it at restaurants in the Al Murabba area for the authentic version. I ate kabsa four times in five days and would have eaten it a fifth.
Tip #3: Dine at Bujairi Terrace in Al Diriyah.
Over 20 restaurants line a terrace overlooking the UNESCO-listed At-Turaif heritage site. The setting, with mud-brick palaces illuminated across the wadi at night, is spectacular. Book for sunset. Reservations recommended for weekends.
Tip #4: Use the Riyadh Metro.
Six colour-coded lines, 85 stations, 176 km of track. The world's longest fully automated, driverless metro network. It connects the airport, business districts, and cultural sites. Buy a rechargeable card at any station. This transforms Riyadh from a car-dependent sprawl into something closer to a normal city experience.
Tip #5: Pray at Al Rajhi Grand Mosque.
One of the largest mosques in the capital, with capacity for 18,000 worshippers. Friday sermons are broadcast in seven languages with subtitles on digital screens. The Imam Turki bin Abdullah Grand Mosque in Dira is the spiritual anchor of the old city and atmospheric for Jummah. Arrive thirty minutes early for a spot inside at either.
Tip #6: Shops may close for prayer.
Under Vision 2030 this has relaxed, but many traditional businesses still pause for Dhuhr and Asr. If a shop shutter comes down mid-browse, wait fifteen minutes. It is part of the rhythm here.
Tip #7: Drive to the Edge of the World.
Jebel Fihrayn, 90 km northwest of Riyadh. You drive through flat desert, and then the earth drops away into an endless canyon. Standing at the cliff edge, wind in your face, desert stretching to the horizon, is genuinely awe-inspiring. Requires a 4x4 and confidence with off-road driving, or a guided tour. Go in the late afternoon for the best light.
Tip #8: Visit between November and March.
Summer temperatures reach 45 to 50 degrees Celsius. Outdoor activities are impossible between 10 AM and 5 PM. Winter sits at 15 to 25 degrees during the day with clear skies. Riyadh Season (October to March) brings concerts, cultural events, and performances that transform the entertainment calendar.
Tip #9: Accept every offer of coffee and dates.
Arabic coffee (qahwa) with dates is Saudi Arabia's ritual, not just a snack. It is offered before any transaction, before any agenda. Refusing is culturally jarring. Sukkari dates from Al-Qassim are the finest. Buy a box at the Old Dira Souq to take home.
Tip #10: Get the Saudi e-visa online.
Available for citizens of 49-plus countries, processed within minutes. This is a radical change from a country that only opened to tourism in 2019. Check the Saudi eVisa portal for eligibility. Umrah pilgrims can now add tourism activities to their visa.
Riyadh is not polished the way Dubai is polished. It is raw, ambitious, and authentically Saudi. The food is magnificent, the heritage is deep, and the metro makes it all accessible.