The best months to visit Riyadh are Nov – Mar. 15–25°C, cool & pleasant.
Quick facts
Currency SAR (Riyal) 1 USD ≈ 3.75 SAR
Language Arabic English growing in business areas
Timezone AST (UTC+3) No daylight saving
Best Months Nov – Mar 15–25°C, cool & pleasant
Daily Budget ~$65–100 USD SAR 245–375 budget
Visa eVisa or on arrival Tourist visa SAR 480 for many nationalities
When to go
A desert capital reinventing itself at breakneck speed, where mud-brick fortresses stand in the shadow of glass supertowers.
Getting Around in Riyadh
- Riyadh Metro is opening in phases: 6 lines covering 176km. Check current status at riyadhmetro.sa
- Until metro is fully operational, Uber and Careem are essential. Riyadh is vast, and distances are large between areas
- SAPTCO buses connect to Jeddah (SAR 150, 10 hours), Medina (SAR 150, 9 hours), and Dammam (SAR 100, 4.5 hours)
For itineraries, costs and practical travel advice, see the full Riyadh travel guide.
Timezone: AST (UTC+3) (No daylight saving)
Frequently asked questions
When is the best time to visit Riyadh?
The best months to visit Riyadh are Nov – Mar (15–25°C, cool & pleasant), which makes for the most comfortable conditions for sightseeing and getting around. For what a trip costs day to day, see the Riyadh budget breakdown.
