RUH · Layover Guide
Riyadh
Stop in Riyadh.
Best layover: 4–18h
LayoverScore™
Base city score. Your route score varies by savings and timing.
Exit realism
Comfortable window
Enough room in Riyadh for a real stop. Keep the buffer at the end anyway.
Landside playbook
If time slips
- Drop the last stop. Go straight to the train, taxi rank, or ride pickup you already chose.
- Add 15 minutes to map ETAs for the return leg at rush hour.
- One ticket for the whole trip protects you when the inbound is late. Separate tickets do not.
Worth knowing
- Do not stack three stops. One solid block in the city beats a rushed loop.
- Do not treat one map time as gospel for immigration lines. Pad on your first pass through this hub.
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Places to stay
Search hotelsLayoverScore™ breakdown
Score 62 · Discover 49 · Ease 5
Why Riyadh scores 62
Getting there
Uber/Careem $18 · Airport Taxi $25
min to center
metro- 01Riyadh Metro (45 min to city center, opening 2024)
- 02Taxi/Uber (30-40 min, ~$15-25)
- 03SAPTCO bus (60 min, ~$3)
- 01Explore the historic Diriyah UNESCO World Heritage Site and At-Turaif district
- 02Visit the towering Kingdom Centre and its Sky Bridge observation deck
- 03Wander through the bustling Souq Al Zal for traditional crafts and antiques
- 04Experience the National Museum of Saudi Arabia's immersive galleries
- 05Stroll along Boulevard Riyadh City entertainment district
Experiences in Riyadh
Timed tours and tickets for Riyadh are listed on our partner site.
Open listingsOpens in a new tab.
Need a room for your layover? Browse hotels near the airport.
Where to stay →Drop your luggage. Don't drag it around the city.
King Khalid Airport Left Luggage
Terminal 1 & 5 arrivals
$8/day
5 min walk
Marriott Riyadh Day Use
Diplomatic Quarter
$60/day
0 min walk
From the terminal to the good part.
Uber/Careem
Airport to city center
Most convenient option, widely available
35 min
$18.00
Airport Taxi
Airport to city center
Fixed rate taxis available at arrivals
35 min
$25.00
SAPTCO Bus
Airport to Olaya district
Limited routes, less frequent
60 min
$3.00
Riyadh Metro Line 6
Airport to downtown stations
Airport connection expected 2024-2025
45 min
$2.00
Riyadh Season Pass
Access to seasonal entertainment zones and events
Available during Riyadh Season (Oct-Mar)
$30
per day
Getting there
Get an Uber from the airportAt the airport
- 01Al Fursan Lounge with traditional Arabic hospitality
- 02Prayer rooms and ablution facilities throughout terminals
- 03Duty-free shopping with Saudi dates and oud perfumes
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