Four to five days covers Riyadh's main sights at a comfortable pace, with room for at least one day trip beyond the city, which is worth protecting given how recently — and rapidly — Saudi tourism infrastructure has opened up. Days 1 and 2 focus on Diriyah, the UNESCO-listed birthplace of the Saudi state and arguably the single best reason to visit Riyadh right now. At-Turaif's restored mud-brick palaces and fortifications deserve a slow morning, and the surrounding district has developed quickly into a genuine dining and cultural hub — plan an evening here as well as a daytime visit, since the area looks markedly different after dark with restaurants and lighting fully active. Day 3 moves to modern Riyadh. The Kingdom Centre Sky Bridge offers panoramic views over the city's rapidly expanding skyline from a glass bridge connecting the top of the tower — a striking contrast to Diriyah's mud-brick architecture from the day before. Spend the rest of the day in Olaya, Riyadh's main business and shopping district, with an evening there to get a sense of the city's contemporary pace. Day 4 is for history and culture. The National Museum gives a well-curated overview of Saudi history broadly, while Murabba Palace, King Abdulaziz's former royal residence nearby, adds a more personal layer to the same period. The older Al Bujairi heritage area, adjacent to Diriyah, is worth revisiting if you have time, since it's developed enough that a single visit on day one or two likely won't have covered everything. Day 5, if you have it, is best spent at the Edge of the World (Jebel Fihrayn), a dramatic cliff-edge desert viewpoint about ninety minutes by car from the city. It's become one of the most photographed natural sites near Riyadh, and the drive itself through changing desert terrain is part of the experience. A few practical notes: there's no public metro fully operational citywide at the scale tourists typically need yet, so budget for rideshare apps, which are widely used, affordable, and the standard way most visitors get around. Dress modestly throughout — loose, comfortable clothing is expected and sensible given the climate. And note that Saudi Arabia is dry nationwide, with no alcohol sold or served anywhere, including hotels.