How to Get Around Riyadh

How transport works in Riyadh

The Riyadh Metro (6 lines) opened in 2024 and links KAFD, Olaya, Downtown and Diriyah; taxi and Careem/Uber rideshares are inexpensive and cover the whole city. A car is useful for Edge of the World and heritage day trips.

Your options compared

• Riyadh Metro

  Six-line driverless network (opened 2024) covers KAFD, Olaya, Downtown, Diriyah, RUH airport.

• Careem / Uber

  Cheap, plentiful and preferred by most visitors — cash and card.

• Taxi

  White-and-yellow metered cabs; agree fare or insist on meter for short trips.

• Rental car

  Recommended for Edge of the World, Al-Ha'ir farms and desert-camp day trips.

Passes and tickets

Darb transit card taps for metro and bus.

Local transport tips

Prayer times (5x daily) briefly close shops and restaurants — plan meals accordingly.

Arriving from the airport

• King Khalid International (Riyadh) (RUH)

  Metered Karwa taxi to Olaya in ~35 min (SAR 80–120); Careem is often cheaper; hotel limos SAR 200+.

Do you need a rental car?

Inside Riyadh a car is usually a liability — parking and traffic cost more than transit. A rental earns its keep for day trips and regional drives, so compare rates only for the days you actually leave the city.