Hop onto one of our luxurious tour busses for the ultimate Dirriyah experience, this tour is the best way to discover Dirriyah.
Ad-Diriyah - the birthplace of the first Saudi Kingdom and listed as UNESCO World Heritage Site. Learn more about its history, its ancient trade, pilgrimage routes. Explore the incredible architecture and the opportunity to admire the rapid development of this cosmopolitan capital.
Schedule & prices
Runs
Mon, Tue, Wed, and Thu
Start times
9:00 AM
Next available
Mon, Nov 2
Adult (ages 12+)
$76
Child (ages 3–11)
$53
Infant (ages 1–2)
Free
In demand: 10 of the next 18 departures are already sold out.
From the operator’s live schedule on Viator, checked Oct 13.
Tour Options
Half Day Dirriyah Tour
Pickup included
Itinerary
Ad Diriyah
240 min
We drive for 30 minutes to Ad-Diriyah, located on the western bank of the Wadi Hanifah, a dry riverbed where water flows only after big rains. Ad-Diriyah used to be the capital of the Najd (the central plateau of the Arabian Peninsula) from the 15th century until the beginning of the 18th century. It is the birthplace of the first Saudi Kingdom and its importance in the history of the Arabian Peninsula was highlighted when it was listed as UNESCO World Heritage Site, in 2010, as the most brilliant example of Najdi architecture. The history of Ad-Diriyah goes back thousands of years as it was on an ancient trade and pilgrimage route, acting as a meeting point for those traveling to or from Asia, Africa, and Europe. As we drive towards the city, we have the opportunity to admire the rapid development of this cosmopolitan capital, planned by the Saudi government to become the biggest metropole in the Middle East in the next 10 years.
What's included
Included
Pick up from your Hotel in Riyadh
Entrance to Dirriyah
Driver Assistance English or Arabic
Not included
Personal expenses
Food & beverages
Pickup Locations & Times
Tour start: Our tour will start at 09:00Hrs, but pick up is 30-60 minutes before
*PICKUP TIME: 30 – 60 Minutes before departure time from your Hotel in Riyadh, Please coordinate with us with your local contact, so we contact you with accurate pickup details and time.
*DROP OFF TIME & PLACE: Your Hotel in Riyadh.
Traveller Ratings
Reviews collected by Viator and Tripadvisor
3.0
5 reviews
5
0
4
2
3
1
2
2
1
0
How it compares in Riyadh
No. 34 by number of reviews among 136 tours in Riyadh
Starting price $76 is 37% below the typical $120 for tours of similar length in Riyadh
Excurgo comparison of 136 Viator tours, recalculated daily.
Important Information
Suitable for all physical fitness levels
Cancellation
For a full refund, cancel at least 24 hours before the scheduled departure time.
1+ days before100% refund
0–1 days before0% refund
Frequently asked questions
How long does Half Day Dirriyah Tour take?
Half Day Dirriyah Tour lasts about 4 hours. The itinerary has 1 stop.
How much does Half Day Dirriyah Tour cost?
Prices start at $76 per person for this Riyadh experience, booked through Viator with the price shown before checkout. There is 1 booking option, so the final price depends on the option you choose.
What days does Half Day Dirriyah Tour run?
According to the operator’s current schedule, it runs on Mondays, Tuesdays, Wednesdays, and Thursdays, starting at 9:00 AM.
How much does Half Day Dirriyah Tour cost for children?
Children aged 3–11 pay from $53, adults from $76. Infants go free.
Does Half Day Dirriyah Tour sell out?
It can: 10 of the next 18 departures are already sold out, so booking ahead is a good idea.
Can I cancel Half Day Dirriyah Tour for free?
Yes. Cancel at least 1 day before the start for a full refund. Later cancellations are non-refundable.
Is hotel pickup included?
Yes, pickup is offered. Tour start: Our tour will start at 09:00Hrs, but pick up is 30-60 minutes before
*PICKUP TIME: 30 – 60 Minutes before departure time from your Hotel in Riyadh, Please coordinate with us with your local contact, so we contact you with accurate pickup details and time.
*DROP OFF TIME & PLACE: Your Hotel in Riyadh. Pickup points include Al Mashreq Boutique Hotel, WAW Hotel Suites.
What languages is Half Day Dirriyah Tour offered in?
The experience is available in AR, EN.
Is this a private or a group tour?
It is a small-group experience with a maximum of 30 participants.
Will my booking be confirmed immediately?
Yes, bookings are confirmed instantly.
Is Half Day Dirriyah Tour worth it?
Travellers rate it 3.0 out of 5 across 5 reviews on Viator and Tripadvisor; it is run by Gray Line - Kurban Tours.
Reviews(5)
Reviews collected by Viator and Tripadvisor
D
Dream46417525451
May 24, 2025 · via Tripadvisor
This is a taxi ride, not a guided tour
We thought we had booked a guided tour («Learn about the history of Ad Diriyah from your guide») but this was simply a taxi ride to Diriya which dropped us off at the gates with an entrance ticket. We were very confused as the driver didn’t speak english. We spent the first quarter of an hour trying to find our guide but realised that there wasn’t going to be one.
Diriya is well worth a visit but we would recommend another form of transport so you can spend as long as you want there By the time all the pick ups were done, we only had two hours. There were shops and restaurants there and we could easily have spent double that time so we felt very rushed.
There was good information by text message but as we expected a bus, we got into the one outside the hotel only to find some minutes later that it was the car behind the bus that was for us. We also had to wait ages at one of the other pick ups at another hotel all cutting down our time in Diriya.
The car was very comfortable but since it is not a quided tour and the driver has limited english, we would recommend for example an uber so you get there straight away and can spend more time around the fantastisk Diriya.
Operator response
Thank you for sharing your detailed feedback. We truly value honest reviews like yours, as they help us improve and ensure clearer communication for future guests.
We’re very sorry to hear that the tour did not meet your expectations, especially regarding the guided experience. We’re already working on updating it to make the format more transparent.
We also apologize for the pickup delays and any miscommunication about the vehicle. While our drivers strive to be helpful and kind.
Diriyah is indeed a beautiful place with so much to explore, and we completely agree that it’s worth a longer visit. We hope you’ll consider giving us another opportunity in the future — perhaps on one of our fully guided experiences, which offer more in-depth exploration and flexible timing.
Thank you again for your helpful input, and we hope to welcome you back soon with a much-improved experience.
W
Wendy_O
May 17, 2024 · via Viator
Informative
Well educated and knowledgeable guide. He was helpful and spoke good english. The historical site was very interesting
1 people found this helpful
V
Viktoriia_S
January 29, 2024 · via Viator
Basically you pay for...
Basically you pay for very expensive taxi to the Diriyah. There were no guides from the Viator, they didn't book a guide for us inside the Diriyah.
1 people found this helpful
Operator response
Hello Viktoriia, I apologize for the inconvenience. We'll thoroughly review from our side to prevent such oversights in the future. Your feedback helps us improve. If there's anything else we can do to enhance your experience, please don't hesitate to let us know.
A
Ahmed_B
January 28, 2024 · via Viator
I was not satisfied with...
I was not satisfied with the time we waited for the bus to pick us up from the hotel, further we had to pick up passengers from North of Riyadh and then go to Diriyah which is west of Riyadh. The driver did not have good knowledge of Riyadh, he did not give any information of the areas that we went through or the sites or the huge buildings that we saw on the way.
1 people found this helpful
Operator response
Hello Ahmed, I'm sorry to hear about your disappointing experience with the bus pickup and the lack of information provided during the tour. Your feedback is valuable and will be shared with the team for improvement. We strive to enhance our services to ensure a more informative and enjoyable experience for all our guests. Thank you for bringing this to our attention.
C
Chris_J
January 26, 2024 · via Viator
Overpriced, Try To Look Elsewhere
Ad-Diriyah is a beautiful place and our tour guide was very pleasant. However, the price is expensive for a short and simple guided tour with pickup and dropoff. I recommend looking elsewhere for a guided tour.
1 people found this helpful
Operator response
Hello Chris, thank you for acknowledging Ad-Diriyah's beauty and our pleasant guide. We apologize if the tour's cost seemed high for the experience. Your feedback is valuable, and we're committed to enhancing our offerings. We appreciate your recommendation to explore alternative guided tours. Please feel free to share more details, as we aim to continually improve and provide a more satisfying experience in the future.
