Transportation & Reach
With excellent highways, rail to Dammam and connected to the whole country
King Khalid International Airport, Riyadh is the very transport hub for the
entire kingdom. Besides there are many public transport facilities in the
city like buses, taxis and hired cars.
Riyadh Airports:
King Khalid International Airport: Located 35km (22m) North of the city,
the airport operates all domestic as well as international flights of
Riyadh. It has three terminals linked together by moving walkways to
facilitate ease of transfer between terminals and gates.
The airport is also the main base of operations for Saudi National
Airlines. There is also a regular SAPTCO (Saudi Arabian Public Transport
Company) bus service from the airport to various hotels and center of town.
Riyadh Railway Transportation:
Although the railway system in Saudi Arabia is not well developed, Riyadh
as a capital and major metropolis stands as the major Railway hub of the
country. The Riyadh Railway Station offers trips to different parts of the
country as well as local train service within the city with its main route
being Riyadh to Dammam line. It also touches major areas such as Dhahran,
Abqaiq, Hofuf, Harad and Al Kharj. Another line connects Hofuf to Riyadh.
Local Transportation of Riyadh:
Public transport in Riyadh is quite limited, consisting mainly of buses or
minibuses.
- Buses: The mode plies on very few routes and usually operates
for men only though buses that do admit women have a screened off area,
separating them from men. A bus service named SAPTCO (Saudi Arabian
Public Transport Company) which regularly operates from the airports to
various hotels and the center of town, while there are some other buses
and mini buses marked airport and they go to the old airport.
- Taxis: There are mainly two types of taxis operating in the
city namely, white and orange and yellow taxis which are metered. The
drivers of the white and orange speak English while white taxis can be
booked through the hotel or hired directly from an amenable driver.
- Rented Cars: Car hiring is the probably the best option for
moving smoothly in the city. As the roads are good, it makes lot of
sense to rent a car. There is a limousine service from the airport to
the traveller's destination whose rates are decided by the government
decides the rate.
Hotels & Accommodation
Literally overflowing with luxurious up market, five & four star
hotels, Riyadh has a lot to offer to its visitors and business executives.
For the budget traveler too, there are number of youth hostel and budget
hotels within walking distance of the bus station.
| Hotels of Riyadh |
Average Rates |
| 5-Star |
$215-400 |
| 4-Star |
$90-197 |
| 2-Star |
$70-90 |
| Budget Hotels |
$35-70 |
