The National Museum of Saudi Arabia opened in 1999 as the centrepiece of the King Abdulaziz Historical Centre, a district of gardens, palms and restored buildings laid out around the former royal compound of Murabba, north of the old town. Its long, curving stone wall is one of the more distinctive pieces of modern architecture in the city.
Inside, eight galleries run in sequence from the geology of the peninsula and its earliest inhabitants, through the ancient Arabian kingdoms and trade routes, the pre-Islamic era, the life of the Prophet and the spread of Islam, to the three Saudi states, unification and the Hajj. Displays are bilingual in Arabic and English. A few steps away stands Murabba Palace, the mud-brick residence and court that King Abdulaziz built in the 1930s, when he became the first ruler to live outside Riyadh’s walls.
Top things to do at National Museum & Murabba Palace
Follow the eight galleries in order
The route is chronological, and it rewards being followed from the start. Highlights include a large meteorite fragment from the Empty Quarter, rock art and inscriptions in ancient Arabian scripts, finds from Dilmun, Tayma and Al-Ula, and detailed models of Makkah and Madinah.
Step into Murabba Palace
The palace is a two-storey courtyard building of mud-brick, palm trunks and tamarisk beams. Upstairs are the king’s reception rooms; among the exhibits are personal belongings and one of the first lifts installed in the country. Opening times differ from the museum’s, so check both.
Stroll the gardens of the historical centre
Lawns, date palms, water channels, an old defensive tower and a mosque fill the space between the museum and the palace. In the evening it is a pleasant local park and a good place to wait out the last heat of the day.
How to get to National Museum & Murabba Palace
- By metro: the National Museum station on the Blue Line is close to the historical centre.
- By taxi or ride-hailing: 10–20 minutes from Olaya, and about 10 minutes from Masmak Fortress.
- On a tour: city tours often pair the museum or Murabba Palace with the old town — see our ranking.
Insider tips
- Hours have differed between weekdays, Fridays and Saturdays, and the museum has usually closed one day a week. Check the official times, especially during Ramadan.
- There is a modest entry fee for the museum; check current prices.
- Allow at least two hours for the galleries — three if you read the panels.
- This is the best thing to do in Riyadh in the middle of a hot day: large, quiet and fully air-conditioned.
Best tours & tickets for National Museum & Murabba Palace
These top-rated experiences are the easiest way to see National Museum & Murabba Palace:
City tour from €133 Riyadh: Masmak Fort, Souq Al Zal & Murabba Palace Tour
A fuller day in historic Riyadh by car, linking the old quarter around Masmak with King Abdulaziz’s palace at Murabba and the park-like historical centre around the National Museum. A good choice when you would rather not juggle taxis, opening hours and the midday heat yourself.
- Masmak Fortress and Deira Square
- Souq Al Zal with a guide
- Murabba Palace and the King Abdulaziz Historical Centre
City tour from €143 Riyadh: Full-Day City Exploration Tour with Optional Lunch
A full-day overview by car for travellers with only one day: the historic centre, the museum quarter and the modern skyline. Reviews are more mixed than for the others on this page, so read the recent ones and confirm the itinerary before booking.
- Old and new Riyadh in a single day
- Hotel pickup and a private vehicle
- Optional traditional lunch
