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Best time to visit Riyadh

The best time to visit Riyadh is November–March, judged on twenty years of weather records and the events worth going for.

Riyadh, Riyadh Region, Saudi Arabia

°C

mm

−10°0°10°20°30°40°50°
0100200300400500600
  • Average daily high and low
  • Precipitation
  • Good month
  • Best month
  • Made good or best by an event
Average daily high and low temperature, average precipitation and each month's verdict
MonthAverage daily highAverage daily lowPrecipitationVerdict
January20.8 °C / 69 °F9.2 °C / 49 °F7 mm / 0.3 inbest month
February23.7 °C / 75 °F11.4 °C / 53 °F6 mm / 0.2 inbest month
March28.5 °C / 83 °F15.7 °C / 60 °F7 mm / 0.3 inbest month
April33.4 °C / 92 °F20.9 °C / 70 °F15 mm / 0.6 ingood month
May39.3 °C / 103 °F26.1 °C / 79 °F2 mm / 0.1 inneither best nor good
June42.6 °C / 109 °F28.4 °C / 83 °F0 mm / 0 inneither best nor good
July43.7 °C / 111 °F29.7 °C / 85 °F0 mm / 0 inneither best nor good
August43.4 °C / 110 °F29.4 °C / 85 °F0 mm / 0 inneither best nor good
September40.5 °C / 105 °F26.4 °C / 80 °F0 mm / 0 inneither best nor good
October34.9 °C / 95 °F21.4 °C / 71 °F0 mm / 0 ingood month
November27.3 °C / 81 °F15.7 °C / 60 °F13 mm / 0.5 inbest month
December22 °C / 72 °F10.4 °C / 51 °F9 mm / 0.3 inbest month
Good and best months depend on more than temperature, rain and events. How they are chosen

Each activity on this page has its own good and best months, rated on twenty years of daily weather records. Which measures count, and how much, depends on the activity: humidity for exploring outdoors, wind for the beach, hiking and skiing, snow for skiing alone. Between them, the activities are rated on:

  • Daytime highs
  • Night-time lows
  • How warm it feels
  • Humidity
  • How much of the day is sunny
  • Hours of daylight
  • Monthly rainfall
  • How many days it rains
  • Days of heavy rain
  • Wind
  • Snowfall and days with snow
  • Major events, such as festivals

The chart shows the good and best months for exploring outdoors.

The event icon marks a month that an event lifts to good or best, such as a festival or a natural spectacle. Choose “Weather only” in the toolbar to rate the months on weather alone.

Best months by activity

Exploring outdoors

Mild days and nights, mostly dry and bright. The default for 'when should I go'.

  1. JJanuary: best
  2. FFebruary: best
  3. MMarch: best
  4. AApril: good
  5. MMay: neither
  6. JJune: neither
  7. JJuly: neither
  8. AAugust: neither
  9. SSeptember: neither
  10. OOctober: good
  11. NNovember: best
  12. DDecember: best
Best
November–March
Good
April, October

Riyadh is mild, dry and sunny for walking and sightseeing from November through March; April and October are hot but bearable in the dry air, while May through September's 40C-plus heat makes daytime outdoor exploring miserable despite the near-total lack of rain.

Why these months

  • January · best

    In its favour: feels like (high) 17.3 °C / 63 °F, average daily high 20.8 °C / 69 °F, precipitation 7 mm / 0.3 in, share of daylight that is sunny 89%, wet days 1.4 days, days with heavy rain 0.1 days, relative humidity 46%, average daily low 9.2 °C / 49 °F.

    Also on: Ramadan evening bazaars, Riyadh Season.

    Watch out for: Ramadan restaurant closures, Riyadh Season traffic.

  • February · best

    In its favour: feels like (high) 20.2 °C / 68 °F, average daily high 23.7 °C / 75 °F, precipitation 6 mm / 0.2 in, share of daylight that is sunny 92%, wet days 1.4 days, days with heavy rain 0.1 days, average daily low 11.4 °C / 53 °F, relative humidity 37%.

    Also on: Ramadan evening bazaars, Riyadh Season.

    Watch out for: Eid al-Fitr closures, Ramadan restaurant closures, Riyadh Season traffic.

  • March · best

    In its favour: feels like (high) 25.6 °C / 78 °F, precipitation 7 mm / 0.3 in, share of daylight that is sunny 95%, wet days 1.3 days, days with heavy rain 0.1 days, average daily high 28.5 °C / 83 °F, average daily low 15.7 °C / 60 °F, relative humidity 30%.

    Also on: Ramadan evening bazaars, Riyadh Season.

    Watch out for: Eid al-Fitr closures, Ramadan restaurant closures, Riyadh Season traffic.

  • April · good

    In its favour: precipitation 15 mm / 0.6 in, share of daylight that is sunny 89%, wet days 2.5 days, days with heavy rain 0.3 days, average daily low 20.9 °C / 70 °F, relative humidity 28%.

    Against: average daily high 33.4 °C / 92 °F, feels like (high) 31.3 °C / 88 °F.

    Also on: Riyadh Season.

    Watch out for: Riyadh Season traffic.

  • October · good

    In its favour: precipitation 0 mm / 0 in, share of daylight that is sunny 95%, wet days 0.1 days, days with heavy rain 0 days, average daily low 21.4 °C / 71 °F.

    Against: feels like (high) 33 °C / 91 °F, average daily high 34.9 °C / 95 °F, relative humidity 23%.

    Also on: Riyadh Season.

    Watch out for: Riyadh Season traffic.

  • November · best

    In its favour: feels like (high) 24.9 °C / 77 °F, precipitation 13 mm / 0.5 in, share of daylight that is sunny 95%, average daily high 27.3 °C / 81 °F, wet days 2 days, days with heavy rain 0.3 days, average daily low 15.7 °C / 60 °F, relative humidity 42%.

    Also on: Riyadh Season.

    Watch out for: Riyadh Season traffic.

  • December · best

    In its favour: feels like (high) 18.8 °C / 66 °F, average daily high 22 °C / 72 °F, precipitation 9 mm / 0.3 in, share of daylight that is sunny 93%, wet days 1.4 days, days with heavy rain 0.3 days, average daily low 10.4 °C / 51 °F, relative humidity 48%.

    Also on: Riyadh Season, Soundstorm.

    Watch out for: Riyadh Season traffic.

Hiking and trekking

Cool enough to climb in, dry enough to enjoy, long enough days.

  1. JJanuary: best
  2. FFebruary: best
  3. MMarch: good
  4. AApril: neither
  5. MMay: neither
  6. JJune: neither
  7. JJuly: neither
  8. AAugust: neither
  9. SSeptember: neither
  10. OOctober: neither
  11. NNovember: best
  12. DDecember: best
Best
November–February
Good
March

Cool, dry conditions from December through February make for excellent desert hiking; by March the midday heat is already a drawback, and April through October are too hot to hike safely.

Why these months

  • January · best

    In its favour: average daily high 20.8 °C / 69 °F, precipitation 7 mm / 0.3 in, wet days 1.4 days, days with heavy rain 0.1 days, feels like (high) 17.3 °C / 63 °F, average daily low 9.2 °C / 49 °F, share of daylight that is sunny 89%, daylight per day 10.8 h, wind (daily max) 19 km/h / 12 mph.

    Also on: Ramadan evening bazaars, Riyadh Season.

    Watch out for: Ramadan restaurant closures, Riyadh Season traffic.

  • February · best

    In its favour: precipitation 6 mm / 0.2 in, average daily high 23.7 °C / 75 °F, wet days 1.4 days, days with heavy rain 0.1 days, feels like (high) 20.2 °C / 68 °F, average daily low 11.4 °C / 53 °F, share of daylight that is sunny 92%, daylight per day 11.3 h, wind (daily max) 22 km/h / 13 mph.

    Also on: Ramadan evening bazaars, Riyadh Season.

    Watch out for: Eid al-Fitr closures, Ramadan restaurant closures, Riyadh Season traffic.

  • March · good

    In its favour: precipitation 7 mm / 0.3 in, wet days 1.3 days, days with heavy rain 0.1 days, share of daylight that is sunny 95%, daylight per day 12 h, average daily low 15.7 °C / 60 °F, wind (daily max) 23 km/h / 14 mph, feels like (high) 25.6 °C / 78 °F.

    Against: average daily high 28.5 °C / 83 °F.

    Also on: Ramadan evening bazaars, Riyadh Season.

    Watch out for: Eid al-Fitr closures, Ramadan restaurant closures, Riyadh Season traffic.

  • November · best

    In its favour: precipitation 13 mm / 0.5 in, wet days 2 days, days with heavy rain 0.3 days, share of daylight that is sunny 95%, daylight per day 11 h, average daily low 15.7 °C / 60 °F, wind (daily max) 18 km/h / 11 mph, feels like (high) 24.9 °C / 77 °F.

    Against: average daily high 27.3 °C / 81 °F.

    Also on: Riyadh Season.

    Watch out for: Riyadh Season traffic.

  • December · best

    In its favour: average daily high 22 °C / 72 °F, precipitation 9 mm / 0.3 in, wet days 1.4 days, days with heavy rain 0.3 days, feels like (high) 18.8 °C / 66 °F, average daily low 10.4 °C / 51 °F, share of daylight that is sunny 93%, wind (daily max) 17 km/h / 11 mph, daylight per day 10.6 h.

    Also on: Riyadh Season, Soundstorm.

    Watch out for: Riyadh Season traffic.

An activity is listed only where it applies: skiing at ski destinations, beach and swimming at beach destinations. The nearest ski area is پیست اسکی پولادکف, Pooladkaf Ski Resort, 811 km away.

Weather averages

Monthly averages over twenty years, 2006–2025. Highs, lows and precipitation are in the chart at the top.

  JanFebMarAprMayJunJulAugSepOctNovDec
Feels like (high) 17.3 °C20.2 °C25.6 °C31.3 °C37.6 °C39.9 °C41.3 °C41.5 °C38.8 °C33 °C24.9 °C18.8 °C
Days with heavy rain 0.1 days0.1 days0.1 days0.3 days0 days0 days0 days0 days0 days0 days0.3 days0.3 days
Time rain usually falls 5 am11 pm8 pm5 pm4 pm10 pm5 pm7 pm--4 am8 am9 am
Sunshine per day 9.6 h10.4 h11.4 h11.4 h12.2 h12.3 h12 h11.9 h11.6 h11 h10.4 h9.8 h
Relative humidity 46%37%30%28%19%12%13%14%16%23%42%48%

Air quality

Averaged over a shorter period (2022–2025) than the twenty-year averages above, and not counted towards good or best months.

  JanFebMarAprMayJunJulAugSepOctNovDec
Air pollution (PM2.5) 2022–202564.1 µg/m³74.2 µg/m³69.6 µg/m³67 µg/m³64.9 µg/m³45.3 µg/m³46 µg/m³60.4 µg/m³53.8 µg/m³55.5 µg/m³68.8 µg/m³86 µg/m³
Air pollution (PM2.5, daily peak) 2022–2025102.7 µg/m³118.9 µg/m³115.9 µg/m³109.7 µg/m³107.2 µg/m³72.7 µg/m³67.8 µg/m³93 µg/m³98.2 µg/m³99.2 µg/m³111.5 µg/m³134.9 µg/m³
  • Good 15 µg/m³ or less
  • Fair 15 to 25 µg/m³
  • Moderate 25 to 37.5 µg/m³
  • Poor 37.5 to 50 µg/m³
  • Very poor 50 to 75 µg/m³
  • Extremely poor over 75 µg/m³

Each figure is compared with the World Health Organization's guideline for a day's air, 15 µg/m³ or less, and with its interim targets above that. The words are ours: the WHO does not name its steps. The figures are modelled monthly averages, so single days can be well above them. The daily peak is the average of each day's highest hour, shaded on the same scale.

Events and seasons

What the weather records cannot show. A major event can lift a month to good or best. The warnings are there to help you plan, and never count against a month.

Reasons to go

  • Riyadh Season

    January, February, March, April, October, November and December

  • Ramadan evening bazaars

    January, February and March, dates vary from year to year

  • Soundstorm

    1–7 December

Worth knowing before you go

  • Riyadh Season traffic

    January, February, March, April, October, November and December

  • Ramadan restaurant closures

    January, February and March, dates vary from year to year

  • Eid al-Fitr closures

    February and March, dates vary from year to year

  • Eid al-Adha closures

    May, dates vary from year to year

World Heritage sites nearby

UNESCO World Heritage sites within 25 km, nearest first.

  • At-Turaif District

    16 km away

Other places in Saudi Arabia

Compare places month by month on the travel calendar

Monthly averages over 2006–2025, unless stated otherwise.

Weather data by Open-Meteo.com (CC-BY 4.0), generated using Copernicus Climate Change Service information (ERA5). City data from GeoNames (CC-BY 4.0). Air quality from the Copernicus Atmosphere Monitoring Service (CAMS) and sea temperature from Météo-France / Copernicus Marine, both via Open-Meteo.com. Coastline from Natural Earth. Ski areas from OpenSkiMap.org, © OpenStreetMap contributors (ODbL) and Skimap.org. World Heritage sites from Wikidata (CC0), from the World Heritage List © UNESCO World Heritage Centre. Readership from Wikimedia pageview data (CC0). Destination classification derived from English Wikivoyage, © Wikivoyage contributors (CC BY-SA 4.0).