Riyadh Transportation – Taxi, Train, Bus & Airport Tips

Riyadh Transportation

There are airplanes, buses and trains that will take you Riyadh, as well as a modern superhighway serving the city. Local buses, limousines and cabs are common ways of getting around Riyadh. It is also common to rent a car or even purchase one, though that brings with it certain difficulties. Fortunately, cars are relatively inexpensive in Saudi Arabia.

Taxis and Limousines

The two terms are interchangeable in Riyadh, though they describe a wide variety of vehicles. Caution must be exercised, and it is always best to ask a hotel for a recommendation. Many taxi drivers are foreigners to Saudi Arabia themselves, and they cannot necessarily be depended on to speak intelligible Arabic or English. Avoid taxi drivers who cannot communicate with you. Many taxis are dirty or dangerous, and maintenance issues are common with these vehicles. Women are, unfortunately, advised to take special precautions and avoid traveling alone.

Women Traveling in Riyadh

There are a number of onerous and sexist regulations governing the way that women can travel around Riyadh. For example, it is actually illegal for a woman to drive a car in Riyadh. Although a foreign woman may wish to challenge this ban, they should be aware of the difficulties they are certain to encounter. Many women visiting Riyadh choose to hire a limousine with a driver, because the law also states that a woman may not travel in the front seat of any vehicle unless the person driving is their husband. The unreliable and unpredictable nature of many taxi drivers in Riyadh also means that it is best to find a trustworthy driver and stick with them. In circumstances such as these a limousine with driver becomes almost a reasonable way to travel.

Editor’s Note: The information contained on this page was compiled using real traveler reviews about Riyadh Transportation-Taxi, Train, Bus, and Airport Tips.