Diriyah: located just outside of Riyadh, Diriyah is a historic old town with plenty of centuries-old sites to keep tourists amused such as Salwa Palace which dates back to the First Saudi State more than 250 years ago. The Saad Bin Saud Palace is another prominent landmark here that is worth visiting. The town itself was first established in the 15th century and many of its old buildings remain in various forms of disrepair, although the Saudi government is working towards preserving the whole site. The large volume of water here compared to many other areas of the country attracts migratory birds, which makes a fine spectacle in the winter. Ha’ir also houses one of the biggest prisons in the country so make sure not to disobey the strict law of the land when visiting. Hofuf: a little farther out of Riydah, Hofuf is an intriguing city close to the Persian Gulf coast in the Al-Ahsa Oasis. In predominantly Sunni Saudi Arabia, Hofuf is a Shi’ite city and the closest major urban centre to the world’s largest onshore oil well at nearby Ghawar. Janadriyah: this is one of the more popular daytrips out from Riyadh, particularly in February when the town’s annual festival takes place, featuring traditional Saudi music and dance along with other cultural phenomena popular here like camel racing. Getting here from downtown Riyadh, a journey of about 45kms, should not take much more than an hour depending on the traffic. | 
