Riyadh Diplomatic Quarter Things To Do & How To Visit!

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Whether you’re a tourist in Riyadh looking for where to go in Riyadh, or a local in Riyadh visiting one of the many Embassies located in the Diplomatic Quarter Riyadh. Here is how to get to the Diplomatic Quarter, things to do in Riyadh Diplomatic Quarter and how to visit the Diplomatic Quarter in Riyadh.

The DQ as it’s also known is located in the Western part of Riyadh and after spending a few weeks in Riyadh City and going there not quite knowing what to expect, I was extremely happy to be in this part of Riyadh! It felt like a haven in a very busy city!

The Diplomatic Quarter is its own gated neighbourhood and is essentially one the of expat compounds in Riyadh, however, it is also home to many embassies and Saudi’s can live there now too, not just expats.

The DQ is well looked after with pretty flowers, green grass, date palms, wide streets, walking trails, plenty of parks, plus shops, hotels, restaurants, cafes and spas. It’s quiet with only a small amount of traffic and makes for one of the great things to do in Riyadh!

Riyadh Diplomatic Quarter

Keep Reading for my guide to visiting Riyadh Diplomatic Quarter!

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How to get to Riyadh Diplomatic Quarter.

By Public Transport.

If you are a tourist in Riyadh, unless you have a rental car, you will need to get a taxi to the DQ.

As you enter the neighbourhood you will go through the gates and security will ask your taxi driver where you are going. From what I read, Saudi’s and some nationalities are questioned more than others at this point.

The Diplomatic Quarter is a huge neighbourhood so do not just type ‘Riyadh Diplomatic Quarter’ into Uber for example. It’s best to pick a location on the map that you want to visit so the taxi can take you there.

Personally I chose one of the parks and once you read the rest of the post on what to do in the Diplomatic Quarter in Riyadh you will have some ideas as to where to get dropped off so you can be taken to the correct Diplomatic Quarter Riyadh location.

By Car.

If you have your own car you can drive into and all around the Diplomatic Quarter but you will be asked where you are going when you arrive.

If you are driving and trying to work out where to do in the DQ, you’ll find that the roundabouts are all numbered and places seem to be directed to via these numbers.

The Wandering Quinn Travel Blog things to do in Riyadh Diplomatic Quarter, Roundabout

A Numbered Roundabout in the Diplomatic Quarter.

Here are my other blog posts about Riyadh to help you plan your trip:
The BEST Things to do in Riyadh as a Tourist but like a Local!
My Riyadh Travel & City Guide!
How To Get a Sim Card in Riyadh Airport!
What to Wear in Saudi Arabia as a Foreign Female Tourist.

How to get around Riyadh Diplomatic Quarter.

Once you are in the DQ you can walk around! Which is pretty amazing compared to the rest of Riyadh where you cannot walk, so I really recommend making full use of this.

All of the streets have sidewalks so you do not have to walk in the road and the roads are pretty quiet, from what I have seen anyway.

The heat is the only thing that may stop you from walking too far and doing all of these things to do in the Diplomatic Quarter. However Uber is available once you are in the DQ so you can order one to take your elsewhere in the Diplomatic Quarter or to pick you up when you are ready to leave.

The Residential Streets of the Diplomatic Quarter.

Things to do in Riyadh Diplomatic Quarter.

DQ Walking Trails

If you want to go for a good walk in Riyadh, the Diplomatic Quarter is where you need to go as walking is not one of the popular Riyadh things to do!

On the far side of the DQ is Wadi Hanifah and this has lots of walking trails around it to make you feel like you are no longer in the city.

There is also a good walking trail that I did from Tuwaiq Palace into Al Khozama Garden and from there it took me on a nice long trail.

As well as the walking trails, you can also walk on the residential streets, because this is the Diplomatic Area in Riyadh it is very safe and quiet.

DQ Parks

There are so many beautiful, green and well-kept parks in the Diplomatic Quarter of Riyadh and walking around this is one of the best things to do in Riyadh Diplomatic Quarter.

I started my day in the DQ by getting an Uber to Tuwaiq Gardens. I also visited Al Khozama Garden and Yamamah Park. I walked between all of these really easily and I recommend you visit them too.

Some of the parks have play areas for children making them one of the good things to do in Riyadh with children.

DQ Cafes & Restaurants

Between the parks, streets and embassies are courtyards and plazas with offices, cafes and restaurants perfect if you are looking for where to eat in the Diplomatic Quarter. Al Fazari Plaza has a few restaurants including The Pancake House and Scalini Restaurant.

Some of these are restaurants in the Diplomatic Quarter that have seating outside in the courtyard and others are all inside.

Oud Square is a particularly good place to visit, especially if you are looking for cafes in the Diplomatic Quarter. It has an IHOP Pancake House and Starbucks, as well as many coffee shops. As a digital nomad, I enjoyed doing some work in a cafe in Oud Square for a bit after my walk.

DQ Spas

If you want to relax and treat yourself there are a few spas in the Diplomatic Quarter as part of the things to do in Riyadh Diplomatic Quarter. Villa Blanca Spa and Lounge is one of these located in Al Fazari Plaza and Four Spa ia another highly rated spa in the Diplomatic Quarter in Riyadh.

Diplomatic Quarter Hotels.

If you want to stay in the DQ, this is a good option. I would suggest this if you are looking for a quiet place to stay in Riyadh with everything at your doorstep, it is also a good choice if you are on business in Riyadh as the hotels in the Diplomatic Quarter offer a high standard stay.

However, be warned that your experience in the DQ will not show you what the real Riyadh is like. This neighbourhood is not the same as the rest of the city! To read how to see Riyadh like a local, check out this blog post of mine, you can visit all of these places in Riyadh from the Diplomatic Quarter if you decide to stay there.