--- title: "Walking tracks in Riyadh worth knowing" description: "Walking tracks in Riyadh by season: Wadi Hanifah, the Sports Boulevard promenade, King Abdullah Park, Salam Park and new neighbourhood paths, with timings." canonical: https://www.sisly.ai/en/blog/walking-tracks-riyadh/ published: 2026-09-10 updated: 2026-09-29 language: en --- # Walking tracks in Riyadh worth knowing The main walking tracks in Riyadh are the 13.4 km Wadi Hanifah stretch of Sports Boulevard, its 4 km Promenade, the 20 km loop at Princess Nourah University, King Abdullah Park in Al Malaz and Salam Park near Al Hukm Palace. From November to March, walk at any hour; in summer, walk after sunset. - Sports Boulevard opened its first five destinations in February 2025, including a 13.4 km stretch of Wadi Hanifah and a 4 km promenade. - Average afternoon highs in Riyadh stay at or below 27.8°C from November to March, and pass 42°C from June to August. - Riyadh's summer air is very dry, which helps sweat evaporate but makes it easy to lose water without noticing. - Riyadh Municipality has announced 14 km of new walking paths in four neighbourhoods. - Opening hours change with the season and with events, so check before you go. ## Where are the walking tracks in Riyadh? Riyadh has changed as a place to walk. A city once known for its highways now has a long green path along Wadi Hanifah, a new sports promenade, large central parks and walkways inside many neighbourhoods. This guide covers the walking tracks in Riyadh that are open now, with the season and time of day that suit each. Distances come from the organisations that built or run them. Opening hours change with the season, with Ramadan and with events, so check before you go. ## When is the best time to walk in Riyadh? The World Meteorological Organization publishes 30-year averages for Riyadh. These are the average afternoon highs and night-time lows for 1991 to 2020. | Month | Average high | Average low | |---|---|---| | January | 20.1°C | 9.2°C | | February | 23.6°C | 11.5°C | | March | 27.8°C | 15.2°C | | April | 33.6°C | 20.7°C | | May | 39.4°C | 26.1°C | | June | 42.7°C | 28.4°C | | July | 43.4°C | 29.4°C | | August | 43.6°C | 29.5°C | | September | 40.4°C | 26.2°C | | October | 35.2°C | 21.3°C | | November | 27.5°C | 15.5°C | | December | 22.2°C | 10.8°C | From November to March, you can walk at almost any hour, and winter evenings can be cool enough for a jacket. April and October suit mornings and evenings. From May to September, walk after sunset or before sunrise. Riyadh's heat is dry. The same WMO data show the July air in Riyadh holding less than a quarter of the water vapour of the air in Dubai. Sweat evaporates easily, which helps you cool down, but it also means you can lose a lot of water without feeling soaked. Carry water, even on an evening walk. ## Where can you walk in Wadi Hanifah? **What it is.** Wadi Hanifah is the valley that runs along the western edge of Riyadh. The Royal Commission for Riyadh City has spent years restoring it, and it is now the first open destination of Sports Boulevard, the linear park being built across the city. **Distance.** The Sports Boulevard stretch of Wadi Hanifah runs 13.4 km, from Al-Olab Dam in the north to Jeddah Road in the south, passing the Diriyah Gate project, according to the Sports Boulevard Foundation. **Facilities.** Pedestrian paths, cycling paths and equestrian trails, with green spaces and rest areas along the way. **Best time.** Winter mornings and afternoons, from November to March. In the warmer months, early morning or after sunset. ## Where can you walk along the Sports Boulevard promenade? **What it is.** The Promenade is a 4 km stretch of Sports Boulevard along Prince Mohammed bin Salman bin Abdulaziz Road. It opened with the first phase on 27 February 2025. **Facilities.** The Sports Boulevard Foundation lists walking trails, cycling paths, rest stops, green spaces, water features, children's playgrounds and shops, including bike rental. **Getting there from the wadi.** A cycling bridge at the junction of King Khalid Road and Prince Mohammed bin Salman bin Abdulaziz Road links Wadi Hanifah to the Promenade. It has a 1 km pedestrian path and a separate 771 m cycling path, which the foundation says lets visitors move between Diriyah and the Promenade. **Best time.** Evenings from October to April. Summer nights after the heat has eased. ## Where can you walk a 20 km loop? The first phase of Sports Boulevard also opened a 20 km internal loop at Princess Nourah bint Abdulrahman University, with separate walking and cycling paths. The Sports Boulevard Foundation says it serves students, staff and members of the public. At 20 km, it suits long walks and training for longer events. Check public access times before you go, since it runs through a working campus. Further out, the Sands Sports Park, south-east of King Khalid International Airport, is built mostly for cycling, with mountain bike and BMX trails, but it also has hiking and equestrian trails. Its signature cycling route, the Najdi Flower, runs for more than 45 km, and more than 350,000 square metres of sand dunes have been restored around it, according to the Sports Boulevard Foundation. It is a place for cool winter mornings, not summer. Between the Promenade and the university, a 300 m section at the junction of Prince Mohammed bin Salman bin Abdulaziz Road and Prince Turki bin Abdulaziz Al-Awwal Road holds the Arts Tower, a sculpture inspired by the power pylons that once lined the road. It makes a clear meeting point for a group walk. ## Which parks are best for an evening walk? ### King Abdullah Park King Abdullah Park is in Al Malaz, and Riyadh Municipality runs it, according to the Saudi Press Agency. It opened in 2013 on the site of a horse racecourse that was in use until 2002. It is known for its wide paths, its lake and its large fountains. The park is also a venue for city events, including Noor Riyadh, the light art festival. On those nights, parts of the park can be laid out differently or be much busier. **Best time.** Evenings from October to April. ### Salam Park Salam Park sits in the old heart of Riyadh, near Al Hukm Palace, according to Saudipedia. It has an artificial lake of 3.3 hectares and a 1 km walking path. The Riyadh Downtown Development Plan includes extending the park to the east. It is a quieter, shorter walk than the wadi, and it combines well with a visit to the historic centre nearby. **Best time.** Evenings from October to April, and after sunset in summer. ## Are there walking tracks in the neighbourhoods? Yes, and more are coming. Many Riyadh neighbourhoods have a local walkway, a paved path around a park or along a boulevard. Riyadh Municipality announced in September 2025 a project to make the central areas of four neighbourhoods more walkable: Al Rawdah, Al Rawabi, Al Suwaidi Al Gharbi and Al Maghrazat. The plan covers more than 376,000 square metres, with 14 km of walking paths, more than 9 km of cycle paths and more than 480,000 trees and shrubs. These projects are being built in stages, so what is open near you may be ahead of or behind the plan. The municipality's own channels list progress. ## How do you choose a walk? Start with the season, then the time of day, then the length. - **For a long walk in green space:** Wadi Hanifah, on a winter morning. - **For an evening walk with cafés and shops:** the Sports Boulevard promenade. - **For distance without turning back:** the 20 km loop at Princess Nourah University, if it is open to the public that day. - **For a family evening:** King Abdullah Park. - **For a short walk near the historic centre:** Salam Park. - **For a walk from your door:** your neighbourhood walkway, after sunset in summer. ## What is coming next? King Salman Park is being built on the site of the old Riyadh airport, north of the city centre. Saudipedia describes it as covering more than 16 square kilometres, and says it will be the largest park in the world when complete. It is being opened in phases, so check its official channels for what is open. Sports Boulevard is also still growing. With the first phase, its completed length reached 83 km, and construction continues on the remaining destinations. ## How do you stay comfortable walking in the heat? Saudi Arabia bans outdoor work in direct sun from 12 noon to 3 pm between 15 June and 15 September, according to the Ministry of Human Resources and Social Development. That is a fair guide to the hours to keep off the paths as well. On a summer walk, carry water, wear light clothes and a hat before sunset, and stop in the shade if you start to feel unwell. The NHS lists dizziness, a headache, feeling sick, heavy sweating, cramps and strong thirst as signs of heat exhaustion. Confusion or hot, dry skin need an ambulance: in Saudi Arabia, call 997. The first hot weeks of the year are the hardest. According to the US workplace health agency NIOSH, the body takes about 7 to 14 days to adapt to heat, and after a week or more away, for example a summer trip somewhere cooler, it needs 2 to 3 days to adapt again. Walks in May, or in the first days back from holiday, are the ones to keep shorter. We explain what the body goes through in our guide to [what 46°C does to your body](https://www.sisly.ai/en/blog/what-46-degrees-does-to-you/). For routes across the border, see [the best running and walking routes in Dubai](https://www.sisly.ai/en/blog/best-running-routes-dubai/), and for what a daily walk adds up to, see [steps and calories](https://www.sisly.ai/en/blog/steps-and-calories/). Sisly reads activity, sleep and heart rate variability against your own normal, so an evening walk in the wadi shows up as part of your week, not as a score. ## FAQ **Where is the longest walking track in Riyadh?** The longest continuous stretch open to walkers is the Wadi Hanifah destination of Sports Boulevard, which runs 13.4 km from Al-Olab Dam in the north to Jeddah Road in the south, according to the Sports Boulevard Foundation. It has walking, cycling and equestrian paths. The Princess Nourah University loop, at 20 km, is longer but runs inside the campus. **What is the best time of year to walk in Riyadh?** November to March. Over 1991 to 2020, the average afternoon high in Riyadh was between 20.1°C in January and 27.8°C in March, according to World Meteorological Organization climate data. From June to August the average high passes 42°C. Summer walks belong to the hours after sunset or before sunrise. **Is Wadi Hanifah open to walkers?** Yes. Wadi Hanifah was the first destination of Sports Boulevard to open, and its stretch from Al-Olab Dam to Jeddah Road has pedestrian and cycling paths, equestrian trails, green spaces and rest areas. The wider valley was restored by the Royal Commission for Riyadh City. Check access points and any closures on the Sports Boulevard website before you go. **Can you walk in King Abdullah Park in the evening?** Yes. King Abdullah Park in Al Malaz, run by Riyadh Municipality, is a large central park with wide paths, a lake and large fountains, and it is open in the evenings. It is also a venue for events such as Noor Riyadh, when parts of the park may be busier or laid out differently. Check the opening hours for the day you plan to go. **Is it safe to walk in Riyadh in summer?** It can be, at the right hours. The heat in the middle of the day is serious enough that Saudi Arabia bans outdoor work in direct sun from 12 noon to 3 pm between 15 June and 15 September. Walk after sunset or before sunrise, carry water, and stop if you feel dizzy, sick or confused. Those can be signs of heat illness. **What is Sports Boulevard?** Sports Boulevard is a linear park being built across Riyadh, with paths for walking, cycling and riding. Its first phase opened on 27 February 2025 with five destinations, bringing the completed length to 83 km, according to the Sports Boulevard Foundation. More destinations are under construction, so the network will keep growing. **Are there walking tracks inside Riyadh neighbourhoods?** Many neighbourhoods have their own walkways, and more are planned. In September 2025, Riyadh Municipality announced a project to make the central areas of Al Rawdah, Al Rawabi, Al Suwaidi Al Gharbi and Al Maghrazat more walkable, with 14 km of walking paths and more than 9 km of cycle paths. The nearest walk may be closer than you think.