The National Museum, Riyadh

The National Museum opened in 1999 in a curved sandstone building at the heart of the King Abdulaziz Historical Centre, and it is the best single introduction to the peninsula's past available anywhere in the country. Eight halls run in sequence from the geological formation of Arabia and its prehistoric rock art, through the pre-Islamic kingdoms of Dilmun, Thamud and the Nabataeans, to the rise of Islam, the Hajj and the formation of the modern state. Exhibits include full-size reconstructions, a section of Nabataean tomb facade, and manuscripts and textiles associated with the Hajj. Next door, the restored Murabba Palace of mud brick gives a sense of Riyadh before oil, when it was a walled town of a few thousand people.

What you actually see

• The prehistory and rock art halls - Arabia's deep past and its engraved rock record.
• Pre-Islamic kingdoms - Dilmun, Thamud, Nabataean and Kindah material.
• The Hajj and Two Holy Mosques hall - the pilgrimage across the centuries.
• Murabba Palace - the adjacent mud-brick palace of the founding king.

When to go

October to April makes the surrounding park and Murabba Palace pleasant; the museum itself is air-conditioned year-round. Check opening times, which vary by day and around prayer times, and note that some hours are designated for families.

Honest expectations

Labelling is bilingual but uneven in depth, and the later halls lean towards national narrative more than the earlier ones. Riyadh has little that is walkable, so plan taxis. Visiting hours and family or singles sessions can catch out unprepared visitors, so confirm on the day.

Nearby

Diriyah's restored mud-brick town is on the city's edge; the Edge of the World escarpment is a drive northwest.