Riyadh Museum has displays in the main hall that cover the history and archaeology of Saudi Arabia from the Stone Age to early Islam, which are explained in English and Arabic. While you can see exhibits of geography and archaeology in the gallery, displays of Islamic architecture in the last room will interest you. There is also a separate Ethnographic Hall. It is open Saturday to Wednesday from 8 am to 2 pm. Admission is free.

Masmak Fortress is a citadel in the midst of the city. It was the residences of the Al-Rashid garrison that Abdul Aziz and his small band overcame in 1902 to regain control of the city. It is built of dried mud, and is now a museum honouring Abdul Aziz and his unification of the various parts of Arabia to make the kingdom of Saudi Arabia.

Murabba Palace is a palace cum fortress. King Abdul Aziz built it in 1946 as a home and seat of government. It is open from Saturday to Wednesday from 8 am to 2 pm. King Faisal Centre for Research and Islamic Studies usually has an exhibition on some aspect of Islamic art or culture. There is also a permanent exhibition on the treatment and preservation of old books and manuscripts.

King Saud University Museum is open from Saturday to Wednesday in the mornings. To visit, an appointment must first be made through the university's public relations office -- telephone +966 1 467-8135. Usually, a day is required to arrange a visit for a small group. Displayed in the museum are objects from the university's archaeological excavations at Al-Fao and Rabdhah. The former is on the edge of the Empty Quarter (the vast sandy desert in the Kingdom's south-eastern corner) and was a pre-Islamic city between 300BC and AD300. The latter is about 100km east of Madinah and was a station on the pilgrimage road linking Mecca and Madinah to Persia and Iraq. The Camel Market on the outskirts of the city is one of the largest camel markets in the Middle East. Trading is heaviest in the late afternoon.

You have to get a site permit for every single site that you visit such as fort, ruins or an archaeological site. The Department of Antiquities office at the Riyadh Museum issues all permits. But you can also get it from the Antiquities Section in the Ministry of Education office.