Wadi Hanifa is the long, palm-shaded valley that gives Diriyah its setting — and provided the water that allowed a city to exist in the first place. A multi-decade restoration project has turned much of the wadi floor into a linear park, with shaded walking paths, cycle routes, and small water features running parallel to the original (largely seasonal) stream bed.
The wadi is at its best in the cooler months and on Friday evenings, when Riyadh families come for picnics among the palms. The stretch immediately below At-Turaif is the most attractive.