Medina Holy City

Islam's second-holiest city: beyond the Prophet's Mosque are Quba Mosque, Mount Uhud and the Hejaz Railway station, and non-Muslims can visit areas outside the central sanctuary.

Medina lies on an oasis plain in the Hejaz region of western Saudi Arabia, about 340 km north of Mecca. It is Islam's second-holiest city: in 622 the Prophet Muhammad migrated here from Mecca and founded the first Muslim community, and he is buried here. The city spreads out from the Prophet's Mosque, with Quba Mosque to the south, Mount Uhud to the north, and the Qiblatayn Mosque and the Seven Mosques to the northwest; vast date palm groves on the outskirts produce the famous Ajwa dates. The climate is hot desert, with summer temperatures often above 45°C; Nov–Mar is the most comfortable time. You can fly into Prince Mohammad bin Abdulaziz International Airport, or take the Haramain high-speed railway, about 2.5 hours, to Mecca and Jeddah. Unlike Mecca, since 2021 non-Muslims may also enter central Medina to visit museums, markets, Mount Uhud and more, but the central sanctuary of the Prophet's Mosque remains open to Muslims only. Most pilgrims stay 3–4 days, praying at the Prophet's Mosque and making a ziyarat tour of holy sites such as Mount Uhud, Quba Mosque and the Qiblatayn Mosque. Dress conservatively; women must wear a headscarf and a long robe, and shops close temporarily during prayer times.

Top sights

• Al-Masjid an-Nabawi (Prophet's Mosque) – The second holiest mosque in Islam, with the Prophet's tomb under a green dome, and giant electric parasols on the plaza that have become t…
• Quba Mosque – The first mosque in Islamic history, built when the Prophet arrived in Medina during his migration, with a graceful white dome.
• Mount Uhud & Uhud Martyrs Cemetery – The ancient battlefield of the Battle of Uhud. The reddish mountain looms over the graves of martyrs, including the Prophet's uncle Hamza.
• Masjid al-Qiblatayn – The historic site where the direction of prayer was changed from Jerusalem to Mecca. The mosque once had two mihrabs, one for each directio…
• Al-Baqi Cemetery (Jannat al-Baqi) – An ancient cemetery right beside the east side of the Prophet's Mosque, where the Prophet's wives, children and tens of thousands of his Co…
• The Seven Mosques – A group of small mosques on the site of the 627 Battle of the Trench, with a large new Trench Mosque nearby for prayer.
• Hejaz Railway Station Museum – The terminus of the Ottoman-era Hejaz Railway, its stone station building now a museum, next to the Anbariya Mosque.
• Dar Al Madinah Museum – A private museum that uses models and artifacts to tell the history of Medina and the Prophet's Mosque, useful background before pilgrimage.
• King Fahd Complex for the Printing of the Holy Quran – The world's largest Quran printing institution, producing tens of millions of copies a year, where visitors can observe the printing and bi…
• Mosque of Al-Ghamama – An ancient mosque southwest of the Prophet's Mosque, where tradition says clouds shaded the Prophet during a rain prayer.
• Al-Jumu'ah Mosque – The site where the Prophet held Medina's first Friday congregational prayer, located near Quba Mosque.
• Al-Ijabah Mosque – A small mosque northeast of the Prophet's Mosque, where tradition says the Prophet prayed and two of his three requests were granted.
• Central Date Market – A date market near the Prophet's Mosque where dozens of famous Medina dates, including Ajwa, can be sampled and bought.
• Wadi Al Baida (Wadi al-Jinn) – A volcanic-rock valley about 35 km northwest of the city, famous for the 'magnetic hill' optical illusion, where a car in neutral appears t…

Where to eat

• Al Romansiah Saudi Restaurant (King Abdulaziz Road Branch) – A traditional Saudi chain serving mandi, madfoon, kabsa and other rice-and-meat dishes at reasonable prices.
• Al Baik Fried Chicken (Abdullah bin Rawaha Street Branch) – Medina's most common budget fast food. Famous for crispy fried chicken and garlic sauce, close to the Prophet's Mosque.
• Al Tazaj Charcoal Chicken (Qurban Branch) – A Saudi homegrown charcoal chicken chain known for spiced, flame-grilled chicken with yellow rice meal sets. Open all d…

Itineraries

• Hejaz Route: 7-Day Medina, AlUla & Jeddah – Enter via Medina and depart from Jeddah, traversing Hegra's rock tombs, the AlUla Oasis, and Al-Balad historic district.
• Umrah & Pilgrimage: Makkah & Medina – Enter via Jeddah, spend four nights in Makkah for Umrah, then take the high-speed train to Medina. Strictly for Muslims.