medina.city — Your Complete Guide to Madinah

Madinah (Al-Madinah al-Munawwarah, also spelled Medina) is a city in the Hejaz region of western Saudi Arabia, about 450 km north of Makkah by road. It is the second holiest city in Islam: the Prophet Muhammad ﷺ migrated here in 622 CE, built Al-Masjid an-Nabawi, and is buried inside it.

Yes. A visit to the Rawdah ash-Sharifah inside Al-Masjid an-Nabawi has to be booked in advance through the official Nusuk app, with separate time slots for men and women. Rules on how often you can book change, so check the Nusuk app for the current availability before you travel.

Besides Al-Masjid an-Nabawi, the most visited ziyarah sites in Madinah are Quba Mosque (the first mosque in Islam), Masjid al-Qiblatayn, Mount Uhud and the Martyrs' cemetery, Jannat al-Baqi, and the Seven Mosques at the site of the Battle of the Trench. Most can be covered in a half-day city tour.

The fastest way from Makkah to Madinah is the Haramain High-Speed Railway, which takes roughly two to two and a half hours. By road the journey is about 450 km, or around four and a half to five hours by car, taxi or intercity bus. Book train tickets on the official Haramain railway website or app.

The most comfortable time to visit Madinah is from November to February, when days are mild. Summer daytime temperatures regularly pass 40°C, so summer visitors plan walks around Fajr and after Maghrib. Madinah is busiest during Ramadan and in the weeks before and after Hajj.

Non-Muslims can visit much of the city of Madinah, but Al-Masjid an-Nabawi and the central area around it are reserved for Muslims, and road signs mark where the restricted area begins. Sites outside the centre, such as the Hejaz Railway Museum and the city's parks and malls, are open to all visitors.