Medina Travel Guide: Al-Masjid an-Nabawi and the Prophet's City

Important: Medina is accessible to Muslims only. Non-Muslims are prohibited from entering the city under Saudi law, enforced at checkpoints on all approach roads.

Medina — Al-Madinah al-Munawwarah (the Radiant City) — is Islam’s second holiest city after Mecca. It was the city to which the Prophet Muhammad migrated from Mecca in 622 CE (the Hijra, which marks the beginning of the Islamic calendar), and it became the first Islamic state. Al-Masjid an-Nabawi — the Prophet’s Mosque — was built here and contains his tomb.

Al-Masjid an-Nabawi

Al-Masjid an-Nabawi is the second holiest mosque in Islam and one of the largest in the world, capable of accommodating more than 1.5 million worshippers simultaneously. The mosque was originally built by the Prophet Muhammad himself upon his arrival in Medina. It has been expanded by successive rulers over 14 centuries.

The distinctive Green Dome marks the location of the Prophet’s tomb within the mosque — specifically within the Rawdah (the Garden of Paradise), an area between the minbar and the tomb that the Prophet described as a garden of paradise. Visiting the Rawdah is among the most sought-after experiences in Islamic pilgrimage.

See the full guide to Al-Masjid an-Nabawi for detailed information on the mosque’s history, layout, and visiting etiquette.

Other Holy Sites in Medina

Quba Mosque is the first mosque built in Islamic history, constructed by the Prophet Muhammad in 622 CE upon his arrival. It is 3 kilometres from Al-Masjid an-Nabawi. A prayer here is said to be equivalent to Umrah in reward.

Masjid al-Qiblatayn (Mosque of the Two Qiblas) is the site where the Prophet received the revelation to change the direction of prayer from Jerusalem to Mecca during prayer itself — making this mosque historically unique.

Mount Uhud is the site of the Battle of Uhud (625 CE), one of the major early Islamic battles. The mountain is 5 kilometres from the mosque. The battlefield and the graves of the martyrs (including Hamza ibn Abdul Muttalib, the Prophet’s uncle) are visited as a historical and devotional site.

Getting to Medina

Medina has its own airport — Prince Mohammad bin Abdulaziz International Airport — with direct flights from across the Middle East, Asia, and Africa. The Haramain High-Speed Railway connects Medina to Jeddah (approximately 2 hours) and Mecca (approximately 2 hours). Most pilgrims combine Medina with a visit to Mecca.

Accommodation in Medina

Hotels in Medina cluster around Al-Masjid an-Nabawi, with a concentration of properties within walking distance of the mosque. The Anwar Al Madinah Mövenpick Hotel and the Al-Shohada Hotel are well-positioned options. Like Mecca, proximity to the mosque is the key factor for most visitors.

Book accommodation early, particularly for Ramadan and the Hajj season when demand across both holy cities spikes simultaneously.