Madinah is calmer than Makkah and more compact, and nearly every visitor stays close to Al-Masjid an-Nabawi. The practical questions are different: how to get from the airport to a hotel in a restricted central area, how to see the places of Ziyarat spread around the edge of the city, and how to plan the long road to Makkah.
From the airport to the mosque area
The airport is a short drive from the centre, about 20 to 30 minutes outside busy times. The harder part is the last few hundred metres. Roads around the mosque are restricted and the car may stop on the edge of the central area. Tell us the hotel and anyone who needs help with the walk. See the Madinah Airport page for pickups and departures.
Send your pickup, destination, date and passengers and we will confirm the vehicle and price.
Shops, services and views at Madinah Airport
Fast-food counter at Madinah Airport
Fresh herbs kiosk at Madinah Airport
Airport awards banner at Madinah Airport
Information banners at Madinah Airport
Ziyarat around Madinah
The places visitors ask for are spread around the city, so a car with a driver who waits is the easy way to do several in a morning.
- Quba Mosque, the first mosque built in Islam, on the southern edge of the city
- Masjid al-Qiblatain, the mosque of the two qiblas
- Mount Uhud and the Uhud martyrs' cemetery
- The Seven Mosques area (Al-Khandaq) and Masjid al-Ghamama
Choosing the time
Morning is usually the most comfortable time, and it avoids the prayer rush. Visitors often add a stop at a dates market on the way back, because Madinah is known for its dates. See Ziyarat tours for a short note on each place.
Hotel check-in and checkout
Rooms near the mosque are often not ready until the afternoon, and many groups check out all at once in the morning. If you arrive early, a driver can take you to Ziyarat first, so you are not waiting in the lobby. See hotel transfers for moving between hotels and cities.
The road to Makkah
Going to Makkah is a long journey of about 450 km, with a miqat on the way. Pilgrims for Umrah commonly enter ihram at Dhul Hulayfah (Abyar Ali). We can plan the stop. See Madinah to Makkah. If you are flying in and going straight there, see Madinah Airport to Makkah.
On to Jeddah
For a flight home from Jeddah, the drive is about 420 km. See Madinah to Jeddah for how to time it around your flight.
Groups and families
Tell us how many people and how many bags. A Luxury Van carries eight passengers and six bags. For larger groups we plan more vehicles, with pickups coordinated. See the fleet.
Dates, markets and last-day shopping
Madinah is known for its dates, and many visitors want to buy them before they leave. Markets are usually close to the mosque area, though stalls and shops vary in what they sell and when they open. If you plan to buy a lot, tell us, because boxes of dates and bags of gifts take space and a larger vehicle may be better for the trip home.
Check opening hours around prayer times, since many shops close briefly while the congregation prays.
A short stay or a long one
Visitors to Madinah often stay for a few days, split between prayer, rest and Ziyarat. If you have only a day, a single morning tour and a calm afternoon is more realistic than a packed itinerary. If you have a week, spread the visits and leave space for unplanned prayer. Tell us how long you have, and we will suggest a plan that fits.
Moving between Madinah hotels and the mosque
Most visitors walk to the Prophet's Mosque, but not everyone can. If someone in your party finds the distance hard, a short ride at prayer times can make the difference between attending and missing a prayer. Tell us the hotel and the gate you want to reach, and we will agree a drop-off and a pickup that avoids the heaviest stream of worshippers.