Skip to content
Voykit
Draft data. Times, fares and step counts are desk estimates awaiting field checks. How we verify
Source checked
A source and a date are on record: we read it from an official or published page. Not yet confirmed on the ground.
Field checked
Someone checked it on the ground, with the date shown.
Plan calculated
Worked out by Voykit from its own data (times, distances, budgets). A calculation, not a measurement.

Unknown times stay unknown. How we verify

Back to Medina

In the print dialog pick “Save as PDF” to keep it on your phone. A5 makes a pocket booklet; A4 suits a desk printer.

Voykit pocket guide · Saudi Arabia

Medina

المدينة المنورة

Medina is open to visitors of all faiths, but the Prophet's Mosque and its central area are for Muslims only: expect a city visit with restricted zones.

Medina is the second-holiest city in Islam, home to the Prophet's Mosque (Al-Masjid an-Nabawi). Non-Muslims may visit the city itself, but the Haram area around the mosque is restricted to Muslims. The Haramain high-speed rail links Medina with Jeddah and Mecca in under two and a half hours.

AlUlaKhobarNeomTa'ifJeddahMeccaDammamAlUlaMedina200 kmdots: other places in this guide
Sketch, not to navigate by: shapes follow this guide’s areas and places, not official boundaries. North is up.
Country
Saudi Arabia
Local name
المدينة المنورة
Best months
Nov–Mar
Avoid
Jun–Sep (heat)
Stay
1–2 nights

Checked 2026-09. Prices, hours and rules change; anything marked (check) is not confirmed.

Essentials

Currency
SAR
Money
SAR (riyal) is pegged to the US dollar at about 3.75.
SIM and data
STC, Mobily and Zain sell tourist SIMs at arrivals; passport and fingerprint registration are required.
Emergency
Unified emergency 911 · Police 999 · Ambulance (Red Crescent) 997 · Civil defence (fire) 998 · Traffic accidents 993
Plugs
Types G, C, F · 230 V · 60 Hz · UK-style three-pin (G) is the standard; older buildings may have European sockets. Bring a universal adapter.
Tipping
Restaurant: 10% if no service charge; small change at cafés.; Ride-hailing / taxi: Round up or tip in the app.; Hotel porter / housekeeping: SAR 5–10.; Guide / driver day: SAR 50–100 guide; SAR 30–50 driver.; Fuel station attendant: SAR 2–5 if they clean the windows.
Water
Tap water is desalinated and treated; most people drink bottled water, sold everywhere for SAR 1–2.
Toilets
Western toilets with a hand shower in malls, hotels and mosques; squat toilets at older fuel stations. Malls and mosques are the free public options.

Get in

By air

MED · Prince Mohammad bin Abdulaziz International
Flights from Riyadh, Jeddah and abroad
Show 7 more sections and the pocket cardHideGet around, See and do, Sleep, Language, Etiquette, safety and scams, One and two days, Sources, Pocket card

Get around

Taxis and ride-hailing; the Haramain rail connects to Jeddah and Mecca. Ask your hotel about shuttles.

See and do

Known for

  • Al-Masjid an-Nabawi
  • Quba Mosque
  • Mount Uhud and the martyrs' cemetery
  • Seven Mosques (Masjid al-Sab'ah)
  • Date markets

Sleep

Near the Prophet's Mosque
Walk to prayers; the busiest and priciest zone.
Al-Anbariyah
Quieter, closer to the rail station.

Language

Arabic is the only official language, written right to left. English is widely used in airports, hotels, malls and among younger Saudis; many service workers speak Hindi/Urdu, Tagalog or Bengali. A few Arabic greetings go a long way.

  • Hello: as-salamu alaykum; reply wa alaykum as-salam. Thank you: shukran.
  • Street addresses use the National Address short code; a map pin is the reliable way.

Etiquette, safety and scams

Etiquette

  • Greeting: Say as-salamu alaykum; wait for a woman to offer her hand first; avoid: Hugging or touching the opposite sex
  • Hospitality: Accept coffee and dates; eat with the right hand; avoid: Refusing all offers or showing the soles of your feet
  • Prayer times: Wait quietly when shops close; step aside for people praying; avoid: Walking in front of people praying; loud music near mosques
  • Dress: Loose, covering clothes in public; headscarf in mosques; avoid: Shorts, sleeveless tops and swimwear in town
  • Photos: Ask before photographing people; avoid: Photographing women, families or official buildings
  • Conversation: Talk about family, food, football, travel; avoid: Criticising religion, the royal family or the government
  • Queues and sections: Follow signs for family and women's sections where they exist; avoid: Entering women-only areas

Scams and watch-outs

  • Non-Muslims are barred from the central Haram area; signs and staff mark the boundary.
  • Dress modestly; check the current rules for visitors.
  • Heat is severe in summer; hydrate and avoid midday outdoor time.
  • Book Haramain high-speed rail tickets ahead in pilgrimage season; seats sell out.

One and two days

No timed day plan for Medina yet. Suggested stay: 1–2 nights. Build a day from the list below, mornings for the big sight.

  • Al-Masjid an-Nabawi
  • Quba Mosque
  • Mount Uhud and the martyrs' cemetery
  • Seven Mosques (Masjid al-Sab'ah)
  • Date markets

Sources

Written by Voykit; facts cross-checked against these sources, last desk check 2026-09. Prices, hours and rules change: check on the day.

Pocket card

Cut along the border and keep it in your wallet. Show the local-script lines to a driver.

Medinaالمدينة المنورة

My hotel (write the name and address in the local script)

  • Unified emergency911
  • Police999
  • Ambulance (Red Crescent)997
  • Civil defence (fire)998
  • Traffic accidents993

Voykit · checked 2026-09

Printed from Voykit (/medina). Written by Voykit; checked 2026-09. Estimates only: confirm prices, hours and entry rules on the day.