Medina Travel Guide — Best Time, Things to Do & Where to Stay

Why Medina

Medina, officially known as al-Madinah al-Munawwarah, is the capital of Medina Province located in the Hejaz region of western Saudi Arabia. Recognized as the second-holiest site in Islam after Mecca, it stands as a major center of Islamic history and culture. The city's broader territory encompasses the Hejaz Mountains, open valleys, agricultural spaces, and dormant volcanoes, with fields of volcanic rock flanking its eastern and western sides and palm groves situated to the south.

Ranked as the fourth most populous urban center in Saudi Arabia, Medina recorded a population of nearly 1.5 million people in 2022, consisting of Saudi citizens alongside a foreign resident community. In 2024, the city joined the UNESCO Global Network of Learning Cities. Historically referred to as Yathrib, the settlement was renamed Madinat an-Nabi and later al-Madinah al-Munawwarah after the prophet Muhammad migrated there in 622 CE.

With a human presence established at least 1,500 years before the Islamic migration, Medina developed through diverse historical eras. Early inhabitants included local Jewish communities as well as the 'Aws and Khazraj Arab tribes. Over the centuries, governance of the city shifted across numerous rulers and empires, including the Rashidun Caliphate, Umayyads, Abbasids, Fatimids, Ayyubids, Egyptian Mamluks, Ottomans, and the Hashemite Sharifate of Mecca, prior to the establishment of the modern Kingdom of Saudi Arabia.

The centerpiece of the city is Al-Masjid al-Nabawi, or the Prophet's Mosque, constructed in 622 CE, which houses the tomb of Muhammad. Observant Muslims commonly travel to this sanctuary during pilgrimages known as Ziyarat. The city is also home to other significant places of worship, including the Quba Mosque, which is the oldest mosque in Islam, and Masjid al-Qiblatayn.

In addition to its major mosques, Medina features several notable historical landmarks. Nearby terrain includes Mount Uhud and its associated Archers' Hill, the location of the historic Battle of Uhud. Located directly southeast of the Prophet's Mosque is the Al-Baqi' Cemetery, while the Seven Mosques site and the King Fahd Glorious Qur'an Printing Complex—where modern Qur'anic texts are printed—also draw visitors to the region.