Orientation and the Lay of the Land
Al Madinah is the capital and administrative centre of Medina Province in the Hejaz region of western Saudi Arabia, and it is the second holiest city in Islam after Mecca. The city sits at the core of the province, with its urban area surrounded by the Hejaz Mountains, valleys, agricultural spaces and older dormant volcanoes. For a visitor, the practical centre of gravity is al-Masjid al-Nabawi, the Prophet's Mosque, which anchors the historic core and shapes how you move around the city.
Unlike Mecca, Medina is open to everyone, including non-Muslims. Non-Muslims were once banned from entering Al-Haram Al-Madani, the area around the Prophet's Mosque, but this was gradually relaxed in 2021 and 2023 as part of Vision 2030. Note that non-Muslims may not visit during the Hajj season, and Muslims planning to visit during Hajj must apply for a Hajj visa.
Getting Around the City
Medina's transport mix is straightforward for a visitor: a modern bus network, taxis and ride-hailing, a tourist shuttle along Qiba Road, and rentable bicycles and scooters. There is no metro or tram system in the city, and the rail network is intercity rather than local. Walking is a practical option in the immediate area of the Prophet's Mosque, but the city is spread out, so you will likely combine walking with a vehicle for longer hops.
Rail: Intercity, Not Local
Medina is linked with Jeddah and Mecca via high-speed railway. Services are frequent, with up to 15 departures per day in each direction. Journey time is just under two hours from Jeddah and about two and a half hours from Mecca. The railway station is on King Abdul Aziz Road, east of the centre. This is your connection to the rest of the country by rail, not a way to move around within Medina itself.
Buses and Public Transport
A new bus network debuted in mid-2025 in Medina. The routes are available on the official app or on Google Maps. You can tap your card to pay, but as of June 2025 this seems not to work very well, so drivers usually let you in without paying. In practice, check the app or Google Maps for your route, board, and be prepared for the payment system to be inconsistent.
For intercity travel, the Saudi Arabian Public Transport Company (SAPTCO) runs luxurious buses several times daily to and from most parts of the country at cheap rates, and there are also privately run buses. Be aware that the SAPTCO terminal is off-limits to non-Muslims.
Taxis and Ride-Hailing
If you are on the side of the road, you might find locals willing to pick you up and take you to your destination for a fee, even though they are not officially taxis. Beware of con artists among both official and unofficial taxi drivers. If you take an unofficial taxi ride, negotiate the price up front. You can use Uber to establish your baseline (maximum) price, since people will often ask for prices well in excess of the Uber price. Uber is also one of the options for getting from the airport into the city.
Shuttle Along Qiba Road
There is a shuttle that looks like a train of golf carts running along Qiba Road between the Prophet's Mosque and the Quba Mosque. Payment is done in cash to the driver, and you can hop on anywhere along the way, although payment is the same regardless of where you board. This is a handy, low-effort way to cover the stretch between these two sites.
Bicycles and Scooters
Careem operates bicycles and scooters you can rent through the app. This is a useful option for short trips where you would rather not deal with traffic or parking.
Walkability
Walking works well in the immediate vicinity of the Prophet's Mosque, but there are important constraints. Baggage is not allowed inside the area around the mosque, so if your hotel is to the south of the Prophet's Mosque, you may have to walk around the western perimeter of it. You cannot easily walk around the east side of the mosque; it is a busy road with no walking paths. Plan your walking routes with these limitations in mind, especially if you are arriving with luggage.
Getting from the Airport into the City
Prince Mohammad Bin Abdulaziz Airport (MED) receives direct flights from around the Middle East and is accessible to non-Muslims. It is very small and not really designed to cope with the large numbers now passing through it, so expect a crush at the baggage carousels and a free-for-all in the check-in areas, where queuing seems to be a foreign concept. Also, beware of scammers.
To get from the airport to the city, use taxis, Uber, or the public bus. The bus is the cheapest option and is perfectly serviceable. The bus stop for route 400 is outside and to the rightmost edge after you exit the building from baggage claims. You can pay by credit card; the driver comes around with a card reader before departing. There are also ATMs and currency exchange booths inside the terminal if you would like cash.
The downside of the bus is that it only has one stop, which is a 10-minute walk to the north of the Prophet's Mosque. From there, you can either hail a taxi to your hotel or walk. If your hotel is to the south of the Prophet's Mosque, you may have to walk around the western perimeter of it, as baggage is not allowed inside the area. You cannot easily walk around the east side of the mosque; it is a busy road with no walking paths.
Practical Tips for Visitors
- Use Uber to establish a baseline fare before agreeing to any taxi price, official or unofficial.
- Negotiate the price up front if you take an unofficial taxi ride.
- Check the official bus app or Google Maps for routes, and be prepared for card payment not to work on the bus.
- Carry some cash for the Qiba Road shuttle, which is paid in cash to the driver.
- Keep baggage in mind when walking near the Prophet's Mosque; it is not allowed inside the area, and the east side has no walking paths.
- If you are arriving by air, the route 400 bus stop is outside and to the rightmost edge after you exit baggage claims.
- Non-Muslims should note that the SAPTCO terminal is off-limits, and that non-Muslims may not visit during the Hajj season.