The most famous places in Madinah are Al Masjid an Nabawi, Al-Baqi’, Dar Al Madinah Museum, Wadi E Jinn, Cave of Bani Haram, Jabal Ayr, Sheikh Salama Rashdan Museum, Anbariya Mosque, Masjid Al Ghamamah, Masjid Quba and a lot more.
The tourist attractions of Medina call a gazillion pilgrims to the place per year. Many religious places exist in the heart of this ‘illuminated city’. Madinah is a centre of most of the medieval mosques.
It also contains museums, malls for shopping, and beautiful beaches. At number one, Al-Masjid an-Nabawi is a really large mosque. With all its lighting at night, it perfectly reflects the marble patterned floors and the high minarets loom over the city.
Next on the list is the Uhud Mountain, which has a nice background on how it earned its name ‘Gate of Heaven’. For the lover of history and the one who would wish to get familiar with the histories of the city, there is the La Dar Al Madinah Museum.
As unbelievable as this sounds, Madinah’s attractions elicit the interest of people of all ages starting with seniors to teenagers and even the kids. The Yanbu Beaches are appropriate for families, and you can swim and meet fabulous kinds of fish, shiny reefs, and corals, and just have fun.
If you wish to take home a piece of this “Enlightened City” to give to your friends, you can visit the Al Noor Mall or Al Madinah Souq and do some souvenir shopping.
Holy Places to Visit in Madinah
List of holy places to visit in madinah is given below:
AL Masjid Al Nabawai
This was the second mosque by Prophet Muhammad (PBUH) and is the second most sacred place in Islam with an opulent political and religious background. Originally, it was an architectural construction with a school for children.
According to the modern mosque design, it can be considered as a two stories building with an ottoman prayer hall. It is the burial place of Prophet Muhammad (PBUH) and the first two Rashidin Caliphs Abu Bakr and Umar. It is usually accessible to visitors within any time of the week.
Masjid an-Nabawi located in Madinah, KSA, is one of the most significant places for worship According to the Muslim tradition, it was constructed by the prophet Muhammad (PBUH) who encouraged Muslims to build a mosque that would be accessible for everyone, so that they can come and integrate into the Islamic faith.
It is among the world’s largest mosques that are awaiting you to behold and is indeed stunning. The layout of the place is impressive and that makes the place worth visiting. An open space for worship is provided by the mosque for Eid prayers, Jumaah prayers, Mayyat, and other types of prayers.
In this context one can see that al-Masjid an Nabawi is certainly a beautiful building, and at the same time it is a very powerful building because it was created with the intention to show how much admiration, respect and honour is there for Prophet Muhammad. The facility was not affected even during World War I or II as there were several fighting around it.
The Green Dome
The Green Dome is a very interesting place which is, in fact, a religious and tourist destination in Madinah, or as it is called – the Prophet’s tomb.
This otherworldly mosque is the largest mosque in Medina and holds masses of people in its compound especially during the Ramadan season. Visitors can read on the pillars and up on the dome 623 AD carving of the building and discover more on the Islamic history and civilization in detail.
The Green Dome is among the famous Medina tourist attractions that has been constructed on top of tombs of the Prophet, Umar and Abu Bakr, which used to be Aisha’s bedroom. This dome is built in the southeast corner of the Prophet’s Mosque. Millions of tourists visit the dome every year because it is a custom to come to this mosque after performing Hajj in Mecca.
It is believed to have been built in 1279 CE where an earlier structure was an unpainted wooden cupola over the tomb. It was painted once and reconstructed in different colors in 1817 and in the late 15th century. The term Green Dome, since its construction, resulted from the practice of painting it green by hand in the year 1827.
Mount Uhud
These gigantic, monumental valleys and peaks were the locations of the Battle of Uhud and were the most important religious location in the entire area of Uhud.
Thanks to its peculiar shape, the mountain system is visited by numerous followers from all over the world to pray and study the shocking historical facts. This mountain is also one of the famous hills for trekking and rock climbing and can ensure a great experience till the top.
Irrespective of the fact that the whole mountain is steep, there are old people who climb to the top of the mountain during hot temperatures. It is situated North of Madinah and is approximately 5 kilometers away from Masjid Al Nabawi.
The Uhud is 350 meters high and consists of the volcanic rocks of the area including the dark green, black and red granite. The Uhud was the mountain which was beloved by everyone. Even the enemies loved it, thus it got the name of the “Heaven Gate. It has deep caves and among them is the deepest Ghar, Uhud where the Prophet of Allah took refuge.
Masjid Al Qibalatayan
This outstanding piece of architecture is a popular cultural landmark and is an important place of worship in Islamic world because this is the last time Prophet Muhammad changed the direction of prayer from Baitul Maqdis to Bakkah – Makkah.
With such other shocking statistics, it is believed that if you visit this mosque and experience a relaxing evening prayer session, you are in for a time of sheer bliss and divine holiness.
The Masjid Al- Qiblatayn is one of the oldest tourist places to visit in Medina because this is where the Prophet commanded the change of Qibla from Kuds to Makkah. This Mosque of two Qiblas was constructed by Sawad bin Ghanam bin Kaab in the second Hijra and has remained important to the Muslims up to date.
It was considered to be a special mosque since it has two prayer niches known as the mihrabs until recently and this assured it the name; Masjid Al-Qiblatayn. The old niche of prayer facing Jerusalem has been taken off.
The people on their hajj or those intending to go on hajj ensure that they pay a visit to this mosque. It operates during any time of the day and night and welcomes children, senior guests, young adults, and adults too.
Masjid Quba
A prayer to Allah at this site, which is also a historical monument and the biggest mosque in the world, is enough to afford a deserved rest in a vacation. The first stones of construction of the mosque were laid by Prophet Muhammad (PBUH) himself. This makes this attraction unique out of all others. It has incredibly huge courtyards of white, red and black marbles; and about 56 awe inspiring gates.
This important mosque is one of the oldest in the world and is located outside the city of Medina. This is one of the most beautiful attractions of Madinah whose foundation the prophet himself laid after he had migrated from Makkah city. People believe it to be the first mosque in the world which has been in existence since the time of the Holy Prophet in 7th century CE.
According to the tradition, the Prophet stayed in this mosque for 14 days of qasr prayer, expecting the arrival of his son-in-law Ali to Medina. This mosque has congregational prayers every day throughout the year; many people come to this mosque to pray in the morning.
Masjid Al Ghammah
The background of its construction is still mysterious nowadays, and the size and design of the Al-Ghamama mosque makes it one of the largest places of worship in Medina and Saudi Arabia in general. This is a beautiful mosque, it is recorded that the Prophet came here to his night prayer in the year 631 and after which Saudi Arabia was blessed with rain following a long dry spell.
The Mosque of Al-Ghamama is among the oldest tourist attractions in Madinah that is credited with many legendary stories that surround it and is found 400 meters west of the Prophet’s Mosque. It was in the year 631 when the Prophet offered an Eid Prayer at this very mosque. Today, it is one of the historical landmarks of Medina.
As the story goes, some tell the history of this mosque as one that was termed to be a cloud, which ‘shaded’ the Prophet from the sun as he prayed the Salat Al Istisqa. This is a very important ziyarat place, and it is the same area where the clouds emerged instantly and started pouring. There is another story that mentions the mosque as Musalla Mosque because the Prophet performed most of the prayer for two feasts in it.
Masjid Anbariya
Among a myriad of tempting mosques that hide enigmatic stories, Anbairya mosque is one of the most fascinating sites connected with worship.
This colossal gate was constructed by the Turks under the hegemony of the Ottoman Empire; it was earlier an enormous gate receiving the Jeddah people from the seaport. You can attend a soul renewing and a stress relieving prayer in the evening in this mosque and marvel at the histories etched in the walls of this great mosque.
Called as Hamidiye Mosque, Anbariya Mosque is one of the most interesting sites to visit in Medina. This Mosque has an Ottoman style of architecture which is adorned with arcaded porticoes, semi-domes, domes and horse-shoe arches. It was constructed in 1908 by the then Ottoman Sultan, Abdulhamid II and it was named after Anbariya Gate which stood beside the mosque.
This mosque was also associated with the Hejaz Railway project which is located near the Al-Muazzim Railway station having the Hejaz Railway Museum. When you get inside the mosque, you will be shocked by the artistic motifs that have been painted by an Azerbaijani architect.
Historical and Fun Places to visit in Madinah
List of historical and fun places to visit in Madinah are given below:
Al Baqi
Al Baqi is a park established in 2008 and covering an area of 9 square kilometers and it is situated in the outskirts of Riyadh. The land was owned by the indigenous people but was taken from them at gunpoint 700 years ago by one of Prophet Muhammad’s caliphs.
The ‘çamyab’ trees that are more than 200 years old are among the special features of the park that attracts so many people. Al Baqi also contains many retail malls and also parks and leisure facilities. It is a recreational center that has lots of gardens, handicrafts center, chess and carrom club where one can make use of in order to enjoy the park.
An old cemetery was demolished to make place for the Al Baqi with its name derived from one of Muhammad’s wives, ümm baqīyah bint abi muhammad bin ali bin abi talib. This piece of land also belonged to her descendants but was wrestled from them 700 years ago by one of Muhammad’s caliphs. Out of the approximately 2000 mosques in Saudi Arabia, the Al Baqi region alone has more than 100 mosques.
The area is also full of histories and is strategically famed for frequent battles that were conducted in the area at different periods. For instance, at Al –Baqi Mosque Muslims fought the Christians in 635. The cemetery adjacent to the mosque also contains real bread from the last supper of Jesus.
Wadi E Jinn
The next enchanting destination in these rocky mountains is Wadi e Jin which is only about 30 kilometers from Madinah. Wadi E Jin is a long stretch of just a rocky road where the cars move on their own without any drivers or even accelerators.
Some of the residents and history lovers have attributed it to Jin and some of the residents have reported hearing voices asking people to get out of the place. That said, the name Wadi E Jinn literally translates to a place of the “Jinn”.
The place got famed due to some apocryphal occurrences where cars are seen to operate while their engines are off. Due to such a mysterious valley, people can often be seen driving their vehicles, which are then silenced and can be seen moving towards the hill.
The phenomenon however, is not unnatural and is known as the reverse gravity effect whereby mountains around certain areas are said to have an excessive magnetic pull. And the cars or any other vehicle that has Iron in it will be attracted to the hill and will be accelerated upwards.
Jabl Ayr
Measuring 106 feet in height, Jabal Ayr is the second largest mountain of land in Arabian territory. Jabal Ayr has the great Hijaz mountain where you get to enjoy wonderful sights when you reach the top of the mountain.
From the people of the region and the history books, the peak was referred to as the ‘mountain of hell’. Discover the rich history of the occupying shores of this famous heaven and behold numerous souvenirs to bring home.
The Jabal Ayr is one of the oldest places in Medina, which is in the southwest and situated at 904 meters above sea level. This is the second largest in size after Uhud and determines the southern frontier of Medina city. The prophet also named Jabal Ayr as the Mountain of Hell.
As per the prophecy of the Prophet, Uhud mountain was the one that cherished everyone and was also cherished by people in return, for this reason it turned into the “Heaven Gate”. However, Ayr was a place that hated people and people had equal feelings about Ayr that is why it became known as the “Hell Gate”.
The word “Ayr” means wild ass and Uhud from the word Ahad means “one”. According to Muslim scholars, these names make it clear that even the people of Al Madinah were divided into two factions, one friendly to the Prophet and the other a hostile faction.
Dar Al Madinah Museum
Discover more about Medinah that contains the strongest and the unparalleled Islamic history or explore its rich past and have a look at the best and the most exotic collection at ‘The Madinah Museum’.
This museum, adorned with fourteen immune galleries having specific sections of science, art, history, religion and culture is all set to take you back to your dormant explorer. Feel the majesty of the building that belongs to the ancient period and quietness.
The Madinah Museum in the Al- Madinah is one of the most informative places that tourists should not miss in Medina. This is because the museum depicts the history and heritage of Medina, using a number of images, visual galleries, and archaeological collections regarding Medina.
The museum contains more than two thousand diverse unique exhibits that preserve Medina culture and history in addition to its geographical characteristics, how it has developed in the course of time, and its inhabitants. The tour is very informative up to the growth of this mosque from only a house up to the courtyard and even to the current giant one.
Sheikh Salama Rashdan Museum
If you like to discover the interesting history of Saudi Arabia and the gigantic history of Islamic heritage, then there is no better place to visit than Sheikh Salama Museum.
This Museum is a sight to behold; it has large unfinished art galleries, interesting exhibits containing trinkets and artifacts, the Prophet’s mosque, appealing interior design and, of course, the passion of the people.
This heritage museum that displays a random collection of cars, furniture and other antiques is among the most impressive sites to visit in Medina. The historical traces of Sheikh Salama Bin Rashdan Al Juhani allow you to see the old exhibition halls, which also have their own history. If you always wanted to see some of those historical treasures in the form of legendary cars, then this is a perfect place to be.
This place is worthy of a visit because it’s the only place in Madinah that will remember the past of the city through this museum. Proceed and do not miss this one if your heart has always longed to see some of the old Saudi items and memorabilia with historical significance.
Hejaz Railway Museum
Hejaz Railway Museum is one of the best places to visit the newly developed museum of the transformed old Ottoman railway station. This museum was established in the year 2006 and has an over appeared stage which will transport you to the Ottoman empire era.
See the beautiful Hejaz railways line and discover how this huge transportation network was managed from the office that was on the platform. Open for tourists, there are yard attractions that include age-old train engines as well as other abandoned railway tracks.
Constructed with a portion of the actual rail at the backdrop of a tremendous Ottoman Railway Station, the Hejaz Railway Museum is one of the most informative tourist attractions in Medina. This is not a museum of train cars or railroads but it is all about the Islamic life that was present on the railway. You are required to go to the exhibition dedicated to the life of the Prophet and listen to information about the artifacts and relics from Medina.
It will be fascinating to learn how people lived before and after embracing Islam apart from that, it will help in better understanding of the Islamic history and culture. It is divided into four halls that detail the history of Medina from pre-historic period up to present time. Go outside to view the car, the engine, and the pristine rail marks of the narrow gauge train.
Al Noor Mall
Planning for a joyful and entertaining shopping spree in the most integrated marketing destinations of Saudi Arabia?
Al-Noor mall is one of the biggest and busiest places where you can find numerous luxurious shops, an excellent number of games, food courts, and the most friendly atmosphere. Al-Noor Mall caters to various renowned global brands in its building such as, Zara, Armani, Gucci, Prada, and many more—allowing you to satisfy the enthusiast shopper in you.
For the lovers of shopping, there is no better place to shop than Al-Noor Mall, which also makes part of the top Medina tourist attractions. This mall targets major groups in the community, including children, men and women.
It is a modern and informal building, and it currently consists of the world’s most famous brands of clothing and other merchandise, services for children, and a beautiful area for food lovers. It is one of the malls where you can take your children and never have to worry of losing them since there is a section for game arcades where they can play at the expo while you shop for shoes, perfumes and clothes.
Frequently Asked Questions
What to do in Madinah during Umrah?
During Umrah, visit Masjid Quba, Masjid Al Qibalatayan, Masjid Al Ghammah, Masjid Anbariya and Mount Uhud in Madinah for an elevated spiritual journey. If you want to know about the history of Madinah and Islam, visit Dar Al Madinah Museum, Sheikh Salama Rashdan Museum and Hejaz Railway Museum.
Places to visit in Madinah for kids?
Kids can visit different mosques such as Masjid Al Nabawi, Masjid Quba, Masjid Al Qibalatayan, Masjid Al Ghammah and Masjid Anbariya. They can also visit mountains such as Uhad and Ayr.
Which was the first museum built in Madinah?
Dar Al Madinah Museum was the first museum built in Madinah. Built in 2011, this museum, adorned with fourteen immune galleries having specific sections of science, art, history, religion and culture is all set to take you back to your dormant explorer.
What is Wadi e Jinn known for?
Wadi e Jinn is a mysterious valley in Madinah, Saudi Arabia. The place got famed due to some apocryphal occurrences where cars are seen to operate while their engines are off. Due to such a mysterious valley, people can often be seen driving their vehicles, which are then silenced and can be seen moving towards the hill.