Last checked: 3 October 2026. Access rules, permits and opening times in Madinah can change — always confirm current guidance through official channels before you go.
Most Umrah travellers spend a few days in Madinah, and many want to visit the city’s best-known Ziyarat places during that time. With a little planning you can see the main sites calmly, without rushing between prayers or losing time in traffic. This guide covers five places that most visitors include, a sensible order for visiting them, and practical points on permits, timing and transport.
For the full list of historic places in the city, see our Madinah Ziyarat page. Each place below links to a ZiyaraWay page with its history and the sources we used.
The five places most visitors include
1. Masjid an-Nabawi and the Rawdah
Masjid an-Nabawi, the Prophet’s Mosque, is in central Madinah and is the centre of every visit to the city. If your hotel is close to the mosque, you will usually be there for the daily prayers anyway. Visiting the Prophet’s ﷺ grave to send salam is done through the designated route inside the mosque, and men and women use separate entrances.
The Rawdah is the area inside the mosque between the Prophet’s ﷺ house and his minbar. Entry is by appointment only: the Ministry of Hajj and Umrah lists the Rawdah visit permit as a free service issued through the Nusuk app and website, where you choose a date and time slot. Slots are separate for men and women and are limited, so book as soon as your Madinah dates are fixed, and plan the rest of your day around your slot.
2. Al-Baqi
Al-Baqi is the main cemetery of Madinah and adjoins the south-eastern side of the Prophet’s Mosque courtyard, so it is reached on foot. According to historical sources, many of the Companions and members of the Prophet’s ﷺ family are buried there; most graves are unmarked. Opening hours and access rules are set by the authorities and may change, and women’s access has historically been restricted — check on the day rather than relying on old information. Visit quietly and respectfully.
3. Masjid Quba
Masjid Quba lies about 3 km south of Masjid an-Nabawi and is widely regarded as the first mosque built in Islam. Sahih al-Bukhari (1193) records that the Prophet ﷺ used to go to Quba every Saturday, walking or riding. The mosque is open for the five daily prayers. Many visitors walk there along the Quba Walking Trail, a pedestrian route developed by the Madinah authorities with shaded walkways and rest areas; others come by taxi, bus or private car. If you walk, go early in the morning or in the evening, carry water, and allow roughly 40–60 minutes one way at a comfortable pace.
4. Mount Uhud
Mount Uhud is a long reddish mountain to the north of the city — the Visit Madinah portal puts it at approximately 4 km north of the Prophet’s Mosque. At its foot are the graves of the martyrs of the Battle of Uhud (3 AH / 625 CE) and the small Archers’ Hill (Jabal al-Rumat). The martyrs’ cemetery is viewed from outside its fence, and the Archers’ Hill can be climbed by a short path. The area has parking, a mosque and shops. Because it is outside the central area, most visitors reach Uhud by car, taxi or as part of a Ziyarat tour.
5. Masjid al-Qiblatain
Masjid al-Qiblatain, the “Mosque of the Two Qiblas”, is in north-west Madinah. It is associated with the change of the qibla from Jerusalem to the Kaaba. Historical reports differ on the details of where and when the news reached the worshippers, and our Qiblatain page explains both narrations. Today only the prayer niche facing the Kaaba remains. The mosque is open for prayers and is a common stop on Madinah Ziyarat tours.
A practical order for your visits
There is no single correct order, but grouping places by location saves time:
- On foot from your hotel: Masjid an-Nabawi, your Rawdah slot and Al-Baqi. These can be spread across your stay around the daily prayers.
- One outing by car: Mount Uhud, Masjid al-Qiblatain and Masjid Quba are in different directions from the centre, so a single morning circuit by car is the simplest way to see all three. You can also add other places such as the site of the Battle of the Trench (Khandaq).
- Quba on foot (optional): if you are able to walk, you can visit Quba separately along the walking trail — for example on a cooler morning — and leave it out of the car circuit.
Plan the car outing between two prayer times and start early, especially in the warmer months. Keep your Rawdah appointment free of other commitments so you are not rushing back across the city.
Getting around: walking, taxi or private car
The sites around the Prophet’s Mosque are best reached on foot. For Uhud, Qiblatain and Quba you have three main options:
- Taxi or ride-hailing for single trips — convenient if you want to visit one place at a time.
- A shared Ziyarat tour, where you follow a fixed route with other visitors.
- A private vehicle for your own group, so you can choose the order, the pace and how long to stay at each place. This suits families, elderly travellers and anyone who prefers not to arrange several separate taxis.
ZiyaraWay offers Madinah Ziyarat transport by private vehicle for a Madinah Ziyarat circuit. Standard fares for the Madinah Ziyarat route and other common routes are listed on our transport rates page; send us your hotel, date and group size and we will confirm the details.
Practical tips for your Ziyarat day
- Book the Rawdah first. Get your Nusuk slot, then plan everything else around it.
- Dress modestly and comfortably. Wear shoes you can walk in, and bring a small bag for shoes when entering mosques. Our Umrah packing list covers the basics.
- Carry water and sun protection, especially at Uhud and on the Quba trail.
- Check current rules on the day. Opening times and access arrangements — particularly at Al-Baqi — are set by the authorities and can change.
- Be respectful at cemeteries. Visit quietly and follow the guidance of the staff on site.
Fitting Ziyarat into your Umrah journey
If you are arriving by air, our guide to getting from Madinah Airport to your hotel explains the options on arrival. If you are travelling between the two holy cities, see Makkah to Madinah: train or road? A free morning in the middle of your stay, once you have settled in and booked your Rawdah slot, is a good time for the car outing.
Frequently asked questions
Do I need a permit to visit the Rawdah?
Yes. The Ministry of Hajj and Umrah lists the Rawdah visit permit as a free service issued through the Nusuk app and website, where you choose a date and time slot.
Can I visit all five places in one day?
Masjid an-Nabawi and Al-Baqi are next to each other, and Uhud, Qiblatain and Quba can be combined in one car outing. The Rawdah depends on your Nusuk slot, so many visitors spread the places across two or more days.
Can I walk to Masjid Quba?
Many visitors walk along the Quba Walking Trail from the Prophet’s Mosque area. Allow roughly 40–60 minutes one way, go when it is cooler and carry water.
Plan your Madinah Ziyarat with ZiyaraWay
Tell us your hotel, preferred date and the places you want to visit, and we will reply with the vehicle options and fare. Send a booking request or message us on WhatsApp.
Sources
- Ministry of Hajj and Umrah — Permit to Visit Al-Rawdah Al-Sharifah (accessed 3 October 2026)
- Visit Madinah — Mount Uhud (accessed 3 October 2026)
- Visit Madinah — Quba Walking Trail (accessed 3 October 2026)
- Historical and religious details: ZiyaraWay Ziyarat pages linked above, each with its own references.