Why go
- Second-holiest city in Islam and Capital of Medina Province, Saudi Arabia.
- Known for Muhamad's migration from Mecca, Hijrah.
- Served by Prince Mohammad Bin Abdulaziz Airport (MED).
History
Medina, officially al-Madinah al-Munawwarah, also known as al-Madinah an-Nabawiyyah and Taybah, is the capital and administrative centre of Medina Province in the Hejaz region of western Saudi Arabia. It is the second holiest city in Islam after Mecca, and one of the oldest and most important places in Islamic history. The population as of 2022 is 1,477,023, making it the fourth-most populous city in the country. Around 58.5% of the population are Saudi citizens and 41.5% are foreigners. The city joined the UNESCO Global Network of Learning Cities in 2024. Located at the core of the Medina Province in the western reaches of the country, the city is distributed over 589 km2 (227 sq mi), of which 293 km2 (113 sq mi) constitutes the city's urban area, while the rest is occupied by the Hejaz Mountains, empty valleys, agricultural spaces, and older dormant volcanoes.
Restaurants & places to go
145 more places in the Ultimate edition. See the Ultimate edition →
Airports
✈ Airlines & flight paths — 15 airlines, 28 direct destinations
- Saudi Arabian Airlines SV (A320, Embraer 170, A321, 777-200, 74E, 777-300) · 12 routes: Abha, Al-Ula, Ankara, Bahrain*, Cairo, Dammam, Dubai, Gassim, Istanbul, Jeddah, Riyadh, Tabuk
- Nas Air XY (A320, 747) · 10 routes: Abu Dhabi*, Amman, Dammam, Gizan, Hatay, Istanbul, Jeddah, Khartoum, Kuwait, Riyadh
- Pakistan International Airlines PK (310, 777) · 4 routes: Islamabad, Karachi, Lahore, Multan
- Egyptair MS (737-800, A320, 330, A330-300) · 2 routes: Alexandria, Cairo
- Air Arabia G9 (A320) · 1 route: Sharjah
- Emirates EK (A330-200) · 1 route: Dubai
- Etihad Airways EY (A320) · 1 route: Abu Dhabi
- Fly Dubai FZ (737-800) · 1 route: Dubai
- Gulf Air Bahrain GF (A320) · 1 route: Bahrain
- Oman Air WY (737-800, 737-700) · 1 route: Muscat
- Qatar Airways QR (A320, A321) · 1 route: Doha
- Royal Jordanian RJ (A320, A321, 340) · 1 route: Amman
- Shaheen Air International NL (A320) · 1 route: Multan
- Tunisair TU (A320, A320) · 1 route: Tunis
- Turkish Airlines TK (A321, 330, A330-200, A340-300) · 1 route: Istanbul
Routes and aircraft from OpenFlights (open data; a point-in-time snapshot). * = codeshare. Linked destinations open their own guidebook. Flight numbers are not in the open data — they come from the airline or a paid schedule feed.
Where to stay
Where things are
Photographs
credit: Wikipedia / Wikimedia Commons · See source page
When to go
The warmer, longer-day half of the year is the safest bet for a first visit.
Cooler and quieter, with fewer visitors and better value.
Short days and the coldest weather — check local conditions before travelling.
Getting there & around
Getting there. The nearest airport on record is Prince Mohammad Bin Abdulaziz Airport (MED); 1 other airport serves the wider area. Check rail and road links from the tourism sources below. By air: MED has direct flights to 28 destinations on 15 airlines (incl. Dubai, Abu Dhabi, Amman, Bahrain, Cairo…).
Getting around. Use the map above to orient yourself; nearby hotels, attractions and places to eat are listed from the live Ultimate data for Al Madinah (Medina), Saudia Arabia. Local transit details will be added as the guide is expanded.
Private aviation
On-demand charter, jet cards and the semi-private scheduled carriers that serve this city.