9 Places in Madinah for Ziyarat and a Thoughtful Visit

Masjid an-Nabawi, the Prophet’s Mosque, was built by Prophet Muhammad ﷺ after his arrival in Madinah in 622 CE. It is the second-holiest mosque in Islam after Masjid al-Haram.

The Green Dome stands above the former house of Aisha (may Allah be pleased with her) and the burial chamber of the Prophet ﷺ, Abu Bakr and Umar (may Allah be pleased with them).

The Rawdah is between the minbar and burial chamber. A visit requires a Nusuk permit and an available slot, with separate times for men and women. Wheelchairs are available at several gates, and the mosque has lifts and ramps. Expect more people at peak prayer times and holidays.

Recognised as the first mosque built in Islam, Masjid Quba was established after Prophet Muhammad ﷺ arrived in Madinah during the Hijrah. The present building was rebuilt from 1984 and inaugurated on 2 November 1986. It has four minarets, six main domes and a women’s prayer area.

The mosque is in south-west Madinah along Hijra Road. The Quba Walkway runs about 3 km between it and Masjid an-Nabawi, making the two sites part of the same broad area for planning. Separate prayer areas are provided for men and women; modest dress is expected. Bus route 390 links King Fahd District with Quba Mosque.

Masjid al-Qiblatayn, or the Mosque of the Two Qiblas, is associated with the change in prayer direction from Bayt al-Maqdis in Jerusalem to the Kaaba in Makkah, dated to 2 AH. Its name refers to those two directions.

The mosque is about 3.8 km from Masjid an-Nabawi, on Khalid Bin Al-Walid Road near Sultanah Street. Authorities have directed that it remain open 24 hours a day for worship.

A development update in February 2026 described pedestrian plazas, lifts and escalators, as well as cooling fans and shade in the north-eastern courtyards. The city sightseeing bus serves the site.

Jannat al-Baqi, also called Baqi al-Gharqad, is Madinah’s historic Muslim cemetery on the south-east side of Masjid an-Nabawi, about 0.5 km away. Members of the Prophet’s family (may Allah be pleased with them) and many Companions are buried here, including his wives and daughters and Uthman ibn Affan (may Allah be pleased with him).

The Ministry visitor guide lists entry after Fajr and after Asr. Visitors should dress modestly, keep a quiet manner and follow instructions at the site. Its position beside the mosque makes it one of the closest places on this list, though access times and directions on site should shape your visit.

Mount Uhud is a rocky mountain 1,077 m high, about 5 km in a straight line north of Masjid an-Nabawi. The Battle of Uhud was fought on 19 March 625 CE (3 Shawwal 3 AH). About seventy Companions are buried in the Uhud Martyrs’ Cemetery, including Hamza ibn Abd al-Muttalib (may Allah be pleased with him).

Visitors also see Jabal al-Rumah, known as the Archers’ Hill. Sayyid ash-Shuhada Mosque is about 200 m from the cemetery. New walking and climbing trails have been added. For time outdoors, avoid direct sun, drink water and choose a cooler time of day.

The Seven Mosques are a group of historic mosques beside the former trench line at the foot of Mount Sila’, in the Al-Fateh neighbourhood, also known locally as Al-Sih. They are about 1.7 km from Masjid an-Nabawi in a straight line. The trench itself has disappeared.

The site is associated with the Battle of the Trench, also called the Battle of the Confederates. The mosques were built after the time of the Prophet ﷺ to commemorate the event and people connected with it.

Five remain: Al-Fath, Salman al-Farisi, Ali ibn Abi Talib, Omar al-Farouq and Fatimah al-Zahra (may Allah be pleased with them). Cover shoulders and knees, and be considerate of worshippers.

Masjid al-Ghamama is also known as Al-Musalla. The prayer ground is associated with Eid prayers and rain prayers led by Prophet Muhammad ﷺ, before a mosque building stood there. The mosque was built in the Umayyad era under Umar ibn Abdulaziz.

The name means “the cloud”, linked in local accounts to a cloud said to have shaded the Prophet ﷺ during the rain prayer. The building has five domes, a cylindrical minaret, a black basalt exterior and white-lime walls.

Obligatory congregational prayers are held inside. It is about 200 m from the edge of Masjid an-Nabawi’s courtyards, making it a short walk from the central mosque area.

Al-Madinah Museum is in the Hejaz Railway Station, built in 1908. Established in 1983, the museum has 14 halls and about 2,000 artefacts covering Madinah’s environment and history, the Prophetic era, the Prophet’s family, the Muhajirun and Ansar, the Prophetic Mosque, the Caliphs and the Saudi states. One highlight follows the growth of Masjid an-Nabawi from a house to a large complex.

A separate Hejaz Railway Museum is on the same site. Its status is uncertain: it was reported closed for refurbishment as of 2026, and the City Sightseeing page marks the stop temporarily closed, so check before you go.

The site is on Omar ibn al-Khattab Street at King Abdulaziz Square in Anbariya, not far from the mosque. Browse museums and exhibitions in Madinah.

Wadi al-Baida, meaning “the White Valley”, is locally called Wadi al-Jinn. This valley and so-called anti-gravity hill is in al-Baida Park, about 30 km north-west of Madinah, a 30 to 40 minute drive. It is best treated as a short outing outside the city rather than a ziyarat site.

Cars left out of gear can seem to roll uphill; the explanation given is an optical illusion, not a reversal of gravity.

Local legend says the valley is haunted, but in 2020 the Al Madinah Region Development Authority rejected claims of a spiritual presence there. Keep the distinction between local stories and the stated explanation in mind when planning a visit.

Allow time for prayer and travel between sites, as straight-line distances are shorter than road journeys. Dress modestly, and follow any instructions at the places you visit. For journeys that involve a drive, consider the distance and the time of day; you can also compare hotels near Madinah airport when planning your stay.