Hello, travel enthusiasts! Today I’m sharing my experience of visiting Medina in Saudi Arabia as a non-Muslim traveler. While Mecca, Islam’s holiest city, prohibits entry to non-Muslims, Medina has recently become accessible to tourists following legal changes. Only certain areas remain restricted. In this article, I’ll report on my actual experience visiting Medina!
I visited Medina, Islam’s second holiest city, home to the Prophet’s Mosque.
Current Situation in Mecca and Medina
First, let me briefly talk about Mecca. Mecca, or as locally pronounced, Makkah, is Islam’s holiest city, and entry is strictly prohibited for non-Muslims. This means only Muslims can visit Mecca, while people of other faiths cannot approach it.
On the other hand, Medina, or Al Madinah as locally pronounced, became accessible to non-Muslim tourists following legal changes in 2021. However, Medina houses the “Prophet’s Mosque,” which includes Prophet Muhammad’s tomb, and the area surrounding it remains exclusively for Muslims. Still, considering that until just a few years ago, all of Saudi Arabia was off-limits to tourists, the fact that much of Medina is now open for tourism is exciting news for travelers.
Visiting Medina as a Non-Muslim Tourist
I arrived in Medina by overnight bus from AlUla. I’ll introduce my AlUla experience in another article.
So, I actually visited Medina as a non-Muslim tourist. For my entry route, I took an overnight bus from AlUla, where I had been enjoying sightseeing the previous day, and got off at a stop near Mount Uhud early in the morning. From there, I used the ride-hailing app Careem to head toward the central area around the Prophet’s Mosque.
Arriving in Central Medina!
Arriving near the northern gate of the Prophet’s Mosque
I arrived in central Medina before 6 AM and immediately started walking around town. Amid many Umrah pilgrims dressed in traditional Islamic attire, I might have stood out a bit with my backpack, T-shirt, and slacks. However, I didn’t experience any uncomfortable stares or unfriendly faces. While visitors from my region are still relatively rare, there are many pilgrims from Indonesia, Thailand, and other Asian countries, so Asian features aren’t that unusual (though be aware that shorts are not appropriate).
Walking Around the Prophet’s Mosque
Around the Prophet’s Mosque (Al Masjid an Nabawi), there’s a dark green fence clearly demarcating the sacred area that only Muslims are allowed to enter. Looking inside from outside the fence or taking photos is fine, but be careful not to enter the sacred area.
The sacred area filled with pilgrims from early morning
Walking around the mosque while following the perimeter of this fence, I found that the fence forms a roughly rectangular shape. Outside the sacred area, there’s no problem being a tourist. I had heard that you might get scolded for walking around with a large camera, but in reality, I wasn’t reprimanded even when actively using my mirrorless camera. I encountered dozens of police officers during my walk, who greeted me and chatted with me in a very friendly manner.
Shopping and other activities are no problem
By the way, I had no issues entering shops, restaurants, and shopping malls in the area around the sacred zone. There were rumors that non-Muslims might be refused entry to certain establishments, but either those were false or the situation has changed in recent years. In the end, apart from not being able to enter the sacred area of the Prophet’s Mosque, I didn’t experience any inconvenience or discriminatory treatment for not being Muslim.
The Quba Front area becomes lively and vibrant at night
By the way, Medina has many attractions besides the Prophet’s Mosque, so try exploring the city using local taxis or bicycles. I’ll introduce other noteworthy spots in a future article.
Refrain from Taking Photos During Prayer Times
People gather at the mosque as prayer time approaches
While Medina has become relatively accessible for tourism, it’s important to respect the local culture and Muslims during your stay. Specifically, refrain from photographing during prayer times to avoid causing discomfort to others. The Maghrib (sunset) and Isha (night) prayers are particularly impressive, with tens of thousands of pilgrims gathering. However, as travelers, our duty is not to interfere with their activities. Even if you feel the urge to capture the prayer scenes on video, it’s better to observe from a distance and simply commit the scene to memory.
Even outside prayer times, it’s important not to interfere with Muslims’ activities. Medina, especially Al Masjid an Nabawi, is a holy site, not generally a tourist destination. Non-Muslim tourists are, in a sense, outsiders here. Pay the utmost attention not to obstruct their paths.
Stay at Pullman Zamzam Madina When Visiting Medina
When visiting Medina, booking Pullman Zamzam Madina is a must for its prime view of the Prophet’s Mosque!
By the way, if you’re staying in Medina, I recommend the Pullman Zamzam Madina hotel. Especially from the Haram View rooms and Panoramic Haram View, you can enjoy a prime view of Medina’s highlight, the Prophet’s Mosque (Al Masjid an Nabawi)! As mentioned earlier, on the ground, you may often refrain from taking photos out of consideration for the pilgrims’ serious demeanor, but from these rooms, even non-Muslims can observe the majestic structure without worry. Consider staying here when planning your visit to Medina!
Check out the Pullman Zamzam Madina hotel report here!
Visiting Medina was a valuable experience as a non-Muslim. Although entry to Mecca isn’t possible, I was able to experience Islamic culture in Medina and spend a very meaningful time there. It’s essential to be considerate of Muslims and visit with respect. Depending on how we tourists behave, there’s a possibility that Medina could become off-limits again…
