10 reasons why you should travel to Medina instead of Riyadh

Saudi Arabia is the most well-known country in the Arab League because two holy cities for Muslims are here. Each year more than 16 million people travel to Saudi Arabia, and such as in other countries, the capital is one of the most visited destinations. But today we will talk about another city which is Medina city. In this blog, we are going to show ten reasons why you should travel to Medina city instead of Riyadh. Through this blog, you will learn that where is Medina, in which places to live in Medina, where is Medina temple, and more.

Where is Medina?

Medina city (official name is Al Madinah Al Munawwarah) is one of the three holy cities of Islam. It is in the western part of the country in Medina province. This city's population is 1,488,782, and it makes Medina city the 4th most populous of Saudi Arabia. The total area of the town is 589 square km, but only 293 square km is urban, the other 296 square km is rural. Medina is also known as a city of the Prophet's because the last Prophet Muhammed died here on 8 June 632.

1. More affordable restaurants

When we compare restaurant prices in Medina and Riyadh, we can see that first is more reasonable. For example, having a meal in an inexpensive restaurant in Medina is 5,33 USD, and it is 1 USD cheaper than the capital. We can see the same tendency in mid-range restaurants, too. In Medina, for two people's meals, you will pay 3-4 USD less than Riyadh. Also, we can observe fewer prices in drinks such as coffee or carbonated drinks. Coffee has a special place in Saudi Arabian culture. In their culture, it is a sign of respect and hospitality. So don't forget to try coffee after travel to Saudi Arabia. Furthermore, the country has a rich cuisine, and some meals which we recommend you to try include Haneeth, Hininy, Madfoon, Mandi, Jalamah, Ka'ak, Kabsa, Khmer, Markook, Aseedah, and more. Especially, Kabsa is the national and most popular dish in Saudi Arabia, and they use rice, vegetables, and meat in this meal.

2. Al-Masjid an Nabawi

As we said before, Medina is one of the holiest cities in Saudi Arabia. You can find many mosques here, and Al-Masjid a Nabawi is the most well-known. This mosque has several names, such as the Prophet's Mosque, Al Haram, Al Haram Al Madani, and Al Haram Al Nabawi. This mosque is the second one, which was built by Prophet Muhammed after Masjid Quba'a. If you travel to Saudi Arabia (Medina), you will get a chance to visit one of the largest mosques in the world. The Prophet's Mosque has an outstanding interior and exterior design, which will hypnotize you. The total capacity of the masjid is 1,000,000. Where is Medina temple? Actually, there are many holy places in Medina, and we will talk about them later. But it is interesting to note that there is another Medina temple far away from Saudi Arabia on the north side of Chicago. If it is interesting for you, don't hesitate to apply for a Saudi Arabia visa now.

3. Mount Uhud

Mount Uhud is another area that makes Medinha popular among all cities in Saudi Arabia.  It is 1,077 m high and 7.5 km long. Every year millions of Muslims came to this mountain because it has great importance for Muslims. There was a Uhud mountain war on 19 March 625 CE, and the Prophet and his companions were defeated in this war. Climb to the mountain and observe the area. It will help you imagine the battle and travel in time for a while. Moreover, if you want to make some memories with you, there are markets and souvenir shops. Also, you can take plenty of videos and photos to make a collection for your children and yourself.

4. Prophet Muhammed's first mosque

Another reason why you should travel to Medina is Masjid Quba. Masjid Quba is the first mosque of the Prophet Muhammed, and that is why this masjid is so crucial for Muslims. Not only Muslims but also travellers from other religions like to visit Masjid Quba because it is a touristic place, too. Besides, a large group of people believes that this mosque is the place where the first Friday pray took place. As you know, Friday is a holy day in Islam. In 1986 architect Abdel-Wahed El-Wakil made reconstruction works here, but he tried to keep the original magnificence. Mosque has six domes and four minarets (one of them is original).

5. Jannatul Baqi

Jannatul Baqi means the Garden of Heaven in English. Jannatul Baqi is one of the first and oldest Muslim cemeteries in the world. The popularity of this place, coming from the people who rest here. Many members of the Prophet's close family, his companions' graves are here. Also, there is a shrine of Muhammed's daughter. In total, there are more than 80,000 burials. Unfortunately, women can not enter the Jannatul Baqi, and they should watch graves from the outer part, so many people advise searching on the internet burial places before visiting. It was like that before, but maybe some changes took place. As you know, many changes happen in recent years about women in Saudi Arabia. Everybody should see that graveyard to understand that life will not last forever, and all human beings will die one day, people say.

6. Dar Al Madinah Museum

Are you interested in history and culture? If the answer is yes, you should visit the Dar Al Madinah Museum. There are more than 2000 artefacts in the museum, and most of them are from post-Hijrah Muslim period. You will see a lot of modern and ancient models, pictures about the history of Medina. The most renowned artefact in the museum is a bow affiliated to Saad Ibn Abi-Waqas, who was a legendary bowman in Islam and one of the Prophet Muhammad's friends. Besides bow, other most interesting artefacts which attract visitors are models such as the Masjid al-Aqsa complex, etc.

7. The Beautiful Names of Allah Gallery

Muslims believe that Allah has 99 names, such as ar-Raḥmān, ar-Raḥīm, al-Mālik, al-Quddus, As-Salām, al-Muʿmin, and more. If you want to learn much about it, you can add The Beautiful Names of Allah Gallery to your vacation plans. We recommend you to participate in a tour of this gallery. Here you will be able to learn the meanings of Allah's names, their examples, and more. If you have Muslim friends, some of those names will sound familiar to you. It would be better to go there on the guided tour, instead of going by yourself.

8. Koran Museum

Do you want to get through information about Islam and Islam's holy Koran? Then you can go to the Koran Museum. Here you will find many copies of the sacred Koran and other Islamic books. The oldest Koran in the exhibition dates back to 1095 AD (488 Hijri). Besides, visitors to the museum can see one of the enormous Quran copies weighing 154 kilograms. There is a guided tour, so don't worry. You may ask all questions which seem unclear to you. We believe that not only Muslims but also people who believe in other religions should visit this museum. Maybe it will help us to respect each other's beliefs, and we can create a peaceful world.

9. Madinah Dates

Many people say that Madinah is the best place to buy dates. In general, dates are crucial and beneficial fruit.  They are very nutritious and have many vitamins (A, B, D) and sugar, and it makes them a great source of energy. Some other advantages of dates are containing high fiber, having many disease-fighting antioxidants, good for brain health. Furthermore, people who are on a diet can use it without any doubt. In Islam, the date tree is the tree of life in the Garden of Eden. Muslims use it during Ramadan to open their fast. It is interesting to note that dates are one of the fruits which have the most types. Dates have more than 99 kinds.

10. Where is Medina Old Bazaar?

Old Bazaar is in Al Madinah Province next to mosques gate number 7. Here you can find a lot of things to buy. Mainly, you can buy gold, pearl, and other jewellery because they are much cheaper than in other cities in Saudi Arabia. Although most of the goods have reasonable prices, don't forget to bargain. Besides buying something, walking here will be fun, as it is one of the oldest market centres in the whole of Saudi Arabia.

One additional information about Medina (places to live in Medina)

Do you want to stay in Medina for a long time or forever? Then we advise you to buy a house next to the Prophet's Mosque or in the centre of the city. Living in those places would be much fun because you can easily reach the sightseeing places or you can have night walks to relax. What about the prices? If you want to buy a bedroom apartment in the city centre, you will pay 600-700 $, but on the outskirts, it is around 300-400 USD. Buying three apartments with three bedrooms will cost something around 400-800 USD depending on location. What are the best places to live in Medina? After giving prices, we can say that this absolutely depends on the financial situation and requirements.