Medina (known as Madinah locally) is a city steeped in history, the second-most important site of pilgrimage in Islam, and the place where the Prophet Muhammed spent the last ten years of his life after his Hijrah from Mecca in 622 CE.
As such, many of the museums in the city concentrate on Islamic history and the life of the Prophet, and form an essential part of the pilgrimage for many Muslims visiting Medina. But it isn’t only religious history; Medina has been a settlement for thousands of years and at least one of its museums looks at the city’s pre-Islamic past. These are some of the best museums you can visit in one of Saudi's holiest cities.
1. Dar Al Madinah Museum
Opened in 1955, Dar Al Madinah Museum – self-described as “not just a place; a journey through time” – takes its visitors back to the time of the Prophet Muhammed and his companions. It includes a number of interesting models of the Prophet’s Mosque and actual correspondence between the Prophet and the emperors of the Byzantine and the Persian Empires.
Entry fee: Approximately SAR 25 for adults, free for children under 10
Opening hours: It is open from 9am to 7pm daily, and closed on Fridays
Non-Muslims allowed? Yes
2. The Holy Quran Exhibition
Located within the Prophet’s Mosque complex and therefore off limits to non-Muslims, the Quran Exhibition contains a number of antiquated and historically significant copies of the holy book (some reportedly as much as 600 years old) and is usually visited on a guided tour as part of a pilgrimage package.
Entry fee: SAR 15
Opening hours: Closes at 9pm
Non-Muslims allowed? No, as it is within the boundaries of the Prophet’s Mosque complex
3. The Prophet's Mosque Museum
This ambitious museum opposite the Prophet’s Mosque in Madinah includes digital renderings and models showing the expansion of the mosque over the centuries and some interactive exhibits. The models and images of the city at the time of the Prophet Muhammed’s arrival in the city in 622 CE are particularly interesting.
Guided tours are held in various languages throughout the day, and audio-guides in a variety of languages are available.
Entry fee: Free
Opening hours: 7am to 12 noon, 4pm to 10pm
Non-Muslims allowed? No, as it is within the grounds of the Prophet's Mosque
4. As Safiyyah Museum & Park
A relatively recent addition to Medina’s museum scene, the As Safiyyah Museum & Park opened in March 2024 to the south of the Prophet’s Mosque. The 4,400-square-metre development is mostly retail and food-and-drink outlets, but there’s a high-tech audio-visual exhibition in the basement dedicated to the story of Creation, from the origins of the universe up to the revelation of the Prophet Muhammed. The sprawling complex also features a public garden, shops and restaurants.
Entry fee: SAR 20 per adult
Opening Hours: 8am to 12am
Non-Muslims allowed: Yes
5. Al-Madinah Arts Gallery
Opened in 2018, the Madinah Arts Centre is an 8,200-square-meter gallery dedicated to showcasing contemporary art from Medina and the wider Hijaz. Located in King Fahd Park, beyond Quba and in the south of the city, the gallery is home to Art 365, an experimental space that exhibits local artists for a week at a time, and has previously exhibited photography from Khaled al-Marzouki and projects from local artists such as Hadeel AlHussain.
Entry fee: Free
Opening hours: 9am to 10pm daily, closed on Fridays
Non-Muslims allowed: Yes
