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Ramadan 2027 in Madinah: Rawdah Permit, Hotels, Evenings

A practical guide to Ramadan 2027 in Madinah (8 February to 8 March): the Rawdah permit in Nusuk, how to choose a hotel by walking time to the Prophet’s Mosque, getting around, evenings and how to combine Madinah with Makkah.

ZiyaraGo AI8 min read
Ramadan 2027 in Madinah: Rawdah Permit, Hotels, Evenings

In short

  • A visit to the Rawdah needs a permit booked in the Nusuk app; in Ramadan the slots open only a few days ahead and sell out within minutes.
  • In our catalogue 3 of the 95 Madinah hotels with distance data are within 3 minutes’ walk of the Prophet’s Mosque, 9 within 4–5 minutes and 52 within 6–10.
  • Allow extra time at sunset and after the evening prayers, and book Haramain train seats early.

Madinah during Ramadan is calmer than Makkah but still very full, especially in the last ten days that start on 28 February. Three things shape the trip: the Rawdah permit, the walking time from your hotel to the Prophet’s Mosque, and how you combine the city with Makkah. This guide covers each of them with the numbers from our catalogue.

Our catalogue has 122 published hotels in Madinah, 95 of which have a walking time to the Prophet’s Mosque. We do not quote prices, because they change every week in Ramadan; compare them in the booking form.

What changes in Madinah in Ramadan

Ramadan 2027 is expected to run from 8 February to 8 March, with Eid al-Fitr on 9 March. In February Madinah is mild: pleasant days and cooler evenings, much easier than summer. The city is more compact than Makkah, so most things are within a short ride, but the area around the Prophet’s Mosque is crowded at prayer times and in the evenings, and the roads next to it are restricted at the busiest hours.

Opening hours of shops and restaurants shift in Ramadan: many open later in the day and stay open late into the night. Keep this in mind when you plan meals and shopping.

The Rawdah permit: how it works

A visit to the Rawdah requires a permit booked in the Nusuk app; you cannot rely on queueing at the door. Outside Ramadan the slots usually open one to two weeks ahead; in Ramadan only a few days ahead, and they sell out within minutes. That is the information we show on our Ramadan page, and the rules can change, so check the app for the current ones.

Plan to have the app installed and your account ready before the slots open, keep your phone charged and your documents with you, and arrive at the time on your permit. If you do not get a slot, try again when new ones open and do not pay anyone who offers to arrange one: the official app is the only way.

Where to stay: why walking time matters

In Ramadan the short walk to the Prophet’s Mosque decides how your day looks: you can rest in your room between prayers and avoid taxis at the busiest hours. A longer walk is possible but means planning each trip.

In our catalogue, 3 hotels are within three minutes of the Prophet’s Mosque on foot, 9 are four to five minutes away, 52 are six to ten minutes away, 8 are eleven to fifteen, 2 are sixteen to twenty-five and 21 are farther. Treat these times as a guide: around prayer times the same walk can take longer than on a quiet day.

Up to five minutes: closest to the mosque

These hotels are the first to sell out for the last ten days. Many are three-star and four-star, and a few are large five-star towers. If you want one, book early, and ask the hotel which entrance to use and whether the route is open to pedestrians.

Six to ten minutes: the widest choice

This is the biggest group in Madinah, with 52 hotels, 10 of them five-star and 10 four-star. The walk is short, and the choice of room types, restaurants and services is much wider. For most families and groups it is the best balance between distance and comfort.

Eleven to twenty-five minutes: quieter and cheaper

Further away the streets are quieter and rooms cost less, but you must plan: allow time for the walk before each prayer and for the return, and think about elderly travellers and children. Many of these hotels are three-star and suit groups that are comfortable with longer walks or a short taxi ride.

Getting around Madinah

Most of the places that visitors want are within a short ride: the mosques around the city, the date farms and the malls. In Ramadan allow extra time at sunset and after the evening prayers, when taxis are scarce and roads near the mosque are slow. Our guide to Madinah in one, two and three days groups the places by area so that you do not cross the city twice.

If you travel between Madinah and Makkah, the Haramain high-speed railway connects them; check the timetable and book your seats in the official app well in advance, because trains fill up at the start and end of Ramadan and around Eid.

Evenings, food and shopping

After sunset Madinah comes alive: restaurants serve iftar and suhoor meals, sweet shops are busy and the malls stay open late. If you want ideas, see our lists of Uzbek restaurants, sweets and baklava, the best malls and date farms. Check the opening hours before you go, since they change in Ramadan.

Book a table if you want a particular restaurant for iftar: the most popular places fill up in the hour before sunset.

Combining Madinah and Makkah, and when to book

Decide the order and the number of nights in each city first; hotels in both cities sell by the week in Ramadan and often with a minimum stay. Plan the transfer on a weekday, not on Friday or on the first and last days of Eid week, and keep your luggage light.

For hotels within ten minutes of the Prophet’s Mosque, the best months to book are December and January, with free cancellation where possible; it lets you move your dates if the moon sighting shifts the month by a day. Read the conditions: meals, check-in and check-out times and cancellation terms. Our guide to Ramadan 2027 in Makkah covers the same questions for the other city.

How we chose

We chose the hotels in each group from our catalogue by walking time to the Prophet’s Mosque, then by the completeness of the hotel’s page, keeping a mix of segments. We do not state prices or availability because they change daily.

This guide is information for planning and does not replace the instructions of your group leader, the official apps or your hotel. Dates follow the Umm al-Qura calendar and can shift by a day.

Tips

  • Install Nusuk and create your account well before the Rawdah slots open.
  • Book hotels in December or January, with free cancellation.
  • Choose by walking time and ask the hotel for the route to the nearest entrance.
  • Allow extra time at sunset and after the evening prayers for any taxi ride.
  • Book Haramain train seats early if you travel between Madinah and Makkah.

Questions and answers

How do I get a Rawdah permit in Ramadan?

Through the Nusuk app. In Ramadan slots open only a few days ahead and sell out within minutes, so have your account ready. Do not pay anyone who offers to arrange one.

Is Madinah less crowded than Makkah in Ramadan?

Usually yes, but the area around the Prophet’s Mosque is crowded at prayer times and in the evenings, and the last ten days are the busiest.

How close can I stay to the Prophet’s Mosque?

In our catalogue 3 hotels are within three minutes on foot and 9 more within four to five minutes. They are the first to sell out.

When should I book a hotel in Madinah for Ramadan 2027?

Ideally in December or January, with free cancellation. Rooms within ten minutes of the mosque go first.

Can I travel between Madinah and Makkah by train?

Yes, the Haramain high-speed railway connects the cities. Check the timetable and book your seats early in the official app.