Buses, shuttles and rides: Makkah and Madinah

How to reach the Haram, Masjid Aisha, Masjid Jirana, Quba and the ziyarat places, with distance, time and approximate charges as reported by recent sources. Prices change, so use them only to compare.

Information only. Rules, permits and timings change, so confirm with official sources and your scholar before you travel. We do not sell, book or guarantee anything.

About prices: the amounts below are estimates from travel sites for 2025 and 2026. They change with the season, and rise in Ramadan and around Hajj. Agree the fare before you start and prefer meter or app prices.

Free and shuttle services

Hotel shuttles, Makkah: hotels in Aziziyah, Kudai and other outer districts often run free or low cost shuttles to Masjid al Haram. They run most often 60 to 90 minutes before each prayer and after prayer ends, some every 15 minutes at peak times and others every 45 to 60 minutes (source).
Makkah city buses: the Royal Commission ran Makkah Bus on trial routes (6, 7A, 12 and 7) that were free during the trial, operating about 22 hours a day, with more than 40 buses (source, 2022 article). Check the current routes and fares before you rely on it.
Haramain Bus Service, Madinah: reported as free within the central mosque area, for short hops between the gates and nearby hotels (source).
Shuttle to the Haram from parking areas may run in busy seasons. Ask the Haram staff.

Metro, train and intercity buses

Metro: there is no regular metro for visitors in Makkah or Madinah. A seasonal metro runs between Arafat, Muzdalifah and Mina in Hajj season only.
Haramain train: Makkah to Madinah takes about 2 hours, with reported fares of about SAR 100 to 200 per person (source). See our train guide.
Taxi, Makkah to Madinah: about 430 km and 4 to 5 hours. Reported 2025 ranges: 4 seat car SAR 350 to 500, 7 seat van SAR 600 to 850, 12 seat minibus SAR 900 to 1,300 (source).
Intercity bus: slower than the train because of stops. Check the operator for current fares.

Masjid Aisha (Tanim), Makkah

What: a miqat place where people already in Makkah put on ihram for another Umrah. It has washrooms for preparing.
Distance: about 7 to 8 km north of the Haram.
Time: about 15 minutes by taxi, and 15 to 20 minutes back (source).
How: taxi or ride hailing, or a local bus reported from the Fahd Gate area. Tour operators also run buses.
Charges: no reliable fare was found. Agree the taxi price first and share the ride with others if you can.

Masjid Jirana (Ji'ranah), Makkah

What: a miqat where the Prophet entered ihram for Umrah after Hunayn, and a historic site.
Distance: about 24 km north east of the Haram (source).
How: a source reports a free bus number 10 from near the Haram library and bridge. Another option is a taxi. Confirm the current route and time with local staff.
Charges: no reliable fare found. Taxi prices depend on the distance and season.

Madinah ziyarat: Quba, Qiblatayn, Uhud

Distances from the Prophet's Mosque: Quba about 3 to 5 km, Masjid al Qiblatayn about 4 km, Mount Uhud about 5 km. These are rough road distances. See the landmarks page.
Hop on hop off bus: a sightseeing bus covers the Prophet's Mosque, Quba, Qiblatayn, Baqi, Uhud and the Seven Mosques, with one ticket giving unlimited rides for 24 hours. Fare and timetable were not listed, so check the operator (source).
Taxi or ride hailing inside Madinah: about SAR 10 to 30 for a short ride, 5 to 25 minutes (source).
Ziyarat half day by taxi: about SAR 80 to 150 for a 4 seat car (source). Agree the places and time first.
Quba: no free shuttle was confirmed. If you walk, do it in the early morning or evening.

Airport and station distances

Jeddah airport to Masjid al Haram: about 85 to 90 km, 1 to 1.5 hours (source).
Madinah airport to the Prophet's Mosque: about 15 km, 20 to 35 minutes by taxi, SAR 60 to 100 by private taxi (source).
Madinah Haramain station: about 5 km south of the Prophet's Mosque, 15 to 20 minutes by taxi (source).
Makkah train station to the Clock Tower and Jabal Omar: 15 to 20 minutes by taxi. Sources name the Makkah station differently, so check your ticket.

Tips

Taxis and ride hailing cannot always pick up right at the Haram gates, so allow 5 to 10 extra minutes at prayer times.
Save your hotel name in our app before you go out. See the home page.
Our ride guide explains how to choose between taxi, bus and train.

Frequently asked

Is there a free bus to Masjid al Haram?

Many hotels in outer areas such as Aziziyah and Kudai run free or low cost shuttles to the Haram around prayer times. Ask your hotel for the timetable. The city bus network in Makkah has also run free trial routes.

How far is Masjid Aisha (Tanim) from the Haram?

About 7 to 8 kilometres to the north, roughly 15 minutes by taxi or car. Some sources mention local buses from the Fahd Gate area.

How far is Masjid Jirana (Ji'ranah) from the Haram?

About 24 kilometres to the north east. A source reports a free bus number 10, but confirm current routes locally.

Is there a metro between Makkah and Madinah?

No. The Haramain high speed train and buses link the two cities. A seasonal metro runs between Arafat, Muzdalifah and Mina in Hajj season only.

How do I visit Quba Mosque from the Prophet's Mosque?

Quba is about 3 to 5 kilometres away. Take a taxi, a ride hailing car or the sightseeing hop on hop off bus, which includes Quba, Qiblatayn, Baqi and Uhud.

References

Fares and routes come from travel guides and old news and can be out of date. We did not find an official fare table, and these figures are not offers. Confirm with the operator, your hotel or the driver.

Sources and review

Reviewed by the Makkah Madina Guide editorial team on 20 October 2026. Always check the latest rules with the Nusuk platform and the Saudi Ministry of Hajj and Umrah, and ask a qualified scholar for religious rulings.