Updated · Saudi Arabia Taxi Services
Taxi or train: which is better from Makkah to Madinah?
The Makkah to Madinah taxi and the Haramain High-Speed Railway are the two most popular ways to make this journey. The taxi goes from your hotel door in Makkah to your hotel door in Madinah. The train is faster on the rails, but both of its stations are outside the central areas.
In short, the train suits one or two people with light bags whose timing fits the timetable. A taxi or van usually suits families, groups, elderly travellers and anyone carrying a lot of luggage. The sections below explain why.
How long does each option take door to door?
By road the trip is 450 km on Route 15 (Al Hijrah Highway) and takes about 4 h 30 min, including a rest stop around halfway. Prayer stops are included at no extra charge.
The train ride itself takes roughly 2.5 hours, but that is only part of the journey. Makkah station is in Al Rusayfah, about 6 km from the Haram, and Madinah station is about 10 km from the hotels around Al-Masjid an-Nabawi. You also need time to reach the station, wait to board with your luggage and get from Madinah station to your hotel. Check the operator's timetable for current journey times.
| Step | Taxi | Haramain train |
|---|---|---|
| Leaving Makkah | Driver collects you at your hotel | Taxi or bus to Makkah station, about 6 km |
| Main journey | About 4 h 30 min by road | Roughly 2.5 hours on the train |
| Waiting | None; you leave when you are ready | Arrive before departure and wait to board |
| Arriving in Madinah | Your hotel entrance | Madinah station, then a taxi of about 10 km |
How much does Makkah to Madinah cost by taxi?
Taxi fares are per vehicle and fixed before you travel, including fuel, tolls and the driver. The more people you are, the better the taxi compares with per-person train tickets.
With the train you pay for each passenger and also for a taxi at each end. City rides in Makkah and Madinah start from SAR 60 per car. Train fares change, so check the operator before you compare.
| Vehicle | Passengers | Suitcases | Makkah to Madinah |
|---|---|---|---|
| Economy sedan | 1 to 3 | 2 | SAR 770 |
| Standard sedan | 1 to 3 | 3 | SAR 900 |
| Comfort MPV | 4 to 6 | 5 | SAR 1,130 |
| SUV | 4 to 7 | 6 | SAR 1,580 |
| Family van | 7 to 11 | 10 | SAR 1,440 |
| Wheelchair-accessible van | 1 to 4 plus a wheelchair | 4 | SAR 1,580 |
Which is more comfortable for families and elderly travellers?
The train is smooth and quiet, with assigned seats and no traffic. But stations mean walking, queues, lifts or escalators, and lifting suitcases on and off the train. For an elderly parent or small children, those steps can be harder than the journey itself.
A taxi is door to door. You choose when to leave, the driver loads the bags, and you stop when someone needs a washroom, a meal or a prayer. A family can also visit Badr, the site of the first major battle in Islam, on the way. A wheelchair-accessible van lets a wheelchair user ride seated in their own chair.
What about luggage and Zamzam water?
In a taxi all your bags travel with you. An economy sedan takes two suitcases, a comfort MPV five and a family van up to ten, so tell us your bag count when you book.
On the train, luggage limits apply per ticket. If you are carrying Zamzam, check the train operator's rules and, for your flight home, the airline's rules. Our Zamzam travel guide covers the basics.
Going the other way: Madinah to Makkah and the Miqat
If you travel from Madinah to Makkah for Umrah, you must be in Ihram before you pass the Miqat of Dhul Hulayfah, also called Abyar Ali, about 12 km from Al-Masjid an-Nabawi. A taxi stops there on request at no extra charge; allow 30 to 45 minutes. Washrooms and changing areas are on site.
The train does not stop at the Miqat, so plan with your group leader or a scholar how you will enter Ihram before the train passes it. Our guide to Miqat stops by car covers every road into Makkah.
Which should you choose?
- Choose the taxi if you are four or more people, have elderly travellers or children, carry a lot of luggage, or want a stop at Badr or the Miqat.
- Choose the train if you are one or two people with light bags, your hotel is easy to reach from the station, and the timetable fits your plans.
- Choose a family van for seven to eleven people, so one vehicle carries everyone and all the luggage.
- Leaving late at night? Taxis carry a 20% night surcharge between 00:00 and 05:00, shown in the quote; the train runs only to its timetable.