- Umrah
- Hajj and Umrah
- Travel Planning
How Many Days Do You Need for Umrah? Rituals, Trip Length and Visa Stay
The Umrah rituals take about two hours on average, and most trips last 7 to 14 days. How to split nights between Makkah and Madinah, and what the visa allows.
- Author
- Seda Turizm
- Published
- Reading time
- 5 min read
People asking how long Umrah takes usually mean one of three things. The rituals themselves take about two hours on average. A trip normally lasts 7 to 14 days. The visa allows a much longer stay, up to 90 days under the Saudi ministry's current rules. Keep the three apart and it becomes much easier to decide how much leave to book.
How long the Umrah rituals take
The authority that runs the two holy mosques publishes an average Umrah time every month. The figure covers the walk in from the courtyards, the tawaf and the sa'i. For the Hijri year 1447 it reported:
| Hijri month (approx.) | Total | Tawaf | Sa'i |
|---|---|---|---|
| Rabi al-Awwal (September 2025) | 115 minutes | 46 minutes | 47 minutes |
| Rabi al-Thani (October 2025) | 116 minutes | 42 minutes | 46 minutes |
| Jumada al-Awwal (November 2025) | 117 minutes | not published | not published |
| Jumada al-Thani (December 2025) | 117 minutes | 46 minutes | 51 minutes |
In Jumada al-Thani, getting from the courtyards to the mataf took 10 minutes, and from the mataf to the Mas'a another 10. Part of the two hours is simply walking.
Ihram and cutting the hair are not in these numbers. You enter ihram before crossing the miqat, which for most air travellers means changing before the flight and making the intention on board. Add the walk from your hotel, wudu and the two rak'ahs after tawaf, and half a day is a realistic block for a first Umrah.
These are averages from quieter months. In the last ten nights of Ramadan, before Friday prayers and during school holidays, the ground floor of the mataf fills up and pilgrims are sent to the upper levels, where each circuit is longer. On those days the rituals can take several hours.
How many days to plan for your first Umrah
Short programmes exist, but the rituals are only a small part of the trip. The first day goes on the flight, the transfer and checking in. Moving to Madinah takes another half day on the road. For a first visit we suggest at least 7 to 8 days.
For comparison, the Umrah tours run by Türkiye's Presidency of Religious Affairs for 2026-2027 last 10, 11, 14 or 20 days, and its Ramadan 2027 programmes run from 10 to 35 days.
Splitting your nights between Makkah and Madinah
All the rites of Umrah are performed in Makkah. Visiting Madinah is not part of Umrah, but almost every traveller adds it. The Presidency's programmes give Madinah 3 to 5 nights. Our own planning looks similar:
| Trip | Makkah | Madinah | Suits |
|---|---|---|---|
| 5-6 days | 3 nights | 1-2 nights | Repeat visitors with little leave |
| 7-8 days | 4 nights | 3 nights | First-time pilgrims |
| 10-14 days | 6-8 nights | 3-5 nights | Older travellers, families, a slower pace |
| Ramadan | Varies | Varies | A separate plan for the last ten nights |
Your flight decides the order. Land in Madinah and you stay there first, entering ihram on the way to Makkah. Land in Jeddah and the order flips. If you are still choosing a month, our guide on when to perform Umrah compares the seasons.
What the visa and the Nusuk permit allow
According to the Ministry of Hajj and Umrah, the stay on an Umrah visa is 90 days and cannot be extended. On 20 July 2026 the ministry added a multiple-entry Umrah visa that is valid for a year. You can travel several times on it, but the days you spend in the kingdom add up to no more than 90. It cannot be used to enter during the Hajj period, from 1 Dhu al-Qadah to 13 Dhu al-Hijjah.
Many nationalities can also perform Umrah on a Saudi tourist eVisa outside the Hajj season. Turkish citizens have been eligible since October 2023. Whatever visa you hold, you need a separate Umrah permit from the Nusuk app to perform Umrah at the Haram. Only one permit can be active at a time, and a new one is issued once the previous one has expired.
Travelling via Istanbul: adding a stopover
From much of Europe, Central Asia and Africa you can fly to Jeddah or Madinah with a connection in Istanbul. Some travellers stop there for a night or two to rest before ihram, or on the way home. We book the flights and the Istanbul hotel together. Fares and routes are on our international flights page.
Frequently asked questions
Can Umrah be done in one day?
The rituals, yes. They take a few hours. A trip from abroad that starts and ends on the same day is not practical.
What is the minimum number of days for Umrah?
There is no religious minimum. As a trip, 5 to 6 days is about the shortest that still feels manageable, and it leaves little time for Madinah.
Do you have to visit Madinah?
No. Umrah is complete in Makkah. Madinah is an optional visit.
How long is Umrah in Ramadan?
Longer, because the crowds are larger. Programmes are longer too, often two weeks or more.
How long can you stay on an Umrah visa?
Up to 90 days, based on the ministry's current announcements. We confirm the figure again when we apply.
Can you perform Umrah more than once on one trip?
Scholars differ on this, so ask a scholar you trust. On the practical side, Nusuk will not issue a new permit until the previous one has expired.
Tell us how many days you can take, if this is your first Umrah and if you are aiming for Ramadan. We will split the nights between Makkah and Madinah around those answers and choose flights to match. Full details are on our Hajj and Umrah page.
