Pullman Zamzam Madinah: Distance, Rooms and Is It Worth It?
By Anaya Noor, Senior Travel Writer and Hajj & Umrah Specialist
Pullman Zamzam Madinah is a five star Accor hotel roughly 150 metres from Masjid an Nabawi, with 835 rooms and suites. Men reach Bab Al Salam in about three to five minutes on foot. Women should allow ten to twelve minutes to the northern entrances, which is the detail most listings leave out.
It appears in several of our Umrah packages because it solves a specific problem well. Whether it solves yours depends almost entirely on who’s travelling with you.
The walk, honestly
This is where expectations break. The hotel sits on the northern side of the Haram complex, closest to Bab Al Salam, which is Gate 1. For an able bodied man, that’s a short, flat, mostly covered walk.
| Who | Entrance used | Realistic walking time |
|---|---|---|
| Men | Bab Al Salam, Gate 1 | 3 to 5 minutes |
| Women | Northern entrances | 10 to 12 minutes |
| Rawdah, men | Gate stated on your permit | Varies, allow 20 minutes plus queue |
| Rawdah, women | Gate stated on your permit | Varies, allow 20 minutes plus queue |
| Al Baqi Cemetery | On foot from the hotel | Around 10 minutes |
Ten to twelve minutes doesn’t sound like much written down. Do it five times a day in June, at 40°C, with an elderly mother, and it becomes the defining feature of the trip. If your group is mostly women, price this in before you book.
The flip side is real too. The northern side is noticeably quieter than the southern approach, and guests on TripAdvisor and Booking.com specifically mention preferring it for that reason. Less crowding, less noise, easier to move around. That’s a genuine benefit, not a consolation prize.
Rooms, and what “Haram view” actually buys you
Accor’s own listing says there are 835 rooms and suites. They span many categories, from Superior and Deluxe rooms to Executive Suites. Haram View rooms are sold as a distinct category at a premium, and the higher the floor, the better the sightline to the mosque, the minarets, and the Green Dome.
Two things to know before paying the upgrade.
Views vary considerably by room and floor even within the same category. Guests have reported paying for a view and being placed where they could see a museum instead. If the view is why you’re booking, confirm the specific room category in writing and ask your agent to note the request on the reservation.
Some guests report not being able to hear the adhan from inside the room. The building is soundproofed, which is excellent for sleep and less excellent if waking to the call to prayer is part of what you came for. Ask about this if it matters to you.
How it compares to the obvious alternatives
| Hotel | Position | Typically suits |
|---|---|---|
| Pullman Zamzam | Northern side, quieter, closest for men | Couples, mixed groups, those wanting five star at a keener rate |
| Anwar Al Madinah Mövenpick | Central zone, very close | Those prioritising position over price. Room quality varies by tower |
| Madinah Hilton | Slightly further out | Brand loyalists, those wanting a different aspect |
| Dar Al Taqwa | Close walking distance, four star | UK groups on mid range budgets |
The Mövenpick comparison comes up constantly on UK forums. The honest position is that both are strong five star properties, and the Mövenpick’s mixed reviews largely trace back to one older tower rather than the whole hotel. Ask which tower you’re being placed in. That single question resolves most of the disagreement.
What it costs
Listed rates during quieter periods have recently sat around £105 to £125 per night before taxes and fees, though rates move constantly and this is a snapshot rather than a quote. Ramadan, the last ten nights especially, and the Hajj window push prices to multiples of that.
Breakfast is usually a surcharge rather than included, which catches people out when comparing headline rates against packages that bundle half board. Compare the total, not the nightly figure.
Who should book it, and who shouldn’t
Book it if you’re a couple or a mixed group who value a quieter setting, if the men in your party will be doing most of the mosque trips, or if you want five star standards without the very top of the market rate.
Think harder if your group is mostly women, if you’re travelling with someone frail in summer, or if being able to reach the mosque quickly regardless of who you are is your main criterion. In those cases a southern side hotel may serve you better even at a higher price.
Frequently asked questions
How far is Pullman Zamzam Madinah from Masjid Nabawi?
Around 150 metres, but walking time depends on your entrance. Men reach Bab Al Salam, Gate 1, in roughly three to five minutes. Women using the northern entrances should allow ten to twelve minutes. Treat any single figure quoted without that distinction as incomplete.
Do rooms at Pullman Zamzam Madinah have Haram views?
Yes. Haram View rooms are a separate category, priced at a premium, with the best sightlines from higher floors facing the mosque. Views vary within the category, so confirm the exact room type when booking rather than assuming a high floor guarantees the outlook you’re picturing.
Is Pullman Zamzam Madinah good for elderly pilgrims?
For men, yes. The route to Bab Al Salam is flat and largely covered, and lift access within the hotel is good. Request a lower floor near the main lifts. For elderly women, the longer walk to the northern entrances is a real consideration, particularly in summer.
Is the food at Pullman Zamzam Madinah halal?
Yes. As with all hotels in Madinah, everything served is halal. There are several dining venues including the Acacia buffet, with international and Arabic options. Breakfast quality gets mixed reviews, with some guests praising it and others reporting stale bread and pastries.
Pullman Zamzam or Anwar Al Madinah Mövenpick?
Both are credible five star options. The Mövenpick’s weaker reviews largely concern one older tower rather than the property overall, so ask which tower you’d be in. Pullman tends to score well on room size and food variety, and often sits at a keener rate for comparable quality.
What it costs
Listed rates in quieter periods have been around £105 to £125 per night, before taxes and fees. Rates change often, so this is a snapshot, not a quote. Ramadan, the last ten nights especially, and the Hajj window push prices to multiples of that. If you’re pricing a Hajj trip rather than Umrah, our breakdown of what Hajj costs from the UK covers the full picture.
Breakfast is usually a surcharge rather than included, which catches people out when comparing headline rates against packages that bundle half board. Compare the total, not the nightly figure.
Is Pullman Zamzam Madinah worth it?
For most mixed groups, yes. You get genuine five star standards, a quieter side of the Haram and strong service reports, usually below top tier pricing. The main caveat is the women’s walking distance. If that’s your group’s daily reality, weigh it carefully.
What to do next
Check current rates on Accor’s own site alongside the major booking platforms, since direct rates sometimes include breakfast where OTA rates don’t. Read recent verified reviews rather than aggregate scores, filtering for guests who travelled in your month, because summer and winter experiences of this hotel differ enormously. If you’re still deciding how to structure the Madinah leg, our guide to Madinah for UK pilgrims covers how many nights to book. For a package including this hotel, speak to our team. We’re ATOL protected under licence 12834.
Two limitations worth stating. Prices quoted here are a snapshot converted from listed international rates and will not match what you’re offered. And walking times are averages drawn from guest reporting, not measured figures, so they’ll vary with crowd levels, which entrance is open on the day, and your own pace.
