Mecca

A spiritual journey like no other

Mecca is a city in Saudi Arabia known for its deep religious significance to Muslims worldwide. It is home to the Kaaba, a simple cube-shaped structure at the center of Islam’s most sacred mosque. Every year, millions of people travel here for Hajj, one of the five pillars of Islam. The city also has modern hotels and facilities that support pilgrims from around the globe. Mecca combines centuries-old traditions with growing urban development while maintaining its spiritual role in the region.

Add to list Map view

City in Saudi Arabia

$$$

$	Cheap
$$	Medium
$$$	Expensive, upscale
$$$+	Very expensive, luxury

See price details

Safety: 6.9

General Safety:	7
Health & medical:	7
Accessibility:	5
Tap water:	8

Read details

3/5

English is widely spoken in hotels, malls, and pilgrimage-related services. However, basic Arabic phrases can be helpful when communicating with locals and navigating the city.

Highlights Attractions Getting there Hotels Tips Travel costs Safety Articles

Last update: 12 Oct 2026

* We earn a commission from some links on this page.

Mecca Summary

These place ratings give you a quick overview of how well a destination matches different types of trips.

‘Best for’ scores:
The specific interest scores show where this place really shines – whether it's ideal for hiking, food & drink experiences, museums or other activities. These highlights help you understand what makes the destination special at a glance.

‘Your personal’ scores:
This reflects how well a place matches your personal preferences. You can adjust the importances of travel topics or other personal requirements categories in your account settings.

‘Suited for’ badges:
These give you a quick overview of how well a destination suits specific types of travellers, to help you find the places that match your lifestyle, preferences or travel situation.

Read how our scores work

World-central for Islamic pilgrimage. Participate in Hajj or Umrah rituals, pray at the Grand Mosque and walk sacred religious sites.

Place score

8.0

Best at:

Historic sites

Religious sites

Guided tours

Pilgrimage

Spotless

Personal score

Suited for

👶 7

Families

🧓 6

Seniors

🛡️ 7

Travel Beginners

🥗 7

Vegetarian

Saudi Arabia – Quick facts

Guide Etiquette Holidays Other

Power Grid:	230 V, 60 Hz Plug: Type G Type G: Read about power adapters
Currency:	Saudi Riyal (SAR) £1 ≈ SAR 4.99
Cashless info:	Rating 5/5 Cashless payments are widely accepted in Saudi Arabia, especially in urban areas and large businesses. Save with a travel credit card
eSIM providers:	Best value: Saily Flexibility: Airalo Read our in-depth comparison

Tipping:	Tipping is not expected in Saudi Arabia, but rounding up the bill or leaving a small tip in restaurants, taxis, and hotels is appreciated.
Public drinking:	Public drinking is strictly prohibited in Saudi Arabia. Alcohol consumption is illegal, and there are heavy penalties for violations.
Public smoking:	Smoking is prohibited in indoor public spaces, but designated smoking areas are available outdoors.

National Day (23 September)	Celebrates the founding of Saudi Arabia
Eid al-Fitr (variable)	Marks the end of Ramadan with celebrations

Emergency contact:	Emergency Numbers: 911 (General), 999 (Police), 997 (Ambulance), 998 (Fire)
Taxi apps:	Uber, Careem
Other:	Saudi Arabia is known for its vast deserts, historic cities, and religious significance, particularly in Islam. It offers a mix of modernity and tradition.

Best times to travel

The best times to travel section shows how the months compare for a visit, so you can find the time of year that fits what you want to do.

Background colours of the months:
The colour shows the typical temperature: yellow (hot), green (mild) and blue (cold). How strong the colour is shows the travel season: full colour means high season, soft colour means shoulder season and soft-striped means off season.

Weather symbols:
Each month has one symbol showing what the weather is typically like, such as hot and sunny, freezing or a rainy or snowy season. Use them to quickly spot months that match the weather you want, or to avoid the ones that don't.

Crowdedness:
The people icon shows how busy the place usually is. The more people, the more crowded it gets.

Additional notes:
The grey info boxes point out special things worth knowing, like recurring weather issues or seasonal events.

for Mecca, Saudi Arabia

🔥

Jan

🔥

Feb

🔥

Mar

🔥

Apr

🔥

May

🔥

Jun

🔥

Jul

🔥

Aug

🔥

Sep

🔥

Oct

🔥

Nov

🔥

Dec

High season:	Jan. - Feb., Dec.
Shoulder season:	March - Nov.
Crowdedness:	10 (Very crowded)

Tap on a month for more info Hover over a month for more info

Climate details

Only Muslims may enter Mecca; all other visitors are barred from the city

Hajj takes place in the Islamic month of Dhul Hijjah, which shifts about 11 days earlier each year; the city is extremely crowded

Umrah can be performed year-round, with Ramadan especially busy

Don't miss

🕋 Perform Tawaf around the sacred Kaaba in Masjid Al Haram
🚶‍♂️ Walk between Safa and Marwa during pilgrimage rituals
⛲ Visit the Zamzam Well and taste its holy water
⛰️ Climb Jabal Al-Nour and explore the Cave of Hira
🕰️ Marvel at the Makkah Royal Clock Tower and museum
⚰️ Explore historic Jannat al-Mu'alla cemetery nearby

You've been here?

Why travel to Mecca?

For Muslims, Mecca is a once-in-a-lifetime destination for religious pilgrimage. The city is home to the sacred Masjid al-Haram and the Kaaba, the holiest site in Islam. Beyond the spiritual significance, Mecca offers modern infrastructure, cultural experiences and an incredible sense of community among pilgrims. Note that only Muslims are allowed to enter the city and the sheer volume of visitors, especially during Hajj, means careful planning is needed.

🏯Places worth seeing

1 Kaaba
The Kaaba stands as the world’s most sacred Islamic shrine in Mecca, Saudi Arabia, flanked by the Grand Mosque and the bustling Mina plain. Pilgrims flock yearly, yet early morning visits offer quieter reflection amid profound spiritual energy.
2 Abraj Al Bait Clock Towers
One of the world's tallest clock towers stands in Mecca, Saudi Arabia, marking a modern gateway to the holy city. While visitors flock for its height, the true draw remains the nearby Masjid al-Haram, where the tower offers a quiet vantage point above the crowds.
3 Jabal al-Nour
A sacred mountain in Mecca, Jabal al-Nour is home to the Cave of Hira where Prophet Muhammad received his first revelation. Visitors climb its rocky slopes for spiritual reflection and panoramic views of the holy city below.
4 Jannat al-Mu'alla
This sacred site in Mecca features ancient graves of Prophet Muhammad's wives and stands as a major pilgrimage destination. Visitors come to honor history, though crowds can be intense during holy seasons, so plan accordingly for this spiritual landmark.
5 Great Mosque of Mecca
6 Mina
7 Mecca Museum

🎡Places for activities

1 Clock Tower Museum
2 Hira Cultural District
3 Path to the Cave of Hira
4 Museum of the Holy Quran

🏞️Natural landmarks

1 Mount Arafat
A sacred site for Muslims worldwide, Mount Arafat lies on a plain outside Mecca where pilgrims gather during Hajj to pray and reflect. The hill’s open landscape offers panoramic views of the surrounding desert.
2 Jabal Thawr
This sacred mountain in Mecca, Saudi Arabia, rises sharply beside the Kaaba. Pilgrims climb its steep slopes to touch the Prophet's cave, avoiding crowds by starting early for a profound, intimate spiritual connection.

🛍️Shopping

1 Burger King - Abraj Al Bait Mall
2 Makkah Mall
3 Al-Hijaz Mall

🎈Events

Hajj (Islamic Pilgrimage)
Umrah (throughout the year)
Eid al-Fitr celebrations
Eid al-Adha celebrations
Islamic New Year
Religious lectures and events in Masjid al-Haram
Exhibitions at the Mecca Museum
Seasonal markets during pilgrimage times
Ramadan nightly prayers
Quran recitation events

Explore on map

Open map view

Knowledge before you go

Non-Muslims strictly prohibited. Entry limited to Muslims only.
Obtain Hajj or Umrah visa in advance; tourist visas allow Umrah outside Hajj season.
Dress modestly always; men in ihram, women in abaya covering fully during rituals.
Register via Nusuk app for prayer times at Masjid al-Haram to avoid peak crowds.

How to travel to Mecca

Mecca is accessed via King Abdulaziz International Airport (JED) in Jeddah. From Jeddah, you can take a bus, taxi or the Haramain High-Speed Railway, which connects Jeddah, Mecca and Medina.

Access summary

From Jeddah Airport (JED): Haramain high‑speed train about 1 hour to Makkah.
From Jeddah city: Bus or taxi generally 1–1.5 hours.
Entry restricted to Muslims; non‑Muslims must stay outside Haram area.

Check your route from anywhere

Where to stay in Mecca

Mecca offers a wide range of accommodation, from budget hotels to luxury stays in high-rises overlooking the Kaaba. Book well in advance, especially during Hajj and Ramadan, as demand is high.

Hotel recommendations

*by rating and popularity. Commissions have no influence on the rankings.

Makkah Clock Royal Tower, A Fairmont Hotel

8.4

Anjum Hotel Makkah

8.7

Al Safwah Orchid Hotel

8.3

Address Jabal Omar Makkah

8.8

Al Ghufran Safwah Hotel Makkah

8.9

Hilton Hotel & Convention Jabal Omar Makkah

8.7

Swissotel Al Maqam Makkah

8.5

ZamZam Pullman Makkah Hotel

8.1

Explore more accommodations

How to get around Mecca

Walking is common near Masjid al-Haram. The city has a good bus network and plenty of taxis. During Hajj, special transport systems manage the massive flow of pilgrims, including buses and trains to Mina, Arafat and Muzdalifah.

Budget snapshot

Costs compared to home

We calculate the average costs when travelling to destinations and compare those with the living costs at your home. With this you can get an estimate of how expensive or cheap the destination is for you.

To customise this, you can set up which location and price level are used for the calculations in your account settings.

-53 %

Daily expenses in Mecca are around 53% lower than the average across United States. That means you'll spend a lot less on meals and getting around.

Exchange rate trend

The exchange rate price factor shows how expensive or cheap a currency currently is compared to its historical average. It's a quick way to see if a country is currently more or less affordable due to exchange rate changes.

-4 %

Your exchange rate (GBP to SAR) is 4% better than in recent years. That means travelling now costs around the same compared to the past.

Travel costs

To help you plan your trip, we provide estimated daily costs per person (when travelling as a pair) for different travel styles. These numbers give you an idea of what you might spend each day at this destination, including accommodation, food, transport and activities.

Additionally, we also provide average hotel costs for different travel styles to give you an estimate for the accommodation only.

Please note that these are only estimates. The real costs depend on booking times, season and other factors.

Daily cost summary

Travel style categories explained:

Backpacker:
Staying in hostels or budget hotels, cooking your own meals or eating cheap and choosing low-cost activities.

Mid-range:
Staying in mid-range hotels, eating at a mix of restaurants and casual spots and enjoying a variety of activities.

Luxury:
Staying in luxury hotels, dining out at high-end restaurants and enjoying premium experiences without worrying about the price.

	Backpacker	Mid-range	Luxury
💵 Total costs per day, including accommodation	£53	£81	£209
🏨 Accommodation per night, per person	£34	£47	£92
🍝 Food per day	£15	£27	£83
🚕 Transportation per day	£4	£6	£34

Food & Drink

🍽️ Restaurant Dinner, per person	£11.50
🍛 Lunch Set, per person	£3.40
🍟 Fast food combo	£5
🍝 Preparing your own food, per day	£5
☕ Cappuccino	£2.30
🍺 Beer in a restaurant, 0.5 l	£1.20

Transportation

🚌 Public transport ticket	£1
🚕 Taxi Ride, 10 km / 6 mi	£21
⛽ Petrol, 1 l	£0.37

Other

🎞️ Cinema ticket	£12.50
👩‍⚕️ Doctor's consult	£19
🤧 Cold medication	£3.90
💇 Basic haircut	£3.10

Safety information overview

General safety

Mecca is very safe, with strong security, especially during religious events. Follow local guidelines and be mindful of large crowds. Avoid restricted areas if not performing Hajj or Umrah.

Health & Medical

Mecca has good medical facilities, with hospitals and clinics prepared for emergencies, particularly during Hajj. It is important to stay hydrated and avoid heat-related illnesses.

Accessibility

Many holy sites are accessible and efforts have been made to accommodate pilgrims with mobility needs. However, crowded conditions during peak seasons can be challenging for some travelers.

Tap water

Tap water is generally safe, but bottled water is widely available. Many visitors prefer to drink bottled or Zamzam water, which is easily accessible in the city.