Makkah is the home to the Kaaba, which is a city located at a height of 909 feet above sea level, it is about 850 km in size, surrounded by the Sirat Mountains in the center of Saudi Arabia and its population is almost 2 million which increases to more than double every year in hajj season because of the pilgrims. Makkah is the religious capital that marks the birthplace of both the Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him) and the Islamic religion. The first verses of the Holy Quran were revealed to him at a cave 3 km from Makkah.
The weather in Makkah called desert weather as it is extremely hot most of the year but between November and January, rain falls in small amounts. Therefore, we will recommend to you the best time to visit and enjoy the city which is between July and August.
Kaaba is the center of the earth, laying right in the middle, that is why no airplanes or birds could fly above it because of its magnetic center of attraction.
Muslims believe that it is very important to visit Makkah and do the pilgrimage, so we have compiled for you places to visit, such as,
The Grand Mosque, in the heart of Makkah, called Masjid Al Haram and it’s the largest mosque in the world, it houses the holy Kaaba, Zamzam well, Safa and Marwah and the Maqam of Prophet Ibrahim.
Jabal ِArafat, known as Mountain of Mercy, located outside the borders of Haram and it is a wish for every pilgrim to reach.
Jannat al-Mualla, known as the Cemetery of Ma'la, is the place where Muhammad's wife and grandfather are buried.
Jabal al-Nour, is a rocky mountain where the Prophet Mohamed (peace be upon him) got the first revelation of the Holy Quran at the Hira’ Cave.
Also, you can find the most famous mosques in Makkah, such as,
Masjid Aisha, located on Muzdalefa road, is the second-largest mosque in Makkah.
Masjid Jin, located near Jannat al-Mualla, is considered one of the oldest mosques in Makkah.
Masjid al-Hudaibiyah, is a mosque that marks the peace agreement between the prophet (peace be upon him) and Quraysh people.
Al-Baiah Mosque, is the place where Ansar of Madinah declared their loyalty to the prophet (peace be upon him).
On top of the previous points, there are other purposes to visit Makkah besides being a religious and spiritual destination. Simply, search for hotels close to the below-mentioned entertainment places to make the best of your trip. For example, you can choose Raffles Makkah Palace that is a 2 min walk from the Clock tower museum that takes the top four floors of the clock tower in Makkah, showing tourists through a tour of how ancient people used to measure the clock in the old days. You also get to enjoy a panoramic view of the Kaaba at the end of the tour from the terrace.
Furthermore, you can select Dar Al Nadwa Hotel Makkah to be near The Two Holy Mosques Architecture Exhibition which is located on the northwestern edge of Makkah and includes a collection of artifacts and treasures from two of Islam’s holiest mosques.
Additionally, you can stay in Harith Mohammed Baharith hotel and have easy access to Al-Sakkaf Palace which is located in the center of Makkah, holding a collection of old and unique Islamic decorations.
Discover Makkah and have a comfortable stay in hotels located near shopping malls, such as Al Murjan Crom Hotel and Al Thill Hotel and have an amazing shopping experience at Al Hijaz Mall.
You can choose to lodge in Four Points by Sheraton Makkah Al Naseem or Park Inn by Radisson Makkah Aziziyah and hang out in Makkah Mall where you can find a child area for your kids to spend time there and food courts to try out the best of traditional Saudi cuisine in the best Makkah restaurants.
If you are traveling to perform pilgrimage or umrah, we can offer you a wide variety of hotels near Masjid Al Haram, that you get to choose among. If you prefer to stay in luxury hotels, you can definitely stay in Swissôtel Makkah that it’s only 100 m from the holy Masjid Al Haram and 3.7 km from Makkah Museum. It provides its guests with private entrances that make it easier for pilgrims to reach the Masjid Al Haram.
Or else you can stay in Makkah Clock Royal Tower, A Fairmont Hotel that is one of the tallest buildings in the world while enjoying a deluxe fitness center and meeting rooms and be nearby Makkah Museum.
But if you prefer a mid-stay hotel, you can pick ibis Styles Makkah as it is 2 km from Masjid Al Haram and 3.1 km from Abraj Al Bait, and you can also try to stay in Al Joud Boutique Hotel, Makkah that is 9 km from Hira cave and enjoy their facilities, such as, business facilities and family services.
However, if you need a budget stay, you can choose Sarh Al Manamah Hotel 5 as Masjid Al Haram is 5 km away and also near Al Hijaz Mall, as well as Orasia Hotel that is nearby Zamzam Well and AL Diyafa Mall.
Get to explore more great hotels in Makkah through the following list
Your safety is on top of our priorities, therefore, we are doing our best to look towards life after the gravest of the COVID-19 and not affect your plans. Here are some important points you should know before and during travel within and from Saudi Arabia:
For more information, please check the latest updates on Covid-19 and travel to Saudi Arabia from our travel advice page.
Food in Destination will be costing around 19.00 SAR.
Makkah is dealing in SAR, so make sure to budget your home currency accordingly to SAR rate.