Mecca travel guide

Mecca Tourism | Mecca Guide

You're Going to Love Mecca

With a population of 1.32 million, Mecca is a must-see destination in Makkah, Saudi Arabia. It is the most popular tourist destination in the country. We recommend you stay at least 4 days in order to fully appreciate everything Mecca has to offer.

When to visit Mecca

Mecca in May
Estimated hotel price
£114
1 night at 3-star hotel
Mecca in May
Estimated hotel price
£114
1 night at 3-star hotel

How to Get to Mecca

Plane

Although Mecca doesn’t have its own airport, you can fly to Taif (TIF), which is located 75 km from Mecca. The shortest flight to Mecca from the United Kingdom departs from London and takes around 9h 45m.

Car

Another option to get to Mecca is to pick up a car hire from Jeddah, which is about 66 km from Mecca. You’ll find branches of Avis and Europcar, among others, in Jeddah.

Bus

Mecca’s bus station is located 11 km from the city centre.

Plane

Although Mecca doesn’t have its own airport, you can fly to Taif (TIF), which is located 75 km from Mecca. The shortest flight to Mecca from the United Kingdom departs from London and takes around 9h 45m.

Car

Another option to get to Mecca is to pick up a car hire from Jeddah, which is about 66 km from Mecca. You’ll find branches of Avis and Europcar, among others, in Jeddah.

Bus

Mecca’s bus station is located 11 km from the city centre.

Airports near Mecca

TIFTaif

Airlines serving Mecca

KLM
Good (847 reviews)
British Airways
Good (4,442 reviews)
Turkish Airlines
Good (2,280 reviews)
Air France
Good (974 reviews)
Iberia
Good (1,546 reviews)
United Airlines
Good (4,927 reviews)
Emirates
Good (2,124 reviews)
Qatar Airways
Good (2,480 reviews)
Air Canada
Good (5,722 reviews)
Singapore Airlines
Excellent (911 reviews)
Etihad Airways
Good (832 reviews)
Ethiopian Air
Good (395 reviews)
ITA Airways
Good (707 reviews)
Cathay Pacific
Good (487 reviews)
Egypt Air
Good (193 reviews)
Malaysia Airlines
Good (180 reviews)
Korean Air
Excellent (775 reviews)
ANA
Excellent (460 reviews)
Air Europa
Good (325 reviews)
Japan Airlines
Excellent (958 reviews)
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Where to stay in Mecca

From 5-star hotels such as the Makkah Hotel to great affordable options like the Borj Al Deafah Hotel, Mecca offers a range of accommodations for every taste. Average rates range from around £56 per night for a double room in a 3-star hotel to £112 and up for a 5-star experience. If you’re on a budget, well-reviewed accommodations include Nada Al Majd Hotel and Palestine Hotel Makkah. There are also lots of holiday rental options in Mecca, with prices from £10 to £283 per night. Batha Quraish is the neighbourhood with the highest amount of rentals to choose from. On average, holiday rentals in Mecca are about 120% more expensive than a hotel room in the city.

Where to stay in popular areas of Mecca

Most booked hotels in Mecca

Swissôtel Makkah
5 stars
Excellent (8.5, Excellent reviews)
£109+
Four Points by Sheraton Makkah Al Naseem
5 stars
Excellent (8.3, Excellent reviews)
£42+
Makkah Clock Royal Tower A Fairmont Hotel
5 stars
Excellent (8.1, Excellent reviews)
£179+
Swissôtel Al Maqam Makkah
5 stars
Excellent (8, Excellent reviews)
£125+
Violet Hotel
4 stars
Excellent (8, Excellent reviews)
£28+
Jeddah Hilton Hotel
5 stars
Good (7.9, Good reviews)
£243+

Hiring a car in Mecca

Hiring a car in Mecca costs £30 per day, on average, or £119 if you want to hire it for 4 days.

It’s generally cheaper to hire your vehicle outside the airport: locations in the city are around 28% cheaper than airport locations in Mecca.

Compact (Hyundai Accent or similar) is the most popular car type to hire in Mecca, while also 18% cheaper than other types, on average.

Hiring a car in Mecca costs £30 per day, on average, or £119 if you want to hire it for 4 days.

It’s generally cheaper to hire your vehicle outside the airport: locations in the city are around 28% cheaper than airport locations in Mecca.

Compact (Hyundai Accent or similar) is the most popular car type to hire in Mecca, while also 18% cheaper than other types, on average.