Introduction
When to visit
How to get there
Where to stay
Hiring a car

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 August
Estimated hotel price
£115
1 night at 3-star hotel
Mecca in August
Estimated hotel price
£115
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 46 miles from Mecca. The shortest flight to Mecca from the United Kingdom departs from London and takes around 9h.

Car

Another option to get to Mecca is to pick up a car hire from Jeddah, which is about 41 miles from Mecca. You’ll find branches of Key Car Rental, SA and Enterprise Rent-A-Car, among others, in Jeddah.

Bus

Mecca’s bus station is located 7 miles from the city centre.

Plane

Although Mecca doesn’t have its own airport, you can fly to Taif (TIF), which is located 46 miles from Mecca. The shortest flight to Mecca from the United Kingdom departs from London and takes around 9h.

Car

Another option to get to Mecca is to pick up a car hire from Jeddah, which is about 41 miles from Mecca. You’ll find branches of Key Car Rental, SA and Enterprise Rent-A-Car, among others, in Jeddah.

Bus

Mecca’s bus station is located 7 miles from the city centre.

Airports near Mecca

TIFTaif
JEDJeddah King Abdulaziz Intl

Airlines serving Mecca

KLM
Good (1,405 reviews)
Lufthansa
Good (7,558 reviews)
Delta
Good (8,000 reviews)
British Airways
Good (7,500 reviews)
Turkish Airlines
Good (4,032 reviews)
Iberia
Good (3,007 reviews)
United Airlines
Good (9,007 reviews)
Emirates
Excellent (3,402 reviews)
Qatar Airways
Good (3,661 reviews)
Air France
Good (1,484 reviews)
Air Canada
Good (10,416 reviews)
Etihad Airways
Good (1,285 reviews)
Cathay Pacific
Good (1,055 reviews)
Finnair
Good (1,335 reviews)
Singapore Airlines
Excellent (1,393 reviews)
Ethiopian Air
Good (893 reviews)
TAP AIR PORTUGAL
Good (2,048 reviews)
Malaysia Airlines
Good (279 reviews)
ITA Airways
Good (1,081 reviews)
Egyptair
Good (381 reviews)
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Find flights to Mecca

Where to stay in Mecca

From 5-star hotels such as the Jabal Omar Marriott Hotel, Makkah to great affordable options like the Makarem Mina Hotel, Mecca offers a range of accommodations for every taste. Average rates range from around £77 per night for a double room in a 3-star hotel to £122 and up for a 5-star experience. If you’re on a budget, well-reviewed accommodations include Razana Al Rowdah and Borj Al Deafah Hotel.

Al Haram - In Mecca’s most popular neighbourhood to stay, recommended hotels include Makkah Hotel, Swissôtel Al Maqam Makkah and Intercontinental Hotels Dar Al Tawhid Makkah By IHG.

Ajyad - Here you’ll find travellers’ favourites such as Makarem Ajyad Makkah Hotel, Le Méridien Makkah and Al Shohada by Palm Rich Makkah. The average nightly price for a double room in Ajyad is £56.

Al Haram - In Mecca’s most popular neighbourhood to stay, recommended hotels include Makkah Hotel, Swissôtel Al Maqam Makkah and Intercontinental Hotels Dar Al Tawhid Makkah By IHG.
Ajyad - Here you’ll find travellers’ favourites such as Makarem Ajyad Makkah Hotel, Le Méridien Makkah and Al Shohada by Palm Rich Makkah. The average nightly price for a double room in Ajyad is £56.
Most popular hotel in Mecca by neighbourhood

Where to stay in popular areas of Mecca

Most booked hotels in Mecca

See all
Anjum Hotel Makkah
5 stars
Excellent (9.3, Excellent reviews)
£138+
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Swissôtel Makkah
5 stars
Excellent (8.9, Excellent reviews)
£160+
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Makkah Clock Royal Tower - A Fairmont Hotel
5 stars
Excellent (8.8, Excellent reviews)
£219+
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Voco Makkah By IHG
4 stars
Excellent (8.8, Excellent reviews)
£35+
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Swissôtel Al Maqam Makkah
5 stars
Excellent (8.6, Excellent reviews)
£155+
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Warwick Hotel Jeddah
4 stars
Excellent (8.6, Excellent reviews)
£62+
View

Hiring a car in Mecca

Hiring a car in Mecca costs £30 per day, on average, or £118 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 31% cheaper than airport locations in Mecca.

The most frequently booked car type in Mecca is Compact (Hyundai Accent or similar). If you’re looking to save money, though, keep in mind that Economy car hire (Chevrolet Spark or similar) is, on average, 25% cheaper than other car hire types in the city.

Hiring a car in Mecca costs £30 per day, on average, or £118 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 31% cheaper than airport locations in Mecca.

The most frequently booked car type in Mecca is Compact (Hyundai Accent or similar). If you’re looking to save money, though, keep in mind that Economy car hire (Chevrolet Spark or similar) is, on average, 25% cheaper than other car hire types in the city.

Find car hire in Mecca