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 5 days in order to fully appreciate everything Mecca has to offer.

When to visit Mecca

Mecca in April
Estimated flight+hotel price
£59
2 travellers
Flight to Mecca
3 nights at hotel
Mecca in April
Estimated flight+hotel price
£59
2 travellers
Flight to Mecca
3 nights at 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 Birmingham and takes around 6h 15m.

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 Birmingham and takes around 6h 15m.

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 (1,510 reviews)
British Airways
Good (7,929 reviews)
Delta
Good (8,466 reviews)
Turkish Airlines
Good (4,343 reviews)
Iberia
Good (3,202 reviews)
Air France
Good (1,580 reviews)
United Airlines
Good (9,675 reviews)
Emirates
Excellent (3,568 reviews)
Qatar Airways
Good (3,726 reviews)
Air Canada
Good (10,975 reviews)
Finnair
Good (1,392 reviews)
TAP AIR PORTUGAL
Good (2,223 reviews)
Etihad Airways
Good (1,434 reviews)
Cathay Pacific
Good (1,304 reviews)
Singapore Airlines
Excellent (1,502 reviews)
ITA Airways
Good (1,198 reviews)
Ethiopian Air
Good (1,003 reviews)
Malaysia Airlines
Good (307 reviews)
China Eastern
Good (209 reviews)
Egyptair
Good (425 reviews)
Show more
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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 £150 per night for a double room in a 3-star hotel to £96 and up for a 5-star experience. If you’re on a budget, well-reviewed accommodations include Makkah Hotel and Razana Al Rowdah. There are also lots of holiday rental options in Mecca, with prices from £16 to £299 per night. Batha Quraish is the neighbourhood with the highest amount of rentals to choose from. On average, holiday rentals in Mecca are about 40% more expensive than a hotel room in the city.

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

Ajyad - Makarem Ajyad Makkah Hotel, Le Méridien Makkah and Al Shohada by Palm Rich Makkah have some of the best reviews among hotels in this area. A 3-star room in Ajyad will cost you about £73 per night.

Al Haram - In Mecca’s most popular neighbourhood to stay, recommended hotels include Swissôtel Al Maqam Makkah, Intercontinental Hotels Dar Al Tawhid Makkah By IHG and Makkah Towers.
Ajyad - Makarem Ajyad Makkah Hotel, Le Méridien Makkah and Al Shohada by Palm Rich Makkah have some of the best reviews among hotels in this area. A 3-star room in Ajyad will cost you about £73 per night.
Most popular hotel in Mecca by neighbourhood

Where to stay in popular areas of Mecca

Most booked hotels in Mecca

See all
Swissôtel Makkah
5 stars
Excellent (8.9, Excellent reviews)
£119+
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Jumeirah Jabal Omar Makkah
5 stars
Excellent (8.9, Excellent reviews)
£127+
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Jabal Omar Hyatt Regency Makkah
5 stars
Excellent (8.8, Excellent reviews)
£118+
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Swissôtel Al Maqam Makkah
5 stars
Excellent (8.7, Excellent reviews)
£116+
View
Voco Makkah By IHG
4 stars
Excellent (8.7, Excellent reviews)
£37+
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Warwick Hotel Jeddah
4 stars
Excellent (8.6, Excellent reviews)
£61+
View

Hiring a car in Mecca

Hiring a car in Mecca costs £28 per day, on average, or £140 if you want to hire it for 5 days.

It’s generally cheaper to hire your vehicle outside the airport: locations in the city are around 37% cheaper than airport locations in Mecca.

The most frequently booked car type in Mecca is Compact (Class Compact SUV or similar). If you’re looking to save money, though, keep in mind that Mini car hire (Hyundai i10 or similar) is, on average, 17% cheaper than other car hire types in the city.

Hiring a car in Mecca costs £28 per day, on average, or £140 if you want to hire it for 5 days.

It’s generally cheaper to hire your vehicle outside the airport: locations in the city are around 37% cheaper than airport locations in Mecca.

The most frequently booked car type in Mecca is Compact (Class Compact SUV or similar). If you’re looking to save money, though, keep in mind that Mini car hire (Hyundai i10 or similar) is, on average, 17% cheaper than other car hire types in the city.

Find car hire in Mecca