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Masjid al-Haram, Mecca

No. 91 Top 100 City Destinations 2025

Mecca

Saudi Arabia

Islam's holiest city and the destination of the Hajj and Umrah pilgrimages.

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Photo: مريم محمد الغلبان, CC0, via Wikimedia Commons

Overview

Mecca is No. 91 in Euromonitor International's Top 100 City Destinations Index 2025. Makkah al-Mukarramah, in the Hejaz region of western Saudi Arabia, is the holiest city in Islam and the birthplace of the Prophet Muhammad.

Millions of Muslim pilgrims come each year for Umrah, which can be performed at any time, and for the annual Hajj. The city is open only to Muslims.

The Abraj Al Bait clock tower, Mecca
The Abraj Al Bait clock tower, Mecca. Photo: saudipics, CC BY-SA 4.0, source

Best time to go

November to February is the coolest time; summers are extremely hot, often above 40 °C.

Ramadan, especially its last ten days, and the Hajj season are the busiest times, when hotels book up far ahead.

Top sights

  • 1

    Masjid al-Haram

    The Great Mosque surrounding the Kaaba, the focus of prayer for Muslims worldwide.

  • 2

    Abraj Al Bait

    The clock tower complex next to the mosque, with hotels, shops and the Clock Tower Museum.

  • 3

    Mina, Muzdalifah and Arafat

    The holy sites east of the city, central to the Hajj rites.

  • 4

    Jabal al-Nour

    The mountain with the Cave of Hira, a climb of about an hour.

  • 5

    Exhibition of the Two Holy Mosques Architecture

    A museum of the history and architecture of the mosques of Mecca and Medina.

  • 6

    Hira Cultural District

    A cultural area at the foot of Jabal al-Nour, with a museum and gardens.

Getting there

Most pilgrims fly into King Abdulaziz International Airport (JED) in Jeddah, about 100 km west. The Haramain High-Speed Railway links the airport, Jeddah and Medina with Mecca.

Getting around

Taxis, ride-hailing apps and buses serve the city; around the Haram, walking is often the quickest way to move.

Practical tips

Access
Entry to Mecca is open only to Muslims.
Currency
Saudi riyal (SAR). Cards and phone payments are accepted almost everywhere.
Language
Arabic. English, Urdu, Malay and Indonesian are widely spoken around the Haram.
Visa & entry
Umrah can be performed on a Saudi tourist visa or a dedicated Umrah visa; Hajj requires a Hajj visa and permit. Check the current rules on the official Nusuk platform.
Power
230 V, 60 Hz; plug type G.

Official information: Nusuk (official Hajj and Umrah platform). Check opening hours, prices and entry rules there before you go.

Map

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