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
$131
1 night at 3-star hotel
Mecca in May
Estimated hotel price
$131
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 States departs from New York and takes around 11h 35m.

Car

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

Bus

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

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 States departs from New York and takes around 11h 35m.

Car

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

Bus

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

Airports near Mecca

TIFTaif

Airlines serving Mecca

KLM
Good (846 reviews)
British Airways
Good (4,594 reviews)
Turkish Airlines
Good (2,260 reviews)
Iberia
Good (1,600 reviews)
Air France
Good (980 reviews)
Emirates
Excellent (2,110 reviews)
Qatar Airways
Good (2,432 reviews)
United Airlines
Good (4,966 reviews)
Air Canada
Good (5,964 reviews)
Singapore Airlines
Excellent (927 reviews)
Etihad Airways
Good (834 reviews)
Ethiopian Air
Good (405 reviews)
Cathay Pacific
Good (519 reviews)
ITA Airways
Good (728 reviews)
Egypt Air
Good (195 reviews)
Malaysia Airlines
Good (186 reviews)
Korean Air
Excellent (770 reviews)
ANA
Excellent (485 reviews)
Japan Airlines
Excellent (973 reviews)
China Eastern
Good (57 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 Diyafah Hotel, Mecca offers a range of accommodations for every taste. Average rates range from around $127 per night for a double room in a 3-star hotel to $147 and up for a 5-star experience. If you’re on a budget, well-reviewed accommodations include Nada Al Majd Hotel and Al Aseel Ajyad. There are also lots of vacation rental options in Mecca, with prices from $19 to $423 per night. Batha Quraish is the neighborhood with the highest amount of rentals to choose from. On average, vacation rentals in Mecca are about 58% 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, 22227 reviews)
$156+
ibis Jeddah City Center
3 stars
Excellent (8.4, 15323 reviews)
$78+
Four Points by Sheraton Makkah Al Naseem
4 stars
Excellent (8.3, 17903 reviews)
$53+
Makkah Clock Royal Tower A Fairmont Hotel
5 stars
Excellent (8.2, 29208 reviews)
$172+
Narcissus Resort & Spa Obhur Jeddah
5 stars
Excellent (8.2, 1736 reviews)
$402+
Swissôtel Al Maqam Makkah
5 stars
Excellent (8.1, 35592 reviews)
$156+

Renting a car in Mecca

Renting a car in Mecca costs $38 per day, on average, or $153 if you want to rent if for 4 days.

It’s generally cheaper to rent your vehicle outside the airport: locations in the city are around 12% cheaper than airport locations in Mecca.

Compact (Hyundai Accent or similar) is the most popular car type to rent in Mecca, while also 56% cheaper than other types, on average.

Renting a car in Mecca costs $38 per day, on average, or $153 if you want to rent if for 4 days.

It’s generally cheaper to rent your vehicle outside the airport: locations in the city are around 12% cheaper than airport locations in Mecca.

Compact (Hyundai Accent or similar) is the most popular car type to rent in Mecca, while also 56% cheaper than other types, on average.