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 3 days in order to fully appreciate everything Mecca has to offer.
When to visit Mecca
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. Taif is the most popular, with regular flights from Air France, ITA Airways, China Southern and other airlines departing from the United Arab Emirates. The shortest flight to Mecca from the United Arab Emirates departs from Abu Dhabi and takes around 2h 55m.
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 Enterprise Rent-A-Car and Budget, among others, in Jeddah.
Bus
Mecca’s bus station is located 7 miles from the city centre.
Airlines serving Mecca
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 AED 329 per night for a double room in a 3-star hotel to AED 520 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 AED 48 to AED 1,304 per night. Batha Quraish is the neighbourhood with the highest amount of rentals to choose from. On average, holiday rentals in Mecca are about 121% more expensive than a hotel room in the city.
Where to stay in popular areas of Mecca
Most booked hotels in Mecca
Hiring a car in Mecca
Hiring a car in Mecca costs AED 165 per day, on average, or AED 495 if you want to hire it for 3 days.
You’re likely to save money by hiring your car at the airport: locations in the city are, on average, 1% more expensive than at Jeddah King Abdulaziz Intl.
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 Intermediate car hire (Hyundai Elantra or similar) is, on average, 5% cheaper than other car hire types in the city.