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

When to visit Mecca

Mecca in August
Estimated hotel price
$236
1 night at 3-star hotel
Mecca in August
Estimated hotel price
$236
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 75 km from Mecca. The shortest flight to Mecca from New Zealand departs from Auckland and takes around 31h 45m.

Car

Another option to get to Mecca is to pick up a car hire from Jeddah, which is about 66 km from Mecca. You’ll find branches of Final Rentals and Sixt, among others, in Jeddah.

Plane

Although Mecca doesn’t have its own airport, you can fly to Taif (TIF), which is located 75 km from Mecca. The shortest flight to Mecca from New Zealand departs from Auckland and takes around 31h 45m.

Car

Another option to get to Mecca is to pick up a car hire from Jeddah, which is about 66 km from Mecca. You’ll find branches of Final Rentals and Sixt, among others, in Jeddah.

Airports near Mecca

TIFTaif

Airlines serving Mecca

KLM
Good (1,557 reviews)
British Airways
Good (8,161 reviews)
Turkish Airlines
Good (4,482 reviews)
Delta
Good (8,503 reviews)
Iberia
Good (3,261 reviews)
Air France
Good (1,641 reviews)
Qatar Airways
Good (3,742 reviews)
United Airlines
Good (10,114 reviews)
Emirates
Excellent (3,653 reviews)
Air Canada
Good (11,466 reviews)
Etihad Airways
Good (1,503 reviews)
Finnair
Good (1,426 reviews)
Cathay Pacific
Good (1,451 reviews)
TAP AIR PORTUGAL
Good (2,365 reviews)
Singapore Airlines
Excellent (1,584 reviews)
JetBlue
Good (3,035 reviews)
ITA Airways
Good (1,316 reviews)
Ethiopian Air
Good (1,025 reviews)
Malaysia Airlines
Good (315 reviews)
China Eastern
Good (232 reviews)
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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 Violet Al Azizia Hotel, Mecca offers a range of accommodations for every taste. Average rates range from around $284 per night for a double room in a 3-star hotel to $257 and up for a 5-star experience. If you’re on a budget, well-reviewed accommodations include Samama Almaqam Ajyad Hotel Makkah and Razana Al Rowdah. There are also lots of holiday rental options in Mecca, with prices from $20 to $681 per night. Batha Quraish is the neighbourhood with the highest amount of rentals to choose from. On average, holiday rentals in Mecca are about 17% 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 (8.9, Excellent reviews)
$376+
Jabal Omar Hyatt Regency Makkah
5 stars
Excellent (8.8, Excellent reviews)
$300+
Mövenpick Hotel & Residences Hajar Tower Makkah
5 stars
Excellent (8.5, Excellent reviews)
$345+
Mövenpick Jeddah City Star
5 stars
Excellent (8.5, Excellent reviews)
$163+
Jeddah Hilton Hotel
5 stars
Excellent (8.2, Excellent reviews)
$411+
Pullman Zamzam Makkah
4 stars
Excellent (8.1, Excellent reviews)
$324+

Hiring a car in Mecca

The most frequently booked car type in Mecca is Economy (Class Economy Car or similar). If you’re looking to save money, though, keep in mind that Mini car hire (Class Mini Car or similar) is, on average, 70% cheaper than other car hire types in the city.

The most frequently booked car type in Mecca is Economy (Class Economy Car or similar). If you’re looking to save money, though, keep in mind that Mini car hire (Class Mini Car or similar) is, on average, 70% cheaper than other car hire types in the city.