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
$136
1 night at 3-star hotel
Mecca in May
Estimated hotel price
$136
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 (858 reviews)
British Airways
Good (4,500 reviews)
Turkish Airlines
Good (2,303 reviews)
Air France
Good (979 reviews)
Iberia
Good (1,561 reviews)
United Airlines
Good (4,939 reviews)
Emirates
Good (2,127 reviews)
Qatar Airways
Good (2,481 reviews)
Air Canada
Good (5,802 reviews)
Singapore Airlines
Excellent (917 reviews)
Etihad Airways
Good (832 reviews)
Ethiopian Air
Good (400 reviews)
ITA Airways
Good (715 reviews)
Cathay Pacific
Good (499 reviews)
Egypt Air
Good (195 reviews)
Malaysia Airlines
Good (184 reviews)
Korean Air
Excellent (774 reviews)
ANA
Excellent (468 reviews)
Air Europa
Good (329 reviews)
Japan Airlines
Excellent (964 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 Deafah Hotel, Mecca offers a range of accommodations for every taste. Average rates range from around $116 per night for a double room in a 3-star hotel to $144 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 vacation rental options in Mecca, with prices from $13 to $351 per night. Batha Quraish is the neighborhood with the highest amount of rentals to choose from. On average, vacation rentals in Mecca are about 105% 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, 21793 reviews)
$136+
ibis Jeddah City Center
3 stars
Excellent (8.4, 15343 reviews)
$78+
Four Points by Sheraton Makkah Al Naseem
5 stars
Excellent (8.3, 18051 reviews)
$53+
Makkah Clock Royal Tower A Fairmont Hotel
5 stars
Excellent (8.2, 29293 reviews)
$210+
Narcissus Resort & Spa Obhur Jeddah
5 stars
Excellent (8.2, 1714 reviews)
$448+
Swissôtel Al Maqam Makkah
5 stars
Excellent (8, 35549 reviews)
$156+

Renting a car in Mecca

Renting a car in Mecca costs $41 per day, on average, or $164 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 2% cheaper than airport locations in Mecca.

Compact (Hyundai Accent or similar) is the most popular car type to rent in Mecca, while also 60% cheaper than other types, on average.

Renting a car in Mecca costs $41 per day, on average, or $164 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 2% cheaper than airport locations in Mecca.

Compact (Hyundai Accent or similar) is the most popular car type to rent in Mecca, while also 60% cheaper than other types, on average.