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
$126
1 night at 3-star hotel
Mecca in May
Estimated hotel price
$126
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 Chicago and takes around 16h.

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 Chicago and takes around 16h.

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 (4,609 reviews)
Turkish Airlines
Good (2,260 reviews)
Iberia
Good (1,601 reviews)
Air France
Good (980 reviews)
Emirates
Excellent (2,107 reviews)
Qatar Airways
Good (2,436 reviews)
United Airlines
Good (4,971 reviews)
Air Canada
Good (5,975 reviews)
Singapore Airlines
Excellent (927 reviews)
Etihad Airways
Good (837 reviews)
Ethiopian Air
Good (411 reviews)
Cathay Pacific
Good (524 reviews)
ITA Airways
Good (729 reviews)
Egypt Air
Good (193 reviews)
Malaysia Airlines
Good (187 reviews)
Korean Air
Excellent (771 reviews)
ANA
Excellent (486 reviews)
Japan Airlines
Excellent (968 reviews)
China Eastern
Good (58 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 $114 per night for a double room in a 3-star hotel to $149 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 $424 per night. Batha Quraish is the neighborhood with the highest amount of rentals to choose from. On average, vacation rentals in Mecca are about 56% 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, 22224 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, 17895 reviews)
$53+
Makkah Clock Royal Tower A Fairmont Hotel
5 stars
Excellent (8.2, 29200 reviews)
$218+
Narcissus Resort & Spa Obhur Jeddah
5 stars
Excellent (8.2, 1729 reviews)
$403+
Swissôtel Al Maqam Makkah
5 stars
Excellent (8.1, 35581 reviews)
$156+

Renting a car in Mecca

Renting a car in Mecca costs $40 per day, on average, or $159 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 10% 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 $40 per day, on average, or $159 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 10% 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.