15 Best Places To Visit In Makkah

As a revered visitor to the holy city of Islam, your journey to Makkah likely centers around performing Hajj or Umrah. While the pilgrimage is the heart of the visit, Makkah offers so much more — sacred landmarks, historical sites, and cultural treasures that deserve your attention.

Navigating the city’s rich Islamic heritage can be overwhelming without a clear guide. That’s why we’ve put together a list of the top 15 places you shouldn’t miss. From the spiritual magnitude of Masjid Al Haram and the sacred Zamzam well to the serenity of Mount Arafat and the cultural richness of the Hira Cultural District, each site connects you to the history and essence of Islam.

Let’s explore the best places to visit in Makkah and make the most of your time in this blessed city.

Masjid Al Haram, denoted as “The Sacred Mosque,” is the largest and most visited mosque in Islam. It comprises an area of over 3.8 million square feet, which is subdivided into four levels: basement, ground, first, and roof floors. These specific areas are reserved for services and infrastructure, basic and general gathering of pilgrims, for extra space during peak visitors, and for the Hajj season for women, respectively. Inside Al Haram, some of the famous markings are Safa and Marwah, the hills where Hajar (A.S) ran to and from in search of water for her son Ismail (A.S), Station of Ibrahim, Multazam, and the well of Zamzam. It is known to have over 100 entrance gates, including several grand gates into the mosque and 13 minarets. According to a hadith (Islamic saying), the reward of praying here is a hundred thousand times greater than praying anywhere else.

Masjid E Ayesha, also known as Masjid E Taneem, named after the beloved wife of the Holy Prophet (PBUH), is located approximately 4.3 miles (7 kilometers) away from the Holy Kaabah on the highway towards Madinah. Pilgrims intending to perform Umrah are required to enter the state of Ihram here. Vendors are seen nearby selling Ihram clothing, money belts, and slippers. The masjid is facilitated by several bathrooms and changing rooms for men and women separately, and it has multiple entrance gates to the mosque. People can take a bus from Masjid Al Haram, from the King Fahad gate, or other points near the mosque, and the fare is reasonable too.

Masjid E Jinn is famous for its historical significance, when the Prophet PBUH was reciting the Holy Quran, and a group of jinns heard him and they got inspired by his recitation of the Quran. It is located in Makkah, near Jannat Ul Mu’alla, and is also known as the Mosque of Allegiance. The jinns had embraced Islam and pledged their allegiance at the hand of the Holy Prophet, and so their name is identified as Masjid Biy’at. It is said to be built in the same place where the Holy Prophet (PBUH) had recited the Quran and the jinns had gathered to listen to him. However, this is not evident whether the mosque was built by the jinns themselves or not, but today it is an architectural model of amenities, including an air-conditioned prayer area, fans, ablution spaces, and a carpeted hall.

Mount Arafah, also known as Jabl Ar Rahmah, is the mountain of mercy, where the Muslims gather on the revered day of Hajj, Yaum Ul Arafah or The Day of Arafah. Situated between Taif and Makkah, it is about 20 km southeast of Makkah. It is of great Islamic importance as it is said that this was the exact place where Hazrat Adam and Hazrat Hawwa (A.S) were sent down to Earth from heaven, the place where the Holy Prophet (PBUH) had delivered his last sermon, and the place where Muslims gather and seek Allah’s forgiveness on the 9th of Zulhijjah.

Jabl Al Nour is the mountain which holds the Islamically esteemed site, Cave of Hira, the place where the Holy Prophet (PBUH) had received his first revelation of the Holy Quran by Angel Jibrael (A.S). It is raised on an elevation of 640m, and it takes about 3 hours to reach the top and the Cave of Hira is situated 1,750 steps to the top. Jabl Al Nour is located at a distance of 4 km from Masjid Al Haram and is considered a place of spirituality.

Jabl Al Thawr is a mountain in Makkah, situated to the south of the Misfalah district. It is also a place of religious importance since the Holy Prophet (PBUH) took refuge in the Cave of Thawr or Ghar E Soor with his companion, Hazrat Abu Bakr (R.A), from Quraish on their journey towards Madinah. It is located south of Makkah, about 12 km away from the city. Pilgrims often take a trip here after performing a pilgrimage, as it shows the light of hope and faith.

Developed as a part of Saudi Arabia’s Vision 2030, Hira Cultural District serves to be a center for religious, cultural, and entertainment purposes. The key highlights of the area are the Revelation Gallery, which presents the narrations of prophetic revelations; the Museum of the Holy Quran, which features the significant ancient scripts of the Quran; Hira Garden, which is a leisurely recreation park for strolling and relaxing; the Cultural Library, where a vast collection of books related to Islamic history is present; Ascent to Cave Hira, which is an alternative guided route to the cave; and the Saudi Coffee Museum, where huge ranges of coffee varieties are shown and its methods of preparation can be learnt. This district is spread over 67,000 square feet of area, adjacent to Jabl Al Nour.

The Clock Tower is part of the Abraj Al Bait Tower Complex, one of the tallest free-standing structures in the world. The clock’s dial measures 43 meters, making it larger than Big Ben in London. Located just 50 meters from Masjid Al Haram, the complex features seven towers of varying heights, with the tallest reaching 601 meters. It houses a luxurious shopping mall, five-star hotels, and a variety of restaurants. Visitors to the holy site often come here to experience the warmth and vibrant atmosphere of the place.

The making of the Kiswa officially began in 1927 under King Abdul Aziz, starting in a small workshop. By 1977, production moved to a dedicated factory in Umm Al Joud. Today, about 200 skilled professionals work together in the King Abdul Aziz Complex to knit, weave, print the decorative bands, and assemble the cloth.

This intricate process takes six to eight months to complete. The Kiswa itself is incredibly valuable - worth over 20 million SAR and weighing 850 kg, crafted from luxurious silk and embroidered with gold and silver threads. Every year during Hajj, the Kiswa is replaced with a new one, and the old cloth is carefully cut into pieces and gifted to museums and dignitaries. The Kiswah Complex is open from Sunday to Thursday, with two visiting sessions daily, but only Muslims are allowed inside. Visitors must reserve their spot on the official website, making this a must-do experience in Makkah. If you come without a reservation, you can still register on arrival and enter if space is available.

Makkah Mall is reviewed as one of the biggest and most popular shopping malls among locals and tourists alike, second only to the Clock Towers. Although some prices are considered high, the mall hosts many international and local brands such as Zara, Max, Splash, and more. You’ll also find abaya collections, gold jewelry, a stationery shop, and a large grocery store.

For families, the adventurous and fun-filled kids’ play area, Billy Beez, offers trampolines, big slides, action games, and more. You can even book a whole day for your children there at a discounted price of 75 SAR.

The food court serves a variety of global cuisines alongside local favorites. Be sure to try La Casa Pasta and Shobak, two of the mall’s top-rated restaurants.

Mina, also known as the City of Tents, is a valley located 6 km east of Masjid Al Haram. The pilgrims visiting here for the annual pilgrimage, Hajj, stay overnight on the 8th, 11th, 12th, and 13th of Zulhijjah as a part of the ritual. Around 3 million people live in these tents, occupying an area of 20 square km, which has different facilities such as air-conditioning, a sleeping mattress, and a pillow. It also landmarks ‘Jamraat’ - three stone pillars, where stones are pelted in remembrance of the event that took place with Hazrat Ibrahim and Hazrat Ismael, while he was on his way to fulfill Allah’s command.

One of the ancient cemeteries, older than the time of the Holy Prophet (PBUH), Jannat Al Mu’alla Cemetery is known as the Exalted Paradise. Here, many famous personalities from the family of the Holy Prophet (PBUH) and his companions are buried, such as Hazrat Khadijah (R.A), Hazrat Abdul Mutallib, and Hazrat Abu Talib. A white elongated boundary marks the vicinity of the graveyard, where white rocks are the signs of graves, though without any identification.

Makkah Museum, or Al Zaher Palace, is a cultural attraction and a heritage gem for the people of Makkah and those who like to visit to learn about the city’s history. Designed beautifully reflecting the architectural excellence of Makkah, it exhibits the city’s development and evolution, including the journey of expansion of Masjid Al Haram. It also has a cafe, library, auditorium, souvenir shop, and storage room.

Jabl Abu Qubays is a mountain that holds both historical and Islamic reverence, located in the Hejaz region, towards the eastern side of Masjid Al Haram. Historians have reported that this was the first mountain created by Allah on Earth, and it was the final resting place of Hajr Al Aswad. It is also believed that this place was the site where Hazrat Jibrael (A.S) had revealed verses from the Holy Quran to the Prophet. The mountain offers great panoramic views of the Holy Kaaba and Masjid Al Haram, making it one of the most visited places in Makkah.

This state-of-the-art building was constructed under the orders of King Abdullah bin Abdul Aziz, who transformed the area of Zamzam’s public drinking fountains into a well-assured Zamzam water distribution center. It has high-technology systems designed to pump water from the well via large stainless-steel pipes and then purify it using a filter and UV lights to process it further for regular quality tests. With a storage capacity of 2.2 million bottles, the distribution center provides Zamzam to Masjid Al Haram’s water tanks and also to Masjid Al Nabawi, ensuring an effective and quality-controlled water distribution facility for all people.

Looking to stay in Makkah? Book your perfect hotel from the following trusted options and enjoy a comfortable, convenient stay during your visit!

• Royan Hotel Hagia Sophia Istanbul a member of Radisson Individuals(2,403.15 km away)
• Armada Istanbul Old City Hotel(2,403.20 km away)
• Qonaq Hotel & Suites(2,403.33 km away)
• Old Town Istanbul Hostel(2,403.39 km away)
• Hotel Comfort INN (R)(2,800.93 km away)
• Hotel Sky Towers(2,802.14 km away)