Stand at the edge of the Masjid al-Haram and the scale of the place becomes clear: the Kaaba at the centre, rings of worshippers moving around it, and the Clock Towers rising above the arcades. Few cities ask so little of you as a sightseer and so much of you as a participant.
Makkah suits travellers coming for Hajj or Umrah, and anyone prepared to plan around the fact that non-Muslims are prohibited from entering the city. Almost everything worth your time here is connected to pilgrimage, so this guide is arranged around the sites of the Hajj and Umrah, the museums that explain them, and the places where the rituals are performed.
Because the city is entered for worship rather than tourism, the practical rhythm of a visit matters as much as the list of places. The items below are ordered with the central sites first, and the one-day plan at the end assumes you are already inside the city.
Top things to do in Makkah
1. Masjid al-Haram
The Grand Mosque is the holiest site in Makkah and the focal point of the Hajj and Umrah pilgrimages. It has been continuously expanded and is still undergoing major expansion and renovation, so parts of the complex may be closed off or rerouted while you are there.
Plan to spend your longest stretch of time here rather than treating it as a single stop. Because it is the centre of the pilgrimage, the surrounding sites on this list are all reached from it.
2. Kaaba
At the centre of the Grand Mosque stands the Kaaba, covered in black cloth. According to Muslim tradition it was built by the Prophet Abraham and his son, the Prophet Ishmael, and it is the direction Muslims face during prayer.
Pilgrims circle it seven times, and many try to kiss and touch the Black Stone set into its eastern corner. Be aware that reaching the stone usually requires a lot of effort because of the crowding.
3. Maqaam-e-Ibrahim
Next to the Kaaba is a crystal dome called Maqaam-e-Ibrahim, which contains a rock believed to carry an imprint of Abraham's foot. Tradition holds that Abraham stood on the rock while building the high walls of the Kaaba, and that it rose up to let him continue.
It sits immediately beside the Kaaba, so it is easiest to see as part of the same visit rather than as a separate trip.
4. Al-Safa and Al-Marwah
These two small hills have been transformed into long galleries with marble floors and air conditioning. Tradition holds that Hagar, wife of Abraham, ran back and forth between them searching for water for her son Ismail, climbing Al-Safa first and then Al-Marwah.
Pilgrims today perform the ritual walking known as Sa'ee between the two hills seven times. Each trip involves roughly 300 m of walking, about 2.1 km in total, so wear something you can walk in comfortably.
5. Cave of Hira
The Cave of Hira sits atop the mountain known as Jabal Al Noor, about 3 km from Makkah. It is where Muslims believe Muhammad first received the revelation of the Quran from Allah through the angel Jebril.
Pilgrims often climb to the cave, which stands at a height of 270 m, to see the place of the first revelation. Treat the climb as the main effort of that part of your day and allow time for it.
6. Cave Thawr
This is the cave in which the Prophet Muhammad hid as he left for Yathrib, now Medina, while being pursued by the Quraish of Makkah. Tradition holds that once he and his companion entered, a spider cast a web across the entrance, giving the impression that no one had entered for a long time.
Many pilgrims climb the 1,405 m high mountain to see the cave. It is a separate climb from the Cave of Hira, so do not plan both in the same part of the day.
7. Jannat al-Mu'alla
This cemetery holds the graves of companions and relatives of the Prophet Muhammad, including his first wife, uncle, grandfather, great-grandfather and great-great-grandfather.
It is a quiet counterpoint to the crowds around the Grand Mosque and works well as a stop on a day when you are already moving through the city.
8. Mina
Mina is a neighbourhood of Makkah nicknamed Tent City, because hundreds of thousands of air-conditioned tents stand there as temporary accommodation for pilgrims during Hajj. The pedestrian-only Jamaraat Bridge, where the symbolic ritual of the Stoning of the Devil is performed, is located here.
Outside Hajj time the tents are empty, so come to understand the geography of the pilgrimage rather than to see the ritual in progress.
9. Hill of Arafat
The Hill of Arafat, also called Jabal Rahma, is a granite hill on the outskirts of Makkah standing 70 m high. It is the site where the Prophet Muhammad stood and delivered the Farewell Sermon during the last day of his life.
During Hajj, pilgrims spend the whole day on and around the hill in prayer. If you visit outside Hajj, you will see the site without the crowds that define it during the pilgrimage.
10. Al-Zaher Palace Museum
This historical museum exhibits the history of Makkah and various archaeological collections, with an impressive collection of Islamic artifacts that tell the story of the city and its culture.
It is one of the better places to put the sites you have seen into context, so consider it for a quieter part of your stay.
11. Al-Haramain Museum
This museum holds a large number of historical artifacts from different eras, making it a useful companion to the Al-Zaher Palace Museum if you want more than one collection in your visit.
Pair the two museums in a single outing rather than spreading them across separate days.
12. The Two Holy Mosques Architecture Exhibition
The exhibition aims to educate the Muslim community on the architectural designs of the two holy mosques, which makes it a good way to read the buildings you have been walking through.
Visit it after you have spent time in the Masjid al-Haram, when the details of the architecture will mean more.
13. Clock Tower Museum
This science museum is located in the Abraj Al-Bait towers, the modern complex that towers over the Great Mosque.
It pairs naturally with a visit to the Masjid al-Haram, since the towers are right there.
14. The Kiswa Factory of the Holy Ka'aba
This is the only place in Saudi Arabia where the Kiswa, the covering of the Kaaba, is traditionally made to mark the beginning of Hajj.
It is a working factory rather than a display, so treat a visit as a chance to see how the cloth you saw on the Kaaba is produced.
15. Mecca Gate
The Mecca Gate is an arched gateway on the highway to Makkah. It marks the boundary of the area where only Muslims are permitted to enter.
You will pass it on the road in, so watch for it as the formal start of your arrival.
If you only have one day
Morning: Begin at the Masjid al-Haram, spending the early hours around the Kaaba and the Maqaam-e-Ibrahim beside it. Continue into the galleries of Al-Safa and Al-Marwah for the Sa'ee walk, which covers about 2.1 km in total.
Afternoon: Use the middle of the day for the museums that explain what you have just seen: Al-Zaher Palace Museum, Al-Haramain Museum and The Two Holy Mosques Architecture Exhibition. If you have energy left, the Clock Tower Museum in the Abraj Al-Bait towers is close to the Grand Mosque.
Evening: Return to the Masjid al-Haram for the evening, then, if your stay allows, plan the climbs to the Cave of Hira and Cave Thawr for a separate day, since each is a mountain ascent in its own right.
Frequently asked questions
Who is allowed to enter Makkah?
Non-Muslims are prohibited from entering the city. The Mecca Gate on the highway marks the boundary of the area where only Muslims are permitted to enter.
When does the Hajj take place?
The Hajj is observed in the twelfth Hijri month of Dhul-Hijjah and is an obligation for all Muslims at least once in their lives. Pilgrims more than triple the city's population every year during the pilgrimage.
How long does the Sa'ee walk between Al-Safa and Al-Marwah take?
The ritual involves walking between the two hills seven times. Each trip requires approximately 300 m of walking, roughly 2.1 km in total.
What can I see outside Hajj season?
Mina's tents stand empty outside Hajj, and the Hill of Arafat is visited without the crowds that gather there during the pilgrimage. The museums and the Kiswa Factory of the Holy Ka'aba can be visited at other times of year.
Decide your dates around Hajj or Umrah, confirm your eligibility to enter the city, and start building your days from the Masjid al-Haram outward.