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JED · 21.49° N · 39.19° E · Saudi Arabia

Makkah

The holiest city in Islam and the destination of Umrah, reached through Jeddah airport.

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About Makkah

In short

  • Masjid al Haram
  • Umrah at any time outside Hajj
  • Hotels within walking distance of the Haram
  • Haramain railway to Madinah
  • Jabal al Nour and the Cave of Hira

At a glance

Country
Saudi Arabia
Region
Middle East
Local time
GMT+3
Time difference
2 hours ahead of London3 hours ahead in January
Currency
Saudi Riyal (SAR)
Languages
Arabic
Main airport
  • JEDKing Abdulaziz International Airport
Best time to visit
November to February
Deals
10 deals

Makkah is home to the Masjid al Haram and the Kaaba, and only Muslims may enter the city. Most pilgrims fly to Jeddah, then travel about 80 kilometres by road or by the Haramain high speed railway, which stops at Jeddah airport.

Hotels range from towers overlooking the Haram, such as those in the Abraj Al Bait complex, to quieter properties a short shuttle ride away. Staying close lets you walk to prayers at any hour, which many travellers value most during Umrah.

Umrah can be performed at any time of year except during Hajj. The cooler months from November to February are the most comfortable, and Ramadan is the busiest season.

Umrah step by step

  1. Ihram. Jeddah lies inside the Miqat boundary, so pilgrims flying in for Umrah are in Ihram before they land. Most bathe and change at home, at the airport or on board, and make their intention when the crew announce the Miqat, usually about half an hour before. Follow your scholar's guidance.
  2. Tawaf. Seven circuits of the Kaaba, anticlockwise, from the corner of the Black Stone, then two rak'ahs of prayer behind Maqam Ibrahim where there is room.
  3. Sa'i. Seven walks between the hills of Safa and Marwah, inside the Masjid al Haram, starting at Safa.
  4. Halq or taqsir. Men shave or shorten their hair, women cut a fingertip's length of theirs, and the Umrah is complete.

Pilgrims use Nusuk, the official Saudi app, for the Umrah permit: check what it asks for your dates before you travel.

Ziyarat in and around Makkah

  • Jabal al Nour and the Cave of Hira: where the first revelation came to the Prophet, peace be upon him. A steep climb best made early in the morning.
  • Jabal Thawr: the mountain of the cave where the Prophet and Abu Bakr sheltered on the Hijrah to Madinah.
  • Masjid Aisha at Taneem: where pilgrims already in Makkah enter Ihram for another Umrah.
  • Jannat al Mu'alla: the old cemetery of Makkah, where Khadijah, the Prophet's first wife, is buried.
  • Mina, Arafat and Muzdalifah: the sites of Hajj, open and quiet outside the season. See the Hajj sites.

At the Haram

  • Arrive early for Friday prayers and in Ramadan: the mosque and its courtyards fill hours before.
  • Carry your shoes in a small bag; the racks are many and easy to lose.
  • Agree a meeting point at a numbered gate.
  • Zamzam water is free throughout the mosque.
  • A hotel near the Haram means short walks in the heat and between prayers.
Jabal al-Nour, a rocky mountain in Makkah, under a blue sky with scattered clouds

Getting to Makkah

From Jeddah airport it is about an hour to Makkah by road, longer at busy times. The Haramain high speed railway runs from the airport and from Jeddah to Makkah, whose station is about 4 km from the Masjid al Haram, and on to Madinah in about two hours.

Plan your Umrah

Your Umrah, planned with our London team

Flights, a hotel near the Haram, transfers and your visa, around your dates.

Umrah packagesCall +44 208 900 1624 Message us on WhatsApp sales@goumrahhajj.comEnquire about Umrah

Before you go

Entry and visas

Entry rules depend on your passport and why you are travelling, and they change, so check the official sources below before you book. Makkah is open only to Muslims. Pilgrims use Nusuk, the official Saudi platform, for Umrah information and permits. Check it again close to your travel dates, as permits and rules change. GOV.UK's travel advice for Saudi Arabia can advise against travel to some cities and airports at short notice, so read it before you book and again before you travel.

Health

See a travel health professional well before your trip and read TravelHealthPro's Saudi Arabia page and its Hajj and Umrah advice, as pilgrims have their own health entry requirements. Makkah is hot for most of the year: drink plenty of water, keep out of direct sun where you can and pace yourself. Coughs and colds spread easily in crowds, so wash your hands often.

Money

The currency is the Saudi riyal (SAR). Carry some cash for small purchases, tell your bank before you travel and check what your card charges abroad.

General information only, not legal or medical advice. Rules change, so check the official source before you travel.

Checked on 14 October 2026

When to go

  1. JanuaryBest
  2. FebruaryBest
  3. March
  4. April
  5. MayNot ideal
  6. JuneNot ideal
  7. JulyNot ideal
  8. AugustNot ideal
  9. SeptemberNot ideal
  10. October
  11. NovemberBest
  12. DecemberBest

Umrah can be made through most of the year. December to February are the mildest months, with average highs of about 31 to 33°C. From May to September average highs are about 42 to 44°C, so plan for the heat.

Deals to Makkah

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  • HolidayATOL protected

    Makkah: ten nights at Swissôtel Makkah

    From Manchester Airport · Ten nights facing the Kaaba for an unhurried Umrah, with direct flights between Manchester and Jeddah.

    Live prices

    Price checked when you search

  • HolidayATOL protected

    Jeddah: four nights at Rosewood Jeddah

    From London Heathrow Airport · A Red Sea city break on the Corniche, with time to explore the old town of Al Balad.

    Live prices

    Price checked when you search

  • Hotel

    Rosewood Jeddah

    A hotel on the Jeddah Corniche with views across the Red Sea, a good base before or after Umrah.

    Live prices

    Price checked when you search

Pictures of Makkah

  • The Kaaba seen from above, with the pilgrims circling it blurred by a long exposure
    The Kaaba at the heart of the Masjid al-Haram, seen from above
  • Two pigeons on a stone ledge above the buildings of Makkah, with rocky mountains behind
    Makkah spreads between rocky mountains
  • Jabal al-Nour, a rocky mountain in Makkah, under a blue sky with scattered clouds
    Jabal al-Nour, home to the Cave of Hira, just outside Makkah
  • The Kaaba and a minaret framed by carved stone arches inside the Masjid al-Haram
    Arches of the Masjid al-Haram frame the Kaaba

Questions about Makkah

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How can I stay well on Umrah?

Book a travel health appointment well before you go and read TravelHealthPro's Hajj and Umrah advice, as pilgrims have their own health entry requirements. In Makkah, drink plenty of water, keep out of direct sun where you can and wash your hands often.

Checked on 14 October 2026

When is the best time to go to Makkah?

For milder weather, go from December to February, when average highs are about 31 to 33°C. From May to September average highs reach about 42 to 44°C, so drink plenty of water and avoid the midday sun. Umrah itself can be made through most of the year.

Can anyone visit Makkah?

No, Makkah is open only to Muslims. Visitors who are not Muslim can still travel to other parts of Saudi Arabia, such as Jeddah, if they meet the entry rules.

Checked on 14 October 2026

How do I get to Makkah?

Makkah has no airport of its own. The nearest international airport is in Jeddah, about 70 km away on the Red Sea coast, and Madinah also has an international airport; a high speed railway links all three cities. Read GOV.UK's travel advice for Saudi Arabia before you book, as it can advise against travel to some airports.

Checked on 14 October 2026

How do I get an Umrah permit?

Umrah permits are issued through Nusuk, the official Saudi platform of the Ministry of Hajj and Umrah, on its app and website. Permits and the rules around them change, so check Nusuk and the official travel advice before you book and again before you travel.

Checked on 14 October 2026

What is Umrah?

Umrah is a pilgrimage to Makkah that Muslims can make through most of the year, unlike Hajj, which takes place on set dates in the Islamic calendar. During the Hajj season, Umrah is limited to those performing Hajj.

Checked on 14 October 2026

Where do I put on Ihram when I fly to Jeddah?

Jeddah lies inside the Miqat boundary, so pilgrims flying in for Umrah are in Ihram before they land. Most bathe and change at home, at the airport or on board, and make their intention when the crew announce the Miqat, usually about half an hour before. Follow your scholar's guidance.

Checked on 23 October 2026

Can I perform more than one Umrah?

Many pilgrims do. Those already in Makkah go out to Masjid Aisha at Taneem, enter Ihram there and return to the Masjid al Haram for another Umrah.

Checked on 23 October 2026

How far is the railway station from the Masjid al Haram?

Makkah's Haramain railway station is about 4 km from the Masjid al Haram: a short taxi or bus ride.

Checked on 23 October 2026

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