Mecca
Saudi Arabia
- Safety rating
- 7/10
- Best time to visit
- Cooler months from November to March are more comfortable, though pilgrimage timing follows the Islamic calendar.
- Population
- 2.4M
Overview
Mecca is the holiest city in Islam, the birthplace of the Prophet Muhammad and home to the Kaaba within the Masjid al-Haram, the focal point of Muslim prayer worldwide. Millions of pilgrims converge here each year for the Hajj and Umrah in an overwhelming display of devotion.
Top attractions
The Masjid al-Haram and the Kaaba are the spiritual center, alongside the Abraj Al-Bait clock tower complex and sites of the pilgrimage rites.
Getting around
Pilgrim shuttle buses, a dedicated metro during Hajj, and taxis serve the holy sites; much movement around the mosque is on foot.