Best things to do in Mecca

Mecca's Absolute Essentials

This selection features the primary religious and historical sites of Mecca. It includes the Masjid al-Haram, which encloses the Kaaba and the Black Stone, alongside Maqam Ibrahim. Key ritual locations include the Jamaraat Bridge for the Hajj stoning ceremony and the Taneem Mosque, a significant miqat point for Umrah. Historical context is provided by the Cave of Hira and the Mecca Museum, housed in the former Al-Zahir Palace, while Makkah Mall represents the city's modern commercial infrastructure.

Mecca's Absolute Essentials — Map

Tab59 / CC BY-SA 2.0

A

Kaaba musharrafah

The Kaaba, sometimes referred to as al-Ka'ba al-Musharrafa, is a stone building at the center of Islam's most important mosque and holiest…

acizane nacizane / CC BY 2.0

B

Black Stone

The Black Stone is a rock set into the eastern corner of the Kaaba, the ancient building in the center of the Grand Mosque in Mecca, Saudi…

معتز توفيق اغبارية / CC BY-SA 3.0

C

Grand Mosque of Mecca

Masjid al-Haram, also known as the Grand Mosque or the Great Mosque of Mecca, is a mosque enclosing the vicinity of the Kaaba in Mecca, in…

Mardetanha / CC BY-SA 3.0

D

Maqam Ibrahim

The Maqām Ibrāhīm is a small square stone associated with Ibrahim, Ismail and their building of the Kaaba in what is now the Great Mosque…

Nacizane / CC BY 2.0

E

Cave of Hira

Hira may refer to:

F

Jamaraat Bridge

The Jamaraat Bridge is a pedestrian bridge in Mina, Saudi Arabia, near Makkah used by Muslims during the Hajj ritual Stoning of the Devil.

Rowan5j / CC BY-SA 4.0

G

Mecca Gate

The Gate of Mecca, Mecca Gate or Makkah Gate, also known as Qur'an Gate, is an arch gateway monumental on the Makkah al-Mukkarramah road of…

H

Mecca Museum

Housed in Al-Zahir Palace, this museum displays archaeological finds from the pre-Islamic era, Islamic art collections, and historical artifacts related to the city and the Holy Mosque.

I

Om El-Moumneen El-Sayeda Aisha Mosque

Also known as Taneem Mosque, this site serves as a primary miqat for pilgrims and residents of Mecca to enter the state of ihram before performing Umrah.

J

Makkah Mall

A modern multi-level shopping center featuring a wide range of international retail brands, a hypermarket, and a large food court.

Other Lists

Sacred Landmarks of Mecca Sacred Islamic Sites Cultural Landmarks of Makkah Nature and Scenic Views