Best things to do in Mecca
Find out more about those top places in Mecca
Regarded as “the holiest place” in the world, Mecca is Islam’s most sacred city. Forbidden for non-Muslims the city is located in the Hejazi region of Saudi Arabia, it is the birth place of Islam’s most revered Prophet Muhammad and the site of Muhammad’s first revelation of the Quran.
Mecca has a population just above 2 million which rapidly increases during the Hajj Pilgrimage. The Hajj is a mandatory religious duty for any Muslim who is physically and financially able to carry it out. Most of the attractions in Mecca, as expected, are linked to Islam and Prophet Muhammad such as the Great Mosque of Mecca and Jabal an-Nour, but there are also side attractions that can be explored by visitors.
-
Great Mosque of Mecca
The Great Mosque of Mecca officially known as the Al-Masjid Al-haram, is the most sacred mosque to Muslims. The mosque has a capacity of 1.5 million people and is the largest mosque in the world. It is filled with many structures of great interest like the Kaaba, the Black Stone, the Station of Abraham and ZamZam Well.
-
Makkah Mall
This ultra-modern shopping center is the number one stop for buying and selling in Mecca, it features brands from all over the world. Designed to suit the customer it has different sections to appeal to the desires of visitors, there are jewelry sections, books sections, souvenirs sections among others.
-
Al Wahbah Crater
The Al Wahbah is a volcanic crater in Mecca about 820 ft (249.94 m) deep and 2 km wide. Located a few Kilometers away from Taif, the Al Wahbah Crater is not one of the Mecca’s most popular tourist sites but it presents something different for visitors to explore. Going to the bottom of the crater and back to its top takes approximately 2 hours.
-
Jabal an-Nour
The Jabal an-Nour which translates to “Hill of the Illumination” or “Mountain of Light” is a sacred mountain located in the Hejazi region near Mecca. It also has a cave called the Cave of Hira that is very revered by Muslims because it was said that the great Prophet Muhammad spent much time in the cave meditating. The mountain is over 2,106 ft (641.91 m) height and it usually requires some hours to get to its peak. It is one of the most visited destinations in Mecca and its said to be the location where Prophet Muhammad received the first revelation of the Quran on the Night of Power.
-
Al Kiswah Factory
The Al Kiswah factory produces “Kiswah” which is used to cover the Kaaba, it embroidered and stitched together to form the popular Islamic wear. The factory located on the old Jeddah road opened in 1977 and it generates a large part of the city’s wealth. Visitors can tour round the factory and see the manufacturing process.
