Mecca, Sacred pilgrimage site in Western Saudi Arabia
The city sits in western Saudi Arabia as the spiritual heart of Islam and the goal of pilgrimages from around the world. Masjid al-Haram surrounds the Kaaba, a cube-shaped structure, with multiple levels of arcades and large open courtyards.
Muhammad gained control of the city in 630 and cleared all pagan idols from the Kaaba. He made the site the religious center of the new faith.
Only Muslims may enter the city, where visitors from every corner of the world gather for prayer and to walk around the Kaaba. Pilgrims wear simple white garments that mark everyone as equal.
The city lies roughly 70 kilometers (43 miles) inland from Jeddah and is served by King Abdulaziz International Airport. Lodging is available at different price levels near the holy sites.
The city becomes several times more crowded for a few weeks each year when millions of people arrive for the annual pilgrimage. The whole place transforms into one large encampment during that time.
Location: Mecca Province
Elevation above the sea: 277 m
Website: https://hmm.gov.sa
GPS coordinates: 21.42085,39.82687
Latest update: December 2, 2025 20:50
Saudi Arabia contains a wide range of historical locations spanning multiple periods, from Islamic holy sites to pre-Islamic archaeological remains. The country encompasses both religious destinations that draw millions of Muslim pilgrims annually and ancient settlements that reveal trade networks and civilizations dating back thousands of years. Among the most significant are the holy cities of Mecca and Medina, the Nabatean tombs at Al-Ula, and prehistoric rock art in various desert regions. The collection includes sacred sites such as the Great Mosque in Mecca with its Kaaba and Zamzam well, the Prophet's Mosque in Medina, and pilgrimage locations like Mount Arafat and the ritual grounds at Mina. Archaeological sites preserve evidence of earlier inhabitants, including Madain Salih with its 111 rock-cut Nabatean tombs from the first century, the petroglyphs of Hail dating back 10,000 years, and the sandstone formations of Al-Ula. Urban centers like Riyadh feature the Masmak Fortress from 1865, while Jeddah's historic port district displays traditional coral stone architecture. Together, these locations document the religious, commercial, and cultural development of the Arabian Peninsula across millennia.
Kaaba
198 m
Black Stone
198 m
Al-Masjid Al-Haram
200 m
Abraj Al Bait
224 m
Zamzam Well
195 m
Mount Arafat
17.9 km
Station of Abraham
205 m
Hira
5.3 km
Ajyad Fortress
224 m
Hajir Ismail
204 m
Prince Abdullah Al Faisal Sports City
59.7 km
Jabal Thawr
5.4 km
Jamaraat Bridge
4.8 km
Mosque of the Jinn
1.4 km
Masjid al-Taneem
5.8 km
Iraqi Corner
206 m
منتزه الجبل الأخضر
54.3 km
Mecca Gate
17.8 km
Masjid Namirah
16.3 km
Shubra palace
62.8 km
Maktabat Makkah al-Mukarramah / Bayt al-Mawlid
551 m
Abdullah Ibn Abbas Mosque, Ta'if
62.6 km
Al-Hukair Time
3.6 km
Aisha Alrajhi Mosque
6.6 km
The Two Holy Mosques Architecture Exhibition
7.6 km
Al Hokair Time
64 km
Bay'ah Mosque
4.2 km
منتجع الكر الترفيهي
42.1 kmReviews
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