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Masjid al-Haram & the Kaaba

Makkah, Saudi Arabia

Masjid al-Haram & the Kaaba

The Sacred Mosque of Makkah, the holiest site in Islam, built around the Kaaba — the House of Allah that Muslims face in every prayer.

Favourite places

Local food

  • Zamzam water

    Makkah, Saudi Arabia

    Not a dish but the drink every pilgrim remembers: water from the well of Zamzam inside Masjid al-Haram, available in coolers throughout the mosque. Pilgrims drink it standing, facing the Qibla, and many take it home.

  • Tamees bread with ful

    Makkah, Saudi Arabia

    Large, round flatbread baked against the walls of a clay oven, sold hot from small bakeries and eaten with ful, cheese or honey — a typical Makkah and Jeddah breakfast.

  • Saudi coffee (gahwa) and dates

    Makkah, Saudi Arabia

    Light, golden Arabic coffee brewed with cardamom (and sometimes saffron or clove), poured in small handleless cups and always served with dates. Offering gahwa is the first gesture of Saudi hospitality — hold the cup in your right hand, and gently shake it when you have had enough.Read more

Where to eat

  • Food courts around the Haram

    Abraj Al Bait (Clock Towers) and the hotels around Masjid al-Haram

    The malls and hotels facing the mosque have large food courts with Saudi, South Asian, Turkish and international food, open long hours for pilgrims.

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  • Local Hejazi bakeries and restaurants

    Aziziyah, Ajyad and the neighbourhoods around the Haram

    Small bakeries sell hot tamees bread and ful for breakfast, and neighbourhood restaurants serve saleeg, mandi, kabsa and grills — often better value than the food courts.

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Where to stay

  • Around the Haram (Abraj Al Bait and Ajyad)

    Makkah, Saudi Arabia

    Hotels facing or a few minutes from Masjid al-Haram, including the Clock Tower complex. The most convenient for praying in the mosque, and the most in demand in Ramadan and Hajj.

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Culture

Prayer in congregation around the Kaaba, in circles facing it from every side, is one of the most moving sights in the Muslim world. Tawaf goes on day and night, and the call to prayer from the Haram is heard across the valley.

History

The Kaaba is a cube-shaped building at the centre of Masjid al-Haram. Muslims believe it was built by the Prophet Ibrahim and his son Ismail as the first house of worship of the One God. It is covered by the black and gold Kiswa, and in its eastern corner is set the Black Stone (al-Hajar al-Aswad).

The mosque around it has been enlarged many times, from the early caliphs through the Ottoman era to the vast Saudi expansions of the 20th and 21st centuries. Today its courtyards, galleries and roofs can hold millions of worshippers, and it is the centre of the rites of Umrah and Hajj.

Tour plans

Performing Umrah

3–5 hours

  1. Step 1: Enter in ihram

    With the intention of Umrah, enter the mosque reciting the talbiyah.

  2. Step 2: Tawaf

    Seven circuits around the Kaaba, starting from the Black Stone.

  3. Step 3: Prayer and Zamzam

    Two rak’ahs behind Maqam Ibrahim, then drink Zamzam.

  4. Step 4: Sa’i and finish

    Seven lengths between Safa and Marwah, then cut or shave the hair.

Map

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Travel information

Best time to visit

Open at all times. Late night and early morning (after Fajr) are often calmer for tawaf; Ramadan, Fridays and Hajj are the busiest.

How to get there

In central Makkah: most hotels around the Haram are within walking distance. From outer districts, take a Makkah bus, hotel shuttle or taxi to the drop-off points around the mosque. From Jeddah, take the Haramain train to Makkah station, then a bus or taxi.

Getting around

  • Enter through the numbered gates; remember your gate number to meet your group.
  • Tawaf can be performed in the mataf around the Kaaba or on the upper floors when it is crowded.
  • Escalators and lifts connect the floors; electric carts and wheelchairs are available for those who need them.

Travel tips

  • Muslims only: non-Muslims are not permitted to enter Makkah. Road checkpoints mark the boundary of the Haram area, and signs direct non-Muslim traffic around the city.
  • Permits: Umrah needs a permit booked in the official Nusuk app, and Hajj is performed only with an official Hajj permit or package from your country. Check the current visa and permit rules before you travel.
  • Keep your shoes in a bag with you, and note the gate you used.
  • Be patient and gentle in the crowds; avoid pushing to reach the Black Stone.
  • Zamzam water is available from coolers throughout the mosque.

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