Places to Visit in Makkah
The overview guide to the sites in and around Makkah, with etiquette and tips; the heart of the visit is Masjid al-Haram.
Holy Sites Guide: Places to Visit in Makkah, Madinah and Jerusalem
Almost everyone who travels to Makkah and Madinah sets out with the same question: apart from the Kaaba and the Prophet’s Mosque, which places can I see, and how far are they from the Haram? On this page we have brought together all of our guides to the places of visit, city by city: first Makkah, then Madinah, then Taif, Badr and Hudaybiyyah in the surrounding region, and finally Jerusalem. Each card tells you in one sentence where the site is and, where the guide gives it, how far it lies from the Haram; for the history, the details and the etiquette of visiting, follow the card to the guide itself.
The table at the end of the page sets the distances side by side, followed by short answers to common questions. As our guides note, seeing these places is not part of Umrah or Hajj; the aim is to learn the Prophet’s life on site, to make dua and to reflect. On religious matters we follow the sources of Türkiye’s Presidency of Religious Affairs (Diyanet) and the TDV Encyclopaedia of Islam. Visiting arrangements can change, so please confirm the current situation from official sources before you travel.
Makkah Madinah Taif, Badr, Hudaybiyyah Jerusalem Distance table FAQ
Holy Sites in Makkah
Masjid al-Haram
The great mosque in the centre of Makkah that surrounds the Kaaba; tawaf and sa'i are performed here.
The Kaaba
In the city of Makkah in Saudi Arabia, in the centre of Masjid al-Haram; Makkah lies about seventy kilometres east of Jeddah.
Parts of the Kaaba
The Black Stone, the Multazam, the Hijr and the Station of Ibrahim: the named parts of the Kaaba, inside Masjid al-Haram.
The Black Stone (Hajar al-Aswad)
Set into the eastern corner of the Kaaba within a silver frame; it marks the starting point of tawaf.
Maqam Ibrahim
The stone on the door side of the Kaaba, inside the tawaf area, accepted as bearing the footprints of the Prophet Ibrahim.
Safa and Marwa
On the eastern side of Masjid al-Haram, a few hundred metres from the Kaaba; the way between them is now under the roof of the mosque.
The Zamzam Well
Inside Masjid al-Haram, opposite the Black Stone and about 19 m from the Kaaba, beneath the tawaf area.
Dar al-Arqam
The first centre of the call to Islam, at the foot of Safa; the house no longer stands and its site lies within Masjid al-Haram.
The Cave of Hira
On Jabal an-Nour, north-east of Makkah and about 5 km from the Kaaba; where the first revelation came down.
The Cave of Thawr
On Mount Thawr on the southern side of Makkah, about 4 km from Masjid al-Haram as the crow flies; the refuge of the Hijrah.
Jannat al-Mu'alla
The cemetery of Makkah in the al-Hajun area, north of Masjid al-Haram; a short drive from the mosque.
Masjid al-Jinn
About 2 km north of the Haram, next to Jannat al-Mu'alla; the mosque at the place where the jinn listened to the Quran.
Mount Arafat (Jabal ar-Rahmah)
On the plain of Arafat, about 21 km east of Makkah; all of Arafat lies outside the Haram boundaries.
Arafat, Muzdalifah and Mina
Where Hajj is performed: Makkah and the areas of Arafat, Muzdalifah and Mina to its east, with distances and transport.
Holy Sites in Madinah
Places to Visit in Madinah
The overview guide to the sites of Madinah; the centre is the Prophet's Mosque, with the Rawdah and Jannat al-Baqi within walking distance.
Masjid an-Nabawi
The Prophet's Mosque in Madinah, built after the Hijrah; the first destination of every visitor to the city.
The Rawdah
Inside the Prophet's Mosque, the area between the Prophet's house and his minbar; greetings and visiting etiquette.
Jannat al-Baqi
The historic cemetery beside the Prophet's Mosque, a short walk from the mosque's eastern gates.
Masjid al-Ghamamah
About 200 m southwest of the Prophet's Mosque, on the site of the musalla where the Eid prayers were held.
Abu Bakr Mosque
About 300 m southwest of the Prophet's Mosque, south of the al-Manakhah district.
Quba Mosque
In the Quba area in the south of Madinah; known as the first mosque in Islam.
Masjid al-Jumu'ah
About 900 m north of Quba Mosque and about 6 km from the Prophet's Mosque; where the first Friday prayer was led.
Masjid al-Qiblatayn
In the northwest of Madinah, about 5 km from the Prophet's Mosque; where the qibla was turned towards the Kaaba.
Mount Uhud
North of Madinah, about 5 km from the Prophet's Mosque; the scene of the Battle of Uhud.
The Martyrs of Uhud
At the foot of Mount Uhud, about 5 km from Masjid an-Nabawi; Hamzah and the martyrs of Uhud are buried here.
The Names of the Martyrs of Uhud
The seventy martyrs of Uhud in the list transmitted by Ibn Hisham: four Muhajirun, the others Ansar, listed by clan.
Around Makkah and Madinah: Taif, Badr and Hudaybiyyah
Taif
88 km east of Makkah, in the Wajj valley on the southern slopes of Mount Ghazwan (TDV Encyclopaedia of Islam).
Badr
About 150-160 km south-west of Madinah; the battlefield, the martyrs' cemetery and al-Arish Mosque are here.
Hudaybiyyah
About 17 km west of Makkah on the old Jeddah road; also known today as al-Shumaysi.
Jerusalem
Al-Aqsa Mosque
In Jerusalem, within al-Haram ash-Sharif; the first qiblah of Muslims.
Distance Table: How Far Is Each Site?
The figures below are the distances given, with their sources, in the related guides; sites whose guide does not state a distance are left out. For the journey between the two cities, see our guide on how far Makkah is from Madinah.
Makkah and its surroundings
| Site | Measured from | Distance |
|---|---|---|
| Zamzam Well | The Kaaba | About 19 m |
| Masjid al-Jinn | The Haram | About 2 km (north) |
| Jannat al-Mu’alla | The Haram | 2 km |
| Mount Thawr | Masjid al-Haram | About 4 km as the crow flies |
| Cave of Hira (Jabal an-Nour) | The Kaaba | About 5 km |
| Mina | The Haram | 7 km |
| Hudaybiyyah | Makkah | About 17 km (west) |
| Arafat | Makkah | About 21 km (east) |
| Taif | Makkah | 88 km (east, TDV) |
Madinah and its surroundings
| Site | Measured from | Distance |
|---|---|---|
| Masjid al-Ghamamah | The Prophet’s Mosque | About 200 m (southwest) |
| Abu Bakr Mosque | The Prophet’s Mosque | About 300 m (southwest) |
| Masjid al-Qiblatayn | The Prophet’s Mosque | About 5 km |
| Mount Uhud | The Prophet’s Mosque | About 5 km |
| Uhud Martyrs’ Cemetery | The Prophet’s Mosque | About 5 km |
| Masjid al-Jumu’ah | The Prophet’s Mosque | About 6 km |
| Badr | Madinah | About 150-160 km (south-west) |
For the supplications recited on these visits and at each step of the worship, see our Umrah and Hajj Duas page.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is visiting these sites part of Umrah or Hajj?
No. As our Makkah guide notes, visiting these places is not part of Hajj or Umrah; the aim is to learn the Prophet’s life on site and reflect. The visit to Madinah is likewise not part of Umrah, although visiting the Prophet’s mosque is regarded as a great virtue.
Which sites are within walking distance of the Prophet’s Mosque?
Jannat al-Baqi is a short walk from the mosque’s eastern gates; Masjid al-Ghamamah is about 200 m and Abu Bakr Mosque about 300 m to the southwest. Masjid al-Qiblatayn and Mount Uhud are about 5 km away, and people usually go to Uhud by vehicle.
Is Arafat inside the Haram, and is the standing performed on Jabal ar-Rahmah?
All of Arafat lies outside the Haram boundaries. The standing is not performed on top of the hill; it is performed by being present anywhere within the boundaries of the plain of Arafat.
Can the Zamzam Well be seen today?
Visitors cannot go down to the Zamzam Well; its entrance is closed and the water is distributed by pumps. The well itself is active, and Zamzam is available free of charge from the dispensers in the Haram.
How is the Martyrs of Uhud cemetery visited?
The Martyrs of Uhud cemetery is a simple area enclosed by walls and fencing; visitors do not go inside but greet the martyrs and pray from outside.
