Ziyarat in Makkah: Places to Visit and Their History
A guide to 17 Ziyarat places in Makkah, from the Cave of Hira to Arafat, with the story of each place, distances from Masjid al-Haram and tips for your visit. Written by our Makkah-based team, who drive pilgrims to these places.
Ziyarat in Makkah in short
The most visited Ziyarat places in Makkah are Jabal al-Nour (Cave of Hira), Jabal Thawr, Arafat, Muzdalifah, Mina, Jannat al-Mu'alla and Masjid al-Jinn. Most of them are within 20 km of Masjid al-Haram, and you can see the main places by car in about 3 hours. Ziyarat is not part of Umrah or Hajj. Pilgrims go to see where the history of Islam took place.
| Place | Where | What happened there |
|---|---|---|
| Jabal al-Nour, Cave of Hira | About 4 to 5 km north-east of the Haram | First revelation of the Quran |
| Jabal Thawr | South of Makkah | Refuge on the Hijrah |
| Arafat, Jabal al-Rahmah | About 20 km south-east | Day of Arafah, Farewell Sermon |
| Masjid Namirah | Edge of Arafat | Hajj sermon |
| Canal of Zubaidah | From Wadi Nu'man to Arafat | Water for pilgrims, 802 CE |
| Muzdalifah | Between Arafat and Mina | Night after Arafat |
| Wadi Muhassir | Between Muzdalifah and Mina | Army of the elephant |
| Mina, Jamarat, Masjid al-Khayf | About 7 km east | Days of Hajj, stoning |
| Jannat al-Mu'alla | North of the Haram | Resting place of Khadijah (RA) |
| Masjid al-Jinn, Masjid al-Shajarah | Al-Ma'la, near Jannat al-Mu'alla | Jinn heard the Quran |
| Masjid al-Fath | Al-Jumum, north of Makkah | Conquest of Makkah |
Distances are approximate and depend on your hotel and route.
Jabal al-Nour and the Cave of Hira (Ghar Hira)
Jabal al-Nour, the Mountain of Light, rises 642 m on the north-east side of Makkah. Near its top is the Cave of Hira, where the Prophet (PBUH) used to go to worship alone. Here he received the first revelation of the Quran, the first five verses of Surah al-Alaq, which begin with the word "Read" (Iqra).
- The climb. About 1,750 steps lead up the mountain, and the cave is about 270 m up. The climb takes from half an hour to three hours, depending on your fitness and rests.
- When to go. Early in the morning or after Maghrib, when it is cooler. Wear good shoes and take water.
- From the car. If you do not want to climb, you can see the mountain clearly from the road and from the Hira Cultural District at its foot.
Hira Cultural District
At the foot of Jabal al-Nour is the Hira Cultural District, with a museum and the Revelation Exhibition about the first revelation and the history of the mountain. The district and the path to the cave are open 24 hours. The museum is open from 7:30 am to 11:30 pm Saturday to Wednesday, from 7:30 am to 1 am on Thursday, and from 3:30 pm to 1 am on Friday (check the official Hira District website before you go, as times can change).
Jabal Thawr and the Cave of Thawr (Ghar Thawr)
Jabal Thawr is a mountain of about 750 m, a few kilometres south of Makkah. When the Prophet (PBUH) left Makkah for Madinah on the Hijrah, he and Abu Bakr (RA) hid in the Cave of Thawr for three days while the Quraysh searched for them. The Quran refers to this moment in Surah at-Tawbah (9:40): "He was the second of two, when they were both in the cave."
- The climb. The path is steep and rocky, and the climb to the cave takes about 1.5 hours with breaks.
- When to go. Start early in the morning, before the heat.
Arafat and Jabal al-Rahmah
Arafat is a wide plain about 20 km south-east of Makkah. On the 9th of Dhul Hijjah, the Day of Arafah, every pilgrim must be here for Hajj to be valid. In the middle of the plain is Jabal al-Rahmah, the Mount of Mercy, a granite hill about 70 m high. The Prophet (PBUH) gave his Farewell Sermon at Arafat during his only Hajj.
Outside Hajj season the plain is quiet, and many visitors climb the steps of Jabal al-Rahmah to make dua.
Masjid Namirah
Masjid Namirah stands on the western edge of Arafat, in Wadi Uranah, where the Prophet (PBUH) stayed on the Day of Arafah before his sermon. Today the Hajj sermon is given here, and Dhuhr and Asr are prayed together. It holds about 400,000 worshippers. The front part of the mosque is just outside the boundary of Arafah, so pilgrims make sure they stand within Arafah itself.
Canal of Zubaidah (Ain Zubaidah)
In 802 CE, Zubaidah bint Ja'far, the wife of the Abbasid Caliph Harun al-Rashid, paid for a water channel to bring water to Makkah and to pilgrims. It runs about 30 km from Wadi Nu'man, near Jabal Kara on the Taif side, to Arafat, and supplied water for around 1,200 years.
Muzdalifah and Masjid al-Mash'ar al-Haram
Muzdalifah is the open plain between Arafat and Mina. After sunset on the Day of Arafah, pilgrims come here, pray Maghrib and Isha together, spend the night under the open sky and collect pebbles for the Jamarat. The Quran mentions this place: "When you depart from Arafat, remember Allah at al-Mash'ar al-Haram" (2:198). Masjid al-Mash'ar al-Haram stands here today.
Wadi Muhassir
Wadi Muhassir is the small valley between Muzdalifah and Mina. It is linked to the army of Abraha, who came with elephants to destroy the Kaaba in the year the Prophet (PBUH) was born, as told in Surah al-Fil. The Prophet (PBUH) moved quickly through this valley, and pilgrims follow his example during Hajj.
Mina, the Jamarat and Masjid al-Khayf
Mina is a valley about 7 km from Masjid al-Haram, known as the City of Tents. During Hajj it holds more than two million pilgrims in fire-resistant white tents. Mina is linked to the story of Ibrahim (PBUH), who stoned Shaytan here and sacrificed a ram as a ransom for his son Ismail (PBUH).
- The Jamarat. Three pillars, the small, the middle and Jamrat al-Aqabah, inside a five-floor building where pilgrims throw pebbles during Hajj.
- Masjid al-Khayf. The main mosque of Mina, covering about 23,500 m².
- Outside Hajj. Mina is empty for most of the year, so visitors see the tents, the Jamarat and the mosque from the car.
Jannat al-Mu'alla
Jannat al-Mu'alla is the historic cemetery of Makkah, just north of Masjid al-Haram in the al-Ma'la area. Khadijah (RA), the first wife of the Prophet (PBUH), is buried here, with Abu Talib, Abd al-Muttalib, Qasim the son of the Prophet (PBUH), Asma bint Abu Bakr (RA) and many scholars. Visitors come to make dua for those buried here.
Masjid al-Jinn and Masjid al-Shajarah
Masjid al-Jinn is near Jannat al-Mu'alla. It marks the place where a group of jinn listened to the Prophet (PBUH) reciting the Quran, as told in Surah al-Jinn. It is also called Masjid al-Bay'ah (the Mosque of Allegiance) and Masjid al-Haras (the Mosque of the Guards).
Masjid al-Shajarah is a small mosque opposite Masjid al-Jinn. It is linked to a narration that a tree came to the Prophet (PBUH) when he called it and then returned to its place.
Masjid al-Fath in al-Jumum
Masjid al-Fath is in al-Jumum, north of Makkah near the road to Madinah. It is named after the Conquest of Makkah (Fath Makkah), when the Prophet (PBUH) prayed at this place. Historians mention it as early as 898 CE, and it is being restored under the Prince Mohammed bin Salman project for historical mosques.
More places pilgrims ask about
- Masjid Aisha (Al-Taneem). The nearest Miqat for people in Makkah who want to enter ihram for another Umrah. It is about 7.5 km from the Haram.
- Ziyarat near the Haram. Jannat al-Mu'alla, Masjid al-Jinn and Masjid al-Shajarah are the closest Ziyarat places to Masjid al-Haram, all in the al-Ma'la area.
How to plan your Ziyarat in Makkah
- Time. The main places take about 3 hours by car. Add 1.5 to 3 hours if you climb to the Cave of Hira or Thawr.
- Best time. After Fajr or after Asr, when it is cooler and the roads are quieter.
- Hajj season. Arafat, Muzdalifah and Mina are closed or very busy around Hajj. Plan your Ziyarat before or after.
- Dress and conduct. These are places of history and respect. Dress modestly, keep your voice low at the cemetery and mosques, and do not take stones or soil as souvenirs.
- Worship. Ziyarat is not part of Umrah or Hajj. For questions about prayer or dua at these places, ask your scholar.
- Getting there. The places are spread out, and there is little public transport between them. Most families book a private taxi with a driver who knows the route.
Visit these places with our Makkah Ziyarat taxi
Our private Makkah Ziyarat taxi visits 17 of these places in up to 3 hours, with hotel pickup and a driver who explains each place in Urdu, English or Arabic. Prices are per car, and you pay after the tour.
| Vehicle | Passengers | From |
|---|---|---|
| Toyota Camry | 4 | SAR 200 |
| Hyundai Staria | 6 | SAR 250 |
| Toyota HiAce | 11 | SAR 300 |
| GMC Yukon XL | 6 | SAR 350 |
| Toyota Coaster | 16 | SAR 550 |
Questions about Ziyarat in Makkah
What are the main Ziyarat places in Makkah?
The main Ziyarat places in Makkah are Jabal al-Nour and the Cave of Hira, Jabal Thawr, Arafat and Jabal al-Rahmah, Masjid Namirah, Muzdalifah, Mina with the Jamarat and Masjid al-Khayf, Jannat al-Mu'alla, Masjid al-Jinn and the Canal of Zubaidah. Many pilgrims also visit the Hira Cultural District and Masjid Aisha.
How many Ziyarat places are there in Makkah?
There is no fixed number. Guides list from about 10 to more than 30 places. Our tour covers 17 of the best-known places in about 3 hours.
Is Ziyarat part of Umrah?
No. Ziyarat is not part of Umrah or Hajj, and your Umrah is complete without it. Most pilgrims visit these places to learn the history of Islam. For questions about worship at these places, ask your scholar.
How far is the Cave of Hira from Masjid al-Haram?
Jabal al-Nour, where the Cave of Hira is, is about 4 to 5 km from Masjid al-Haram, around 15 minutes by car. The climb to the cave takes from 30 minutes to a few hours.
How many steps are there to the Cave of Hira?
About 1,750 steps lead to the top of Jabal al-Nour. The cave is about 270 m up the 642 m mountain. Go early in the morning or in the evening, wear good shoes and take water.
How far is Arafat from Makkah?
Arafat is about 20 km south-east of Makkah.
Can I visit Mina, Muzdalifah and Arafat outside Hajj?
Yes, you can drive through them outside Hajj season. Mina is empty except during Hajj, so most people see the tents, the Jamarat and Masjid al-Khayf from the car. Around Hajj, roads to these places are closed or very busy.
Who is buried in Jannat al-Mu'alla?
Jannat al-Mu'alla is the historic cemetery of Makkah, north of Masjid al-Haram. Khadijah (RA), the first wife of the Prophet (PBUH), is buried there, as are Abu Talib, Abd al-Muttalib, Qasim the son of the Prophet (PBUH), and Asma bint Abu Bakr.
What is the Hira Cultural District?
The Hira Cultural District is at the foot of Jabal al-Nour. It has a museum and the Revelation Exhibition about the first revelation. The district and the path to the cave are open 24 hours, and the museum opens daily with longer hours on Thursday and Friday evenings.
How long does a Makkah Ziyarat tour take?
A tour of the main places by car takes about 3 hours. Add time if you want to climb to the Cave of Hira or the Cave of Thawr.
How can I book a taxi for Ziyarat in Makkah?
Send us your date, hotel and number of passengers on WhatsApp. Our private Makkah Ziyarat taxi starts from SAR 200 per car for up to 3 hours, and the driver explains each place.
About this guide
This guide was written by the Al Haram Cabs team in Makkah, led by Muhammad Wali, who has 12 years of experience. Facts were checked against Saudipedia, the Hira District website and other published references in October 2026. For rulings on worship, please ask a qualified scholar.
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