Things to Do in Makkah

Al-Masjid al-Ḥarām is the largest mosque in the world and the centerpiece of the annual Hajj. It was designed around Kaaba, which is an ancient sanctuary that Muslims face when they pray. The mosque is now large enough to hold up to four million people and is an ornate structure that causes many visitors to stop and stare in awe. You will visit this mosque and the Kaaba as you move through your Hajj or Umrah, but many businessmen and other visitors are drawn to it as well. During Hajj, the great Mosque is extremely crowded during daylight hours. You will wait for hours to get inside to pray, and spending quiet time for personal reflection is difficult. If you wait to visit after dark, you will have a different experience with fewer people in attendance at that time.