City break in Mecca. Active leisure ideas for Mecca - attractions, recreation and nightlife

Mecca is a city of pilgrims. Everything here is connected with Muslim culture and religion. So do not expect from a trip to Mecca extreme entertainment or bright visits to nightclubs. Moreover, there are no establishments of this type in the city. The people of Saudi Arabia do not treat parties too well, largely because of the moral ambiguity of such a holiday. So you can forget about the night entertainment, going to Mecca. It is customary to explore the spiritual side of life and read the Quran between visits to Hajj sites here.

If you are interested in pilgrimage, you will need a visa to travel here. However, it is worth warning that non-Muslims are not allowed in the city. If pilgrimage is the purpose of your visit to Mecca, it is worth paying attention to the requirements of the Ministry of Hajj to incoming pilgrims. For example, pilgrims who have already been to the city in recent years will not be able to visit Mecca again. The restrictions were imposed because of the constant overcrowding of the streets and regular stampedes, claiming the lives of pilgrims. If you are not a born Muslim, you will have to apply to the mosque for help in obtaining a certificate notarized by the Islamic center.

You have to understand that it is not easy to get to Mecca. You can't just enter Saudi Arabia on a tourist visa. There is no such type of visa for this country. You will definitely need a visa in order to enter the city. This can be a work, student or guest visa in case you are not a pilgrim. Please note that if you are an unmarried girl, you can only travel with a group and with permission from a guardian. However, the same applies to married ladies under the age of 45. But they will have to get permission from the spouse. Copyright www.orangesmile.com

It should be noted that in general, the state is very reluctant to issue pilgrimage visas to women who travel without husbands or brothers. You may also be denied a visa if your country's quotas have run out. Pilgrims from many Muslim countries have been waiting for the opportunity to get to Mecca for several years. You may be denied a visa without an explanation. Those people, who have in their passport a record of staying in Israel, cannot visit Mecca and perform the Hajj. And it does not matter how many years ago the person visited Israel. The authorities have tried to meet the needs of pilgrims in the city as much as possible. But it is worth understanding that Mecca is extremely crowded every day.

Visiting shopping centers is the biggest entertainment for locals. It's not just a shopping trip. But it's also a leisurely meal, or even a few, in the company of family or friends or a trip to the cinema. A trip to the shopping center for teenagers is fun on the slot machines. Most entertainment for children can be found in Abraj al-Bait Tower. Local attractions are more impressive to kids. However, teenagers will also be able to find something to do for a couple of hours. If you want to see Mecca from transport, it is better to hit the road on the local Skytrain, linking all the main attractions of the city.

The hotel, which is ready to receive up to a hundred thousand pilgrims a year, is located in the highest building of the city - the Royal Abraj al-Bait Tower. There is also a Moon observation Center, which has many telescopes. You can get here as part of the tour. Of course, the Moon observation Center won't impress keen astronomers too much. This place was created for religious purposes, but not for the sake of science. However, it is quite fascinating to observe the planet's satellite through a telescope.

If you love plants and just want to enjoy the beautiful view, it is worth spending one or two days on a trip to Taif. This city is located very close to Mecca. It is known for its beautiful rose gardens all over the world since ancient times. The local King Fahd Park is an incredibly popular place here. This place is famous for its unique vegetation. Besides, the city is very beautiful. Here you can enjoy the greenery and just walking through the streets.

If you want you can go to the conquest of the mountain peaks outside Mecca. This can be done as part of an organized group, and independently by hiring guides from local residents. The Hira cave on mount is located five kilometers south of Mecca. Pilgrims often come here despite the difficulty of the climb. You can relax after visiting the shrines at Fairmont SPA. There are hammam and fitness equipment here. You can also visit the Raffles Spa. There are many hammams and baths in the city. They are designed for pilgrims. You can use the services of professional massage therapists here. There are several fitness centers with a pretty good set of simulators in Mecca.