Are you thinking about staying at Swissotel Makkah? I completed Umrah for the first time last year, and finding a good hotel took a lot of research. After watching countless videos, reading multiple blog posts, and asking a million questions on Facebook, I finally settled on Swissotel Makkah, and couldn’t be happier.
Location
You cannot beat the location of Swissotel Makkah. It takes less than 7 minutes to reach Masjid al Haram. All you have to do is take the elevator downstairs.
By now, you probably already know how crowded and busy the streets in Makkah can get. You’ll appreciate only needing to take a quick walk rather than trying to catch a taxi to the mosque.
Swissotel Makkah is also connected to a shopping mall, which makes it very easy to find nearby restaurants and shopping.
Hotels With a View of the Kaba in Makkah
Some rooms in Swissotel Makkah have a view of the Kaba. The view is sublime. I kept pinching myself to make sure it was real. Ordering room service while watching the mosque fill up with other pilgrims felt like a once-in-a-lifetime experience.
Rooms
When checking out, make sure to choose a room with a view of the haram. These rooms are highly sought after, so I recommend booking as soon as possible. If you plan to travel during Ramadan, you should book your room six months in advance for the best price and availability.
The rooms were very comfortable, although I wouldn’t describe them as very modern. They were very spacious, and the bathrooms were average in size. Their bed sheets and comforter ae good quality and extremely soft. After all the walking you do during Umrah and Hajj, you’ll appreciate them.
The bathrooms were clean, and the water pressure was perfect. I loved the little toiletries the room came with. They weren’t drying and cheap like other toiletries in some hotels.
The coolest thing about the rooms at Swissotel Makkah was hearing the azan from the mosque over your room’s loudspeaker.
Breakfast and Hotel Food
Breakfast is buffet style and offers a variety of food. The eating area was very clean and large enough to move around while fixing your plate. They mostly served Arabic food but there were also Indian-Pakistani options as well.
I loved that they included a vegan, health-friendly section with sugar-free options. Overall they did a great job with their food options. You can also order room service or fast food at a kiosk on the ground floor.
There were enough staff members around if you needed any additional help. The chefs overseeing the live cooking stations were super sweet and memorable.
Transportation at Swissotel Makkah
Swissotel Makkah offers airport pickups but it’s usually cheaper to book via Viator . You can also take the Haramain Train from Jeddah or Riyadh to Makkah. The train is pretty basic but very clean.
Taking local taxis while in Makkah was a bit overwhelming at times. Ride-sharing apps can drop people off but they can’t pick people up. Instead, when you go outside, you’ll see a big group of taxi drivers. I found the taxi drivers to be very aggressive.
Parking at Swissotel Makkah
Swissotel Makkah offers paid parking. Renting a car in Makkah isn’t mandatory, as ride-sharing apps exist, but it can be helpful if you have a large family or plan on visiting multiple cities.
Should You Stay at Swissotel Makkah? Final Review
Yes! Swissotel Makkah has done a great job solidifying itself as one of the premier hotels in Makkah. If you value great views, good food, and impeccable service, I recommend staying here.
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