How do I find my way around the Haram in Makkah and Madinah?

How do I navigate the gates?

Every gate is numbered and shown on signs inside and outside. In Makkah, King Abdulaziz Gate (1) and King Fahd Gate (79) are the main landmarks, and the northern expansion adds many more. In Madinah, the numbered gates run around the whole mosque and the women's sections have their own entrances.

• Photograph your gate number on the way in.
• Agree one meeting point that is outdoors and away from the door itself.
• Give children and elderly relatives a card with your hotel name and phone number.
• Gates close without notice when an area is full, so be ready to use another.

What help is there for wheelchair users?

Standard wheelchairs can be borrowed or hired at counters near the main gates, and paid electric carts operate on set levels for Tawaf and Sa'i. Prices and booking methods change, so ask at the counter when you arrive. The upper floors are usually easier for wheelchairs, though the distance around the Kaaba is longer there.

When are the quiet hours?

Time	Crowd	Notes
Weekday, after sunrise to before Dhuhr	Lower	Best for first-time Tawaf
Between Asr and Maghrib	Building	Courtyards fill before Maghrib
After Isha to midnight	High	Cooler, popular with families
Friday morning to Jumu'ah	Very high	Arrive hours early or pray outside

What should I carry?

Take a small bag for shoes, a refillable bottle for Zamzam, a phone power bank and your ID. Large bags, tripods and food are often stopped at the door. Photography rules are enforced, especially inside the Rawdah.

Who cannot enter?

Non-Muslims may not enter Makkah's sacred area. In Madinah they can visit the city but not the central area around the mosque.