Novotel Makkah Thakher City

Novotel Makkah Thakher City is a modern 4-star hotel about 2.7 km from Masjid al-Haram, with a free shuttle running around the clock. It suits families and pilgrims who want newer rooms and better value than many central hotels, provided they are comfortable with a shuttle journey followed by a 15- to 25-minute walk.

That last point matters. The hotel may look close to the Haram on a map, but distance alone does not describe the daily routine. You need to allow for traffic, waiting for the bus, the drop-off location and the walk to the mosque gates. For travellers planning an Umrah stay in Makkah, Saudi Arabia, here is what the hotel is actually like and where the practical compromises sit.

Is the Thakher City location right for your trip?

Novotel Makkah Thakher City is in the newer Thakher City development, away from the most crowded streets immediately surrounding Masjid al-Haram. The quieter setting can be welcome after a long day of tawaf, prayers and walking. The trade-off is that you cannot simply step outside and enter the mosque within a few minutes.

The property has 1,461 rooms and suites, so it is a large hotel rather than a small, personal one. Rooms have air conditioning, flat-screen televisions, minibars and private bathrooms with walk-in showers. The colour scheme is calm and modern. Suites, cots and connecting rooms can help families, although connecting rooms remain subject to availability and should never be assumed until the hotel confirms them.

We usually tell families to think about the weakest walker in the group, not the strongest. A healthy adult may find the transfer manageable, while an elderly parent, a child who needs carrying or anyone using a pushchair may find the final section tiring. The hotel has accessible rooms and clear signage, but accessibility inside the building does not remove the walking involved at the Haram end.

How long does it really take to reach the Haram?

The road distance to Masjid al-Haram is approximately 2.7 km, usually described as a 10- to 15-minute drive when traffic is moving. The Kaaba, inside the mosque complex, is approximately 3.1 km from the hotel. A free shuttle operates every 30 minutes, 24 hours a day, between the hotel and the Haram area.

This is where people get it wrong: the shuttle does not necessarily leave you beside the gate you want. The drop-off is often near the Jamarat bus terminal, and the remaining walk to gates such as Gate 79, opposite the Clock Towers, can take another 15 to 25 minutes. Add time for finding your bearings, crossing busy pedestrian areas and staying together as a family. Before a major prayer, leaving 1.5 hours early is sensible.

The address is Al Andalus Dist, P.O. Box 4575, Makkah Al Mukarama 24237, Saudi Arabia, in the Ray’zakhir district. King Abdulaziz International Airport in Jeddah is 95 km away, approximately a 60-minute drive, while the Al Haramain High-Speed Railway station is 9.2 km away and roughly 25 minutes by road. Traffic can change those timings considerably.

Taxis are another option, with the stated fare for a short Haram journey around 20–25 SAR. They can save waiting time, but road restrictions and congestion may still affect where you are dropped. Car rental offers flexibility, though parking and restricted approaches near the Haram make it less useful for prayer trips than many first-time visitors expect.

Will the rooms and facilities work for a family?

Novotel Makkah Thakher City has the practical facilities expected from a large international hotel: free Wi-Fi in public areas, free private parking, a 24-hour reception, a fitness centre, meeting rooms and a business centre. Staff speak Arabic, English and other languages, which helps when arranging room changes, transport or family requests.

Children under 11 stay and dine free when sharing their parents’ room. Cots, family suites and connecting rooms are available, with the usual availability caveat. If you need two rooms with an internal door, put the request in writing before travel and check again shortly before arrival. “Rooms close together” is not the same as connecting rooms.

Prayer rooms are provided on selected floors. These are useful between Haram visits, particularly when someone is unwell, exhausted or caring for a sleeping child. Pack a small day bag for mosque trips with water, medication, a phone charger, tissues and a lightweight shoe bag. Keep it compact; carrying a bulky bag through crowds becomes unpleasant very quickly.

What is the food like, and is breakfast worth arranging?

There are three main restaurants. Cinnamon Restaurant serves Indian food, Wok Noodles focuses on Asian dishes and includes live cooking stations, while Aklart Restaurant serves Arabic specialities. The French Café on the mezzanine has coffee, tea and pastries. This range is particularly useful for mixed-age groups, where grandparents and children may not want the same meal after returning from the Haram.

Breakfast covers buffet, continental, American, halal and vegetarian choices. During Ramadan, the meal pattern changes: breakfast is served as Suhoor and dinner becomes Iftar. Do check current serving times at reception because prayer schedules and busy periods affect how families plan their rest.

Turkish Taste Restaurant and Malaysia Restaurant are listed around 2.1–2.2 miles away. There are also mini-marts and affordable places to eat in the wider Thakher City area. Still, after a late return from the mosque, an on-site meal is often more practical than organising another taxi. Keep a few simple snacks in the room for children or elderly relatives who eat at irregular times.

What can you reach beyond Masjid al-Haram?

The main reason to stay at Novotel Makkah Thakher City is access to worship rather than sightseeing, but several significant places are within driving distance. The listed distances include the Kaaba at 3.1 km, Zamzam Well at 7.3 km, Abraj Al-Bait Towers at 6.3 km and Jannat al-Mu’alla Cemetery at 1.6 km. The Makkah Al-Mukarramah Library is also a short drive away.

Mina is approximately 9.3 km away, with the journey described as about 25 minutes by taxi or via Al Haramain transport connections. Hira Cave is around 5.2 km away, and visits to Jabal al-Nour can be arranged through the tour desk. Do not squeeze a demanding climb into an already tiring Umrah schedule, especially with older relatives. Heat, uneven ground and tired legs change what looks easy from a hotel lobby.

What should you check before booking?

Rates have been advertised from approximately $70 per night, although the actual cost changes with demand, room type and season. Ramadan and other busy periods fill quickly, and the original recommendation is to reserve at least two months ahead. Compare the total price, meal plan and cancellation terms rather than looking only at the first nightly figure. best hotels in Makkah lists hotel rates and Umrah package options.

Standard check-in begins at 4:00 PM, with early arrival handled when possible rather than guaranteed. A photo ID and credit card are required at check-in. If your flight lands in the morning, keep prayer clothes, medication and basic toiletries in your hand luggage so you are not opening large suitcases in reception while waiting for a room.

Mountain or city views may be requested, but location inside the hotel matters less than many people think. Families often benefit more from being near one another and reasonably close to a lift. With 1,461 rooms, lift and reception queues can build during group arrivals. Confirm cots, accessible rooms and connecting arrangements in advance, and read the cancellation conditions attached to your particular rate; fully refundable options are available, but not every booking has the same terms.

How should you organise each prayer trip?

Learn the shuttle boarding point on your first day and ask reception where the return bus normally waits. Take a photograph of the location. In crowded areas, hotel names can sound similar and tired travellers often follow the wrong group. Allow around 1.5 hours before prayer, particularly when travelling together or aiming for a specific gate.

Wear broken-in walking shoes or supportive sandals; Umrah is not the time to test new footwear. A pushchair can help with a small child, but kerbs, dense crowds and transport boarding make a light folding model easier than a heavy travel system. Label it clearly. For wheelchair users or guests with limited mobility, discuss the whole hotel-to-mosque route before booking, not merely whether the room itself is accessible.

Do not plan every prayer at the Haram on the first day after a long flight. Rest, learn the shuttle routine and work out how long your own family takes. The prayer rooms in the hotel provide a useful fallback when someone cannot manage another journey.

What do guests tend to like, and what causes complaints?

Guest feedback commonly highlights clean, modern rooms, helpful staff and a broad breakfast selection. The hotel has held an 8.4/10 rating on online platforms. The shuttle is repeatedly mentioned as a valuable facility, although its usefulness depends on understanding that the final walk can be substantial. Cinnamon Restaurant and its manager have also received positive mentions for service.

The recurring frustrations are check-in delays and shuttle timing at peak periods. Some guests have also mentioned occasional missed dusting, despite housekeeping generally being well regarded. None of these issues is unusual for a hotel of this size during busy pilgrimage periods, but they are worth preparing for. Arrive with your booking details easy to reach, keep patience at reception and report housekeeping problems early rather than waiting until departure.

Who should choose Novotel Makkah Thakher City?

This hotel makes most sense for pilgrims who value modern rooms, family facilities and a quieter base more than immediate walking access to Masjid al-Haram. It can offer better value than central 5-star properties, and the dining choices are useful for longer stays. Families with children may appreciate the room options and children’s dining policy.

It is less suitable for anyone who wants to walk out of the lobby and be at the Haram gates within minutes. Elderly guests, wheelchair users and families with babies should judge the shuttle transfer and 15- to 25-minute onward walk honestly. Staff members including Mohammed Sherif and Fatma Zaid have been praised for professional service, but good staff cannot remove the location trade-off.

Our practical verdict

Novotel Makkah Thakher City is a sensible Umrah base if you are happy to plan around transport. Its 24-hour shuttle, modern accommodation, prayer facilities and varied food make it workable for families, while the Thakher City setting offers some distance from the central bustle.

Book it for space, facilities and relative value, not because the map makes the Haram appear close. If those priorities match your group, you can check options through hotels near Masjid al-Haram. Whatever booking route you use, confirm the room arrangement, meal plan, cancellation terms and current shuttle details before travelling.

Questions pilgrims ask before staying

1. How far is Novotel Makkah Thakher City from Masjid al-Haram?

The hotel is approximately 2.7 km from Masjid al-Haram. The road journey usually takes around 10 to 15 minutes when traffic allows, but you must also include shuttle waiting time and the walk from the drop-off point.

2. Does the hotel provide a free Haram shuttle?

Yes. The free shuttle operates 24 hours a day and is scheduled every 30 minutes. From the usual drop-off area, guests may need another 15–25 minutes on foot to reach the main mosque gates.

3. Is it suitable for families with children?

Yes, particularly for families wanting larger, modern accommodation. Children under 11 stay and eat free when sharing with their parents. Cots, suites and connecting rooms are offered, although connecting rooms must be requested and remain subject to availability.

4. What food is available inside the hotel?

The hotel has three restaurants:

• Cinnamon Restaurant serves Indian cuisine.
• Wok Noodles serves Asian food with live cooking stations.
• Aklart Restaurant offers Arabic specialities.

The French Café serves coffee, tea and pastries. Breakfast includes several international, halal and vegetarian choices, with meal arrangements changing for Suhoor and Iftar during Ramadan.

5. Is Novotel Makkah Thakher City a good Umrah hotel?

Yes, for pilgrims who prefer a newer hotel outside the busiest central streets and do not mind relying on transport. Those with limited mobility should consider the onward walk carefully. If being beside the Haram is the main priority, a more central hotel may be worth the extra cost.

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