Clock Tower Museum

It's the one place in Makkah where you stand above the Haram and take in the full scale of it - the Mataf, the expansions and the ring of mountains beyond, with the Kaaba directly below you. For anyone who has only ever seen the Haram from ground level, the view from the top is unforgettable.

Getting there:

• The museum is inside the Clock Tower Shopping Mall (Abraj Al Bait)
• Buy tickets at the ticket counter on the ground floor of the mall, then take the lifts up

Tickets:

• Standard admission: 150 SAR per person
• VIP (fast-track, skip the queue): 300 SAR per person
• Groups of 10 or more: 1,350 SAR total (10% off standard)

What to expect:

• A short introduction screening (in Arabic) on arrival
• The ride up through the tower to the viewing deck
• A birds-eye view straight down over the Kaaba and the Haram from one of the tallest buildings in the world

Best time to visit:

• Late afternoon into sunset for the best light over the Haram
• Quieter outside the main prayer times

Duration: Allow 1-2 hours including the queue, the screening and time on the deck.

• Tickets are bought on site at the ground-floor counter - the VIP ticket mainly saves you the queue
• Family-friendly and suitable for children
• Confirm the day's opening hours at the ticket desk, as they can shift around prayer times and peak seasons