Taif ziyarat is a half day or full day trip from Makkah to the places linked to the Prophet’s visit to Taif. The city sits about 90 km away and the drive takes roughly one to one and a half hours each way.
Here’s the thing though. Most guides list the places and stop there. They skip the road, the timing and the sites that are much further out than they look on a map.
Our drivers take pilgrims to Taif every week, so we know which stops fit into one morning. This guide covers the holy places to visit in Taif, the distances and the plan. Whether you call it Makkah Taif ziyarat or a Taif tour from Makkah, the plan is the same. Distances come from several sources and change with your route, so treat them as close estimates.
Taif Ziyarat Places List: The Quick View
Taif ziyarat means visiting the sites tied to the Prophet’s trip to Taif and the companions buried there. Most visitors do the city sites plus Al Hada in four to six hours. Banu Saad and Qarn al Manazil need extra time.
| Place | What it is | Time to allow | Where |
|---|---|---|---|
| Masjid Addas | Grape garden where the Prophet sheltered after Taif rejected him | 15 to 20 minutes | Old city |
| Abdullah ibn Abbas Mosque | Mosque beside the tomb of the Prophet’s cousin and great scholar | 20 to 30 minutes | Central Taif |
| Al Kou Mosque | Tradition of the Prophet resting here after the stoning | 10 to 15 minutes | Near the old city |
| Al Madhoun Mosque | Ottoman era mosque tied to the return journey | 15 to 20 minutes | Near the old city |
| Al Hada and cable car | Mountain viewpoint and the long cable car ride | 20 to 30 minutes at the top | About 20 to 30 km from Taif |
| Shubra Palace and Taif Museum | Early 1900s palace and local history | 30 to 45 minutes | Central Taif |
| Qarn al Manazil | Miqat for pilgrims coming from Najd | 20 to 30 minutes | About 35 to 40 km north of Taif |
| Banu Saad | Area linked to Halima Sadia, the Prophet’s foster mother | 30 to 45 minutes | About 74 to 80 km from Taif |
| Taif rose farms | Seasonal farms, usually March and April | 30 to 60 minutes | Outskirts of Taif |
| Muawiya Dam | Early Islamic dam with an old stone inscription | 20 to 30 minutes | Outside the city |
Times are typical visit lengths, not including the drive. Distances are approximate and change with your route.
Taif Ziyarat From Makkah: Distance, Road and Timing
Taif ziyarat from Makkah starts on the Al Hada road, a mountain route with a long climb and many bends. The distance is about 90 km, and sources range from 87 to 95 km depending on where you start. The distance Makkah to Taif on Google Maps is also about 90 km.
The Al Hada Road and Fog
The climb is roughly 21 km long and gains about 2,000 metres. It is a proper highway, but it is steep and the weather can change fast near the top.
Fog or heavy rain sometimes closes the road. Traffic then moves to the older As Sayl road, and that adds about 45 minutes. Look, I’ll be straight with you. If you book a driver who has never done this road in bad weather, you will feel it.
Best Time of Day
Leave Makkah after Fajr. You arrive when the sites are quiet, the air is cooler and you can finish before the afternoon heat. Taif is cooler than Makkah, but midday sun still tires older visitors.
A Half Day Plan in Order
Here is a sensible order for four to six hours. Drive up the Al Hada road, stop at Al Hada for the view, then go into the city. Visit Masjid Addas, Al Kou Mosque and Al Madhoun Mosque, finish at Abdullah ibn Abbas Mosque, and head back before midday.
Taif Ziyarat Places and Names
This is the Taif ziyarat list, or the list of ziyarat in Taif, with what each place is and what to expect. Each Taif ziyarat name below is a separate stop. You may also see the trip called ziyarat in Taif, ziyarat in Taif Saudi Arabia, ziyarat places in Taif, ziyarat Taif, Taif ki ziyarat, Taif ki ziyarat list, Taif ki ziyarat places, Taif ziarat, ziarat in Taif, ziarat places in Taif or ziarah Taif. They all mean the same visit. How many ziyarat in Taif? The list below has ten stops, and most visitors do four or five in a day. We note where stories are tradition and not settled fact.
1. Masjid Addas and the Taif Grapes Garden
According to the seerah, the Prophet (peace be upon him) went to Taif to invite its leaders to Islam. They rejected him and sent people to throw stones at him. He then sheltered in a garden, where a young man named Addas brought him grapes.
Many people look for the grapes garden in Taif or the grape garden Taif, and this is the story behind both. The mosque marks the area. The garden has changed over the centuries, so go for the story and not for an exact spot. Allow about 15 to 20 minutes.
2. Abdullah ibn Abbas Mosque
This is the best known mosque in the city. Abdullah ibn Abbas was the Prophet’s cousin and one of the great scholars of the Quran. He died in Taif, and his tomb lies beside the mosque.
Several Companions who were martyred at Hunayn are also buried nearby, according to scholars. Allow 20 to 30 minutes. Dress modestly and keep your voice low.
3. Al Kou Mosque
The name means elbow. Tradition says the Prophet leaned on a stone here to rest after the stoning. People search for this as the Taif stone Prophet location.
Treat it as local tradition. A short stop of 10 to 15 minutes is enough.
4. Al Madhoun Mosque
Also called Al Qantara Mosque or Masjid Ali. Pilgrims also search for it as Masjid Ali bin Abi Taalib Taif zyarat. It dates to the Ottoman era and is linked in local accounts to the Prophet’s return journey. It sits close to the old city, so it fits easily between other stops.
5. Al Hada and the Cable Car
Al Hada is about 20 to 30 km from Taif city and gives wide views over the mountains. The cable car runs about four kilometres from the top down to Al Kar, and a ride takes around 15 to 20 minutes each way.
It is not a ziyarat site in the strict sense. Many families add it because it makes the day easier for children and elderly parents.
6. Shubra Palace and Taif Museum
Shubra Palace is an early 1900s building in central Taif. It now holds exhibits on the city’s history. Opening hours change, so check before you go. Allow 30 to 45 minutes.
7. Qarn al Manazil Miqat
This is the miqat for people coming from Najd. The Prophet (peace be upon him) fixed it, as reported in Sahih al Bukhari 1524. It lies about 35 to 40 km north of Taif and 58 to 100 km from Makkah, depending on the source and route. If you are searching for the Taif miqat distance from my location, use those two figures as your guide.
Visit it if you are travelling from that direction or want to see where pilgrims enter ihram. It is not on the way for most half day trips.
8. Banu Saad Ziyarat
Banu Saad is the area linked to Halima Sadia, the Prophet’s foster mother. The Taif to Bani Saad distance is about 74 to 80 km, roughly 1 hour 5 minutes to 1 hour 10 minutes, on the road south of the city. The Makkah to Bani Saad distance is about 162 km, roughly 2 hours 15 minutes, by the route that passes Al Hada. These figures come from Google Maps and change with traffic. The exact house is presumed, not proven, and some reports say Saudi heritage officials do not confirm it.
Be honest with yourself about time. This stop alone adds a long drive each way, so it suits a full day.
9. Taif Rose Farms
Taif is known for its roses, usually in bloom in March and April. Farms and small factories make rose water and oil. Outside that season there is little to see, so skip it unless you travel in spring.
10. Muawiya Dam
An early Islamic dam outside the city with an old stone inscription. It is a short stop for history lovers and not a core ziyarat site.
Taif Ziyarat Location: How the Sites Fit Together
The city sites sit close together, usually 2 to 5 km apart, so you can see four or five in one morning. Al Hada lies on the road up from Makkah, which makes it a natural first stop.
Qarn al Manazil and Banu Saad are in other directions and far from the centre. Choose either one, not both, unless you have a full day and a rested group.
Looking for Islamic places to visit in Taif? Start with Masjid Addas and Abdullah ibn Abbas Mosque. Among the historical places in Taif, Shubra Palace is the easiest to add, and historical places to visit in Taif are mostly a few kilometres apart. Taif Islamic historical places also include Qarn al Manazil, though it lies far from the centre. Taif history in Islam centres on the visit of the Prophet, so every stop on this list of Taif historical places and Taif Islamic places connects back to it, and the Islamic historical places in Taif are easy to reach by car.
Taif by Private Taxi or Bus
A Taif ziyarat bus service can take you to Taif city, but it will not take you between the ziyarat sites, which are spread out. A Makkah to Taif ziyarat taxi avoids that problem. For a family or a group, a private car with one driver saves a lot of waiting.
Our Makkah to Taif ziyarat price is SAR 350 to SAR 800 per vehicle. The price depends on the car and your route. A Camry or Sonata seats four, a Hyundai Staria seats seven, a Toyota Hiace seats ten, a GMC Yukon XL seats seven and a Toyota Coaster seats sixteen.
- Fixed fare agreed on WhatsApp before you travel
- Nusuk registered vehicles
- No cancellation or no show fees
- Driver details shared 24 hours before pickup
- Booking and support 24/7
Coming from the coast instead? See our Jeddah to Taif taxi page and our Jeddah to Taif distance guide. If you are still deciding how to reach Makkah first, read the Jeddah to Makkah transport guide.
Before You Go
A few simple things make the day easier.
- Wear modest clothes and comfortable shoes, and carry water.
- Bring a light jacket, because the mountains are cooler than Makkah.
- Check prayer times, because Fridays get busy at the mosques.
- Do not feed the baboons you may see on the Al Hada road.
- Keep cash for small purchases.
If you are also planning other holy sites, see our top Makkah ziyarat places guide, and our best time to perform Umrah guide for crowds and seasons.
Taif Ziyarat FAQs
How far is Taif from Makkah?
Taif is about 90 km from Makkah by road. The drive usually takes one to one and a half hours, depending on traffic and the mountain road. Distances vary a little with your hotel and the route you take.
How long does a Taif ziyarat take?
Most visitors need four to six hours for the main sites, including the drive from Makkah. Adding Banu Saad or Qarn al Manazil turns it into a full day. Plan an early start so you finish before dark.
Which ziyarat places are in Taif?
The main places are Masjid Addas, Abdullah ibn Abbas Mosque, Al Kou Mosque, Al Madhoun Mosque and Al Hada. Longer trips add Qarn al Manazil, Banu Saad, Shubra Palace and the seasonal rose farms. Pick by the time you have.
Where is the Prophet’s stone in Taif?
Tradition places it at Al Kou Mosque, also called the elbow mosque. People say the Prophet rested there after the stoning. Scholars treat this as local tradition, so visit to remember the story and not to seek blessing from the stone.
How much does a Taif ziyarat taxi cost from Makkah?
Our fare for this trip is SAR 350 to SAR 800 per vehicle. The price depends on the car and the sites you choose. The fare covers the whole vehicle, not each person, so larger groups share the cost.
What is the best time to visit Taif?
Early morning is best, because the sites are quieter and cooler. October to March usually brings pleasant weather. Fridays get busy around the mosques at prayer time, so many visitors choose another weekday. Check the weather before you book.
Is the Al Hada road safe?
Yes, it is a dual road, but it is steep with many bends. Fog or heavy rain can close it, and traffic then uses the older As Sayl road, which adds about 45 minutes. Drivers check conditions before leaving.
Can I do Taif ziyarat in one day from Makkah?
Yes. Most people leave Makkah after Fajr, visit the city sites and Al Hada, and return by afternoon. Banu Saad adds a long drive, so decide before you set out whether you want it. Tell your driver the plan in advance.
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