Entry to Mecca is restricted to Muslims. All roads into the city have checkpoints where non-Muslims are turned back; attempting to enter without the right to do so carries serious legal consequences under Saudi law.
For Muslim pilgrims, the nearest international airport is King Abdulaziz International Airport in Jeddah, about 80 kilometres west. A high-speed rail link (the Haramain High Speed Railway) connects Jeddah's airport directly to Mecca and Medina — the journey from the airport to Mecca takes under 30 minutes. Buses and taxis from Jeddah are also available; the road journey takes roughly an hour depending on traffic, which is extreme during Hajj.
Hajj is only permitted at designated times (the Islamic month of Dhul Hijjah) and requires a specific Hajj visa. Pilgrims must apply through their national Hajj quota, allocated to each Muslim-majority country and diaspora community. Umrah can be performed year-round; Umrah visas are now available online through the Saudi e-visa system and can be extended for tourism throughout the country.