What to remember in three lines
- First visit of two to four days: a riad in the medina, on the Jemaa el-Fna, Mouassine or Riad Zitoun side.
- Traveling by car, a long stay or summer heat: a hotel in Gueliz or the Hivernage, and one night in a riad to get a taste of the medina.
- In every case, ask your lodging for the exact drop-off point and for someone to meet you.
The three good bases to start from
Around Jemaa el-Fna: the most practical
The area around Jemaa el-Fna square is the most central: souks, restaurants, the Koutoubia Mosque and taxis are close by. The price to pay is late-night activity and lanes where scooters and tourists pass. Look for a riad at the end of a dead-end lane, not on the main street.
Riad Zitoun: between the square and the palaces
The Riad Zitoun streets lead from the square to the Bahia Palace: this is the lively south of the medina, good if you want to visit the palaces, the Saadian Tombs and the Mellah on foot. See the Riad Zitoun page. It is noisier in the evening than the north; the dead-end lanes stay quiet.
Mouassine: the best compromise
To the north-west of the square, Mouassine and its lanes are home to many charming riads, cafés and designer boutiques. Quieter in the evening than the immediate surroundings of the square, it is still ten minutes' walk from Jemaa el-Fna. See our Mouassine guide.
When to prefer the new town
Gueliz suits you if you arrive by train (the station is on the edge of Gueliz and the Hivernage), if you rent a car or if you prefer wide streets, restaurants and a standard hotel. The medina is ten minutes away by taxi. The Hivernage has the big hotels with pools, useful in summer when the afternoon is too hot to walk. The two areas are detailed in Gueliz and Hivernage.
Riad or hotel for a first stay
A riad gives you the atmosphere of the medina, breakfast served in the patio and staff who organize taxis, excursions and dinners. In return: steep stairs, rooms with no street view, and a walk from the medina gate. A hotel in the new town gives a big pool, an elevator and parking. For three nights or fewer, the riad is the closest thing to the idea people have of Marrakech; beyond a week, or with a stroller, the hotel is more comfortable.
Arriving: airport, station and drop-off
- From the airport: the ride to Jemaa el-Fna takes 15 to 25 minutes. Taxis, bus 19 and transfers are detailed in Marrakech-Menara airport to the center.
- From the station: it is in Gueliz. A petit taxi takes you to the medina gate nearest your riad; see train and bus from Marrakech.
- At the gate: no taxi enters the lanes. Ask the riad for the drop-off point and message them before you arrive.
How long, what budget
For two or three nights, a single lodging is enough. Beyond that, you can split the stay between a riad and a hotel. Prices vary a lot with the season (high in March-May and at the end of the year); we give no range here for lack of an official rate: compare several platforms and read recent reviews. To price the whole trip, see the budget for a trip to Marrakech.
First-visit mistakes
- Booking outside the medina without planning for a taxi every time you go out.
- Choosing a riad without reading the reviews on access and noise.
- Following a stranger who offers to "take you" to the address.
- Forgetting the tourist tax, often paid on site.
- Underestimating the heat: from June to September, a room without air conditioning is hard.
Going further
Once you have chosen your area, plan your days with Marrakech in 3 days and take a break at Lalla Hasna Park, near the Koutoubia. To find your bearings on arrival, read the Marrakech medina guide and the scams to avoid.
