Where to stay · Marrakech · Morocco
Where to stay in Marrakech
6 neighbourhoods compared, with the trade-offs hotel listings don't tell you.
Updated By the AMZBooking editorial team
Photo: Wolfgang B, CC BY-SA 3.0
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Quick answer
For a first visit, stay in Medina (Jemaa el-Fnaa). Riads, souks and the main square inside the old city walls. Best alternatives — families: Hivernage; budget: Kasbah; nightlife: Gueliz.
Key facts
- First visit
- Medina (Jemaa el-Fnaa)
- Families
- Hivernage
- Budget
- Kasbah
- Nightlife
- Gueliz
Best area for each kind of trip
| Trip type | Area | Why |
|---|---|---|
| First-timers | Medina (Jemaa el-Fnaa) | Riads, souks and the main square inside the old city walls |
| Families | Hivernage | Resort hotels, pools and nightclubs between the medina and Gueliz |
| Couples | Medina (Jemaa el-Fnaa) | Riads, souks and the main square inside the old city walls |
| Budget | Kasbah | Royal quarter by the Saadian Tombs and El Badi Palace |
| Luxury | Mouassine | Calmer medina lanes with design shops and restored riads |
| Nightlife | Gueliz | French-built new town of cafés, galleries and modern hotels |
| Food lovers | Medina (Jemaa el-Fnaa) | Riads, souks and the main square inside the old city walls |
| Solo travellers | Gueliz | French-built new town of cafés, galleries and modern hotels |
| Shopping | Mouassine | Calmer medina lanes with design shops and restored riads |
| Quiet stays | Kasbah | Royal quarter by the Saadian Tombs and El Badi Palace |
Marrakech neighbourhoods in detail
$$ · Best for first-timers, couples, culture and food lovers
Medina (Jemaa el-Fnaa)
Most visitors stay in a riad inside the 12th-century walls, within ten minutes' walk of Jemaa el-Fnaa. Lanes such as Riad Zitoun el-Kedim and Riad Zitoun el-Jedid run south from the square towards the Bahia Palace, and the souks fan out to the north. Cars cannot reach most riads, so porters with carts meet guests at the nearest street.
- Good
- Walk to the main sights and souks; Atmospheric riads with roof terraces; Stays at every price
- Watch out
- Noisy, crowded lanes with scooters; Confusing to navigate, with touts offering unwanted help
- Nearby
- Jemaa el-Fnaa, Koutoubia Mosque, Bahia Palace, Souk Semmarine
$$$ · Best for couples, luxury, shopping and culture
Mouassine
West of the main souks, the Mouassine quarter centres on its 16th-century mosque and fountain, with Le Jardin Secret, concept stores and some of the medina's most stylish riads and rooftop restaurants. It is a few minutes from Jemaa el-Fnaa but noticeably calmer, and the Dar el Bacha palace museum is close by.
- Good
- Quieter lanes close to the souks; Design shops and good restaurants; Upscale riads
- Watch out
- Higher riad prices; Lanes are still busy and confusing by day
- Nearby
- Le Jardin Secret, Mouassine Fountain, Dar el Bacha, Souk Semmarine
$$ · Best for budget, culture and quiet stays
Kasbah
In the south of the medina, the Kasbah grew up around the royal palace and the Kasbah Mosque, next to the Saadian Tombs and a short walk from El Badi Palace and the Mellah. Its streets are a little wider and calmer than the souks, riads are often better value, and taxis can reach the Bab Agnaou gate.
- Good
- Calmer than the northern medina; Close to the southern palaces; Good-value riads
- Watch out
- A 15-minute walk to the souks; Fewer restaurants in the evening
- Nearby
- Saadian Tombs, El Badi Palace, Bab Agnaou, Mellah
$$ · Best for solo travellers, nightlife, shopping and budget
Gueliz
Laid out under the French protectorate in the early 20th century, Gueliz is Marrakech's modern centre, with Avenue Mohammed V, café terraces, art galleries, wine bars and supermarkets. Jardin Majorelle and the YSL Museum are on its edge, the train station is nearby, and the medina is a 20–30 minute walk or a short taxi ride away.
- Good
- Easy to navigate, with fewer touts; Bars and modern restaurants; Close to Majorelle and the station
- Watch out
- Less atmosphere than the medina; Taxi needed for the main medina sights
- Nearby
- Jardin Majorelle, Musée Yves Saint Laurent, Marrakech train station, Avenue Mohammed V
$$$ · Best for families, luxury and nightlife
Hivernage
Hivernage is a leafy district of large hotels with pools and gardens, nightclubs and restaurants, close to the Menara Gardens and the city's conference centre. It suits families and travellers who want space and a pool, with the Koutoubia and Jemaa el-Fnaa about 15–20 minutes away on foot.
- Good
- Hotels with pools and gardens; Short walk or taxi to the medina; Nightlife nearby
- Watch out
- Generic resort feel; Little traditional character
- Nearby
- Menara Gardens, Koutoubia Mosque, Jemaa el-Fnaa
$$$$ · Best for luxury, families and quiet stays
Palmeraie
The Palmeraie is a large oasis of date palms about 20–30 minutes by car north of the medina, where luxury resorts, golf courses and private villas sit among the trees. Camel and quad-bike rides run through the groves, and it suits travellers who want a calm resort stay with trips into town.
- Good
- Spacious resorts with big pools; Quiet and green; Good for families and groups
- Watch out
- Far from the medina without a car or shuttle; Resort bubble rather than city life
- Nearby
- Palm groves, Golf courses, Jardin Majorelle
Areas compared
| Area | Price | Nearby |
|---|---|---|
| Medina (Jemaa el-Fnaa) | $$ | Jemaa el-Fnaa, Koutoubia Mosque, Bahia Palace, Souk Semmarine |
| Mouassine | $$$ | Le Jardin Secret, Mouassine Fountain, Dar el Bacha, Souk Semmarine |
| Kasbah | $$ | Saadian Tombs, El Badi Palace, Bab Agnaou, Mellah |
| Gueliz | $$ | Jardin Majorelle, Musée Yves Saint Laurent, Marrakech train station, Avenue Mohammed V |
| Hivernage | $$$ | Menara Gardens, Koutoubia Mosque, Jemaa el-Fnaa |
| Palmeraie | $$$$ | Palm groves, Golf courses, Jardin Majorelle |
Getting to your hotel
Marrakech Menara (RAK) is about 6 km southwest of the medina. Taxis take about 15–20 minutes to Jemaa el-Fnaa or Gueliz — agree the fare at the rank first — and an airport bus runs to the medina and Gueliz. Many riads arrange a pickup, which helps because cars cannot reach most riad doors.
Questions travellers ask
+What is the best area to stay in Marrakech for first-time visitors?
Medina (Jemaa el-Fnaa). Most visitors stay in a riad inside the 12th-century walls, within ten minutes' walk of Jemaa el-Fnaa.
+Where should families stay in Marrakech?
Hivernage: Hotels with pools and gardens.
+Which area of Marrakech is best for a budget stay?
Kasbah ($$): Royal quarter by the Saadian Tombs and El Badi Palace.