Where to stay in Marrakech?

Authentic Marrakech: Jemaa el-Fnaa and its surroundings

The Medina is truly Marrakech's most authentic staying area. It's the heart of the city, traditional and unmissable.

Highly touristy, this is where you'll find most of the monuments and other places of interest. It's impossible to come to Marrakech without passing through the hustle and bustle of Jemaa el-Fnaa Square or the famous Koutoubia. So it's only logical to look for a place to stay during your stay.

Stroll through the souks, where you'll discover small, touristy craft shops where you have to bargain. We love getting lost in this labyrinth of lively little streets, which give us the impression of being rediscovered each time we return. You can only get around on foot. However, the locals handle their scooters with dexterity, zigzagging between travellers. As you wend your way through the streets, you pass riads, palaces and mosques such as Ben Youssef, one of Marrakech's oldest.

It's pleasant to relax in one of the many cafés and restaurants in the area. Some even have terraces offering lovely views. It's also possible to experience a sunset over the Koutoubia, as is the case from the rooftops of the cafés lining the Place Jemaa el Fna.

It also boasts an ideal, central location. It's easy to reach on foot. And if you want to take a cab in the vicinity, you can easily find one on Avenue Mohamed V, just a stone's throw away. Note, in this case, that all points of interest can be reached in around ten minutes.

It's a perfect neighborhood if you're looking for typical accommodation. Choosing to stay in this area means choosing one of its many riads. There are also a few hotels in the surrounding area, but not in the medina itself.

Staying in Bab doukkala: the northern Medina

Bab Doukkala is the district to the northwest of the Medina. From outside the walls, you enter through the pretty gate that gives it its name.

A little further away from the tourists, it's a more authentic corner of the old town. It's pleasant to stroll through its narrow streets. The atmosphere is popular, with fruit and vegetable vendors, butcher's shops and small businesses where mainly locals congregate.

There are no museums to visit here. However, as you wander around, you'll inevitably come across the Bab Doukkala mosque. In the old town, you can get around on foot. The Koutoubia and Place Jemaa el-Fnaa are easily reached by crossing the lively surrounding streets, a walk of around 15 minutes.

If you want to get around and visit places of interest further afield, it's very quick to take a cab to the north-west from the Place de Bab Doukkala, or to the south, closer to the Avenue Mohamed V.

The majority of accommodation here is in riads. There are many to choose from, to suit all budgets. Some are hard to find in this labyrinth of alleyways. But you're guaranteed an authentic, typical Moroccan establishment. As you can see, this area is less touristy than the heart of the medina, but still has its own charm. It's also a good place to find some beautiful riads.

Accommodation in the Kasbah

Located to the south of Marrakech's historic center, it is the oldest part of the medina. The area is also home to the king's palace. In fact, it still occupies a large part of the Kasbah.

Despite its proximity to the Place Jemaa el-Fnaa, which can be reached in around 15 minutes on foot, the atmosphere is calmer and less touristy than in the center of the old town. The district is culturally rich and boasts many places of interest, such as the El Badiî Palace, the Saadian Tombs and the magnificent Bahia Palace nearby.

Apart from a few cafés and restaurants, notably near the pretty Moulay el Yazid mosque, staying in the Kasbah means staying in a small labyrinth of quiet streets.

Unlike the rest of the Medina, there are only a few streets where cars are allowed. So it's as easy to get here as it is to get to Marrakech's other districts. If you need a cab quickly, just go to rue Ibn Rochd or next to the sublime Bab Agnaou gate.

Accommodation in the Kasbah consists mainly of riads and guesthouses, to suit all budgets. However, the Kasbah's good location, tranquil atmosphere and relatively limited range of accommodation make it a popular place to stay.

L'Hivernage: to stay in a large hotel close to the center

Located southwest of the Medina, in the direction of the airport, Hivernage is a secluded area to stay in Marrakech. By way of indication, the Koutoubia and Place Jemaa el-Fnaa are just a ten-minute cab ride away.

Here, the wide avenues are lined with palm trees and the atmosphere is calm. To the south-west, the Jardins de la Ménara juxtapose the entire district. Surrounded by contemporary architecture, this district is home to a number of residences and offices, as well as modern, sometimes luxurious hotel complexes. To the west of Hivernage, a new area called M Avenue is developing. This long shopping promenade features luxury boutiques, international brands, restaurants and hotels. Exclusive surroundings in the making, the model is copied from that of the emirates.

In terms of accommodation, this is where you'll find mainly luxury establishments. Most of them are large chains. Most are equipped with swimming pools, spas, restaurants, bars, etc...

So we come here to enjoy this type of accommodation, while being relatively “close” to the medina, just a few minutes away by cab. At least, much closer than if you choose to stay in the Palmeraie. Travellers on a road trip to Morocco can also park easily in the hotels in this district during their stopover of a few days in Marrakech.

Le Gueliz: staying in the new center

Located northwest of the old town, Guéliz is Marrakech's “new center”. It's a recent district, born under the French protectorate at the beginning of the 20th century. Today, it's mainly middle-class, with many offices. Nearby, there are a number of places of interest, including the Jardin Majorelle and the Yves Saint Laurent Museum.

To stay in the area is to stay in a modern district where Western influences are present. You'll find boutiques and shopping malls. But also international restaurants, fast-food outlets and cafés.

Guéliz is easy to get to, thanks to its main thoroughfare. In less than 10 minutes, and for around 30 Dirham, you'll have access to the rest of the city.

Accommodation is plentiful, especially hotels. With its wide streets and buildings, this is a far cry from the authenticity of the Medina. That's something to bear in mind. But if you're on a tight budget, there are some good, affordable places to stay in Marrakech that are close to the center, even on foot.

Relax in the Palmeraie

The Palmeraie is located some ten kilometers northeast of Marrakech. Approximately 15,000 hectares in size, its name derives from its abundance of palm trees. In recent years, resort hotels have sprung up in the area, catering for tourists in search of relaxation and warmth.

Because of its location, clearly away from Marrakech, staying in the Palmeraie means choosing a hotel and devoting most of your stay to it. Even if it is possible to take part in a few “tourist” activities (camel rides, quad biking, golf, etc.), the main interest here is to stay in your hotel and relax. People come here for relaxation, swimming and rest.

The resorts in the Palmeraie vary in size. People come here mainly to recharge their batteries and enjoy the climate. The majority of travelers who come to stay in the Palmeraie have already been to Marrakech, or are not interested in discovering its cultural riches.

Even if it is possible to be dropped off in town, by cab or via a shuttle service offered by the hotel, in principle there is little movement. With a few exceptions (excursions or one-off outings to enjoy the medina). For your information, a cab ride costs around 150 dhr, well negotiated.

There are many establishments in the Palmeraie, some of them luxurious, many of them resort-style. In all cases, you can find a room to suit your budget.

Staying near the Marrakech train station: a good idea?

On the north-western edge of Guéliz, Marrakech's train station combines modern design with traditional Moroccan style. It lies at the intersection of two major thoroughfares: Avenue Hassan II and the northern end of Boulevard Mohamed IV. Its location gives it a real practical edge, with easy access.

Despite its remoteness from the rest of the world, accommodation in Marrakech in the vicinity of the train station has a number of advantages. In fact, if you're traveling around Morocco by train or bus, this location is ideal for exploring the rest of the country. ONCF train and bus stations are located side by side. Apart from that, and apart from the fact that some of the accommodation is very cheap, the area is poorly located and not very pleasant:

• it's clearly off-center , so you have to take a cab every time you want to get to a point of interest in the city
• the neighborhood is not pleasant: the surrounding area is a succession of major thoroughfares.

Even if it takes ten minutes and a few Dirhams to reach the center by cab, these repeated comings and goings don't make for an easy stay. Staying there one night, if you need to catch a train or bus early the next morning, can be practical. Other than that, avoid.