Hotels in Marrakech

Staying in Marrakech

Marrakech is familiar ground for Moroccan travellers: a weekend for two, a family holiday, a trip with friends or a business stay. The city reads as two worlds. On one side, the medina with its lanes, souks and riads built around a courtyard; on the other, the new town of Guéliz and Hivernage, with wide avenues, cafés and large hotels. Further out, the Palmeraie and the roads leading out of town are home to resorts with gardens and big pools, designed for rest more than for evenings in the city.

The city can be visited all year, but summer is very hot and school holidays, religious festivals and long weekends fill the most sought-after addresses quickly, so book early for those dates. Many families drive in from Casablanca, Rabat or Agadir, or take the train to the station in Guéliz; Marrakech-Menara airport is served by taxis. How you arrive, whether you travel with children or older parents, and what you plan to do on the spot should guide your choice of area at least as much as your budget.

Where to stay in Marrakech

• The medina

  Riads and guesthouses built around a courtyard, a short walk from the souks and Jemaa el-Fna square. The charm is real, but your car stays in a car park at the edge of the medina, staircases are narrow and there is usually no lift.

• Guéliz

  The new town: avenues, cafés, shops and hotels you can drive right up to, with a lift and often a proper pool. The practical choice for a business trip or a group booking several rooms.

• Hivernage

  Quiet, tree-lined streets between Guéliz and the city walls, with larger hotels and gardens. The Koutoubia and the medina are reachable on foot or by a short taxi ride, while you keep car access to the door.

• The Palmeraie and the outskirts

  Resorts with gardens, large pools and sometimes several restaurants, along the roads to Fez, the Ourika valley or Amizmiz. Ideal for resting, provided you have a car or a shuttle for every trip into town.

Good to know before you book

• For a riad, check the exact part of the medina, the nearest car park and whether someone meets you on arrival; the courtyard basin is often a plunge pool for cooling off, not a pool for swimming.
• In summer, air conditioning and a pool are not a detail. On a Guéliz avenue, ask for a room facing the courtyard or the pool for a quiet night.
• With children or older parents, favour family or connecting rooms, a lift and, for a resort on the outskirts, a shuttle service to the centre.

Questions about Marrakech

Frequently asked questions