If you want to visit Morocco, one of the essential cities to visit is Marrakech. If you are going to visit this city, you should know in advance what are the best areas to stay in Marrakech and the different accommodation alternatives that the city offers to make your stay a success.
Marrakech is one of the imperial cities of Morocco, something that can be seen in the amount of monuments that are concentrated in its streets. The Medina, its historic center, was declared a World Heritage Site by Unesco, a sufficient reason for the trip to this city to be an experience.
Do not forget that the city, characterized by its traditional red buildings, is a few kilometers from the desert and the Atlas. Thus, its natural surroundings complement the charm of such special places as the Ben Youssef madrasa or the Kutubia mosque to create the perfect space for a pleasant stay.
The best areas to stay in Marrakech
If we had to advise on what are the best areas to sleep in Marrakech we would say that they are the Medina and its surroundings, and the modern neighborhoods of Hivernage and Guéliz. In addition to these there are other very interesting ones.
There are many travelers who reach the streets of Marrakech looking for the tradition of the area even in accommodation. Thus, areas like Medina are highly valued for this and for concentrating a large part of the city’s monuments.
However, many others prefer the luxury and exclusivity of hotels that are concentrated in districts such as Hivernage. But there are many more areas where traditional and western accommodations are not lacking, all accompanied by different cultural and leisure offers.
Thus, there is nothing wrong knowing about the neighborhoods of Marrakech in which are the best accommodation options to enjoy the stay in the city.
Medina
We begin the list of the best areas to stay in Marrakech through the very heart of this ancient city. Medina is delimited by old red bastions that enclose a network of squares and alleys considered as a World Heritage Site since 1985.
It is the historical area of the city and the one that concentrates the mosques, museums and other places of interest that you should not miss in any way. The Ben Youssef Madrasa, the Marrakech Museum, the busy Jemaa El Fna square or the traditional souks of the city are places that are just a step away from the main hotel establishments in Medina.
As for these, the reality is that due to the peculiarities of the area and the conservation of historic buildings, many of the accommodations take the form of traditional riads.
With more or less luxury or more or less services and charm in the decoration, the riads of Medina in general allow you to stay comfortably practically in any of its main streets. On the other hand it is not difficult to find a convenient option regardless of the time of the year in which you are looking to enjoy the oldest and most traditional area of Marrakech.
In addition, Medina is also the place where much of the city’s nightlife is concentrated. Especially striking is the atmosphere that is breathed in Jemaa El Fna square when the sun sets. Food stalls, traditional shows and large restaurants with panoramic terraces guarantee a very entertaining evening.
Accommodations in Medina
Kasbah
This popular neighborhood is still within the walled area that constitutes the Medina, so its layout is quite similar to those found around Jemaa El Fna square.
However, Kasbah occupies the southern part of the historical complex of the oldest Marrakech, something that makes this district have more accessible and comfortable communications.
Kasbah is characterized by the many outdoor markets that meet in its streets. The color, smell and flavors are combined with hotel accommodations in which traditional riads continue to predominate. Its great offer allows for options for all budgets and tastes.
Any riad can guarantee the comfort of its guests with an average price range that will become high if different services such as a swimming pool are added to the building.
In Kasbah there are no shortage of tourist attractions. The neighborhood mosque or Saadian Tombs are spaces capable of fascinating anyone who decides to stop at them. Here there is also a good amount of traditional restaurants where you can enjoy traditional Moroccan food, although at night the area is quieter and less bustling than Medina.
Kasbah Hotels
Mellah
The old Jewish quarter of Marrakech is another area that is inside the walls that make up the ancient city. As with the previous options, in Mellah there is a wide range of riads of all types that will allow anyone to find the perfect option for the budget of their trip.
Within the limits of the neighborhood there are places as interesting as the old Jewish cemetery, the spice souk or the synagogues of Negidim and Alzama, spaces that will delight any traveler who chooses this area to stay in Marrakech.
Mellah is a quiet place and close to all corners of the city. It is only 15 minutes walk from the Jemaa El Fna square and the other monuments that shape the oldest area of the city. Staying in Marrakech in this neighborhood is a perfect option for those looking for proximity to the main monuments and a quiet area to rest.
Hotels in Mellah
Hivernage
This is one of the neighborhoods that best demonstrates how Marrakech has become a universal city capable of attracting visitors from anywhere in the world. Hivernage is located in the western area on the outskirts of the ancient city. The time to reach Jemaa El Fna square on foot is about 30 minutes although there are many taxis in the area that can easily travel.
Staying at Hivernage is an ideal option for those seeking modernity and extra comfort and luxury. Quite five-star hotels with facilities full of amenities meet in the area. The neighborhood is also full of local and international restaurants in which the gastronomic experience is top notch.
Places such as the Opera House or the Congress Palace have found their new location in Hivernage, all to turn this area into one of the most vibrant and modern in today’s Marrakech.
Accommodations in Hivernage
Guéliz
Gueliz is another of the modern neighborhoods of the city and a success to stay in Marrakech. Here the accommodation neglects the traditional riads to focus on luxury western-style hotels.
Many of the five-star resorts and hotels that are looking for the most demanding travelers who come to Marrakech are here, so the price range of the establishments is quite high.
The area was plotted in the 30s of the last century. It is modern, wide and remembers in every way any European capital that is worth its salt. Another attraction of the area is the amount of shops that are in its streets.
Restaurants of all kinds, discos and other night establishments also meet in the streets of Guéliz. Its atmosphere is very lively, since it is a place where many of the local inhabitants go to do their shopping or, simply, to enjoy the gastronomic pleasures that guarantee their excellent restaurants.
Hotels in Guéliz
Palmeraie
This area is already on the outskirts of the city. To get to the places of interest concentrated in the historical area of Marrakech it is advisable to request the services of a taxi or ask at the hotel for the transfer to the city.
The quality of Palmeraie hotels is unquestionable. Large resorts, luxury hotels and other similar options have made this area one of the most sought after by wealthy people and with comfortable budgets from anywhere in the world both to reside and to enjoy a very quiet getaway.
The neighborhood is an old oasis that has remained green thanks to the presence of an irrigation system designed in the twelfth century and that over the years has become synonymous with exclusivity and luxury.
If your budget can afford it and you do not mind dispensing with being in the center of the city in exchange for a very special environment, it is an option to stay in Marrakech.
Palmeraie Hotels
Agdal
The Agdal neighborhood extends around Mohamed VI Avenue, one of the main arteries of the modern city of Marrakech. Undoubtedly, the charm of the neighborhood is given by the well-known Gardens of Agdal, an area considered a World Heritage Site that was used by former dignitaries to receive foreign personalities.
Agdal is also a place full of accommodation options that are based on luxury and exclusivity. Its large hotels attract thousands of travelers every year. In them you can enjoy everything that a western five star can offer, making it a perfect place for those who arrive looking for the greatest comfort.
For its part, some of the best nightclubs and nightlife venues in Marrakech are located in Agdal. See for example the Pacha nightclub. Large shopping centers and a good number of stores of renowned brands are also protagonists of this neighborhood.
Hotels in Agdal
Acommodations in Marrakech
In short, finding good accommodation in Marrakech is simple thanks to the many options that exist. From the great resorts of the periphery to the traditional riads of Medina, this city can be enjoyed in many different ways.
Marrakech is a city in which the narrow and variegated urban layout of the old areas of the Medina, a neighborhood full of exoticism and interest for the visitor, are combined with modernity that is breathed in other districts such as Hivernage.
The climate of the city becomes especially hot during the months of July and August, something that makes visitors usually decide to explore the streets of Marrakech in times with milder temperatures. The autumn and spring months guarantee more pleasant temperatures, so they have become the ones with the highest demand when traveling to Marrakech.
As with any western tourist city, Marrakech has a variety of hotel establishments capable of adapting to the needs of any traveler. In this Moroccan city it is possible to find luxury hotels of international style in places like Hivernage or Palmeraie, places located around the historic neighborhoods of the town.
But local tradition has also made its way in terms of accommodation. Next to the western-style hotels, Marrakech has a wide range of the well-known riads, small buildings especially located in the historic areas of neighborhoods like La Medina with few rooms and a very authentic traditional decoration.
These accommodations have used traditional buildings to create spaces full of charm that usually have a central patio and a terrace area. Staying in Marrakech in a riad is a very authentic and highly recommended experience.
Accommodations in Marrakech