In a nutshell
- Meknès is the smallest and least known of the four Royal Cities in Morocco — yet it’s one of the most rewarding places to visit in Morocco.
- In this article, we cover the top 9 things to do in Meknès. To see everything comfortably, one to two days is plenty.
- Our top hotel pick in Meknès is the Riad Yamcha — a beautiful, modern riad right in the heart of the Medina.
- Only have one day? You can also visit Meknès on a guided day trip from Fès.
Note: Since 2023, many sights in Meknès have been undergoing restoration and renovation. Construction sites pop up throughout the city and some attractions are temporarily closed. We don’t currently know how long the work will continue.
Our Top 9 Sights in Meknès on a Map
Before we walk you through our top 9 things to do in Meknès, we’ve marked them all on a map for you.
This gives you a great overview of where everything is in the city. And as you’ll see, all the highlights are pretty close together — meaning everything is within walking distance.
Meknès' Medina
What you need to know: In Morocco, the old city quarters are called medinas. Meknès’ Medina is incredibly lively — but unlike in Marrakech and Fès, you can stroll through it in a much more relaxed and undisturbed way, even during peak season and the best time to visit Morocco. Life in the narrow alleyways is genuinely traditional and authentic. The entire old city is a UNESCO World Heritage Site.
Is it worth it? Absolutely. The medina is where most of the action is. It’s home to the most beautiful places to stay, and almost all of Meknès’ other attractions are located here too. But honestly, simply wandering through Meknès’ Medina is already a highlight in itself on your Morocco vacation.
Place el Hedim
What you need to know: Place el Hedim is a large square on the edge of the Medina. Think of it as Meknès’ version of Djemaa el-Fna — the top highlight in Marrakech — just on a much smaller scale. During the day it’s pretty quiet, but in the evenings lots of Moroccans gather here to eat at the mobile food stalls or on the terraces of the surrounding restaurants. You’ll also find street performers and vendors once the sun goes down.
Is it worth it? Totally! The square is one of the top sights in Meknès. Make sure you visit in the evening. During the day it also makes a great starting point for exploring the city.
Bab Mansour
What you need to know: Meknès is home to the most famous city gate in all of Morocco: Bab Mansour. It consists of three massive arched gateways, decorated with richly colored tiles and delicate relief work. It was completed in 1732 — though back then it came with a grim undertone, as the heads of those executed here were displayed in front of the gate.
Is it worth it? Absolutely! Don’t miss what is, for us, the most beautiful city gate in Morocco. It stands right next to Place el Hedim, so you’ll walk past it anyway.
Our tip: Along the city walls you’ll find several other beautiful gates from the same era. One we particularly love is Bab el Khemis, behind which lies the Mellah — Meknès’ historic Jewish quarter.
Dar Jamai Museum
What you need to know: A magnificent city palace on the northern side of Place el Hedim houses the Dar Jamai Museum — Meknès’ museum of Moroccan folk art. On display are traditional crafts like clothing, weapons, jewelry, carpets, and wood carvings. The star of the collection, though, is the precious handwritten Quran manuscripts.
Is it worth it? If you’re into folk art, definitely yes. The 19th-century palace alone is seriously worth seeing. Admission is 30 dirhams (approx. $3).
Souks and Market Halls
What you need to know: In Arab countries, markets are called souks. In Meknès, the souks begin right behind Dar Jamai and wind through the narrow alleyways in every direction. The traditional craft quarters here are among the most authentic in the country. On top of the souks, Meknès also has some lovely market halls, located to the southwest of Place el Hedim.
Is it worth it? Definitely! Shopping in the souks is one of our favorite things to do in Morocco. Unlike in Marrakech, Essaouira, and Fès, the souks and market halls in Meknès aren’t geared purely toward tourists — lots of locals shop here too. You’ll find great handicrafts like carpets, ceramics, and baskets. And in the market halls, the air is filled with the scent of spices.
Our tip: Grab a freshly squeezed orange juice at one of the market halls. They taste especially delicious in Morocco!
Medersa Bou Inania
What you need to know: The Medersa Bou Inania is a stunningly beautiful Quranic school and the most significant building in Meknès’ Medina. The architecture follows the classic style of Moroccan Quranic schools — very similar to the Medersa Ben Youssef in Marrakech.
Is it worth it? For us, this is one of the most beautiful points of interest in Meknès. The tilework in the courtyard is a real must-see. And as you walk through the small rooms on the upper floor, you can really picture what life was like for the students who once lived there.
Our tip: Head up to the roof of the Quranic school for a fantastic panorama over the entire Medina of Meknès.
Royal City
What you need to know: Just outside the Medina, the Royal City (Cité Impériale) is one of the top things to do in Meknès. Sultan Moulay Ismail had it built in the 17th century — by 30,000 slaves. It was intended to become the seat of government, and today you’ll find palaces, gardens, mosques, horse stables, and dark dungeons all within its walls.
Is it worth it? The Royal City feels like its own neighborhood within Meknès and is not to be missed. Everything here is gigantic and impressive — there’s an enormous amount to explore. The surviving palaces themselves are off-limits (some house the military academy), but the scale of the place alone is jaw-dropping.
Mausoleum of Moulay Ismail
What you need to know: One place you can definitely visit inside the Royal City is the mausoleum — the tomb of former ruler Moulay Ismail. Both the entrance gate and the interior are incredibly imposing. You’ll be spotting beautiful details around every corner. Non-Muslims are also permitted to enter the adjoining mosque, which is rare in Morocco.
Is it worth it? It’s not often that visitors of other faiths are allowed inside a mosque or mausoleum in Morocco. There are great photo opportunities throughout, and of course you’ll also see the white sarcophagus of the former ruler. Well worth your time.
Horse Stables and Granary
What you need to know: The royal palace’s horse stables, Borj el Ma, once held 12,000 horses and camels — seriously incredible. Room after room lines up one after the other, with water channels running throughout the entire complex for the animals. The granary, Heri el Mansour, is equally enormous — 12 meters high and as large as a full cathedral. The whole complex is called Heri es-Souani.
Is it worth it? Horse stables and a granary of this scale are truly rare. If you’re already in the Royal City, it’s absolutely worth walking through.
Three Great Day Trips from Meknès
Desert tours in Morocco aren’t offered from Meknès, but there are some really beautiful places to discover in the surrounding area. The city is so well situated that three destinations make perfect day trips from Meknès.
Day Trip from Meknès to Volubilis (Walili)
About 30 kilometers from Meknès lies the archaeological site of Volubilis. Here you’ll find the oldest Roman ruins in all of Morocco — and one of the most impressive excavation sites in all of Africa. Since 1997, Volubilis has been a UNESCO World Heritage Site.
One standout at Volubilis is the stunning mosaic floors. Some are over 2,000 years old, laid with painstaking craftsmanship and depicting Roman myths.
But the rest of the site is equally impressive and makes for a great open-air museum. You can explore the ruins of former temples, baths, and triumphal arches — and let your imagination fill in just how magnificent everything once was.
Around 200 AD, approximately 10,000 people lived here. Today it’s probably the most popular day trip from Meknès.
Admission to Volubilis costs about 70 dirhams (approx. $6.50). It’s open every day from 8 AM until sunset.
There’s no public bus from Meknès to Volubilis. Your best option is a taxi or your own rental car.
Day Trip from Meknès to Fès
Fès is the oldest of the four royal cities in Morocco. A visit is practically essential on a road trip through northern Morocco — and it’s only about 60 kilometers northeast of Meknès.
Fès is home to the largest medina in all of North Africa, often described as the world’s largest labyrinth. We think it’s absolutely fascinating. It’s also completely car-free, which is equally rare.
Compared to Marrakech, Fès feels even more natural and authentic. You’ll genuinely still see donkeys making their way through the narrow alleyways.
But there are many more highlights in Fès. The city is also especially famous for its tanneries and the particularly high quality of its leather goods.
In a dedicated article, we’ve listed all the sights in Fès along with tips and recommendations for your visit.
There are no guided tours from Meknès to Fès. However, you can easily do a guided day trip from Fès to Meknès — with a stop at the Volubilis archaeological site along the way. Really great!
There’s also a great selection of beautiful accommodations in Fès — significantly more choice than in Meknès.
Day tour to Volubilis, Meknès, and Moulay Idriss
Day Trip from Meknès to Rabat
Head west from Meknès and after about 150 kilometers you’ll reach the ocean and the city of Rabat — the capital of Morocco and another of the four royal cities.
But Rabat isn’t just an administrative capital — it’s a genuine cultural hub. Traditional Oriental life and a modern lifestyle converge here in a really interesting way.
You’ll find modern cultural centers, theaters, and cinemas alongside plenty of historic attractions among the sights in Rabat.
The highlight for us is once again the Medina — we simply can’t get enough of them. But from the Kasbah of the Udayas, you can also breathe in some wonderful sea air.
We’ve written two dedicated articles about Rabat covering the most beautiful sights, the best hotels in Rabat, and all the important tips.
Our Best Restaurant Tips in Meknès
Meknès has plenty of restaurants and cafés where you can try our favorite dishes in Morocco — everything from tagine to couscous to Moroccan salad.
For really good, authentically Moroccan food, head to the restaurants and cafés around Place el Hedim. Prices here are also very reasonable.
On the northern side of the square, several restaurants have great rooftop terraces where you can enjoy dinner while watching the lively scene below.
Meknès’ Medina also has some excellent spots. Here are our two favorite restaurants in the city.
#1 Le Collier de la Colombe
Delicious Moroccan dishes are served at Le Collier de la Colombe (open in Google Maps) inside a stylish riad. From the rooftop terrace, you get a lovely view over the Medina.
#2 Ma Bohème
At Ma Bohème (open in Google Maps), you can enjoy equally delicious Moroccan food in a cozy atmosphere. Both restaurants also serve wine, which is a rarity in Muslim Morocco.
Our tip for wine lovers: Try the local wines from the Meknès region. Well-known labels include Les Trois Domaines, Ksar, and Guerrouane — primarily reds and rosés that rank among the best in the country.
Where to Stay in Meknès?
When you’re in Meknès, staying in the Medina is the way to go. This is where you’ll experience real, authentic Morocco up close — and all the sights are within walking distance.
We also highly recommend staying in a riad. These are traditional Moroccan townhouses, typically built around an interior courtyard. Riads are small and wonderfully intimate.
Good to know: Prices in Morocco’s smaller cities are usually lower than in the larger ones. The riads in Fès are similarly priced to those in Meknès, while the riads in Marrakech are significantly more expensive.
Our Meknès hotel recommendations:
Good and affordable
Better
General Tips and Frequently Asked Questions
What makes Meknès special?
Meknès, along with Marrakech, Fès, and Rabat, is one of the four royal cities in Morocco — and the smallest and least well-known of the four.
As a result, only a handful of tourists make their way here, which is honestly a shame. There are plenty of historic and beautiful things to see in Meknès.
And it has one big advantage: unlike Marrakech or Fès, you can stroll through the medina in a much more relaxed and unhurried way.
The locals are also incredibly friendly. Fake guides and tourist traps are far less common here.
How many days do you need in Meknès?
If you want to explore all the Meknès attractions at a relaxed pace, we recommend two days and one night. The Royal City alone can easily fill several hours.
That said, you can cover a lot — if not everything — in a single day. That’s why a guided day trip from Fès to Meknès is also a great option.
If you have more time, we also recommend adding a side trip to the archaeological site of Volubilis.
How is Meknès laid out?
Meknès is roughly divided into two areas. The old city (Medina) lies to the west, where life in the narrow alleyways is very traditional and authentic.
To the east of the Boufekrane River is the new city built by the French — the Ville Nouvelle — with wide boulevards, modern architecture, and international shops and restaurants.
The vast Royal City, covering four hectares, is really its own third area. It impressively reflects the power and prestige of Sultan Moulay Ismail, who had it built.
How do you get to Meknès?
Meknès sits between Rabat and Fès. From Rabat it’s about 150 kilometers; from Fès, only 60 kilometers.
Both Fès and Rabat have airports.
There’s a really good train connection between all three cities, and buses run regularly too.
You can book your ticket for the train or bus in advance on the Bookaway website — that’s where we usually book ours.
The main train station in Meknès (Gare de Meknès) is in the new city on Avenue de la Gare, off the main Avenue des F.A.R. There’s a second station, Gare el Amir Abdel Kader, which is closer to the Medina.
If you’re on a road trip through Morocco with a rental car, you can simply plug Meknès into your GPS.
How do you get around in Meknès?
Meknès is a small, manageable city that you can easily explore on foot. You may only need a transfer when moving between the new city and the Medina.
You have two options for that:
By Taxi
We always recommend taking a taxi. It’s really affordable and super easy. The small taxis (in Meknès they’re all light blue) are the most hassle-free way to get around — you’ll see them everywhere. Central departure points are the Marché Central in the new city and Place el Hedim in the Medina.
Before you set off, make sure the driver turns on the meter. The ride will only cost you 1 to 2 euros.
For trips to the surrounding area, your best bet is a large taxi. These also wait at Place el Hedim in the old city or in front of the CTM bus station on Avenue des F.A.R. in the new city. You’ll need to negotiate the price before departure.
By Bus
Taking the bus is even cheaper. City buses run, for example, from Bab Znine el Abidine toward Avenue Hassan II in the new city.
You’ll only pay a few dirhams per ride — but you should find out in advance where the bus goes and where it stops. That’s why the taxi is the more relaxed option.
