In a nutshell
- The best area to stay in Marrakech is the Medina — the historic old city. This is where you’ll experience authentic Marrakech at its most vibrant and full of life.
- Our top pick in the Medina is the Monriad — boho style, delicious breakfast, and the place we personally stayed.
- For a quieter and more affordable stay, the Kasbah & Mellah are a great choice. Our top pick there: Riad Le Petit Joyau — in our opinion, the riad with the best value for money in Marrakech.
- Prefer something more modern? We’ll also introduce you to 2 alternative neighborhoods — Gueliz and Hivernage — with our top hotel recommendations for each.
- For every neighborhood, we give you an honest take on the pros and cons so you can make the right call for your trip.
Where to Stay in Marrakech?
Marrakech is an absolute highlight in Morocco and one of our favorite spots for a truly awesome city trip. The city not only has a ton of attractions, but also a huge range of accommodations.
To make your Marrakech vacation perfect, we’ll walk you through the 4 best neighborhoods to stay in Marrakech — all plotted on a map so you can see exactly where you’ll be.
The 4 best neighborhoods for your hotel in Marrakech are:
- Medina: The most popular area to stay in Marrakech. This is where you’ll experience authentic Marrakech and find the most attractions. Perfect for first-time visitors. ➞ Monriad
- The Kasbah District & Mellah: Both neighborhoods are great if you want to be close to the Medina but prefer staying somewhere quieter. ➞ Riad Le Petit Joyau
- The Gueliz District: Ideal if you want to discover modern Marrakech. You’ll find plenty of international restaurants, cafés, and even bars and clubs. ➞ Fashion Boutique Hotel
- The Hivernage District: Perfect if you’re after luxurious 5-star hotels in Marrakech. This area also leans toward upscale modern restaurants. ➞ Longue vie Hotels
Staying in Marrakech's Medina
When we think of Marrakech, we immediately picture the beautiful little riads where you can stay like something out of 1,001 Nights. Tiny oases of calm with stunning mosaics, right in the middle of the hustle and bustle of the Medina. That’s Marrakech to us.
Riads aren’t your typical Marrakech hotels — they’re traditional Moroccan houses. What makes a riad distinctive is its interior courtyard and colorful, stylish Moroccan design. They’re essentially the boutique hotels of Marrakech.
The largest selection — including the 15 most beautiful riads in Marrakech — is found right here in the Medina. Especially if you’re visiting Marrakech for the first time, we strongly recommend staying here. This is the only place where you’ll experience authentic, traditional, wonderfully chaotic Marrakech.
The Medina is also home to most of the top attractions in Marrakech. Since no cars are allowed, you can easily reach them all on foot from your place to stay.
Advantages of staying in the Medina in Marrakech:
- The best starting point for the top attractions.
- You’re right in the heart of the action — just steps from the best restaurants serving delicious Moroccan food and the souks with great souvenirs.
- You’ll experience authentic, traditional Marrakech.
- Riads are truly the most beautiful lodging in Marrakech and are steeped in tradition.
- Inside the riads, it’s incredibly peaceful.
Disadvantages of staying in the Medina in Marrakech:
- The hustle and bustle of the Medina can be overwhelming and, after a while, exhausting.
- The Medina is car-free, which means you’ll have to walk from your taxi to your riad.
- Getting to and from the airport takes longer.
Our Hotel Recommendations in the Medina
Our absolute top pick is the Monriad. We stayed at this gorgeous boho-style riad at the end of our Morocco road trip. Our highlights were the cozy little seating nook with a fireplace and the seriously delicious breakfast.
Just a few steps away is the Riad Safina with only five rooms. Perfect if you’re after an affordable, family-run place to stay in Marrakech that’s still centrally located. There’s even a small pool in the courtyard.
Good and affordable
Better
Luxurious
Staying in the Kasbah and Mellah Districts
The Kasbah and Mellah — the Jewish quarter — border the Medina directly to the south. The biggest difference: things are noticeably quieter here and much less hectic than in the Medina. So it’s a great alternative if the constant sensory overload gets to be too much.
Most highlights are a bit of a longer walk from here, but some standouts are located right in these neighborhoods — like the fascinating Saadian Tombs or the synagogue in the Jewish quarter.
You’ll also be staying in riads in both neighborhoods. In the Kasbah, we find the value for money at Marrakech riads slightly better than in the Medina or Mellah. Either way, you’ll definitely find beautiful riad hotels for every budget.
If you’re planning day trips from Marrakech — like a desert tour in Morocco or an excursion to the Atlas Mountains — we actually think a riad in the Kasbah or Mellah is more practical. Here you can be picked up by taxi right at your doorstep or usually park a rental car nearby.
Advantages of staying in the Kasbah & Mellah in Marrakech:
- The surroundings are quieter than in the Medina.
- Attractions are still reachable on foot.
- Especially in the Kasbah, the value for money is really great.
- The Kasbah and Mellah are not car-free, so you can comfortably take a taxi right to your riad.
Disadvantages of staying in the Kasbah & Mellah in Marrakech:
- The Kasbah and Mellah are farther from the airport than other parts of the city.
- You don’t have the authentic, lively Marrakech right outside your door.
Our Hotel Recommendations in the Kasbah and Mellah
For us, one of Marrakech’s best hotels is definitely the Riad Le Petit Joyau in the Kasbah. The design blends tradition with understated modernity — really beautiful. For us, it’s the riad with the absolute best value for money in Marrakech.
If you’d rather stay in the Mellah, we recommend the Riad Ksar Al Amal. We love the incredibly stylish design here. Breakfast is wonderfully varied and served on the rooftop terrace — amazing!
Gut und günstg
Better
Luxurious
A Hotel in Marrakech in the Gueliz District
Marrakech has a pretty modern side too, and that’s exactly what you’ll discover in the Gueliz district — Marrakech’s new town. The area is perfect if you want a classic hotel in Marrakech and love a lively nightlife scene.
You read that right — here you can dance the night away. Unlike the rest of the country, Gueliz has bars and clubs that even serve alcohol. These sit alongside international restaurants and modern cafés.
You’ll barely find any riads here. In Gueliz, you’ll mostly come across modern Marrakech hotels and classic boutique hotels. There’s something for every budget, though.
To the north, the district borders the beautiful Jardin Majorelle — depending on where your hotel is, you might even be able to walk there. For the rest of the highlights, you’ll need to take a taxi to the Medina first, which takes between ten and twenty minutes.
Before you book in Gueliz, be aware that you won’t have typical Marrakech right outside your door and may miss out on some of that unique atmosphere. For first-time visitors, we honestly don’t recommend Gueliz.
Advantages of staying in Gueliz in Marrakech:
- You’ll experience modern, contemporary Marrakech.
- You’ll find plenty of international restaurants, cafés, bars, and clubs nearby.
- You’ll be staying in classic, modern hotels.
Disadvantages of staying in Gueliz in Marrakech:
- You’re far from most of Marrakech’s top attractions.
- You’ll miss out on the authentic, lively Marrakech.
- You won’t be sleeping in a traditional Moroccan riad.
Our Hotel Recommendations in Gueliz
A truly beautiful boutique hotel in Marrakech is the Fashion Boutique Hotel. It’s very modern and stylishly decorated, the staff is incredibly helpful, and the rooftop pool is perfect for unwinding after a long day of sightseeing.
Even more luxurious and more elegant is the 2Ciels Boutique Hotel. Our personal highlight here is the rooftop bar with a DJ — it’s just a perfect fit for the Gueliz vibe.
Good and affordable
Better
Luxurious
A Hotel in Marrakech in the Hivernage District
Marrakech is world-famous for its incredibly luxurious hotels. The top luxury hotels in Marrakech are found in Hivernage — another very modern district with upscale restaurants, bars, and clubs.
A Marrakech hotel in Hivernage is especially the right choice if you want to really treat yourself to some luxury. Compared to other luxury hotels around the world, prices in Marrakech are quite affordable.
You won’t find many budget options here anyway. As in Gueliz, you’re farther away from the top sights and authentic Marrakech. By taxi, the Medina is about ten minutes away.
Advantages of staying in Hivernage in Marrakech:
- You have the chance to stay in an affordable Marrakech 5-star hotel.
- You’ll sleep in large, luxurious hotels that exceed even your 1,001 Nights fantasies.
- Many upscale restaurants and bars are right on your doorstep.
Disadvantages of staying in Hivernage in Marrakech:
- You’re far from most of Marrakech’s top attractions.
- You’ll also miss out on the authentic, lively Marrakech here.
- You won’t be sleeping in a traditional Moroccan riad.
- Accommodations are usually more expensive, with few to no budget options.
Our Hotel Recommendations in Hivernage
If you want to stay in one of Marrakech’s most beautiful luxury hotels, we recommend the Dar Rhizlane. A true paradise, with its own spa, a large pool, excellent service, and a seriously stunning design. An absolute dream!
If you’d prefer a more affordable but still luxurious stay in Marrakech, we also really love the Longue vie Hotels. The design is modern and minimalist, and the rooftop pool is a real highlight. The value for money is excellent.
Better
Luxurious
Frequently Asked Questions About Marrakech Hotels
Which Marrakech hotel is best for families with kids?
Many riads in Marrakech only offer triple rooms at most, since riads tend to be on the smaller side. If you’re traveling with just one child, the selection is still relatively large.
The following hotels offer beautiful and spacious triple rooms:
Book Riad Sesame
Book Monriad
Book Riad Alnadine
If you’re traveling with two children and need larger rooms, we recommend these riads:
Book Riad Rahal
Book Dar Titrit
Book Riad Adika & Spa
All three riads have wonderful large family rooms and are among our 14 most beautiful riads in Marrakech.
Is an all-inclusive hotel in Marrakech worth it?
Honestly, all-inclusive hotels aren’t really worth it in Marrakech — and there aren’t many to choose from anyway.
Here’s why:
- Breakfast is included at just about every accommodation in Marrakech anyway.
- Eating out for lunch and dinner is genuinely affordable here.
- You’ll want to be out exploring the city most of the time anyway.
That said, if you do want an all-inclusive option, here are some we’d point you toward in the Medina:
Outside the Medina, Riad Azia is a truly beautiful all-inclusive option with a massive pool complex.
Are there boutique hotels in Marrakech?
Yes! Classic boutique hotels like you’d find at other destinations exist mainly in the Gueliz neighborhood. But the riads in Marrakech are essentially boutique hotels in their own right.
They’re usually small, family-run, and really cozy.
And they typically have a stunning design — sometimes modern, sometimes traditionally Moroccan, sometimes a gorgeous mix of both.
Where can I find affordable hotels in Marrakech?
Budget-friendly hotels can be found in almost every neighborhood in Marrakech, except Hivernage. Check out our hotel recommendations in the Good & Affordable category for the best picks.
How much should I tip at hotels in Marrakech?
Tipping is customary at riads and hotels in Marrakech.
You can leave your room’s housekeeping staff about 20 dirhams (around 2 euros) per day on the bed.
If staff carry your luggage from the taxi to your accommodation — or the other way around — 10 to 20 dirhams (around 1–2 euros) is a fair tip.
Can unmarried couples share a hotel room in Marrakech?
Absolutely! Even if you and your partner aren’t married, you can share a room without any problems or concerns.
