Discovering...
Discovering...
From palatial riads with Bab Mansour views to Ville Nouvelle hotels with pools — the 10 best places to stay in Morocco's underrated Imperial City.
Best Overall
Riad D'Or
Hammam, Bab Mansour views, elegant
Best Design
Ryad Bahia
Museum-quality zellige, cooking classes
Best Palace
Palais Didi
Grand courtyard, spa, historic building
Best Value
Riad Lahboul
From €25, garden, home-cooked meals
Best for Drivers
Hotel Transatlantique
Pool, parking, Art Deco charm
Best Budget
Hotel Akouas
From €15/night, clean, central
The finest riad in Meknes — an elegant restoration with a rooftop terrace overlooking Bab Mansour. Traditional tilework, comfortable rooms, an in-house hammam, and a location steps from Place el-Hedim. The standard here would command twice the price in Fes or Marrakech.
Best for: Best overall in Meknes
A beautifully decorated riad with a tiled courtyard, traditional Moroccan furnishings, and hosts who make you feel like family. The breakfast is a spread of msemen, honey, olives, and fresh juice. Central to the medina sights and excellent value for the quality.
Best for: Classic riad experience
One of the most visually stunning riads in Meknes — the zellige tilework and carved stucco are museum-quality. The courtyard is peaceful, rooms are spacious, and optional cooking classes teach traditional Meknassi cuisine. Maintained to an impeccable standard.
Best for: Design-conscious travellers
A palace-scale riad with a grand courtyard, ornate interiors, and the feel of a small luxury hotel. The building is historic and the rooms are generous by riad standards. Spa services are available. For travellers who want the most impressive physical space in Meknes.
Best for: Palace atmosphere
An affordable riad with a garden terrace, home-cooked meals, and the kind of genuine Moroccan hospitality that has largely been priced out of Marrakech and Fes. Rooms are simple but clean and well-cared-for. The owners treat every guest as a friend, not a customer.
Best for: Value with character
A grand Art Deco hotel from the French Protectorate era with large gardens, a pool, and parking — amenities that medina riads cannot offer. The building has heritage charm even if some rooms need updating. Ideal for road-trippers who want to park, swim, and have a drink in colonial-era surroundings.
Best for: Drivers and pool lovers
Located near the main souk entrance, this riad puts you in the commercial heart of the medina. The rooftop terrace has views over the medina rooftops, rooms are traditionally decorated, and the owners offer practical guidance on navigating the city. Good for travellers who want to be immersed in daily Meknassi life.
Best for: Souk proximity
For travellers who want standardised modern comfort over traditional atmosphere, the Ibis delivers exactly what you expect — air-conditioned rooms, parking, Wi-Fi, and no surprises. Useful as a one-night stopover for drivers on the Fes–Rabat corridor.
Best for: Modern comfort, no surprises
A small, intimate guesthouse in a quieter corner of the medina. The terrace has city views, rooms are simple but charming, and the atmosphere is peaceful. Perfect for travellers who want a medina experience without the bustle of the main tourist areas.
Best for: Quiet, affordable medina stay
A simple, clean budget hotel in the Ville Nouvelle. Rooms are basic but functional, and the price is the point — at €15–30 per night, Meknes is already one of Morocco's cheapest cities, and this hotel makes it even more accessible. Good enough for a one-night stopover.
Best for: Budget travellers
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The medina (near Place el-Hedim and Bab Mansour) is the best area for atmosphere and walkability to all major sights. The Ville Nouvelle has more modern hotels with parking and easier driving access. For a day trip from Fes (50 minutes by train), you may not need to stay overnight — but if you do, the medina riads are the experience worth having.
One night is enough for most travellers — arrive in the afternoon, see Bab Mansour, Heri es-Souani, and the medina, then depart the next morning for Volubilis (30 min) before continuing to Fes. Two nights if you want to explore the Meknes wine region, visit Moulay Idriss Zerhoun, and enjoy the medina without rushing.
Significantly cheaper. Meknes sees far fewer tourists than Fes or Marrakech, so hotels, riads, food, and guides all cost less. A riad that would be €80–120 in Fes is €35–60 in Meknes. Food is 30–50% cheaper. It is one of the best-value cities in Morocco for accommodation quality.