One Day in Meknes

Start at the most beautiful gate in Morocco — possibly in all of North Africa. Bab Mansour was completed in 1732 and features massive marble columns (recycled from Volubilis), intricate zellij tilework, and carved Arabic inscriptions. It is monumental, perfectly proportioned, and utterly photogenic.

• The gate faces east — morning light is best for photographs
• The columns flanking the gate were brought from the Roman ruins of Volubilis
• The gate is closed to traffic — walk through the smaller adjacent gate to enter the imperial city

Meknes' main square — often compared to a smaller, calmer Jemaa el-Fna. The square was created by Sultan Moulay Ismail, who demolished an entire neighbourhood to build it. Today it is flanked by cafes, food stalls, and the Dar Jamai Museum. In the evening, it fills with juice vendors and performers.

• Morning is quiet — good for photos of the square with Bab Mansour in the background
• The orange juice stalls are excellent and cheap (5 MAD)
• The square connects the medina to the imperial city — it is your navigation anchor

A beautiful 19th-century palace-turned-museum on the edge of Place el-Hedim. The collection showcases Meknes and Fes craftsmanship: ceramics, woodwork, textiles, jewellery, and embroidery. The building itself — with its Andalusian garden, painted ceilings, and tiled courtyards — is as much the attraction as the collection.

• The Andalusian garden courtyard is the highlight — tranquil and photogenic
• The textile collection shows the regional embroidery styles of different Moroccan cities
• Small and well-curated — 30 minutes is sufficient

Meknes' medina is compact, authentic, and refreshingly tourist-free. The souks serve local shoppers, not tourists — which means real prices and genuine crafts. The food souk is particularly impressive, with pyramids of olives, mountains of spices, and towers of fresh bread.

• The food souk (near Bab Berdiaine) is one of the most photogenic in Morocco
• Meknes is known for its embroidery — look for Meknassi-style tablecloths and cushion covers
• The medina is small and grid-like — easier to navigate than Fes or Marrakech
• Meknes olives and olive oil are famous across Morocco — excellent quality, very cheap

One of the few active religious sites in Morocco open to non-Muslims. Sultan Moulay Ismail (1672–1727) was Morocco's most powerful and feared ruler — he built Meknes as his capital and kept 25,000 slaves to construct its walls. His mausoleum is serene: fountains, zellij, and stucco in a hushed, carpeted interior.

• Non-Muslims can enter the outer chambers — a rare privilege in Morocco
• Remove shoes before entering — dress modestly (shoulders and knees covered)
• Photography is allowed in the outer rooms but not at the tomb itself
• The interior is exquisite — some of the finest zellij and stucco work in Morocco

A 10-minute walk south brings you to Moulay Ismail's colossal royal granaries and stables. The vaulted stone halls once stored grain for 12,000 horses. The ruins are atmospheric and enormous — thick walls kept temperatures cool year-round. Part of the roof collapsed in the 1755 earthquake, creating a dramatic open-air ruin.

• The scale is staggering — this complex could store enough grain to feed the entire army for years
• The underground channels brought water from the Middle Atlas — Ismail's engineering was advanced
• The Agdal Basin (royal lake) is adjacent — a large artificial lake used for irrigation and pleasure
• The open-roofed sections are the most photogenic — ruined vaults framing the sky

Meknes is a food city — known for olives, olive oil, and wine (the Meknes region produces most of Morocco's wine). Riad Café on a quiet medina street serves excellent traditional cuisine. Restaurant Mtougui near Place el-Hedim is a local favourite for tagines and couscous.

• Riad Café — beautiful courtyard, refined Meknes cuisine (80–120 MAD)
• Mtougui — local favourite, massive portions, traditional (50–80 MAD)
• Budget: the food stalls on Place el-Hedim serve bocadillos and brochettes (20–40 MAD)
• Try kefta tagine (meatball tagine with egg) — it is Meknes' signature dish

If time allows, take a grand taxi (30 min, 200 MAD round trip with waiting) to Volubilis — the best-preserved Roman ruins in North Africa. The mosaics are exceptional, the triumphal arch is iconic, and the setting (olive groves with Rif Mountain views) is stunning. Allow 1.5–2 hours at the site.

• Grand taxis from Place el-Hedim can be negotiated — 200 MAD round trip including 1.5 hours waiting
• Afternoon light is best for photography — the mosaics face south
• Bring water and sun protection — there is no shade at the site
• The Tangier Gate, Basilica, and House of Orpheus mosaics are the highlights

If skipping Volubilis, explore the mellah (Jewish quarter), visit the artisan quarter for pottery and metalwork, and sample Meknes wine at a local bar or restaurant. The Château Roslane and Domaine de la Zouina wineries are nearby but require transport.

• The mellah has distinctive architecture — wrought iron balconies and wider streets
• Meknes is Morocco's wine capital — try Guerrouane or Volubilia labels
• The pottery quarter near Bab Berdiaine sells green ceramics unique to Meknes
• Café des Remparts on the old walls has panoramic views — excellent for a sunset drink

Return to the main square for sunset. As evening falls, Place el-Hedim comes alive — juice vendors set up their carts, local families promenade, and the golden light hits Bab Mansour. Grab a cafe terrace seat and watch the show. This is Meknes at its most authentic.

• The cafe terraces on the east side have direct views of Bab Mansour in sunset light
• Evening orange juice and snack vendors are cheap and excellent
• Last trains to Fes run until about 9 PM — check schedules at the station
• If staying overnight, the medina riads are beautiful and far cheaper than Fes or Marrakech