Practical information checked on 27 October 2026. Rates, availability and booking conditions change: check them for your dates.
Where to stay in Marrakech? The best areas for your trip
Marrakech offers an unusually wide range of places to stay: a riad hidden behind an unmarked door in the medina, a city hotel among the cafés of Gueliz, a large hotel with gardens and a pool in Hivernage, or a resort surrounded by palm trees.
These options are not interchangeable: each suits a different kind of trip. The same traveller will experience a completely different city depending on whether they wake up a few alleys from Jemaa el-Fna square or beside a pool in the Palmeraie.
This guide helps you choose the right area before you compare individual places to stay.
Our advice: first decide whether you want to live the medina from the inside or explore it from a quieter base. Everything else follows from that.
Which area should you choose in Marrakech?
Ask yourself these five questions before looking at hotels:
- Is this your first visit? On a first trip, being close to the monuments makes everything easier.
- Do you want to do everything on foot? The medina is best explored on foot; the Palmeraie requires a car or a taxi.
- Are you looking for atmosphere or rest? Lively alleys and riad roof terraces on one side, large gardens and pools on the other.
- Are you travelling with children or a lot of luggage? Car access and space then matter more than charm.
- Are you planning day trips? For the Atlas, the Ourika Valley or the Agafay desert, an area with easy car access saves time every morning.
The best areas to stay in Marrakech
🕌 The medina: staying in a riad in the historic heart
Ideal for: a first visit, architecture lovers, couples, travellers who want to see everything on foot.
Founded by the Almoravids in 1070–1072, the medina of Marrakech has been a UNESCO World Heritage Site since 1985. Enclosed by ramparts, it holds most of the monuments visitors come to see: the Koutoubia Mosque, Jemaa el-Fna square, the souks, the Ben Youssef Madrasa, the Bahia Palace, the El Badi Palace and the Saadian Tombs.
Staying in the medina almost always means staying in a riad: a traditional house built around a courtyard, often with a roof terrace. From the street you see nothing; once through the door, you step into a calm, enclosed world. It is the most striking way to experience Marrakech, and the one that leaves the strongest memories.
The medina is not one uniform block. It has two broad sides:
- The north, around the souks, Mouassine and Ben Youssef: closest to the souks, the Mouassine Museum, Le Jardin Secret, Dar el Bacha and the Marrakech Museum. This is the area of craftsmen and busy shopping lanes.
- The south, around the Kasbah and the Mellah: near the Bahia Palace, the El Badi Palace and the Saadian Tombs, the former Jewish quarter of the Mellah and the Salat Al Azama Synagogue. The pace here is often a little calmer than in the heart of the souks.
To understand how the old town is laid out, read our complete guide to the medina.
Why choose the medina?
- The main monuments within walking distance
- The riad experience, with courtyard and roof terrace
- Souks, crafts and neighbourhood life on your doorstep
- Traditional restaurants and Jemaa el-Fna square in the evening
Good to know
Many alleys are pedestrian-only: cars usually stop at a gate or a square, and the last stretch is on foot. Ask your riad how to reach it on arrival and whether someone can meet you where the taxi drops you off. Riads often have only a few rooms: that is part of their charm, but the services on offer vary a lot from one place to another. At night, finding your way through the alleys takes some getting used to.
🏙️ Gueliz: the new town, its cafés and galleries
Ideal for: practical stays, travellers who enjoy cafés and varied restaurants, arriving by train, tight budgets and business trips alike.
Gueliz is the new town of Marrakech, designed in 1913 under the French protectorate. Its main axis, Avenue Mohammed V, starts at the Koutoubia and runs through the district. You will find Art Deco buildings, café terraces, fixed-price shops, art galleries and food from all over the world.
It is also home to the Jardin Majorelle, the Yves Saint Laurent Museum and the Berber Museum. The Marrakech railway station is in this part of the city.
Staying in Gueliz means choosing a more contemporary Marrakech, lived at the pace of its residents. The medina is a short taxi ride away, and in the evening you come back to wide streets that are easy to walk.
Why choose Gueliz?
- Easy access by car and taxi
- Plenty of cafés, restaurants and shops
- The Jardin Majorelle and its museums in the district
- Convenient for arriving or leaving by train
Good to know
You will not find the charm of a riad here: the offer is mostly hotels and apartments. For the monuments of the medina, plan on taxi rides or a long walk.
🌴 Hivernage: large hotels, gardens and pools
Ideal for: a comfortable stay, families, travellers who want a pool and green space without leaving the centre.
Hivernage lies west of the medina and south of Gueliz. It is an upmarket residential district of tree-lined avenues, home to large hotels, luxury boutiques and a well-known nightlife. The Koutoubia marks the boundary between Hivernage and the medina.
The district appeals to those who want a comfortable base: rooms larger than in most riads, pools, gardens and car access right to the hotel door. The Menara Gardens are also on the west side of the city.
Why choose Hivernage?
- Large hotels with pools and often a spa
- Direct car access to the hotel
- A central position between the medina and Gueliz
- Restaurants, bars and nightlife
Good to know
It feels like a hotel district, with little street life on foot during the day. You will experience less of the traditional city than in a riad: many travellers combine a few nights in a riad with a few nights in Hivernage.
🌿 The Palmeraie: resorts, calm and open space
Ideal for: a relaxing stay, couples looking for quiet, families who want a large property with a pool, long stays.
The Palmeraie is a palm oasis on the northern edge of Marrakech, created in the Almoravid period thanks to a network of underground channels called khettaras. It covers about 140 km² and has more than 100,000 date palms, along with olive and fruit trees.
People stay here in resorts, hotels with large gardens or villas: this is the area for calm, pools and days spent on site. You come here to rest rather than to sightsee.
Why choose the Palmeraie?
- Peace and quiet, away from the bustle of the medina
- Large properties with gardens and pools
- Resorts designed for spending the whole day on site
- A setting suited to long stays and families
Good to know
The Palmeraie is far from the monuments: every visit requires a car, a taxi or a hotel shuttle. Ask about shuttles before booking, and allow for travel time in your plans.
⛰️ Beyond the city: the Atlas, Ourika and Agafay
Ideal for: travellers who already know Marrakech, nature and hiking lovers, one or two nights for a change of pace.
Around Marrakech, several areas offer guesthouses, lodges and camps: the Ourika Valley and the foothills of the Atlas, or the stone desert of Agafay. People usually stay one or two nights there, in addition to a stay in the city.
For a night under canvas at sunset, our article on luxury camps in Agafay describes the experience. For a simple day out, a trip from the city is often enough.
Comparing the areas
| Area | Atmosphere | Monuments | Car access | Main type of accommodation |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| North medina (souks, Mouassine) | Lively, crafts | On foot | Limited | Riads, guesthouses |
| South medina (Kasbah, Mellah) | Historic, slightly calmer | On foot | Limited | Riads, guesthouses |
| Gueliz | Urban, cafés and galleries | By taxi | Easy | Hotels, apartments |
| Hivernage | Hotel district, residential | By taxi or on foot depending on the address | Easy | Large hotels with pools |
| Palmeraie | Calm, nature | By car | Essential | Resorts, villas |
Riad, hotel, resort or apartment: which should you choose?
A riad is the signature place to stay in Marrakech. It has few rooms, a personal welcome and often breakfast served in the courtyard or on the roof terrace. Some have a small plunge pool or a hammam; others do not. Read each listing carefully, as facilities vary a lot.
Hotels are mostly found in Gueliz and Hivernage. They offer more services: a 24-hour reception, a lift, car access and often a pool.
A resort is the option for relaxing: a large property, several pools, restaurants on site and sometimes a spa with a hammam. Resorts are usually in the Palmeraie or on the outskirts.
An apartment suits long stays and families who want to cook. They are mostly found in Gueliz and the modern districts.
Hammam and spa
The hammam is part of the Moroccan experience. Many hotels and riads offer a hammam or a spa, but the actual facilities, opening hours and access conditions differ from one place to another: check them on the property's page before booking if this matters to you.
Where to stay in Marrakech for your travel style
For a first visit: the medina, in a riad. You will be at the heart of the sights and enjoy the most typical experience of the city. Our itinerary What to see in Marrakech in 3 days is built on this idea.
As a couple: a riad in the medina for atmosphere, or a resort in the Palmeraie for calm. Many couples combine the two.
As a family: Hivernage or the Palmeraie, for space, a pool and car access. If you have your heart set on a riad, choose one near a medina gate. Our ideas for family activities in Marrakech will help you plan your days.
On a tight budget: the medina has many small riads and guesthouses, and Gueliz has simple hotels. Our article on the budget for a trip to Marrakech helps you plan your other expenses.
For a luxury stay: the large hotels of Hivernage, the resorts of the Palmeraie or the luxury riads of the medina.
For a relaxing stay: the Palmeraie, or the countryside around the city if you want nature.
Before you book: the details that change a stay
- Getting there on arrival. In the medina, ask where the taxi can drop you off and whether someone will come to meet you.
- The season. Summers are very hot and winter nights are cool: check for air conditioning and heating. Our article When to visit Marrakech explains the seasons.
- The pool. In a riad, it is often a small plunge pool; in a resort, a proper swimming pool. Look at the photos.
- Stairs. Riads often have several floors and no lift.
- Prices. They vary greatly with the season and your dates: compare when you book.
- Unpleasant surprises. Our article on scams to avoid in Marrakech gives a few useful tips, especially for arriving in the medina.
Making the most of Marrakech
Once settled in, plan your visits with our article on the must-see monuments of Marrakech and our guide to avoiding the queues. For the evening, discover our traditional restaurants in the medina and our ideas for dinner shows. All our ideas for visits and activities are gathered on the Marrakech page.
Frequently asked questions
What is the best area to stay in Marrakech?
There is no single answer. The medina suits a first cultural visit best, Gueliz a practical city stay, Hivernage a comfortable stay with a pool, and the Palmeraie a relaxing stay.
Should you stay in a riad in Marrakech?
It is not essential, but it is the most typical experience of the city. If you are unsure, book a few nights in a riad and the rest in a hotel with a pool.
Can you get around on foot from Gueliz or Hivernage?
From Hivernage, the medina is close depending on the address. From Gueliz, the walk is longer: many travellers take a taxi.
Is the Palmeraie suitable for a first visit?
It is if your priority is rest. To visit the monuments, plan on a car, a taxi or a shuttle every day.
How many nights should you spend in Marrakech?
Three nights are enough to see the main monuments of the medina and the Jardin Majorelle. Add more nights for a trip to the Atlas, Agafay or Essaouira.
