Where to stay in Marrakech: the Medina, the Palmeraie or the Atlas side

Marrakech is several cities in one. The Medina is a walled maze of souks, riads and monuments; around it, the new town of Gueliz and the hotel quarter of Hivernage; to the north, the old palm grove of the Palmeraie; and to the south, the road to the Atlas, with golf, a wakeboard lake and mountain views. Where you sleep decides how your days feel. This guide goes through each part, with the stays we host in Marrakech and the drive times that matter.

Pick by trip

The Medina and its riads

The Medina is the old walled city, listed by UNESCO since 1985, with Jemaa el-Fna square at its heart. A riad is a traditional house built around an inner courtyard or garden, with blank walls to the street and rooms that open inwards: calm inside, busy outside.

What to know before you book one:

• Cars can't reach most doors. A taxi drops you at the nearest gate or square, and you walk the last stretch, with someone from the riad or a porter's cart for the bags.
• Noise depends on the lane. Near Jemaa el-Fna and the main souks, evenings are lively; deeper in the residential lanes, nights are quiet.
• Winter is cold indoors. Thick walls keep riads cool in summer and chilly from December to February, so ask about heating in the bedrooms.
• The roof terrace is often the best part of a riad, for breakfast and for sunset.

A riad is perfect for a couple on a first visit. For a group, a family or anyone who wants a private pool, a villa outside the walls usually works better.

Villas close to the centre

You can have a private pool and still reach the Medina in minutes:

• Riad Safran is a riad-style villa ten minutes' drive from the Medina, with five bedrooms for up to ten guests, an indoor pool and a roof terrace. Its name promises a private chef: ask us what the chef's service covers for your dates.
• The five-bedroom villa with a pool and hot tub is near the city centre, with gardens, a billiards room and fireplaces for winter evenings. It sleeps up to ten.

For the colder months, Villa Tulum is the one to look at: a heated indoor pool as well as an outdoor pool, its own hammam and sauna, a badminton court and five suites for up to ten. Our guide to Marrakech villas with a private pool compares the villas side by side.

The Palmeraie

The Palmeraie is Marrakech's old palm grove, on the north edge of the city, reached by the Route de Fès and the Circuit de la Palmeraie. It covers thousands of hectares of palms, villas, gated residences, hotels and golf courses, a few kilometres from the Medina. It is quiet, green and spacious, and you will want a car, a driver or taxis for every outing.

Palmeraie Stay is a three-bedroom flat for up to six in a gated residence, with a very large shared pool, restaurants on site and a lake. Parking is included.

Waky Marrakech and the Atlas side

South of the city, the Route de l'Ourika heads towards the Atlas. Along it, Les Jardins de l'Atlas is a resort of villas and apartments with an 18-hole golf course, shared pools and Waky Marrakech, the cable-ski lake where you can wakeboard. The city centre is less than twenty minutes' drive away, and the Ourika Valley lies further up the same road.

• The Waky Club flat has a bedroom with its own bathroom, a guest bathroom, a balcony and access to the residence pools and sports courts.
• Villa Jardins de l'Atlas has three bedrooms for up to eight, a private pool and mountain views, with the wakeboard lake and the clubhouse restaurant in the same residence.
• Villa Akenza, in Aghouatim on the same side of Marrakech, has four en-suite bedrooms, a private pool and a home gym.

Our Waky Marrakech guide covers the lake, the golf and the day trips from that side of the city.

Gueliz and Hivernage

Gueliz is the new town built in the 20th century west of the Medina, with avenues of cafés, galleries, shops and restaurants, and the Jardin Majorelle close by. Hivernage, between Gueliz and the Medina walls, is the hotel and nightlife quarter. Both suit travellers who want to walk to dinner and take a taxi to the souks.

And Oliver Palm?

People often ask about Oliver Palm, a residential development on the Route d'Ouarzazate, east of the city. It is not in the Palmeraie, and we don't manage it. Our Oliver Palm page explains where it is and what to check.

Getting around

• From the airport: Marrakech Menara is about 6 km from Jemaa el-Fna, 15 to 30 minutes by taxi. Airport taxis don't use the meter, so agree the fare before you get in, or book a transfer.
• Petit taxis: Marrakech's are beige. Ask for the meter, or agree the fare first.
• Drive times from our stays: Riad Safran is ten minutes' drive from the Medina, and Waky Marrakech less than twenty minutes from the centre. For the others, ask us when you book.
• A car or a driver makes sense in the Palmeraie, at Waky Marrakech and at any villa outside the walls.

Seasons

• Winter, November to March: days are mild, around 19°C in January, but nights average around 6°C. Heating in the bedrooms matters, and so does a heated or indoor pool if you want to swim.
• Summer, June to September: July days average around 36°C. Look for air conditioning in every room and a shaded pool, and plan outings for the morning and the evening.
• Spring and autumn are the most comfortable seasons for walking the Medina and for day trips to the Atlas.

Pick your dates in Marrakech to see which stays are free and the exact price. Every guest's passport or ID card is needed before arrival: our guest registration guide explains why.

Frequently asked questions