Destination guide · Fès-Meknès
Meknes Travel Guide
The imperial city of Moulay Ismail, with Volubilis next door
- Best time
- March to May, September to November
- Region
- Fès-Meknès
- Getting there
- Fès–Saïss Airport (FEZ), about 60 km away
- Known for
- Bab Mansour, Moulay Ismail, Volubilis
Overview
Why visit Meknes, Morocco
Meknes, Morocco is the quietest of the four imperial cities and the easiest to like. Sultan Moulay Ismail made it his capital in the 17th century and built walls, granaries and palaces on a scale you do not see anywhere else in the country. The whole historic city is a UNESCO World Heritage Site. Most people come on a day trip from Fes, which is about forty minutes away by train, and that is enough for the main sights. Stay the night and you get a medina with almost no crowds, cheap food stalls on the main square, and easy mornings at Volubilis and Moulay Idriss before the tour buses arrive.
Gallery
Meknes, Morocco in pictures
A quick look at the places in this guide.
When to go
Best time to visit Meknes
The best months to visit Meknes, Morocco are March to May, September to November.
Best
Spring (March to May)
Mild days of 20 to 26°C and green fields around the city. The best season for walking the ramparts and Volubilis.
Very hot
Summer (June to August)
Hot and dry, often 35°C in July and August. Start early, rest in the afternoon, and take water to the ruins where there is no shade.
Best
Autumn (September to November)
Warm and settled in September and October, with the olive and grape harvest in the hills. Rain returns in November.
Wet
Winter (December to February)
Cool and wet with days around 16°C and cold nights. Very few visitors and the lowest prices of the year.
Our picks
Top 10 attractions in Meknes
Our pick of the ten places not to miss in Meknes, Morocco, each with a local tip.
Bab Mansour
The huge ceremonial gate on Place el-Hedim, finished in 1732, with green and white tilework and marble columns brought from Volubilis.
Local tip: The light is best in the late afternoon, from the café terraces across the square.
Photo: Daemon11, CC BY-SA 4.0, via Wikimedia Commons
Place el-Hedim
The main square, far calmer than Jemaa el-Fnaa, with food stalls in the evening and a covered market on one side.
Local tip: The market is the best place in the city for olives, preserved lemons and dates.
Photo: ArishG, CC BY-SA 3.0, via Wikimedia Commons
Mausoleum of Moulay Ismail
The tomb of the sultan who made Meknes his capital, and one of the few shrines in Morocco that visitors of all faiths can enter.
Local tip: Dress modestly and check the hours locally, since it closes around Friday prayers and has shut for restoration in the past.
Photo: Adam Jones, Ph.D., CC BY-SA 3.0, via Wikimedia Commons
Heri es-Souani
The royal granary and stables, built with metre thick walls to keep grain cool and to house thousands of horses.
Local tip: Walk to the far end, where the roof has fallen in and the light comes down between the arches.
Photo: Steven Lek, CC BY-SA 4.0, via Wikimedia Commons
Agdal basin
A vast water tank next to the granary, dug to irrigate the royal gardens and supply the palace.
Local tip: Come at sunset, when local families walk the path around the water.
Photo: Mohammed.salhi, CC BY-SA 4.0, via Wikimedia Commons
Bou Inania Madrasa
A 14th century Marinid school with carved cedar, stucco and zellige around a small courtyard.
Local tip: Climb to the roof terrace for a view over the medina rooftops and the green minaret next door.
Photo: Ophelia2, CC BY-SA 3.0, via Wikimedia Commons
Dar Jamai Museum
An 1882 palace, once a family home, now a museum of Moroccan woodwork, ceramics and embroidery, with an Andalusian garden.
Local tip: The garden is a good place to rest between the square and the souks.
Photo: Nohaila RAMI, CC BY-SA 4.0, via Wikimedia Commons
The medina souks
A UNESCO listed old city where the lanes are wide enough to wander without a guide, and the sellers are relaxed.
Local tip: Prices are lower than in Fes and Marrakech, but still bargain politely.
Photo: Robert Prazeres, CC BY-SA 4.0, via Wikimedia Commons
Volubilis
The best preserved Roman city in Morocco, 33 km north, with mosaics, arches and columns standing in open farmland.
Local tip: Go early or late, hire a guide at the gate, and wear a hat, because there is no shade.
Photo: Marcin Sochacki (Wanted), CC BY-SA 4.0, via Wikimedia Commons
Moulay Idriss Zerhoun
A holy hill town 30 km away, built around the tomb of the man who founded the first Moroccan dynasty.
Local tip: Climb to the terrace viewpoint above the town for the two hills and the green roofs.
Photo: George Swann, CC BY-SA 3.0, via Wikimedia Commons
Experiences
Things to do in Meknes
Walk the ramparts
Moulay Ismail’s walls run for kilometres. The stretch between Bab Berdaine and Bab el-Khemis is quiet in the morning.
Eat on Place el-Hedim
Grilled meat, harira soup and fried fish from stalls that cost a fraction of the same meal in Marrakech.
Shop the souks
Meknes is known for damascened metalwork, leather and blankets, without the hard sell.
Visit Volubilis with a guide
A guide brings out the mosaics, the olive presses and the layout of the Roman town.
See the wine country
The hills around Meknes grow most of Morocco’s wine, and some estates open for tours and tastings.
Watch sunset at the basin
The Agdal basin is where locals go at the end of the day.
Tours
Tours for your trip to Meknes, Morocco
Planning a wider trip around Meknes, Morocco? Several of our private tours stop at the Roman ruins of Volubilis nearby, with your own driver. These tours are run by Travel to Morocco, our own local travel agency in Marrakech. We plan every trip ourselves, with drivers, guides and desert camps we know and trust. An organised tour simply makes Morocco easier: your driver knows every road and mountain pass, your riads and desert camps are booked before you arrive, you skip bus timetables and taxi haggling, and a local team is there to help from your first day to your last.
2 days / 1 night
Fes desert tours 2 days to Merzouga
Fes to Merzouga and back
Two days from Fes to the dunes of Merzouga and back, by the cedar forest and the Ziz Valley, with a camel…
7 days / 6 nights
Morocco itinerary 7 days, a 1 week tour
Casablanca, Fes, Merzouga, Marrakech
One week from Casablanca to Marrakech: Rabat, Volubilis, a guided day in Fes, a night in the dunes of Merzouga, the Dades…
11 days / 10 nights
11 days Morocco tour
Casablanca, Chefchaouen, Fes, Merzouga, Marrakech
Eleven days from Casablanca to Marrakech: Chefchaouen, Fes, two nights at the dunes of Merzouga, the Dades Valley, Marrakech and a day…
7 days / 6 nights
7 days tour from Tangier
Tangier, Chefchaouen, Fes, Merzouga, Rabat, Tangier
One week from Tangier and back: Chefchaouen, Volubilis, a guided day in Fes, a night in the dunes of Merzouga, then Rabat…
Transport
Getting to and around Meknes
Getting there
Meknes, Morocco sits on the main train line, so trains are the easy way in: about 40 minutes from Fes, 2 hours from Rabat, 3 hours from Casablanca and 4 hours from Marrakech. El Amir Abdelkader station is the closer of the two stations to the centre. The nearest airport is Fès–Saïss (FEZ), about an hour away by road, and grands taxis and CTM buses also run from Fes.
Getting around
The medina and the imperial city are walkable, though it is a long, hot walk between Bab Mansour and the granaries, so take a petit taxi or a calèche for that stretch. Grands taxis from near Place el-Hedim go to Volubilis and Moulay Idriss.
Accommodation
Where to stay in Meknes
Old city charm
Medina riads
Restored houses near Place el-Hedim, within walking distance of the main sights.
Modern hotels
Ville Nouvelle
Bigger hotels, cafés and the train station, a short taxi ride from the medina.
Countryside views
Around Moulay Idriss
Small guesthouses in the hills, handy for an early start at Volubilis.
Nearby
Day trips from Meknes
- 30 min
Volubilis
Roman mosaics and columns in open countryside.
- 40 min
Moulay Idriss Zerhoun
A whitewashed holy town on two hills.
- 40 min by train
Fes
The oldest living medina in the world.
- 1 h 15
Ifrane & Azrou
Alpine style streets and cedar forests with Barbary macaques.
- 30 min
Wine estates
Vineyards in the hills south of the city, open for tours.
Good to know
Meknes FAQ
Is Meknes, Morocco worth visiting?
Yes, especially if you like history and quiet streets. The gate, the granaries and the mausoleum are among the most impressive buildings in the country, and Volubilis is close by.
How many days do you need in Meknes, Morocco?
One full day covers the imperial city and the medina. Two days lets you add Volubilis and Moulay Idriss without rushing.
Can I visit Meknes as a day trip from Fes?
Yes. Trains take about 40 minutes and run through the day, and many people combine Meknes with Volubilis on the same trip.
Is Meknes safe?
Yes for most visitors. It is calmer than the bigger cities and there are far fewer touts, but take the usual care with bags in the souks.
From the blog
Meknes articles & guides
Destinations Guides
Best Morocco Cities: Where to Go on Your First Trip
Best Morocco cities offer very different trips. Marrakech is the easiest introduction for many visitors, Fes has the…
Destinations Guides
Things to Do in Marrakech Morocco: Sights, Activities and Day Trips
The best things to do in Marrakech Morocco, from Jemaa el Fna and the souks to palaces, gardens…
Destinations Guides
Things to Do in Morocco: Best Experiences and Places to Visit
Planning your first trip? Here are the best things to do in Morocco, from medina walks and desert…
Planning your first trip to Morocco?
Start with our complete guide to safety, money, visas, weather and routes.
Keep exploring
