Where to Stay in Marrakech: Best Areas and Hotels for Every Budget
Medina riads, Gueliz, Hivernage or the Palmeraie? The best areas to stay in Marrakech, who each one suits and the best-reviewed riads and hotels.
Where you stay in Marrakech shapes your whole trip. Sleep in a riad in the medina and you wake to the call to prayer and step straight into the souks. Choose Gueliz or Hivernage for wide avenues, pools and restaurants, or escape to the Palmeraie for resort calm under the palm trees. This guide explains each area, who it suits and the best-reviewed places to stay in every budget.
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Where to stay in Marrakech at a glance
- First visit, culture and atmosphere: the Medina
- Restaurants, shopping and easy taxis: Gueliz
- Pools, nightlife and big hotels: Hivernage
- Resorts, families and peace and quiet: the Palmeraie
- How long: 3 to 4 nights is ideal for a first visit
The Medina: riads and the real Marrakech
The walled old city is where most first-time visitors should stay. Riads are traditional houses built around a courtyard or garden, many restored as small guest houses with rooftop terraces and plunge pools. You are within walking distance of Jemaa el-Fnaa, the souks, the Bahia Palace and the Koutoubia. The quieter corners are Mouassine and Bab Doukkala in the north-west, and the Kasbah quarter near the Saadian Tombs in the south.
Good to know: many alleys are too narrow for cars, so ask your riad to meet you at the nearest gate or parking, especially on arrival. The medina can be noisy and busy; that is part of its charm.
Riad La Porte d’Or & Spa
Mid-range · Historic riad · spa
A riad in a historic building in the heart of the medina, with a fountain patio, carved decoration, a spa and roof terraces with views over the medina to the Atlas Mountains.
Riad Dar Blanche & Spa
Upscale · Rooftop pool · spa
A beautiful riad with a rooftop swimming pool, spa, restaurant and sun terrace. Rooms are air-conditioned and soundproofed, a welcome luxury in the busy medina.
Riad 4 Jardins & Spa
Upscale · Bab Doukkala · garden
A highly rated riad near Bab Doukkala, in a calmer part of the medina, with a garden, sun terrace, spa and a restaurant serving Moroccan cuisine.
Riad Noor Charana
Great value · Central medina
A friendly, good-value riad in the centre of the medina, with air-conditioned family rooms, a terrace and an excellent breakfast. A smart choice for your first riad experience.
Gueliz: the modern city centre
Built during the French Protectorate, Gueliz is Marrakech’s new town: wide boulevards, art galleries, cafés, restaurants and shops, and a short taxi ride from the medina. It is close to the Majorelle Garden and the train station, and it suits travellers who like a city-hotel feel, families and anyone who wants to step out of the medina’s intensity in the evening.
Swiss Continental Hôtel
Mid-range · Central Gueliz
A modern 4-star hotel on Rue de Yougoslavie, rated excellent by thousands of guests, with comfortable rooms, a lounge, a terrace and a 24-hour front desk.
Ari Boutique Hôtel (adults only)
Mid-range · Adults only · pool
An adults-only boutique hotel on Avenue Moulay Rachid with an outdoor pool and a restaurant serving Mediterranean, Moroccan and international dishes. Ideal for couples.
Hôtel Ibn Batouta
Budget · Rooftop pool
A well-priced hotel in Gueliz with a rooftop swimming pool, terrace and restaurant, and air-conditioned rooms with balconies. Great value for money.
Hivernage: pools and nightlife
Between Gueliz and the medina walls, Hivernage is a leafy district of large hotels, spas, rooftop bars and restaurants. It is within walking distance of the Koutoubia and Jemaa el-Fnaa, but feels calmer and more spacious. A good choice for couples, groups and anyone who wants a proper pool.
Longue Vie Hotels
Mid-range · Pool · spa
A highly rated hotel on Avenue Hassan II with an outdoor pool, spa, sauna, fitness room and free private parking. Rooms have balconies.
Grand Plaza Marrakech
Mid-range · Year-round pool · spa
A 4-star hotel on the corner of Avenue Mohammed VI and Avenue Hassan II, with a year-round outdoor pool, spa, fitness centre, restaurant and bar.
Amani Hotel Suites & Spa
Great value · Indoor pool · Atlas views
On Avenue Mohammed VI, with views of the Atlas and the Koutoubia, an indoor pool, a spa with hammam, and rooms in traditional Moroccan décor.
The Palmeraie: resorts under the palms
North of the city, the Palmeraie is a vast palm grove dotted with luxury resorts, villas and golf courses, about 15 to 20 minutes by car from the medina. Choose it for a relaxing holiday with big pools and gardens, and plan on taxis or hotel shuttles to reach the old city.
Tigmiza Boutique Hotel & Spa
Luxury · Suites · Atlas views
A 5-star boutique hotel with individually decorated suites, gardens, pools, a spa and views of the Atlas Mountains, about 15 minutes’ drive from Jemaa el-Fnaa.
Pickalbatros Hôtel du Golf
Luxury · All-inclusive · pools
A large 5-star all-inclusive resort in the Palmeraie for guests aged 16 and over, with indoor and outdoor pools, a spa and a well-equipped fitness centre. Rooms have balconies over the gardens.
Getting from the airport
Marrakech Menara Airport is only a 15 to 20 minute drive from the medina and Gueliz. Book a fixed-price transfer with Kiwitaxi or Welcome Pickups; it is especially useful if you are staying in a riad, as the driver can walk you to the door. A Morocco eSIM from Airalo keeps your maps working in the maze of the medina.
Do it like a Moroccan: local tips
- Mix and match. Many travellers spend two nights in a riad and one or two by a pool in Hivernage or the Palmeraie.
- Check the stairs. Riads rarely have lifts, and rooftop rooms mean steep steps.
- Ask about heating. Winter nights are cold, and riad courtyards are open to the sky.
- Use official taxis. Beige petits taxis should use the meter during the day; agree a price before you get in at night.
Planning what to do? Read our Marrakech travel guide and our guide to the best day trips from Marrakech.
Cover photo: Paul Macallan on Unsplash
Questions and tips
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