Meknes and Volubilis Guide: Imperial Gates, Roman Ruins and Where to Stay

Meknes is the imperial city most travellers rush past, and that is exactly why it is worth a stop. The capital of Sultan Moulay Ismail in the late 17th century, it is a UNESCO World Heritage Site with monumental gates, vast granaries and kilometres of walls, yet its medina is calm and easy to explore. Just outside town lie the Roman ruins of Volubilis and the holy town of Moulay Idriss, two of the highlights of northern Morocco.

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Best things to do in Meknes

1. Stand in front of Bab Mansour. Completed in the 18th century, this huge gate covered in green and blue zellige and carved stone is often called the most beautiful gate in Morocco. It faces the main square, Place el-Hedim.
2. Soak up Place el-Hedim. Meknes’s main square is smaller and calmer than Marrakech’s Jemaa el-Fna, with storytellers, food stalls and cafés where you can watch the city go by. The covered food market beside it is great for olives and sweets.
3. Visit the Mausoleum of Moulay Ismail. The tomb of the sultan who made Meknes his capital is decorated with fine tilework and carved plaster. It is one of the few Moroccan shrines whose outer courtyards non-Muslims have been able to visit; check opening times before you go, as it has closed for restoration in recent years.
4. Explore Heri es-Souani. These enormous royal granaries and stables were built to feed thousands of horses. Next to them, the Agdal Basin is a vast reservoir that once watered the sultan’s gardens.
5. See the Bou Inania Madrasa. In the heart of the medina, this 14th-century Koranic school has beautiful courtyard carvings and a rooftop with views over the green-tiled roofs.
6. Taste the local wine. The plains around Meknes are Morocco’s main wine region, and several estates welcome visitors for tastings.

Volubilis and Moulay Idriss

About 30 kilometres north of Meknes, Volubilis is the best-preserved Roman site in Morocco and a UNESCO World Heritage Site. Walk under the Triumphal Arch of Caracalla, along the main street to the basilica and capitol, and admire the colourful floor mosaics still in place in the houses. Go early or late in the day, as there is little shade.

A few kilometres away, the whitewashed town of Moulay Idriss Zerhoun spills over two hills. It is one of the holiest places in Morocco, home to the tomb of Idris I, founder of the first Moroccan dynasty. The shrine is closed to non-Muslims, but the viewpoints above town are wonderful. Most visitors combine Meknes, Volubilis and Moulay Idriss in one long day.

Where to stay in Meknes

Stay in a riad in the medina to be close to Place el-Hedim and Bab Mansour, or in the Ville Nouvelle for modern hotels, pools and parking.

Riad Mehdi

Riad Selma

Dar Meknes Tresor

Riad Yamcha

Hôtel Plaisance

Zaki Hotel Suites & Spa

Hotel Swani

Ibis Meknès

Getting there and around

Meknes is about 60 kilometres west of Fes. Trains from Fes take under an hour, and direct trains also run from Rabat, Casablanca and Tangier. Fes-Saïss Airport is the nearest airport, about an hour away by road; book a fixed-price transfer with Kiwitaxi. In the city, petits taxis are cheap and the medina is walkable. To reach Volubilis and Moulay Idriss, hire a grand taxi for the day, rent a car through DiscoverCars, or book a guided tour from Fes or Meknes on GetYourGuide.

Do it like a Moroccan: local tips

• Hire an official guide at Volubilis. Guides wait at the entrance and bring the mosaics and ruins to life.
• Try a calèche ride. Horse-drawn carriages near Place el-Hedim offer tours along the imperial walls, a fun way to see the city’s scale.
• Bring cash. Many small sites, cafés and taxis only take dirhams.
• Stay connected. A Morocco eSIM from Airalo keeps your maps working in the medina and on the road.

When to go

Spring and autumn are ideal, with mild, sunny days that are perfect for walking around Volubilis. Summers are hot inland, so visit the ruins early in the morning. Winters are cool and sometimes rainy.

Continue your trip with our Fes travel guide, the best day trips from Fes or the Rabat travel guide, or plan your route with the free Moroccanly trip planner.

Cover photo: Tomasz Anusiewicz on Unsplash