LOTUS EATERS TRAVEL

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WHERE TO STAY IN MARRAKECH + TIPS FOR BOOKING.

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Marrakech is a city where choosing the right place to stay really matters. The difference between staying in the right area and the wrong one can completely change your experience.

I felt quite passionate about writing this blog post, because the decision of where to stay in Marrakech was something I agonised over for a while and, as a result, ended up researching thoroughly.

From the maze-like streets of the medina to the wide boulevards of the modern districts, Marrakech feels like several different cities rolled into one. Some areas are atmospheric and chaotic, others are calm and comfortable, and a few sit somewhere in between.

And while Marrakech is generally a safe city, a key factor when choosing a location is finding somewhere that feels safe and does not give you the creeps late at night.

In this guide, we’ll break down the best areas to stay in Marrakech, where we would avoid, and our honest tips for booking accommodation based on our own experience.

Best areas to stay in Marrakech

Choosing where to stay in Marrakech can make or break your experience. The city is divided between the old medina and the newer districts, and they feel like completely different worlds. Even within the medina, each area has it’s own vibe.

Here’s a breakdown of the best neighbourhoods to consider, and what kind of trip each one suits.

Map of where to stay in Marrakech

Below you can find a map of Marrakech. The blue pins show the best things to do in the city (more on that here). Whilst the hotel icons show the areas that we like best to stay in Marrakech.

Mouassine is show on the map with yellow hotel symbols, Gueliz is green, Bab Doukkala in purple and Hivernage in red.

You can find a guide to each area below.

MOUASSINE

Best for first-timers who want the medina experience (our choice)

Mouassine is one of the best all-round areas in the medina. It’s central, lively, and walkable, with easy access to the main sights, souks, and restaurants. It feels busy without being overwhelming, and there’s usually enough foot traffic to avoid that isolated feeling you can get in quieter parts of the old city.

If it’s your first time in Marrakech and you want to stay in a riad, this is probably the safest and easiest choice. You get the atmosphere of the medina without quite as much chaos.

GUELIZ

Best for comfort, modern hotels, and an easy life

Gueliz is the modern side of Marrakech. Wide streets, proper pavements cafés, international restaurants, and plenty of taxis. It feels more like a European city than North Africa, it reminded us a little of Tirana.

This is the best area if you don’t love the idea of alleyways, navigating the souks, or staying in traditional accommodation. It’s also a great base for longer stays, digital nomads, or anyone who just wants things to feel straightforward and familiar.

You can walk to the medina in around 25 minutes and also access attractions like the Jardin Majorelle easily on foot. Gueliz is well position for the CTM and Supratours bus stations, so if you’re heading to Essaouira or elsewhere in Morocco this can be a great base.

BAB DOUKKALA

Best for value and a less intense medina experience

Bab Doukkala sits on the edge of the medina and offers a good middle ground. You’re still within the old city, but with easier access to taxis and fewer touts than more central areas.

It often has better value riads and a more neighbourhood feel. Ideal if you want authenticity without quite so much sensory overload.

HIVERNAGE

Best for luxury, nightlife, and big hotels

Hivernage is the upscale hotel district. Think resorts, spas, pools, fancy restaurants like Nobu and mad nightlife like Theatro nightclub. It’s not very traditional or atmospheric, but it is extremely comfortable.

This is where you stay if you want five-star hotels, security, easy taxis, and a more glamorous side of Marrakech.

Where to avoid staying in Marrakech

Just as important as choosing the right area to stay is knowing which areas you might want to avoid.

This is entirely personal, but we didn’t feel as comfortable in the areas south of Jemaa el-Fnaa and around the Mellah. For us, this part of the city felt a little too hectic and not somewhere we would find especially relaxing.

Many people recommend staying in the Kasbah area, near the Saadian Tombs to the south. However, we ruled this out as well – partly because it felt a bit too far from the main sights, but also because it seemed to lack nightlife and restaurants within easy walking distance in the evening. If that’s not a priority for you, the Kasbah could still be a good option.

Finally, many people suggest avoiding the area east of the medina around the tanneries. You’ll find more budget accommodation and hostels here, but this area has a reputation for more frequent scams aimed at tourists. While it’s certainly possible to stay in this area without any issues, it just wasn’t the kind of atmosphere we were looking for.

Picking your accommodation in Marrakech (our tips)

Based on experience, here are our tips for picking accommodation in Marrakech.

1/ Choose location first

Marrakech is a very walkable city, but location matters more than you might expect. You will want to stay in areas that feel safe, well populated, and easy to navigate. We chose Mouassine, which struck the right balance between activity, calm, and safety.

If you’re visiting in winter, when evenings are darker, we recommend staying somewhere with plenty of restaurants nearby. It’s best not to have to walk too far in the dark after dinner, at least in our experience.

2/ Look out for alleyways

If you’re staying in the medina, one thing to pay attention to is alleyways. This is especially important if you’re travelling solo, feeling a bit nervous about safety, or visiting at a time of year when it gets dark early.

From some less-than-great experiences in Morocco, trust us when we say that coming home at night to a riad hidden down an unlit alley can feel quite strange, even if nothing actually happens.

When booking, look carefully at the road your riad or hotel is on. Check whether you have to walk down any dead ends, and read the reviews as this often comes up. It’s also useful to note the nearest car-accessible road, which makes taxis and tours much easier.

Tip: Don’t feel like you have to stay in the medina. If the idea of alleyways and old-world charm doesn’t appeal, the newer area of Gueliz has lots of modern hotels and apartments.

3/ Beware of ground floor rooms

Most riads have ground floor bedrooms, and this is not always clear on the listing. The issue is that the courtyard is usually a communal space, often used for breakfast, and you’ll hear people coming and going throughout the day and night. It can get surprisingly noisy.

Also remember that riads only have inward-facing windows into the courtyard. So you might end up opening your curtains to watch strangers eat breakfast, or sleeping with your window open onto the communal space. It’s a bit odd.

If you’re not sure, contact the riad and ask which floor your room is on before booking.

4/ Read the bad reviews

This was less of an issue in Marrakech than elsewhere in Morocco, but we did notice a pattern with accommodation reviews. Quite often, places had suspiciously high ratings. A few times, we booked hotels with glowing scores only to discover that they felt like they could have been artificially inflated.

After a couple of bad experiences, I started reading the worst reviews first. If there was a recurring theme, like rude staff, noise issues, or safety concerns, we avoided booking. These things often don’t show up in the most recent or most positive reviews.

5/ Contact the riad before booking

My final tip is to message the riad before you book. Ask something simple, like what time breakfast is or whether they have a hair dryer.

Their response time and tone will tell you a lot. In our experience, the difference between a friendly, communicative host and a frankly unhelpful one had a huge impact on how much we enjoyed our stay.

Written by Emma

Wine Lover. Yogi. Hiker. Writer.

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Reading material for your trip

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