Morocco Travel Guides
Where to Stay in Morocco
Choosing where to stay in Morocco is less about star ratings and more about two decisions: what type of place you want – a riad, a hotel, a desert camp – and whether you sleep inside the old medina or in the modern town. This guide explains both so you can book with confidence.
Riads in the medina for atmosphere, hotels in the new town for easy access; book early for spring, autumn and holiday periods.
Types of accommodation
Where to Stay in Morocco: Riads, Hotels and Beyond
Riads
Traditional courtyard houses inside the medina, converted into small guesthouses – typically a handful of rooms around a central patio, a rooftop terrace and breakfast included. Intimate, atmospheric and the classic Moroccan stay. Reached on foot through the lanes.
City hotels
International and Moroccan chains plus independent hotels, mostly in the modern districts: lifts, larger rooms, pools, car access and predictable standards. The practical choice for business travel, mobility needs or a first night after a long flight.
Resorts & beach hotels
Concentrated in Agadir and Taghazout, around Marrakech’s palm groves and on parts of the Mediterranean coast. Pools, spas and often all-inclusive packages; less contact with everyday Morocco.
Desert camps
Tented camps among the dunes at Merzouga and Zagora, from simple shared camps to private tents with en-suite bathrooms. Usually booked as part of a desert tour rather than separately.
Kasbahs & mountain guesthouses
Restored earthen kasbahs along the road to the desert, and family-run gîtes in Atlas villages such as Imlil. Simple, warm and often the most memorable nights of a trip.
Apartments & hostels
Self-catering apartments suit families and longer stays, mostly in the new towns; hostels in the main cities suit solo and budget travellers and are a good way to meet people for shared desert trips.
The location decision
Medina or New Town?
Inside the medina you are in the middle of everything – the souks, the squares, the sounds – and a riad’s courtyard is a real retreat from it. The trade-off is access: cars stop at the gates, the last stretch is on foot through lanes that are hard to navigate the first time, and stairs are steep. Ask your riad for meeting instructions and a porter for luggage; most arrange it as a matter of course.
The new town (Gueliz in Marrakech, the Ville Nouvelle in Fes) is quieter at night, taxi-friendly and better for lifts, pools and parking, at the cost of a short ride to the historic centre. Many travellers split the difference: a riad for the atmosphere, a hotel for the first or last night near the airport.
Choose the medina if you…
- want atmosphere and walkable sightseeing
- travel light and can manage stairs
- stay two nights or more in one city
Choose the new town if you…
- need a lift, car access or parking
- arrive late or leave very early
- prefer a pool, a gym and a quiet street
By destination
Where to Stay in Morocco’s Main Destinations
Marrakech
The widest choice in the country: hundreds of riads in the medina, hotels in Gueliz and Hivernage, resorts in the Palmeraie. Riads closer to Jemaa el-Fna are livelier; those in quieter quarters are calmer.
Fes
Riads in Fes el-Bali are the reason to come, but the medina is large and steep: check how far your riad is from a gate a car can reach. Hotels sit in the Ville Nouvelle.
Chefchaouen & Essaouira
Both are small enough that anywhere in or beside the medina works. Essaouira also has beachfront hotels along the bay; Chefchaouen’s guesthouses climb the hillside, so expect steps.
Casablanca, Rabat & Tangier
Mostly hotels, in the centre or on the seafront; a smaller riad scene in each medina. Stay near the train station if you are passing through.
Booking Tips
- Book riads early for peak periods. Small properties fill fast around spring and autumn holidays, New Year and major festivals.
- Read the arrival instructions. A good riad sends a meeting point, a map and a porter. If it does not, ask before you travel.
- Check heating and cooling. Riads are cool in summer but can be cold in winter; confirm heating for December to February and air conditioning for July and August.
- Confirm what “breakfast included” and taxes mean. A small per-night city tax is common and is sometimes paid on the spot.
- Match the stay to the plan. One base for several nights beats changing hotels every day; see Destinations and Getting Around.
- Visa first. Confirm whether you need a Morocco eVisa before booking non-refundable rooms. Entry decisions are made by the Moroccan authorities.
- Help with the arrangements. Travel Entry can suggest and book hotels and riads on request; nothing is booked or charged until you confirm.
Where to Stay in Morocco: Frequently Asked Questions
What exactly is a riad?
A traditional Moroccan house built around an inner courtyard or garden, inside the medina, now usually run as a small guesthouse with a few rooms, a roof terrace and breakfast. Strictly a “riad” has a garden and a “dar” has a plain courtyard, but the word is used for both.
Riad or hotel for a first visit?
A riad, for at least part of the trip – it is the experience most people remember. Choose a hotel instead if you need a lift, car access or a pool, or for a night close to the airport.
Is it safe to stay inside the medina?
Riads are very commonly used by visitors and medinas are lived-in neighbourhoods. The usual city sense applies: know your route back, use the riad’s porter for luggage, and take a taxi rather than a long walk late at night.
Are riads suitable for families or travellers with limited mobility?
Families usually love them, though open courtyards, pools and steep stairs need watching with small children. For limited mobility a ground-floor room or a new-town hotel with a lift is the safer choice – ask before booking.
Do I need to book desert camps separately?
Usually not – the camp night is normally part of a desert tour that also covers transport and the camel ride. See Things to Do.
Can Travel Entry recommend and book accommodation?
Yes. Send your dates, cities, group and budget range through our hotels request and we will reply with suitable options. Requests are free.
Need Help Choosing?
Tell Travel Entry your route and preferences and we will suggest riads and hotels to match. Back to all Morocco travel guides.