Where to stay
in Morocco.

The riad, the soul of the medina

A riad is a traditional house built around a planted courtyard, often cooled by a fountain. From outside, just a door in an alley; inside, calm, zellige tiles, carved plaster and a roof terrace. Most have only a handful of rooms: breakfast is served in the courtyard and the staff know every guest by name.

Marrakech, Fes and Essaouira have hundreds of them, from the simplest to the most luxurious. Guesthouses, more family-run, are close cousins.

Palaces and grand hotels, luxury the Moroccan way

Morocco has some of the most famous hotels in Africa. In Marrakech, La Mamounia and the Royal Mansour have made the art of hospitality their signature; Casablanca, Rabat, Tangier and Fes have their palaces too, often set in former residences or historic gardens. Guests come for the service, the spa and the food as much as for the room.

For seminars and conferences, the large hotels of the Hivernage in Marrakech and the seafronts of Casablanca and Agadir bring together a plenary room, breakout rooms and bedrooms for every participant on a single site.

Kasbahs and lodges, between the Atlas and the valleys

On the road south, former mud-brick fortresses have become characterful hotels. In the Dades valley, in Skoura or around Ouarzazate, you sleep behind rammed-earth walls facing the palm groves. In the High Atlas, lodges and mountain inns welcome hikers and travellers in search of peace, with views of snow-capped peaks for much of the year.

The desert, in a tent or under the stars

In the Erg Chebbi, on the edge of Merzouga, as in the Erg Chegaga, camps range from simple bivouacs with mattresses and blankets to luxury camps whose tents have a proper bed, a bathroom and soft lighting. Near Marrakech, the stony Agafay desert offers a first night under canvas less than an hour from the city.

Nights there are cool, even in spring and autumn, and genuinely cold in winter: bring a warm layer, whether the camp is simple or luxurious.

Unusual places to stay

For an out-of-the-ordinary night: a Berber khaima in the middle of the dunes, a restored kasbah at the end of a track, an ecolodge perched in an Atlas valley or a guesthouse in a ksar in the South. Slipped into a tour, an unusual place to stay often becomes the most memorable part of a trip to Morocco.

Resorts and the seaside

From Agadir to Taghazout, from El Jadida to Tangier, the Atlantic coast is lined with resorts offering beaches, spas, golf and kids’ clubs. It’s the ideal way to end a tour with a few days’ rest, or for an incentive that mixes meetings and relaxation.

For every budget

• Small budgets: youth hostels, mountain gîtes and small medina hotels, simple but often welcoming.
• Mid-range: guesthouses, charming riads and mid-category hotels, the best value for money in the country.
• Upmarket: luxury riads, restored kasbahs, luxury camps and five-star hotels.
• Exceptional: palaces and private villas, with butler, chef and tailor-made service.

Prices vary greatly with the season: spring, autumn, the Easter holidays and the end-of-year festive season are the busiest periods. For the most sought-after addresses, book several months ahead, especially for a group.

Our tips for choosing well

• Mix the styles: a riad in the medina, a kasbah on the road south, a camp in the dunes, a resort to finish.
• Check the access: an address in the medina means walking, sometimes quite far, with your luggage.
• Think about the season: a heated pool in winter, air conditioning in summer, a fireplace in the Atlas.
• Keep your passport to hand: the hotel records it on arrival, as required by Moroccan law.
• Read the price carefully: the tourist tax, charged per person per night, is not always included in the rate shown.