# Where to stay in Marrakech https://www.riadtajania.com/en/guides/where-to-stay-marrakech/ Medina, new town or a little further out? Start with the kind of trip you want. By the Riad Tajania team Updated: 2026-10-22 ## At a glance Choose the medina for a stay close to the souks and palaces, Gueliz for a different city rhythm, or a more spread-out base for time around your accommodation. Compare the actual access and facilities before booking. ## Start with your days, not just your room A short city break feels different when you can begin on foot. Before comparing accommodation, decide how much of your time you want to spend among the souks, palaces and small streets, and how much you want to spend around your accommodation. The right neighbourhood follows from that choice. ## The medina: closer to the city’s daily life The historic medina suits travellers who want an intimate base and an immediate connection to Marrakech. Around Bahia and El Badi, you can build days around the palaces, the souks and Jemaa el-Fna. Expect narrow lanes, a more personal scale of accommodation and some walking. Ask your host for the exact arrival point rather than relying on a car reaching the door. ## Gueliz, Hivernage or the Palmeraie Gueliz offers a different city rhythm, with broader streets, shops and cafés. Hivernage can suit those who prefer a larger-hotel setting. The Palmeraie generally means a more spread-out stay and more planning for trips into the medina. Compare travel requirements and actual facilities rather than assuming that every property in an area is the same. ## What to ask before booking Check your room’s floor, bathroom layout, bed arrangement and occupancy. Ask about arrival, luggage, included meals and the kind of pool shown in the photographs. At Tajania, the courtyard and rooftop pools are plunge pools for relaxing, rather than for swimming lengths. ## The Kasbah and Mellah side of the medina The southern part of the medina, around the Kasbah, the Mellah and the Bahia and El Badi palaces, is often calmer than the lanes immediately around Jemaa el-Fna while remaining within walking distance of it. The Saadian Tombs, the Place des Ferblantiers and the old Jewish quarter are all part of this side of the old city. It suits travellers who want historic sights close by and a quieter street to come home to in the evening. ## Around Jemaa el-Fna and the souks Staying immediately beside the main square puts you in the busiest part of Marrakech. That can be exciting if you want to step straight into the evening crowds, food stalls and music. It can also mean more noise and more activity outside the door late into the night. If you like the energy but prefer to sleep away from it, a medina address a short walk from the square is a useful middle ground. ## How long you are staying changes the answer For two or three nights, a medina base usually saves time because the main sights, the souks and many restaurants are within walking distance. For a longer stay, you may want to combine the city with days in the Atlas Mountains, the Agafay desert or on the coast at Essaouira. In that case, consider how easily you can be collected for excursions and how much you want to come back to a calm riad after a long day out. ## Travelling as a couple, with friends or as a family group Couples often look for privacy, a beautiful room and a quiet terrace. Friends travelling together may prefer a place where shared spaces feel like their own. Families and groups should check room sizes, bed arrangements and minimum age policies before booking; at Tajania guests must be aged 16 or over. When a group fills most of the rooms, booking the whole riad can be simpler than reserving room by room. ## Practical points for the medina Cars cannot reach most medina doors, so arrival usually ends with a short walk. Lanes can look alike at first, and it is easy to take a wrong turn, so save the address and your host’s phone number. Many visitors find that, after the first walk with clear directions, the neighbourhood quickly becomes familiar. Ask your host for a simple map, a landmark to recognise and the best way back from the main square. ## A refined retreat near Bahia Riad Tajania offers two exceptional suites and two rooms in the medina, steps from the Bahia and El Badi palaces, for up to eight guests. Explore the city in the morning, then return to the calm of the courtyard and plunge pools in the afternoon. Choose your suite and share your dates with our team: we prepare your stay with care. ## Is the medina a good place to stay for a first visit to Marrakech? For many first-time visitors, yes. The medina puts the souks, palaces and Jemaa el-Fna within walking distance. Expect narrow lanes and a final approach on foot, and ask your host for clear directions. ## Is it quieter to stay near Bahia than next to Jemaa el-Fna? The streets around Bahia and El Badi are generally calmer than those right beside the main square, while the square remains within walking distance. Noise still varies from street to street and through the day. ## Can a taxi drop me at a riad in the medina? Usually only at the nearest point a car can reach. For Riad Tajania, the nearest car drop-off is about 180 m away, a 3–5-minute walk, and the team can explain the final directions. --- Something special in mind? Not sure where to begin? Write to us and we will help you imagine the Marrakech stay you have in mind. 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