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Pro
The Imperial city and the historic medina
Con
No left luggage office!
In a nutshell
A quieter version of Fes
solopes Says: The historic city is still surrounded by its large walls, with several doors, each one with its typical architecture and decoration. Traffic flows outside the walls, escaping from the narrow streets inside, and allowing an easy look ate great part of the walls.
al2401 Says: Meknes was the imperial capital of Moulay Ismail. He built a large prison under the old city for Christian sailors captured at sea. In the Koubt Essoufara (Ambassador's Pavilion) Moulay Ismail would receive ambassadors from other countries, often to plead for the return of...
al2401 Says: Moulay Ismail or Sultan Ismail Ibn Sharif was the second ruler of the Alaouite dynasty. He, like his predecesors, claimed to be a descendant of Muhammad and therefore earns the title 'Moulay'. He ruled from 1672 to 1727. He was only 26 when he came to the throne of a country...
Art Deco and other things in the Ville Nouvelle
maykal Says: Don't ignore the Ville Nouvelle, the new city originally planned by the French, as it contains some great Art deco buildings if you're willing to look for them. Some of the hotels are very attractive, particularly the Hotel de Nice and the Hotel majestic (where I stayed). I...
maykal Says: Next to the Heri es Souani is a large reservoir, the Agdal Basin, now a pleasant park with benches under trees, sculptures and a fountain in the middle. I don't know if this is another royal relic or if this is a new construction, but it is about as big as the granaries that...
maykal Says: From the Dar el Kebira quarter, there's a very long road with unbroken walls on either side. On one side you have the Sidi Amar quarter, and on the other, the Royal Golf Club and Dar al Makhzen, the current Royal palace, both unfortunately off limits and out of sight for the...
maykal Says: Within the walls of the Imperial City are now two residential quarters, neither particularly imperial any more, and in places are really quite rundown. The first, entered through a low archway just before Bab el Rih and the long "corridor" between walls, is Dar el Kebira,...
maykal Says: My mum knows I have a thing for all things Middle Eastern/North African, and used to send me greetings cards with market scenes from Egypt, mountains from Yemen, and camels from Jordan on them. Once, she sent me a card with a beautiful yellow arched doorway to a tiled...
Bab Mansour and Bab Djemaa en Nouar
maykal Says: Across the road from Place el Hedim are the walls of the Imperial City, formerly accessed by two large gates, the most impressive of which is Bab Mansour. Sultan Moulay Ismail commissioned the construction of most of the Imperial City, and legend has it that when he saw the...
maykal Says: The highlight of the medina is definitely the Bou Inania Medrese, dating from the Merenid era (i.e. the 14th century) and very similar to its namesake in Fes, but for me much more impressive, perhaps due to the lack of crowds. For 10 dirhams, you can admire the tiled...
maykal Says: At the far end of Place el Hedim, head down the steps and instead of following the crowds into the souks, look to your right and you should see a sign for a museum. This is the entrance to Dar Jamai, a an 18th century palace now restored and home to the Museum of Moroccan...
Exploring the backstreets of the Medina
maykal Says: Following your nose through the souks, you'll eventually emerge in a residential area, and instead of retracing your steps, instead take any street, left or right, and go explore the alleyways and archways of the medina. There are not really any sights to aim for, a few...
maykal Says: The area immediately behind Place el Hedim is full of souks, nearly every street crammed with shops and stalls, some offering souvenirs, but for the most part this is a market that caters to locals...household pots and pans, fruit and vegetables, clothes, etc. A covered area...
maykal Says: A good place to start exploring Meknes is the Place el Hedim, a large open space between the Medina and the Imperial City. During the day, not much happens here, so you'll notice the waiters trying to entice you in their cafes by waving menus at you, and the cluster of...
2 Reviews and 34 Opinions So far so good...booked in for 3 nights and I haven't been here for 24 hours yet! Paying 440 MAD...
4 Reviews and 63 Opinions We stayed with five persons in three rooms of this excellent Riad. We were greeted at the main...
Rotisserie Mamounia: great value
iaint Says: Had a salad, quarter roast chicken with French fries, boiled rice and some kind of herb risotto, all for 35 MAD – say €3.50 (Coke included). Service a bit grumpy, but I put that down to the language issue (his French, not mine). Food excellent and place clearly popular with...
iaint Says: The name translates as “chicken palace” so I just had to give it a try. It’s in the new town. Had a quarter roast chicken with French fries, boiled rice and some kind of herb risotto, all for 28 MAD – say €2.60 (Coke included). Ate sitting outside on pavement (under cover) –...
Bernhadette Says: If you are looking for a cheap way to travel to Meknès, taking the bus is a good idea.The most comfortable are the busses by the C.T.M. ("Compagnie de Transports Marocains").The C.T.M bus station is situated east of the Ville Nouvelle, at the Avenue des Forces Royales /...
earthflyer Says: CTM has 3 buses departing for Nador leaving from the CTM bus station on AVE des FAR.Journey time is 6 hours.Tickets are around 110 dirhams plus 5 dirhams for luggage.Please use prices as a rough guide only.
solopes Says: The best i Moroccan cuisine is Tajine - a typical claw device that allows the food to cook slowly, enhancing all the flavours. In some restaurants tajine is used in front of costumers, sometimes as a stove.
dutchboycalledjan Says: Every district in the medina has its own hamman - bathing house - and mosque. What we learned is that the water of the hamman is heated using the wood parts and sawdust of the many carpenters and wood workers. They have special holes in the floor to brush the sawdust in....
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Plan a Meknes vacation with reviews, tips and photos posted by real travelers and Meknes locals
This is a public place just like DJamee Elfanaa in Marrakesh; it is a shame that it is not used the same way. You'll find non of the atmosphere which is...
6 members live in Meknes
Q: Hi I would like to know whether it is easy is it to find a taxi/driver to take us from Casablanca airport to Meknes? Any...
A: hi,you could contact vter Travolta159 here and ask him as he drives taxi and see what he might be doing around that time - in case he happens to be there anyway or knows...
Read 2 Replies
1
I've got some interesting experiences in Meknes. I'd love to share with you the 15 tips I've written, the 61 photos uploaded, and 0 travelogues I've created.
2
We had only the briefest stop at Meknes on the way to Rabat from Fes. Our original plan was to stay here for a whole day but we couldn't find anywhere to leave our bags while exploring so had to carry...
3
Meknès is one of the Imperial cities. Each of its three main areas has its own charm, and each presents another century in Moroccan history and architecture. The "Medina" is said to have been founded...
4
When Moulay Ismail beame Sultan of Morocco in 1672, he moved his capital to Meknes, from where he ruled the country for 55 years. Moulay Ismail's excesses were notorious. 500 women served him and of...
5
...after a 7 hour train journey from Marrakesh. Comfortable enough in ONCF's 1st class, but 40 minutes late. I was starting to get the screaming heeby jeebies after 5 hours. It was dark by then....
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