Marrakech (also known as Marrakesh) is a former imperial city in western Morocco with palaces, gardens, and a medina (medieval walled city) packed with stalls in a souk selling food, house wears, clothing, and almost anything you can think of. Known as the “red city” and somewhere between tradition and the modernity, Marrakech is a must visit for those seeking a unique cultural experience. In this post, we share some hotel recommendations and tips to help you plan your trip based on some of the places we have stayed and have researched.
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How long to stay:
Depending on how much time you have, we do recommend staying in the medina for at least 2-3 nights to have 2 full days there. The medina is fairly small and it is nice to have somewhere close-by to go back to in between excursions. We met people who were staying at AirBnB in Gueliz, the new city and while they enjoyed that, they felt it was a little inconvenient to always take a taxi into the medina.
If you have extra time, you may want to consider adding 2 nights at a resort outside of the city or 1-2 night in Essaouira to experience something different. We spent 4 nights in the medina and 3.5 days in total and felt it was enough time but we would have liked to enjoy 1-2 nights at one of the resorts outside of the city to relax.
Book in advance:
Try to book in advance as the riads are quite small and have limited number of rooms. Some of the rooms we wanted to book were sold out at a few of our top picks and we had to re-assess.
Where we stayed:
We spent 4 nights at Dar Kandi. We had a pretty big wish list and found it hard to get everything we wanted on it at the price we were looking for; riad accommodations go from $20 per night to $1,000+. We chose Dar Kandi because it looked beautiful, had a good location, positive reviews, the price was reasonable and included breakfast, it had a pool and rooftop terrace, and while it didn’t have the balcony we wanted our room was quite spacious and had an area where you could open the windows (yes, sometimes you should book the nicest and biggest room!).
1) Dar Kandi: For design and history fans
Conveniently set in Marrakech’s medina, Dar Kandi is a 6 room hotel that provides a continental breakfast and free WiFi throughout the property. Featuring a 24-hour front desk, this property also welcomes guests with a restaurant, rooftop pool and terrace. Dar Kandi might be new but the building itself has a lot of history; it was built in 1915 for one of Thami el-Glaoui’s brother’s. Eventually, American art patron Patti Cadby Birch purchased it and was restored to what it is today.
2) Riad 72: For a room with a private terrace, hot tub and views
Located in the Old Medina in Marrakech, Riad 72 is a boutique hotel and offers guest rooms decorated in a traditional Moroccan style, a hammam and patio. Jemaa El Fna Square is a 10-minute walk away.
Some of the suites have a hot tub on the private rooftop terrace. This suite has a private entrance, and the bathroom has a bath and a shower.
3) Riad L’Hôtel Marrakech: For a room with a private terrace
Offering a terrace and an outdoor pool with sunbeds, Riad L’Hôtel Marrakech is located in Marrakech, a 5-minute drive from Majorelle Garden and a 15-minute walk from Djemaa El Fna square. Free Wi-Fi access is available in public areas. All large suites provide guests with air conditioning. They are furnished with a desk, dining table, a seating area and sofa. Featuring a shower, private bathrooms also come with a hairdryer. Guest can enjoy local and international dishes at the shared lounge upon request. The Fez suite is the only room that has a private terrace facing the courtyard.
4) La Villa des Orangers – Relais & Châteaux : for more a resort setting
With 27 rooms, Villa des Orangers offers luxurious accommodation in a former palace located in the centre of Marrakech, just a 5-minute walk from Jemaa el Fna Square. It features 3 patios with orange trees and swimming pools and includes a wellness centre. Each air-conditioned room is equipped with a minibar, free Wi-Fi access and a flat-screen TV with satellite channels. Every room has a private bathroom with twin washbasins, a bathtub and a separate shower. Some include a private terrace. Breakfast is served daily and a bar is open 24 hours a day serving free, non-alcoholic drinks. You can also enjoy Mediterranean style cuisine at the restaurant. Lunch can be served by the pool, on the terraces or on the shaded patio. Villa des Orangers has a hammam, a beauty salon, massage booths and a fitness room. A variety of traditional beauty treatments are on offer.
5) Amanjena Resort: For a high-end luxury resort experience outside of the city
Amanjena Resort has free bikes, outdoor swimming pool, a fitness centre and garden in Marrakech. Boasting free shuttle service, this property also has a restaurant and a terrace. The accommodation offers room service, a 24-hour front desk and currency exchange for guests. At the hotel, all rooms are fitted with a balcony. All guest rooms will provide guests with air conditioning, a safety deposit box and a TV. Some rooms have private pools. A continental, Full English/Irish or Italian breakfast is available every morning at the property. Bahia Palace is 5.2 km from Amanjena Resort, while Boucharouite Museum is 5.8 km from the property. The nearest airport is Marrakech-Menara Airport, 10 km from the accommodation.
6) Selman Hotel: A luxury resort outside of the city that’s family friendly
Set a 10-minute drive from the centre of Marrakesh, this 5-star hotel offers a stable with purebred Arabian horses. It offers 3 outdoor swimming pools and beauty treatments in its spa. The spacious rooms at this hotel provide a large terrace with views of the swimming pools. Decorated in an arab-andalusian style, each one also includes a private bathroom fitted with hot tub and shower. Selman Marrakech also features 2 bars and 3 restaurants. You can start the day with a continental breakfast served at Selman restaurant, have Mediterranean cuisine for lunch and sample international dishes for dinner. Additional activities at this hotel include a kids club. Free private parking is provided on site and Marrakesh-Menara Airport is 5 km away.
7) Le Meridien N’fis: To use Marriott points
Le Méridien N’Fis is nestled in five and a half hectares of lush parkland in the Menara district of the city, approximately 3 kilometers away from the Medina. Guests can enjoy views of the mountains, garden, park or swimming pool from the rooms and suites. Once twilight falls, the enchanting spectacle of the illuminated Andalusian gardens, complete with tinkling fountains and coconut trees silhouetted against the dusk, is an unrivalled sight of scenic beauty. Le Méridien N’Fis offers three world-class restaurants, and spectacular spa facilities. Two of the finest golf courses in Morocco are located near the hotel.
8) Sofitel Marrakech Lounge and Spa: A resort near the Medina
Sofitel Marrakech Lounge and Spa offers luxurious accommodation less than 1 kilometre away from Jamaa El Fna Square. The resort has , 3 swimming pools, a spa and numerous restaurants and bars. The rooms and suites offer a private balcony overlooking the mountains or gardens. Marrakech Menara Airport is a 10-minute drive away and Bahia Palace is 1 km from the hotel.
9) El Fenn: Might just be the “coolest” place in town:
Located in the Medina, with 41 individually styled rooms/suites, El Fenn is a boutique hotel, with 3 pools, a rooftop terrace, spa, 2 cocktail bars, 2 restaurants, and shops. The style is mid-century Europe with elements of Moroccan design. We did not get to stay here but we did enjoy some drinks and snacks at the rooftop bar and terrace, which made us realize how much we wanted to stay here but it was above our budget. One thing we did not like is the over-the-top Instagram hipster vibe. Way too many Instagram girls here.
10) La Maison Arabe Hotel, Spa, and Cooking Workshops: For foodies and those who like traditional charm
Situated in the Medina of Marrakech, this is an old school riad hotel a 10-minute walk from Jamaa El Fna Square. It has a heated pool in the garden, and a spa with traditional hammams . Each air-conditioned room and suite includes free Wi-Fi, an LCD TV and a seating area with fireplace. The rooms and suite have a private terrace. Some rooms overlook the gardens and others have a spa bath. If you are looking for an American style chain hotel, this is not a good option as the rooms are older and more traditional. Les Trois Saveurs restaurant offers French, Moroccan and Asian cuisine. Meals are served in the dining area or on the terrace overlooking swimming pool and gardens. Guests can enjoy a drink in the piano bar or the buffet breakfast by the swimming pool. All bookings at La Maison Arabe include a bottle of wine and afternoon tea. Cooking workshops are possible upon request. The hotel is a 20-minute drive from the Marrakech Airport.
** Disclaimer: Your mileage may vary. Information in this post is accurate at time of posting and things may change, including reviews, pricing, and room availability. We would stay at most of these properties with some exceptions. Some listed were recommended by others and found through research based on regional knowledge. We cannot be responsible for negative experiences.
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