Choosing where to stay in Marrakech depends on what you want from the trip, as there’s far more choice than just a traditional riad in the medina. There are hotels, private villas and Airbnb properties, along with all-inclusive resorts outside the medina with swimming pools and, in some cases, water slides.
I visited Marrakech with my husband in February, and we stayed for two nights at Riad Nelia. We loved having a small, peaceful place to return to after exploring, with breakfast on the rooftop and staff who helped us arrange transport. For the short break we’d planned, it worked really well.
Over the last two years, we’ve also put together lots of Marrakech travel deals for our social pages and Travel Club, looking at accommodation for different budgets and types of holiday. Somewhere I’d choose for a few days with my husband might be quite different from what I’d book for a week away with the children.
It really comes down to your holiday vibe. Do you want to head out into the souks, visit the sights and try a different restaurant each evening, or would you rather spend most of the day by a pool and pop into Marrakech when you fancy it? A villa or apartment might suit better if you want more space and somewhere to cook.
This guide covers the main areas and types of accommodation to consider, our experience at Riad Nelia and other places worth looking at, so you can choose a base that fits the holiday you actually want.
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A short break exploring the souks and sights: A riad in the medina
A modern hotel near shops and restaurants: Guéliz
A hotel with a pool, restaurants and bars: Hivernage
Pool days, entertainment and meals included: An all-inclusive resort outside the medina
More space for family or friends: A private riad, villa or apartment
A quieter base with grounds and a pool: The Palmeraie or accommodation on the outskirts
| What you want from the trip | Where I'd start looking |
|---|---|
| A short break exploring the souks and sights | A riad in the medina |
| A modern hotel near shops and restaurants | Guéliz |
| A hotel with a pool, restaurants and bars | Hivernage |
| Pool days, entertainment and meals included | An all-inclusive resort outside the medina |
| More space for family or friends | A private riad, villa or apartment |
| A quieter base with grounds and a pool | The Palmeraie or accommodation on the outskirts |
For a first sightseeing trip, I’d start by looking at the medina. If the main aim is a relaxing holiday with a couple of trips into the city, I’d give more weight to the pool, facilities and meal arrangements.
Neither is automatically the better option. They offer quite different holidays, so it helps to decide what you want to spend most of your time doing before comparing accommodation.
We stayed in the medina and loved being able to head out on foot, explore the little streets and stop whenever something caught our attention. For a short break with my husband, that was a big part of the appeal.
The medina is Marrakech’s old town, where you’ll find the souks, Jemaa el-Fnaa and plenty of traditional riads. However, it’s a large area, so seeing “medina location” on a listing doesn’t tell you everything about how convenient somewhere will be.
Look at the actual walking route to the places you want to visit. A property close to Bahia Palace may suit a different sightseeing plan from one nearer Bab Doukkala, and a short distance on the map can still involve several small alleyways.
The main thing to consider is access. Cars can’t reach every entrance, so there may be a final walk with your luggage. Our riad arranged a driver who walked us to the door, which made arriving much easier.
I’d choose the medina if exploring Marrakech is the main reason for the trip. Before booking, check the entrance arrangements, recent comments about noise and whether you’re comfortable finding your way back after dinner.
Hivernage is another area to consider if you want hotel facilities while still spending time exploring Marrakech. It’s known for larger hotels, restaurants and nightlife, so it may appeal if the holiday includes pool time and evenings out.
It isn’t somewhere I’d automatically describe as quiet, as that depends on the property and what’s nearby. If sleep is a priority, read recent reviews for mentions of music, hotel entertainment and room location.
I’d compare Hivernage with Guéliz if you want a hotel rather than a riad, then decide based on the facilities, price and actual journey to your sightseeing stops.
Guéliz is the more modern side of Marrakech, with wider roads, shops, cafés and restaurants. It’s worth considering if you prefer a conventional hotel or apartment and want somewhere that feels easier to navigate.
You can still visit the medina, but you won’t necessarily step straight out into the souks each morning. Check the distance from the individual property rather than assuming everything in Guéliz is an easy walk from Jemaa el-Fnaa.
For some travellers, having shops and restaurants nearby, along with straightforward taxi access, will matter more than staying in a traditional riad. I’d look here if that sounds more like your kind of break.
If you’re drawn to a villa with a private pool or a resort with plenty of outdoor space, widen the search beyond the central areas.
This can work well when the accommodation is a big part of the holiday, especially if you’re planning slower days rather than heading into the medina every morning. The trade-off is that transport becomes more important.
Before booking, check the actual location, whether a shuttle is available and what taxis are likely to cost. Somewhere that looks excellent value can become less convenient if you want to travel into the city for lunch, sightseeing and dinner every day.
For a longer holiday, I’d happily compare these options. For a two-night sightseeing break, I’d be more cautious about choosing somewhere a long drive from the places on our list.
A riad is traditionally a Moroccan home built around an internal courtyard or garden. Many have been converted into small guesthouses, with rooms opening onto the courtyard and shared spaces for breakfast or relaxing.
They vary considerably. Some are simple and affordable, while others have pools, spas, restaurants and beautifully decorated suites. Booking a riad doesn’t automatically mean booking luxury, just as booking a hotel doesn’t automatically mean losing character.
For us, the appeal was having somewhere small and personal to return to after being out in the city. Our riad felt peaceful once we were inside, even though there was plenty going on in the surrounding streets.
For a few nights with my husband, I’d look at a riad again. We enjoyed the courtyard setting, rooftop breakfast and having staff who could help with directions and transport.
However, look beyond the photos. Check whether the room has air conditioning or heating, where it sits within the building and whether access involves stairs. If you want a pool, make sure it’s suitable for the way you intend to use it, as a small courtyard pool is quite different from somewhere you can spend the whole afternoon swimming.
A hotel may suit better if you want a larger swimming pool, lifts, more facilities or a room arrangement that works for the whole family.
That doesn’t mean every hotel has those things, so check the individual listing. I’d pay particular attention to connecting rooms, bed arrangements and whether the pool and children’s facilities are available during our dates.
For a family holiday where we’d spend plenty of time at the accommodation, I’d compare hotels and resorts alongside riads rather than choosing purely because a courtyard looks lovely in the photos.
We stayed at Riad Nelia for two nights in February and paid £74 per night, including breakfast. That was the price of our own stay at the time, rather than a rate to expect for every date.
For us, it felt like excellent value. We had a lovely room, a peaceful courtyard and somewhere comfortable to come back to after walking around Marrakech.
One of my favourite parts was breakfast on the rooftop terrace. It was a lovely way to start the morning before heading out, and having it included kept things simple.
The staff were helpful throughout our stay, sharing advice and arranging transport when we needed it. Our airport transfer cost £20 for the two of us, and the driver knew the riad and walked us right to the entrance.
The transfer was added to our room bill, so we didn’t need cash to pay the driver on arrival. We did need cash to settle those extras before leaving, which is something I’d ask about beforehand when booking.
Nelia also offers spa and hammam services, so it’s worth looking at if you’d like to add some relaxation to a sightseeing break.
Yes, I would consider it again for a break with my husband. We liked the location, the breakfast and how helpful the staff were, and it suited the kind of trip we’d planned.
One thing to check now is exactly which property you’re booking. The current Nelia website advertises a collection of riads, so compare the property name, room photographs and facilities carefully rather than assuming every Nelia listing is the same place we stayed.
Also confirm the current age policy if travelling with children, as our original stay was at a property advertised as adults only at the time.
We’ve only stayed at Riad Nelia from the options below. These are other properties worth comparing, based on their locations and advertised facilities, rather than places we’re claiming to have personally reviewed.
Riad BE is one we’ve looked at when considering another Marrakech trip, partly because the courtyard and interiors caught our attention.
It’s in the Bab Doukkala area of the medina, and its official website lists a spa, yoga spaces and cookery experiences. That makes it worth comparing if you want a small riad where you can spend some time relaxing as well as heading out sightseeing.
There’s also a separate private property called The Douiria, with three bedrooms, a kitchen and its own rooftop, advertised for two to six guests. That could be worth looking at for a family or group wanting more space while staying in the medina.
Angsana’s collection is another option to compare if you like the idea of a riad but need a choice of rooms, suites or a private stay.
The collection is based in the medina around the Derb Si Said area, and its website lists dining, spa and swimming pool facilities. It also advertises options for booking multiple rooms or a private riad.
I’d look at this for a couple, family or group, then confirm which building and room arrangement the quote covers. With a collection of properties, it’s worth asking where the facilities are in relation to your room rather than assuming everything is in the same building.
Riad Oriental Glory & Spa is another lovely option in the medina, particularly if you're looking for a traditional Moroccan riad with a pool. Its beautiful courtyard has a rounded green-tiled pool surrounded by plants, with balconies overlooking it from above. It's exactly the sort of place that makes staying in a riad feel a little different from booking a standard hotel.
The riad has ten rooms, a rooftop terrace, a restaurant and spa facilities including a traditional hammam and massage treatments. It's located in the Zaouia Abbassia area of the medina, so I'd check the walking distances to the main sights before booking, particularly if you're planning to spend most of your time exploring on foot.
It's worth comparing if you want somewhere with a pool and spa facilities without staying in one of the larger hotels outside the medina.
The Radisson Blu at Carré Eden is an option to compare if you want a modern hotel in Guéliz rather than a stay in the medina.
I’d put it on the shortlist for a trip where shops, restaurants and conventional hotel facilities are important, then compare the room rate and transport costs with a central riad.
It offers a different base from our Nelia stay, so the decision would come down to how much time we expected to spend exploring the old town and how much we wanted to use the hotel itself.
Aqua Mirage is worth comparing if you want a family holiday with pool days and entertainment, rather than a trip centred on walking around Marrakech.
The resort advertises an all-inclusive stay, a water park, outdoor pools, a children’s club and a city-centre shuttle. It’s outside the centre, so I’d treat visits to the medina as outings to plan rather than somewhere to pop into on foot.
Before booking, check the shuttle timetable and any charges, slide height restrictions and which pools are heated during your dates. Its website states that winter heating of some pools depends on weather conditions, so I wouldn’t assume every pool will feel warm.
I’d also compare the exact family room setup, particularly with older children who may need proper beds rather than sharing a sofa bed.
Despite having “Medina” in its name, Kenzi Club Agdal Medina is a resort option rather than a small riad tucked into the old-town alleyways.
Its official website advertises all-inclusive stays, family rooms, pools with water slides, children’s activities and a city-centre shuttle.
It’s another property I’d compare for a family holiday where we wanted facilities on site but still planned to visit Marrakech. Check the board basis, room capacity and what costs extra, particularly spa access and use of the heated indoor pool.
A private property can make sense if travelling with family or friends, especially when separate bedrooms and shared living space matter more than hotel facilities.
However, “private property” can mean quite different things. It might be an apartment in a modern building, a whole riad in the medina or a villa outside the city with a garden and pool.
For our family, I’d start with the sleeping arrangements. A listing for six people doesn’t necessarily mean three bedrooms or six proper beds, so read the details rather than relying on the maximum guest number.
Then I’d check the kitchen, air conditioning, bathrooms and whether the pool is private or shared. For a villa outside the centre, I’d also want to know how we’d buy food and arrange transport, particularly as I don’t drive.
Include cleaning fees, deposits and transport in the comparison. A lower nightly rate isn’t always the cheapest overall option once everything is added together.
I wouldn’t rule out a riad for a family trip, but I would check that children are accepted and that the room setup genuinely works.
For younger children, look closely at stairs, balconies and access to courtyard pools. Ask the property directly about anything that isn’t clear in the listing.
If swimming and water slides are likely to be the highlight of the holiday, a resort may be a better fit. If you’re visiting mainly to explore Marrakech, a suitable central riad or hotel could make the days easier.
With teenagers, I’d involve them in the decision too. A lovely courtyard may appeal to us, but separate beds, reliable Wi-Fi and a pool they can actually swim in might be higher on their list.
After putting together Marrakech deals for our socials and Travel Club over the last two years, I’d start by comparing the total trip cost rather than choosing accommodation from one attractive nightly price.
A breakfast-inclusive riad might work well if you plan to eat out each evening. An all-inclusive hotel could make more sense if most days will be spent around the pool. A self-catering property might suit a larger group, provided the location and transport work.
Check the price for your actual dates and full group, including the children’s ages. Then compare:
• The total room cost, including taxes and fees.
• Breakfast or the exact meal plan included.
• Airport transfers and journeys into Marrakech.
• Proper beds, sofa beds and connecting-room arrangements.
• Cancellation terms and when payment is due.
• Pool access, heating and any facilities that cost extra.
I’d also read the most recent reviews, especially those from travellers with similar needs. A couple on a sightseeing break may have very different priorities from a family staying for a week.
There are a few things I’d ask before booking, particularly for a first visit:
• Can a taxi reach the entrance, or is there a final walk?
• Can someone meet us and help us find the door?
• Does the room have air conditioning and heating?
• Are there stairs to the room or breakfast terrace?
• Is breakfast included, and what time is it served?
• Is the pool heated, and is it suitable for swimming?
• Are children accepted, and what are the bed arrangements?
• Which charges can be paid by card, and which need cash?
Our driver walking us to Riad Nelia was a small detail that made a big difference on arrival. I’d arrange that again rather than arrive with our bags and immediately have to work out the alleyways.
You can read more about transfers, cash and finding your way around in our Marrakech Travel Tips guide.
Yes, and it’s something I’d consider for a longer Marrakech holiday.
A few nights in the medina could give you time for the souks, sights and restaurant evenings, followed by a resort or villa for slower days by the pool.
For a two or three-night trip, I’d usually choose one base. Packing up, checking out and arranging another transfer would take time away from a short break.
For a week or longer, splitting the stay could be a lovely way to enjoy both sides of the destination. Just include the transfer and any minimum-stay requirements when comparing prices.
If you fancy something a little different, you could add a night in an Agafay desert camp to your Marrakech trip. Agafay is a rocky desert landscape rather than the huge sand dunes of the Sahara, so make sure the photos match what you’re expecting.
I’d consider this for a night alongside a stay in Marrakech, especially if you like the idea of sunset views and dinner under the stars. It would mean another transfer, though, so for a short city break you might prefer a sunset dinner excursion instead.
Camps vary from simpler tents to accommodation with private bathrooms, air conditioning and swimming pools. Check the facilities for your exact tent, whether dinner and transfers are included, and recent reviews for noise, as some camps also host evening entertainment and day visitors.
BE Nomad Agafay is located outside Marrakech, with an outdoor pool, Moroccan restaurant and double, triple and family rooms with mountain views. There are family rooms sleeping up to six, which could be useful if travelling with children or friends. Airport transfers are available for an extra charge, so include those when comparing the overall cost. Despite “camp” being in the name, the accommodation is listed as rooms, so check the photos and exact room type before booking.
Agafay Luxury Camp is another option to compare if you fancy adding a desert stay to your Marrakech break. I’d consider it for a night alongside a riad stay, giving you time to explore the city before heading out for a change of scenery. Check the facilities included with your chosen tent, whether breakfast and dinner are covered, and the cost of transfers from Marrakech before comparing the total price.
The Orion Dome is another Agafay option to look at if you fancy adding a different type of stay to your Marrakech trip. Check the photos and details of the accommodation you’re booking, including bathroom facilities, heating or air conditioning, meals and transfers, before comparing the overall cost.
Next time, I’d probably look at a split stay over around ten days, with three nights in a riad, two in the Agafay Desert and five at an all-inclusive hotel. I think that would be a lovely mix, giving us time to explore Marrakech, try a different type of stay in the desert and finish with a few days relaxing by the pool.
We loved staying in the medina with its little streets, souks and choice of restaurants, so I’d want that to be part of another trip. Adding a desert stay would give us a change of scenery, while the all-inclusive would be a chance to slow down after the sightseeing.
If we brought the children, I think that combination could work really well too, with exploring at the start and pools and slides to look forward to at the end. I’d just check the transfer arrangements and timings before booking, so moving between places felt like part of the holiday rather than a chore.
Whenever I spot great-value flights and accommodation for DIY breaks to Marrakech and other destinations from UK airports, I share them with members of the Build a Break Travel Club, with links to book each part independently.
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