Tips
Riad or hotel in Marrakech: how to choose?
In Marrakech, the first question is not always “which hotel?” but “riad or hotel?”. The two offer very different stays: on one side, a traditional house in the heart of the medina; on the other, a larger property with pools, restaurants and services. Here is how to choose, with places from our guide for each style.
Riad or hotel: what is the difference?
A riad is a traditional house built around an inner courtyard, often with a fountain or a pool, and a rooftop terrace. Most are in the medina, quiet behind walls with no windows on the street. They usually have few rooms, so the atmosphere is intimate and the service very personal.
A hotel, or a resort, offers more rooms and more facilities: large pools, several restaurants, a spa, sometimes a kids’ club. The big hotels are mostly in Hivernage, the Palmeraie or along the roads leading out of the city.
Why choose a riad
- Location: in the medina, you can walk to the souks, Jemaa el-Fna square and the palaces.
- Charm: painted ceilings, zellige tiles, tadelakt walls, arcaded courtyards. Every house is different.
- Privacy: only a few rooms, and often the option to rent the whole house.
Good to know: cars cannot always reach the door through the medina’s alleys, and riad pools are usually small.
Riads in the medina
Riad Brummell Médina
Near Dar el Bacha palace, Riad Brummell Médina is a 19th-century house: 9 rooms, a large courtyard with arcades and fountains, a rooftop with Atlas views and a pool in the annex. From 1,500 MAD a night.
Palais Khum
Set in a restored former caravanserai, Palais Khum has 11 themed rooms and suites, a heated indoor pool, a spa with hammam and a bar known for its cocktails. From 1,550 MAD a night.
Angsana Heritage
Angsana Heritage brings together 6 restored riads and 42 rooms: the riad spirit with hotel services. Some riads have a private pool and can be booked in full by a family or a group. From 1,330 MAD a night.
The best of both: riad hotels
Some medina addresses have the size and services of a hotel, in the architecture of a riad.
Les Jardins de la Médina
In the Kasbah area, Les Jardins de la Médina is a 19th-century riad surrounded by 3,200 m² of gardens, with a heated pool and a spa with hammam. From 2,600 MAD a night.
La Maison Arabe
Once a famous 1940s restaurant, La Maison Arabe is a 5-star riad hotel with 37 rooms, known for its Moroccan cooking school and its piano-jazz bar. Two pools and a spa with hammam. From 5,470 MAD a night.
Riad El Fenn
Riad El Fenn has 41 individually decorated rooms, a 1,300 m² rooftop and three pools. A design-led address, listed several times in Condé Nast Traveler’s Gold List. From 5,000 MAD a night.
Royal Mansour
At the top of the range, the Royal Mansour is designed as a small medina: 53 private riads with courtyard and terrace, and dedicated butlers. From 16,000 MAD a night.
Why choose a hotel
A hotel is often the best choice for families, long stays or anyone who wants a large pool between two visits.
Hivernage Hotel & Spa
In Hivernage, close to the medina, Hivernage Hotel & Spa is a 5-star hotel built around a courtyard and its pool, with the MySky restaurant on the 7th floor and a spa with hammam. Breakfast and parking included. From 1,616 MAD a night.
Four Seasons Resort Marrakech
Between the medina and the new town, the Four Seasons spreads over 16 hectares of gardens: two pools including an adults-only one, three restaurants, a spa and a kids’ club. From 5,000 MAD a night.
How to choose
- For a short first stay, on foot: a medina riad, such as Riad Brummell or Palais Khum.
- As a couple: a riad hotel with a spa, such as Les Jardins de la Médina or La Maison Arabe.
- With family or friends: a riad booked in full (Angsana Heritage) or a resort with a kids’ club (Four Seasons).
- For the pool and some rest: a hotel in Hivernage or a resort outside the medina.
Prices are indicative starting rates: they vary with the season and the room. Always check availability and conditions directly with the property.
