Location: Meknes
Top Things to do in Meknes
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What to do and see in Meknes, Morocco: The Best Places and Tips
Overlooked by many tourists, Meknes is a bustling modern city of nearly a million in northern Morocco, about 80 miles inland from the capital of Rabat. Local hero Moulay Ismail made Meknes Morocco's hub at the end of the 17th and beginning of the 18th centuries, and his mausoleum is one of the city's main attractions. The Museum of Moroccan Art (housing fascinating jewels and artifacts) and Bab Mansour (the largest and most stunning of the city's gates) are other Meknes sights not to be missed.
Restaurants in Meknes
1. Volubilis
Overall Ratings
4.5 based on 384 reviews
Reviewed By SeemsTVL - Dundee, United Kingdom
The Volubilis site can be reached by private taxi, tourbus or walking from Moulay Idriss. It is a medium -sized site that takes 1.5 - 2hrs to visit in reasonable depth. The entry fee is only 10 dirhrams
Remember to bring a hat and bottle of water. Of all the places I visited in Morcocco, this was my favourite
2. Bou Inania Medersa
Overall Ratings
4.5 based on 179 reviews
Reviewed By Stefano F
The Bou Inania Medersa is a jewel in the Meknes medina. Decoration is wonderful, very quiet (one can visit alone without guides) and a visit to the rooftop is worthwhile.
3. Bab Mansour Gate
Overall Ratings
4 based on 443 reviews
Reviewed By lynda m - Worcester, United Kingdom
Although it's only an entrance, it's magnificent! I'd advise getting a guide to explain all the history, metal work and mosaics. Because it's so near a busy road, there were many other tourists like us admiring it making it impossible to get a reasonable photo so try to admire it when it's less hectic.
4. Meknes Medina
Overall Ratings
4 based on 740 reviews
Reviewed By lynda m - Worcester, United Kingdom
Allow plenty of time to explore and try not to get lost if you're on a limited time. All the interesting little passages, everyone a photographers heaven, the smells, the noise, the people and the atmosphere are more intimate than the larger Medinas. Perfect in every way.
5. Mausoleum of Mouley Ismail
Overall Ratings
4 based on 312 reviews
Reviewed By lynda m - Worcester, United Kingdom
We were on a tight schedule but called in here as part of a grand tour of the area and although we were unable to see all of it, the parts we saw were fabulous. The mosaics were amazing covering every available surface and, because it was quiet when we were there, the atmosphere was serene. Well worth a longer visit.
6. El Hedim Square
Overall Ratings
4 based on 285 reviews
Reviewed By Samiya7 - Hollywood, Florida
This is a big square with restaurants and stalls selling Moroccan goods, spices, produce, meats, soaps and lots and lots of sweets that looked pretty good. We strolled around but did not buy anything.
7. Royal Stables
Overall Ratings
4 based on 110 reviews
Reviewed By springbank - Greve, Denmark
This is truly a hidden gem in Morocco. Breath-taking ruins that will blow your mind away. The site is made up of two main areas. The first is the interior part which was used to store huge amounts of grain (not people). The exterior part of the complex also has rows of stone arches but it was used to as a royal stable to keep horses and other animals. This massive stable yard was constructed to comfortably house no less that twelve thousand of the royal horses. Today, most of the stables are in ruin and due to an earthquake during the eighteenth century, the roof of the stables no longer provides protection. Behind the royal stables granaries were built on a Reservoir and were designed to be able to store grain for the horse feed.
8. Sahrij Swani
Overall Ratings
4 based on 112 reviews
Reviewed By redeco - Warren, Massachusetts
This enormous Reservoir was built by Moulay Ismail to provide water for the Imperial City. The stables and granary are just beyond. This is a part of the city that is well-used by the public for promenades around the man-made lake. On weekends and holidays, there can be merchandise and snack vendors here as well.
A guidebook tells that the women from the harem sailed boats on this reservoir; and that soldiers trained here as well.
Enjoy
9. Dar Jamai Museum
Overall Ratings
4 based on 98 reviews
Reviewed By Bernard B - Paris, France
The décor is much better than the museum itself which exhibits lots of traditional craft and art work. The garden is simple but very nice. Some of the rooms evoke the grandeur of past owners. Worth to spend an hour there...
10. Bab El-Khemis Gate
Overall Ratings
4 based on 42 reviews
Reviewed By springbank - Greve, Denmark
I think this is the most beautiful of the gates of the old city of Meknes, amazing magnificent structure. It is situated close to an area of the University and it is very well maintained with wonderful mosaics. The ancient wall stretched from it in both directions. Bab” is the Arabic word for gate and, of the 12 gates in the 12 kilometre long, rose-pink 12th-century wall that wraps around the ancient city, Bab el Kermis is one of the oldest. I have been told that it takes its name from the Thursday market where once camels, horses, mules and asses were sold.
