Best of Meknes

Top itineraries and travel advice in and around Meknes

Meknes attracts fewer visitors than Morocco’s other three Imperial cities (Marrakesh, Rabat and nearby Fez). Yet the Unesco-listed metropolis has an impressive number of attractions, including a 17th-century entrance gate that’s covered with intricate tilework, and an atmospheric Medina (old quarter) created nearly 1,000 years ago. Meknes lies between the coastal plains and the Atlas Mountains, making it an important cultural crossroads since ancient times. Its strategic location also makes it a good base for visiting various historic sites in the region.

On a guided tour of Meknes, you’ll visit the most authentic souks and local craft shops in the medina. You’ll also learn about 17th-century sultan Moulay Ismail’s grand ambitions for Meknes while seeing his royal kasbah and the impressive mausoleum that houses his tomb. On an easy day trip from Meknes, you can visit the ruins of Volubilis, the best-preserved ancient Roman city in Morocco. A worthy detour along the way takes you to the holy town of Moulay-Idriss, which has Roman baths, an aqueduct and a grand mausoleum, with some fine viewpoints over the hilltop town.

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Wander the narrow streets of Meknes' medina

Grand Tour: Casablanca, Meknes, Chefchaouen, Fes, Sahara Desert, Marrakech - 8 Days

Spend eight days on a grand tour of Morocco, which guarantees a taste of the country's iconic landscapes and landmarks. You'll begin in Casablanca to pay homage to its eponymous classic film, then head to Meknes, visiting Roman ruins before staying in Chefchaouen. Get lost in the medinas of Fes and travel across the Atlas mountains to the Sahara. You'll meet the area's nomadic people, dine by the fire as you watch local performers, and sleep overnight in a traditional Bedouin tent before you end your trip in the bustle of Marrakesh.

A view inside the labyrinth of souks in Marrakech

Morocco Grand Tour: Casablanca to Marrakech - 12 Days

This complete 12-day tour covers Morocco' best, from cultural stops in historic cities to desert exploration in the Sahara and surrounding desert. Explore medieval medinas, lively souks, ancient ruins, and old kasbahs. You'll trek along long-forgotten caravan routes, ride a camel over colossal sand dunes, and cool off in an oasis at the bottom of a gorge.

Tizi n'Tichka pass over the Atlas mountain range

Grand Morocco Tour: North to South - 10 Days

This 10-day itinerary features a perfect mix of culture, history, adventure, and relaxation. Explore imperial cities, mountain villages, desert landscapes, and coastal ramparts. Begin in northern Morocco in Tangier and Chefchaouen before working your way south to Fes, through the desert, and over the Atlas Mountains to Marrakech and Essaouira.

Moroccan sunset over the northern city of Chefchaouen

Moroccan Cities of the North - 5 Days

This 5-day itinerary offers a nice balance of historical and modern cities in northern Morocco. Start and end in modern Casablanca before exploring Rabat and "the blue city" of Chefchaoeun in the Rif mountains. Continue south to Meknes, Roman ruins at Volubilis, and immerse yourself in the culture capital of medieval Fes.

A Taste of Morocco: Casablanca to Marrakech - 7 Days

Discover Morocco's highlights with this fast-paced 7-day trip beginning in Casablanca and ending in Marrakech. Visit the 4 imperial cities of Rabat, Meknes, Fes, and Marrakech. Travel along old caravan routes in the desert, and spend the night camping among Saharan dunes and listening to traditional Berber music. Discover old fortified kasbahs and hidden oases before climbing over the High Atlas mountains into bustling Marrakech.

Imperial Cities of Morocco - 7 Days

Featuring an exciting mix of culture and history, this complete 7-day itinerary covers highlights of Morocco's historic Imperial cities, Meknes, Fes, Rabat, and Marrakech with additional time dedicated to Tangier, Chefchaouen, and Casablanca. You'll start in Tangier on the coast of the Strait of Gibraltar and work your way south to lively Marrakech. Morocco's exceptional architecture, ornate artisanship, delicious food, and bustling souks are sure to leave you charmed.

Boumalne Dades and the Dades Valley, Morocco

Imperial Cities & Desert Grand Tour - 10 Days

Discover the best of Morocco with this 10-day loop, featuring the imperial cities of Rabat, Meknes, Fes, and Marrakech, as well as several days in the desert. You'll navigate the streets of ancient medinas, ride a camel over shifting sands in the Sahara, explore mud-brick cities in desert towns, and cross the high rocky peaks of the Atlas mountains.

A desert oases in the Draa Valley, Morocco

Grand Tour of Morocco: Imperial Cities & the Sahara Desert - 7 Days

This all-encompassing 7-day tour highlights the best of Morocco, from cultural stops in imperial cities to natural exploration in desert landscapes. Begin in modern Casablanca and end in bustling Marrakech. You'll discover Roman ruins, ride a camel into the Sahara, visit old kasbahs, cool off in an oasis, and explore the thriving historic cities of Meknes, Fes, and Marrakech.

Moroccan Cities: Tangier to Marrakech - 6 Days

This quick trip takes you through Morocco's best cities. Start in the north in Tangier and work your way south to the blue-painted streets of Chefchaouen, passed Roman ruins in Volubilis, and through the medieval medina in Fes. Carry on west to Morocco's capital, Rabat, before reaching modern Casablanca and finishing in lively Marrakech.

Chefchaouen, the charming "blue city" of northern Morocco

Moroccan Cities of the North - 4 Days

This four-day itinerary focuses on several areas in northern Morocco, from medieval medinas to modern cities. Start in Casablanca and explore imperial Meknes, the cultural capital of Fes, the Roman ruins at Volubilis, and the blue streets of Chefchaouen.

Casablanca to Marrakech: Imperial Cities, Hiking & the Desert - 10 Days

Explore Morocco's imperial cities, mountains, and desert with this balanced 10-day trip starting in Casablanca and ending in Marrakech. Wander medieval medinas in Fes and Marrakech, explore the modern cities of Casablanca and Rabat, and adventure along old caravan routes in the desert. Spend a day hiking in the foothills of the High Atlas mountains before ending the trip in Marrakech.

A Taste of Morocco: Casablanca to Marrakech - 9 Days

Enjoy cultural experiences and desert adventure on this nine-day circuit of Morocco beginning in modern Casablanca and ending Marrakech. Explore souks, markets, and medieval kasbahs, ride a camel into the Sahara and sleep under the stars.

Sunset over Chefchaouen in the north of Morocco

Northern Morocco's Cities: Tangier to Casablanca - 5 Days

This 5-day itinerary highlights Morocco's northern cities, starting in Tangier and finishing in Casablanca. Wander blue streets in Chefchaouen, explore Roman Volubilis and Imperial Meknes. Lose yourself in the medieval medina in Fes, and Visit modern Rabat and Casablanca.

Morocco Grand Tour: Cities, Mountains, and Desert - 14 Days

Enjoy culture, history, adventure and relaxation on this 2-week Morocco grand tour. Explore the imperial cities of Rabat, Meknes, Fes, and Casablanca. Venture into the desert a few days exploring kasbahs, caravan routes, and the Saharan dunes. Cross up and over the high atlas mountains and spend a couple days hiking between small villages, spending the night with a local family. End your trip by relaxing in Essaouira before continuing along the coast back to Casablanca.

Ancient Berber kasbah near Ouarzazate city

Morocco Grand Tour: Cities, Desert & the Coast - 10 Days

Enjoy this 10-day loop that begins and ends in Casablanca. Explore imperial cities and wander medieval medinas, follow old desert caravan routes and relax along the Atlantic coast. Learn to cook tajine, spend a night listening to traditional music by campfire, and go kitesurfing in the Atlantic.

Northern Morocco: Tangier, Chefchaouen & Fes - 4 Days

Discover Morocco's northern cities on this quick four-day itinerary starting in Tangier. You'll explore medieval medinas of historic Meknes and Fes, roam the blue-painted streets of picturesque Chefchaouen, and discover ancient ruins of the fallen Roman Empire in Volubilis.

Enjoy the coast in Rabat, capital of Morocco

Morocco Grand Tour from Rabat: Imperial Cities & Coastal Towns - 9 Days

Explore Morocco's grand cities and coastal towns with this 9-day itinerary starting in the capital of Rabat. Explore the Rif mountains and wander the blue streets of Chefchaouen. Immerse yourself in centuries of culture in Fes as you wander souks and visit local artisan workshops. Enjoy the evening spectacle at Jemaa el-Fna Square in bustling Marrakech before relaxing along the Atlantic coast in Essaouira.

View from the Merenid Tombs overlooking Fes

Northern Morocco Loop from Tangier - 4 Days

This quick 4-day itinerary highlights several cities in northern Morocco: Tangier, Volubilis, Meknes, Fes, and Rabat. You'll navigate 11th-century medinas, browse wares in souks and markets, wander pretty blue-washed streets, and explore the well-preserved remains of the once prolific Roman Empire.

Panoramic view of Fes at sunset time, Morocco

Casablanca, Chefchaouen, & Fes - 4 Days

Enjoy northern Morocco's top cities with this 4-day loop from Casablanca. Wander the blue streets of Chefchaouen in the Rif mountains before stopping in the Roman town of Volubilis. End your quick trip in the culture capital of Fes as you roam the winding souks of the medina, visit local artisan workshops, or try your hand at a cooking class.

Marrakech's lively Jemaa el-Fna Square in the early evening

Moroccan Cities Grand Tour - 10 Days

This 10-day trip showcases the main cities and cultural highlights of Morocco. Start in modern Casablanca and Rabat and continue to the Rif Mountains to wander the blue streets of Chefchaouen. Visit Roman ruins and the medina of medieval Fes before finishing in the red city of Marrakech. Take a cooking class, visit local artisan workshops, and relax in a hammam.

Casablanca's impressive Hassan II Mosque

Moroccan Cities Grand Tour - 8 Days

Dive into Morocco's modern and ancient cities with this 8-day trip starting and ending in the commercial capital of Casablanca. Head north to explore the capital of Rabat, enjoy a sunset over the blue city of Chefchaoeun, step back to Roman times at Volubilis, and visit artisan workshops in the culture capital of Fes. End in vibrant Marrakech and discover Africa's busiest square, Jemaa el-Fna.

Wander the blue-hued streets of charming Chefchaouen in the north of Morocco

Moroccan Cities of the North - 6 Days

This six-day itinerary offers a nice balance of historical and modern cities in northern Morocco. Start and end in urban Casablanca before exploring Rabat and the "blue city" of Chefchaouen in the Rif Mountains. Continue south to explore Meknes, the well-preserved Roman ruins at Volubilis, and the cultural capital of medieval Fes.

Moroccan Towns & Imperial Cities - 5 Days

Explore Morocco's cities with this 5-day itinerary. Featuring the historic cities of Fes, Meknes, Rabat, and Marrakech, as well as the hillside town of Chefchaouen and the coastal city of Casablanca. You'll walk the streets of medieval medinas, shop souks and bazaars, roam ancient Roman ruins, and marvel at the artistic details of Morocco's finest buildings.

Traditional wares await in the bustling souks

Moroccan Cities & the Coast - 9 Days

Explore Morocco's imperial cities and Atlantic coast with this 9-day circuit from Casablanca. Start in northern Morocco between Rabat, Chefchaouen, and Fes. Continue further south to bustling Marrakech to explore the "red city" before wrapping up with a relaxing stop in Essaouira. Returning to Casablanca along the Atlantic coast.

Moroccan Cities and the Sahara - 8 Days

Featuring a combination of culture, adventure, and relaxation, this 8-day itinerary will bring you to the famous old medina in Fes, a dune sea in the Sahara, and the brilliant blue walkways of Chefchaouen. Enjoy traditional music around a desert campfire, hike in a massive gorge, and get in on the action in Marrakech's busiest square.

A tempting display at a souk in Marrakech

Moroccan Cities: Casablanca, Rabat, Fes & Marrakech - 6 Days

Discover Morroco's historic and modern cities on this 6-day tour of the country's urban centers. You'll get a sense of Morocco's evolution across the centuries, from its Roman ruins in Volubilis to its modern commercial capital, Casablanca. You'll also visit the seaside splendor of Rabat — which showcases the influence of French-colonial heritage — as well as the exquisite Imperial City of Meknes. Finally, you'll immerse yourself in Marrakech, the "Red City," where you'll be welcomed with fantastic cuisine, a bustling Medina, and gorgeous architecture.

Morocco Grand Tour: Tangier to Casablanca via the Desert - 10 Days

This 10-day itinerary combines culture, history, and adventure. Begin in northern Morocco in Tangier and Chefchaouen before working your way south to Fes, through the desert, and over the Atlas Mountains to Marrakech. Finish in the commercial capital of Casablanca with a trip to the breathtaking Hassan II Mosque.

Town of Boumalne Dades in the Dades Valley

Morocco Grand Tour: Cultural Cities, Sahara Desert & Atlas Hiking - 10 Days

This 10-day itinerary offers a great mix of culture and outdoor adventure. Start in Casablanca and explore imperial cities and medieval medinas, ride across dunes and spend a night by a campfire listening to traditional music. Follow old caravan routes through hidden oases and hike through small villages dotting the hillsides in the Atlas mountains. Share a meal with local families and enjoy the evening spectacle of Jemaa el-Fna Square in Marrakech.

Morocco Grand Tour: Cities, Desert & the Coast - 11 Days

Enjoy this 11-day trip from Casablanca to explore imperial cities, wander medieval medinas, follow old desert caravan routes, and relax along the Atlantic coast. Learn to cook tagine, spend a night listening to traditional music by a desert campfire, or go kitesurfing in the Atlantic.

A Taste of Morocco: Casablanca to Marrakech - 8 days

This eight-day loop from Casablanca to Marrakech offers a perfect mix of imperial cities, smaller towns, and unforgettable desert adventures. You will start in the north with Casablanca, Rabat, Chefchaouen, and Fes before venturing into the desert for a camel ride and night under the stars at a desert camp as well as exploring old caravan routes, oases, and fortified kasbahs. You will then cross the High Atlas mountains into bustling Marrakech to wander souks and experience lively Jemma el-Fna square.

Morocco North to South: Cities & Atlas Hiking - 9 Days

A perfect blend of culture and adventure, this 9-day route has you traveling across Morocco from Tangier to Marrakech. Immerse yourself in Chefchaouen, Fes, and Marrakech as your wander souks, markets, and local artisan workshops. Explore the modern cities of Rabat and Casablanca along the Atlantic coast. End your stay hiking between rural villages in the High Atlas foothills where you will share a meal and spend the night with a local family.

Grand Moroccan Tour - 13 Days

This 13-day tour covers a wide range sites and experiences that, together, provide a well-rounded view of Morocco. The tour begins with the imperial cities of the northern area (Casablanca, Rabat, Tanger, Fez, and Meknes), and also includes the charming blue-painted town of Chefchaouen. The trip continues toward the Merzouga area of the Sahara, with the classic Erg Chebbi sand dunes all around. Then, stop in vibrant Marrakech and experience its lively square before heading back to Casablanca to depart.

Casablanca Round Trip: Imperial Cities & Berber Villages

Explore Morocco: Imperial Cities to Berber Villages - 11 Days

On this 11-day tour of Morocco, you’ll begin and end your travels in Casablanca, home to the famous Hassan II Mosque. Your trip takes you through all four imperial cities–Rabat, Meknes, Fes, and Marrakech. Take in daily life in each town at the lively medinas. You’ll also have the opportunity to observe Moroccan life among the farms in the Berber villages on this well-rounded Moroccan journey.

The sun sets over the Ouarzazate River and Aït Benhaddou

Imperial Cities, Desert Adventures & Atlas Hiking - 11 Days

This 11-day grand tour mixes culture and adventure, featuring Morocco's 4 Imperial Cities, several days exploring the Sahara and surrounding desert, and hiking in the High Atlas mountains outside of Marrakech.

Highlights of Morocco: Fes, Atlas Mountains, Dades Valley, Marrakech & Essaouira - 14 Days

See some of Morocco's best sights on this two-week itinerary. You'll wander the streets of artsy seaside Asilah, then head to the sandier seas of the Atlas Mountains and Erg Chebi with a camel trek and desert camping. Follow expert guides through the bustling markets of Fes and Marrakech, and wrap up your trip in the bohemian enclave of Essaouira before you depart.

Imperial Cities & Desert Grand Tour - 11 Days

Discover imperial cities and desert landscapes on this 11-day circuit starting in Casablanca. Experience culture and history in historic Rabat, Meknes, Fes, and Marrakech as you navigate their ancient medinas. You'll ride a camel over shifting sands in the Sahara, explore mud-brick cities, and cross the high rocky peaks of the Atlas mountains.

Cape Spartel lighthouse at the entrance to the Strait of Gibraltar, near Tangier

Grand Morocco Tour: North to South - 11 Days

This complete 11-day itinerary takes you from Tangier—the gateway between Europe and Africa—to buzzing Marrakech, through some of Morocco's most stunning landscapes. You'll visit three imperial cities along with the Roman ruins of Volubilis, the desert towns of Erfoud, Merzouga, and Rissani, and the mud-brick ksar of Aït Benhaddou. Ride a camel over the Erg Chebbi dunes, explore hidden oases along ancient caravan routes, and wander medinas and souks along the way.

The iconic Koutoubia Mosque in Marrakech

Morocco: Luxury Imperial Cities - 10 Days

Spend ten days touring the Imperial Cities of Morroco while relaxing in the lap of luxury. In addition to having a private driver take you around the country and give you insider tips, you'll enjoy private guided tours, cooling classes and incredible experiences like a night of desert glamping and a sunrise hot air balloon. After a day of adventure and exploration, sink into comfort in five-star, richly appointed riads.

Other popular travel destinations in Morocco
Marrakesh · Fes · Moroccan Desert · Casablanca · Chefchaouen · Merzouga · Essaouira · Ouarzazate · Aït Benhaddou · Rabat · Atlas Mountains · Boumalne Dades · Todra Gorge · Tangier · Imlil · Zagora · Taroudant · Asilah · Agadir · Skoura · Bin El Ouidane · Agdz · Kalaat M'Gouna · Draa Valley

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