Imperial cities & Middle Atlas
Meknes
Sultan Moulay Ismail’s imperial city, next to Roman Volubilis.
Meknes was the capital of Sultan Moulay Ismail in the late 17th century, who surrounded it with kilometres of walls and monumental gates. Its historic city is a UNESCO World Heritage site (1996).
It is quieter than Fes and the perfect base for Volubilis, the best-preserved Roman site in Morocco, and the holy town of Moulay Idriss Zerhoun.
Highlights
One of the most beautiful monumental gates in North Africa.
Lively square facing Bab Mansour, especially in the evening.
Huge royal granaries and stables built by Moulay Ismail.
Richly decorated tomb of the sultan.
Roman city with remarkable mosaics, about 30 km away (UNESCO 1997).
Things to do
- Monuments & medinasVolubilis and Moulay Idriss — Half-day trip to the Roman ruins and the hilltop holy town.
- Food & marketsMeknes wine region — Morocco’s main wine-growing area surrounds the city.
- Monuments & medinasCalèche ride along the walls — Horse-drawn carriage tour of the imperial city.
- Crafts & souksDamascene metalwork — Silver thread inlaid in iron, a Meknes speciality.
Where to stay
The medina near Place el-Hedim for riads, or the Ville Nouvelle for classic hotels.
Hôtel Transatlantique
ComfortClassic 1920s hotel with gardens and views over the Meknes medina.
- Address
- Rue El Meriniyine, Ville Nouvelle, 50000 Meknès
- Phone
- +212 535 525 050
- Website
- hoteltransatlantique.ma
Contact details come from the hotels’ official websites or consistent public listings. We are not paid for listings. Always confirm prices and conditions directly with the property.
Getting there
Trains from Fes (about 40 min), Rabat (about 2 h) and Casablanca. Fes-Saïss is the nearest airport.
Local tip
Visit Volubilis early in the morning: there is little shade on the site.