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No. 03, The districts

Marrakech districts, quarter by quarter

Marrakech districts: the medina quarters and the new city.

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A rooftop terrace at night, low lights along the tables and the Koutoubia lit on the skyline
A medina rooftop, the Koutoubia lit · at night
A riad courtyard at night, candles, red cushions and palms under the arcade
A riad courtyard in the medina · at night

Marrakech has two halves. Inside the walls is the medina: Jemaa el-Fnaa, the souks, Mouassine, Bab Doukkala, the Mellah, the Kasbah and Riad Zitoun. Outside them are Gueliz and Hivernage, the new city, with the Palmeraie and the Agdal gardens on the edges. Each quarter has its own best hour.

  1. The medina quarters, inside the walls

    The medina, on foot. Lanes change trade every hundred metres.

    Jemaa el-Fnaa

    Juice carts from morning; from about 16:00, grills, Gnawa drums, storytellers' circles and families out walking.

    Best time: Late afternoon into dusk

  2. The souks

    Shops and workshops grouped lane by lane by trade: slippers, lanterns, leather, spices, carpets, and the blacksmiths hammering in Haddadine.

    Best time: About 09:30–11:30

  3. Mouassine

    The medina's quiet artistic corner: galleries, restored riads and old fountains, a few lanes from the noise.

    Best time: Morning

  4. Bab Doukkala

    A working neighbourhood with almost no tourists: grocers, butchers, schoolchildren and the morning bread run.

    Best time: Early morning, from about 07:00

  5. The Mellah

    The old Jewish quarter: narrow lanes, balconies over the street, the covered spice market, Place des Ferblantiers and the Lazama synagogue, still opened to visitors by its caretaker.

    Best time: Mid-morning

  6. The Kasbah

    The old royal citadel in the south of the medina: stone gates, stork nests and the hush of the tombs.

    Best time: At opening time for the Saadian tombs

  7. Riad Zitoun

    Two long streets running south from the square to the palaces: craft shops, music shops and quieter derbs.

    Best time: Morning

The cobalt-blue villa of the Jardin Majorelle behind a fountain and cacti
Jardin Majorelle · Photo: Viault, CC BY-SA 3.0, via Wikimedia Commons (resized)

  1. Gueliz and Hivernage, the new city

    Gueliz and Hivernage: avenues, terraces, hotels and late nights.

    Gueliz

    The new town: wide avenues, Art Deco blocks, cafés with terraces, galleries and Marrakchis at work.

    Best time: Morning coffee on a terrace

  2. Hivernage

    Leafy, polished and quiet by day; the city's dressed-up nightlife after dark.

    Best time: Evening

A palace garden courtyard with a fountain, trees and carved plaster above the doors
A palace garden courtyard

  1. The Palmeraie and Agdal, on the edges

    The Palmeraie's palms and the Agdal's royal orchards.

    The Palmeraie

    A palm oasis on the city's northern edge: dust tracks, villas, camels and the Atlas on the horizon.

    Best time: Early morning or the last hour before sunset

  2. The Agdal gardens

    Royal orchards south of the Kasbah: olives, oranges, pomegranates and great still basins of water.

    Best time: Usually open Fridays and Sundays

Walk the quarters with a local guide

Tell us your dates and what you want to see. We write back within 24 hours with a route through the quarters, timed to their hours, and a fixed written quote.

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Marrakech districts: FAQ

Which district of Marrakech is best to stay in?

For a first visit, the medina puts you on foot within reach of Jemaa el-Fnaa and the souks. Gueliz has avenues, Art Deco blocks and pavement cafés; Hivernage is leafy, with hotels and the city's nightlife; the Palmeraie is villas and palm groves on the northern edge.

What is the difference between the medina and Gueliz?

The medina is the walled old city of lanes, riads and souks, explored on foot. Gueliz is the new town west of it, laid out under the French Protectorate from the 1910s: wide avenues, 1930s–40s Art Deco buildings, the Marché Central, galleries and pavement cafés.

When are the Agdal gardens open?

Usually on Fridays and Sundays, and closed when the King is in residence. Check before you go.

Is the Mellah worth visiting?

Yes, mid-morning, when the covered market is busy. The Lazama synagogue is opened to visitors by a caretaker and is closed on the Sabbath.

Checked 30 October 2026. Hours and fees change; where sources disagree we say “about”. Costs in MAD are third-party street prices, paid locally.