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No. 03, The districts · 07 of 11

Riad Zitoun: from Jemaa el-Fnaa to the palaces on foot

Riad Zitoun is two streets, Riad Zitoun el-Kdim and Riad Zitoun el-Jdid, that lead south-east from near Jemaa el-Fnaa towards the palaces. Walk it in the morning to reach the Bahia palace before tour groups. The Tiskiwin museum is on the way, and the route carries on to the Mellah.

Best timeMorning

Eat here
Small family cafés and juice counters
Don't miss
Riad Zitoun el-Jdid
Get my written quoteQuote for: the medina and souks walk
The Bahia Palace's great courtyard: marble paving, painted arcades and palms
Bahia Palace, the great courtyard

Riad Zitoun at a glance

Best time
Morning, heading to the Bahia palace before tour groups.
What it feels like
Two long streets running south from the square to the palaces: craft shops, music shops and quieter derbs.
Eat here
Small family cafés and juice counters; the Mellah market a few minutes on.
See
  • Riad Zitoun el-Jdid
  • Dar Si Said museum (under restoration; ask before going)
  • The Bahia palace
  • Tiskiwin museum, Rue de la Bahia

The route

The two Riad Zitoun streets lead south-east from near Jemaa el-Fnaa. Beyond them are the Bahia palace and the Mellah.

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

Tiskiwin

The Tiskiwin museum is at 8 Rue de la Bahia, between the Bahia palace and Dar Si Said.

A lantern seller sitting among his brass lamps in a souk shop
A lantern seller in the souk

Dar Si Said

Dar Si Said, the national carpet museum off Riad Zitoun el-Jdid, was damaged in the 2023 earthquake and has been under restoration; its reopening hadn't been confirmed at our last check (October 2026), so ask before you go.

A riad courtyard at night, candles, red cushions and palms under the arcade
A riad courtyard in the medina · at night

The name

Riad Zitoun means the garden of the olive trees.

Food along the way

Small family cafés and juice counters line the street. The Mellah's covered spice market is a few minutes further on.

Don't miss

  • Riad Zitoun el-Jdid
  • Dar Si Said museum (under restoration; ask before going)
  • The Bahia palace
  • Tiskiwin museum, Rue de la Bahia
  • A lamb and prune tagine scattered with almondsLamb and prune tagine
  • A lantern seller sitting among his brass lamps in a souk shopA lantern seller in the souk
  • Folded msemen flatbread and glasses of mint tea on a trayMsemen and mint tea

Worth knowing before you go

  • If anyone says the palace is closed and offers a shortcut, keep walking; check the ticket desk yourself.
  • Scooters use these streets too; keep to the side.

See Riad Zitoun with someone who lives here

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Get my written quoteAsk for a quote: the palaces half-day, with the Bahia

Questions people ask

How do I walk from Jemaa el-Fnaa to the Bahia palace?

Take Riad Zitoun el-Jdid south-east from near the square towards the palaces.

Is Dar Si Said museum open?

It has been under restoration since the 2023 earthquake, and its reopening has been delayed. Ask your riad or at the door before you go.

When should I walk Riad Zitoun?

In the morning, to reach the Bahia palace before tour groups.