Morocco is home to some of the most beautiful and historic old towns in the world. These areas, called medinas, are filled with narrow lanes, open-air markets, and buildings that date back hundreds of years. Each city's story is told through architecture, traditions, and street life. In this guide, you’ll learn about the top medinas to visit in Morocco, from large imperial cities to quiet towns far from the usual tourist paths. You’ll also get practical travel tips, including renting a car in Morocco to move easily between cities and explore at your own pace.
Moroccan medinas are more than historic city centres. They are living cultural landscapes. Each offers unique architecture, craftsmanship, and local life, shaped by centuries of Islamic, Berber, and European influence. Exploring these medinas helps you understand Morocco’s past and present in one journey. Below are the most stunning and unique medinas to add to your Morocco road trip itinerary.
If you appreciate history and crowds, you’ll love Meknes. As you walk through the modest labyrinth of Meknes’s old town, you’ll pass white and olive-green painted walls. The city was the capital of Morocco under Sultan Moulay Ismail in the 17th century, who built it into a “Versailles of Morocco.” Because of this imperial past, you’ll find impressive historical sites sprinkled around the medina and its outskirts. Begin your journey at the grand Bab Mansour gate, one of the most stunning in Morocco, decorated with mosaic tiles and Arabic inscriptions. The gate opens into El Hedim Square, a smaller yet vibrant counterpart to Marrakech’s Jemaa el-Fnaa.
Inside the medina, local shops and covered markets sell everything from fresh produce to spices and traditional crafts. You can visit the Mausoleum of Moulay Ismail, where the sultan who made Meknes his capital rests in a beautifully decorated tomb. Non-Muslims can admire the architecture in parts of the mausoleum as long as they dress respectfully.
Another remarkable site adjacent to the medina is the Royal Stables and Granaries (Heri es-Souani) – huge vaults and grain storage built to house the sultan’s 12,000 horses, showcasing the grand vision of Meknes’s golden age. As a bonus, if you have a day to spare, Meknes is a perfect base to drive to the Roman ruins of Volubilis, about 31 km away, and the holy town of Moulay Idriss.
Fez (Fès) is often considered Morocco's cultural and spiritual heart, and its medina will captivate you with its history. As you enter Fez’s ancient walled city (Fez el-Bali), you’ll find yourself in a labyrinth of thousands of winding alleys. This UNESCO World Heritage Site is one of the oldest and largest medinas in Morocco.
No cars can enter the narrow lanes. Donkeys and handcarts are still the main way goods move through the city, which makes it feel like you’ve slipped into another century. Don’t worry about getting lost here. Every twist and turn reveals something fascinating: a spice-scented market stall, a beautiful carved door to a riad (traditional courtyard house), or a view of an ornate mosque.
In Fez’s medina, history and culture surround you. You can climb up a rooftop terrace to watch the famous Chouara tanneries in action. Dozens of stone vats are filled with vibrant dyes, and artisans cure and dye leather by hand, as they have done for generations. It’s a colorful sight you won’t forget. You can also visit the University of Al-Qarawiyyin, founded in 859 AD, which many consider the world’s oldest continuously operating university. Although non-Muslims may only access certain areas, the university’s mosque and library are architectural gems.
Wander into Bou Inania Madrasa, an Islamic school with stunning cedar woodwork and tile mosaics, open to visitors. As you explore, take your time to interact with local artisans, as Fez is famous for its traditional crafts. You’ll see shops selling hand-painted ceramics, copper lamps, intricate leatherwork, and beautiful woven textiles. Bargaining in the souk is expected, so embrace the experience. You might take home a gorgeous Fez rug or a few pieces of the city’s renowned blue pottery.
Marrakech’s medina is the heart of the city. Enclosed within red clay walls against the backdrop of the High Atlas Mountains, the Marrakech medina greets you with an explosion of sights and sounds. Inside, you’ll notice why Marrakech is called the “Red City.” Many buildings glow with a rosy hue in the sunlight. The medina here is a UNESCO World Heritage Site famous for its energy. In the evenings, the main square Jemaa el-Fnaa becomes a grand stage of Moroccan life.
As you wander, you’ll hear the music of street performers, drums and flutes, and see storytellers captivating crowds. The square fills with food stalls grilling kebabs and simmering tagines; follow your nose to sample some authentic Moroccan street food. Don’t be surprised if you encounter snake charmers swaying their cobras or henna artists offering to decorate your hands.
Marrakech’s medina is also renowned for its labyrinthine souks that branch off Jemaa el-Fnaa. Get ready to shop and haggle to your heart’s content. One area is devoted to spices with baskets of cumin, saffron, and ras el hanout perfuming the air. Another street glitters with lamps and metal lanterns; elsewhere, you’ll find rows of leather babouches (slippers) and colorful textiles. You could spend hours weaving through the connected bazaars, seeing everything from Berber rugs to intricate jewelry.
Amidst the bustling commerce, Marrakech’s medina also holds historical treasures. Take a break from the crowds by visiting the Ben Youssef Madrasa, an ancient Islamic college known for its serene courtyard and exquisite tile work. Nearby, the Koutoubia Mosque soars above the medina. Non-Muslims can’t enter, but it’s a helpful landmark for navigation. Also seek out the Bahia Palace and Saadian Tombs at the edge of the medina for a glimpse into the royal life of centuries past.
Tétouan, nestled in the north of Morocco between mountain and sea, offers a medina experience with Andalusian heritage. Often called the “White Dove” because of its white-washed buildings, Tétouan’s old city is a UNESCO World Heritage Site. This medina was a major point of contact between Morocco and Spain. After the Spanish Reconquista in the late 1400s, many Muslim and Jewish refugees from Andalusia settled in Tétouan. As a result, the medina’s architecture and layout have a distinct Andalusian influence: you’ll notice it in elegant houses with interior courtyards, decorative tilework, and the neighborhoods.
As you explore, you’ll come across areas dedicated to different crafts. There’s a whole street of jewelers hammering out silver and gold jewelry, another area where you might hear the clack of looms as weavers create striped fabrics, and courtyards where painters and woodworkers practice their art.
Keep an eye out for the Ensemble Artisanal, a craft center where local artisans make mosaics, carpets, and intricate embroidery. The medina also has historical highlights such as the Ethnographic Museum, which showcases traditional costumes and a glimpse of how life was in the region centuries ago. Don’t miss the Mechouar and the beautifully decorated gates around it. A simple joy in Tétouan is wandering the clean, white alleys, which often open to small plazas with orange trees and benches.
Chefchaouen is located high in the Rif Mountains of northern Morocco. Its medina is famously painted in shades of blue, and blue glow saturates every wall, door, and staircase. No other medina in Morocco looks like this, so Chefchaouen is often called the “Blue Pearl.” It’s a much smaller and calmer medina than those in Fez or Marrakech. You might notice locals casually chatting on their doorsteps or tending to potted plants along the alleys. Bring your camera – every twisty lane offers a new stunning backdrop of blue hues, and even everyday scenes here look magical in photographs.
While exploring medinas like Chefchaouen, you’ll enjoy plenty of charming spots. The town has a rich history blending Berber, Arab, and Spanish influences. In the main plaza, Plaza Uta-el-Hammam, you can sip mint tea at a café while looking up at the reddish-brown kasbah and the mountains beyond.
The Chefchaouen Kasbah has a tranquil garden and a museum. Climb its tower for a nice view over the blue town. Wander to the medina's edge to find the Ras El Maa spring, where clear water cascades and local women often do laundry. If you’re up for a short hike, a trail just outside the medina leads to the Spanish Mosque, an abandoned mosque on a hill. From there, you get a panoramic view of Chefchaouen’s blue medina below. Shopping in Chefchaouen is a delight too. You’ll see shops selling handwoven blankets in vivid colors, cedar wood handicrafts, and the town’s signature goat cheese. Evenings can get chilly in the mountains, so bring a light jacket.
The Essaouira medina is a picturesque seaside town on Morocco's Atlantic coast. Its smaller and more navigable medina is laid out in a grid-like pattern. Essaouira’s old city is another UNESCO World Heritage Site, celebrated for its blend of Moroccan and European, particularly Portuguese and French architecture. As you wander the whitewashed streets with blue shuttered windows, you'll notice a bohemian, artsy atmosphere.
One of the highlights of Essaouira’s medina is its connection to the sea. You can walk along the ramparts, the old fortified walls along the Atlantic, and watch waves crash against the rocks. The Skala de la Ville is dotted with old bronze cannons and offers stunning ocean views. In the harbor just outside the medina walls, bright blue fishing boats bob in the water and fishermen haul in the day’s catch. If you love seafood, Essaouira is a paradise. Wander over to the fish stalls near the harbor and choose a fresh fish or calamari; they’ll grill it for you on the spot.
Inside the medina, the pace is unhurried. You’ll find art galleries and wood workshops. Essaouira is famous for its thuya wood carvings and inlaid wood furniture, and shops selling colorful paintings and crafts inspired by the sea. Don’t miss the souks here, less hectic than in bigger cities. You can easily browse for spices, argan oil, and textiles without.
Tangier is located at the northern tip of Morocco, where the Atlantic Ocean meets the Mediterranean Sea. This city has long been a gateway between Europe and Africa. On a clear day, you can even see the hills of Spain across the water. Tangier’s medina, overlooking the Strait of Gibraltar, has a different feel from others in Morocco, which is a bit of Europe and Africa.
As you wander the slightly hilly streets of Tangier’s old town, you’ll pass white and pastel-colored buildings that show Spanish and French influences alongside traditional Moroccan architecture. Signs are often in Arabic, French, and Spanish.Start at the Grand Socco, the big plaza that serves as a lively entrance to the medina, where you might find vendors selling fruits and spices under palm trees. From there, dive into the twisty lanes. Tangier’s medina is known for its charming cafés and historical sites. You can visit a cafe, perched on a cliff, to sip mint tea while gazing out at the sea.
Make your way up to the Kasbah, the old fortress at the highest point of the medina. The Kasbah area is peaceful, with neatly kept lanes and views of the ocean. Here you’ll find the Kasbah Museum, which is filled with Moroccan art and archaeological finds. Another stop is the American Legation Museum, located within the medina. This building was the first American public property outside the U.S. Now, it showcases art and memorabilia from Tangier’s international days.
As you pass through Rabat’s medina gates, you’ll notice the atmosphere is more laid-back and orderly. The streets here are relatively straight. Some even follow a grid pattern from the early 20th century. This medina is known for its Andalusian-stle houses with white walls and painted details, a legacy of settlers from Andalusia. Many homes have beautifully carved doors; you might see a green-tiled courtyard through an open entryway. Unlike the maze-like medinas elsewhere, it’s easy to navigate Rabat’s old town.
One of the highlights of Rabat is actually right next to the medina: the Kasbah of the Udayas. Be sure to walk up into this 12th-century fortress district, which adjoins the medina by the river. Inside the Kasbah, you’ll find a quarter of blue-and-white painted lanes, quiet gardens, and panoramic views of the Atlantic Ocean at the Oudayas lookout.
Back in the medina, the souk areas are filled with traditional crafts and everyday items. Rabat’s medina is an excellent place to shop for quality handicrafts. Prices here are often fair and fixed. Thanks to many government-supported artisan stores, you can browse rugs, leather goods, and ceramics. Don’t miss the Rue des Consuls, a street historically used by foreign diplomats, now known for its handicraft shops and workshops. This is a great place to watch artisans weaving carpets or crafting jewelry.
Here are some practical tips to make your Moroccan road trip smooth:
Visiting the medinas in Morocco is like opening a treasure chest of culture, history, and adventure. As you wander through bustling markets and quiet courtyards, you’ll meet friendly locals, taste delicious street food, and witness traditions passed down through generations. Rent a car in Morocco with Final Rentals to connect all these experiences into one road trip. With airport pick-up points, a wide choice of vehicles, and instant booking, your journey through Morocco’s medinas becomes stress-free and convenient.
