CityCoordinates: 33.89° N, 5.55° W

Meknès

مكناسⵎⴽⵏⴰⵙ

Imperial green zellige and ochre gates

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Photo: Steven Lek CC BY-SA 4.0 Original file

Recommended stay: 1 to 2 days
Best season: March to May and September to November
Elevation: 535 m
Population: 551,503 (2024)
Best for: Bab Mansour monumental gate · Heri es-Souani royal granaries · Side trip to Volubilis & Moulay Idriss
UNESCO World Heritage: whc.unesco.org ↗
Key landmarks: Bab Mansour gateEl Hedim squareMausoleum of Moulay IsmailHeri es-Souani granaries and Agdal basinBou Inania MadrasaDar Jamai MuseumKara prison vaults

Imperial city of Moulay Ismail, calmer than Fès.

Getting there

40-minute ONCF train from Fès or 2 hours by train from Rabat

Sultan Moulay Ismail’s Monumental Imperial Capital

Often overshadowed by neighboring Fès just 40 minutes away by train, Meknès offers monumental 17th-century imperial architecture, uncrowded souks, and genuinely relaxed hospitality. Built by Sultan Moulay Ismail inside 40 kilometers of triple ramparts, the city centers on Place El-Hedim and the monumental Bab Mansour el-Aleuj—widely considered the finest zellij-and-marble gateway in North Africa.

Imperial Granaries, Underground Vaults & Volubilis

Spend a morning exploring the Bou Inania Madrasa, the tranquil marble courtyards of the Mausoleum of Moulay Ismail, and the vast vaulted royal granaries of Heri es-Souani beside the Agdal reservoir. In the afternoon, take a 30-minute grand taxi north through olive groves to the UNESCO Roman mosaics of Volubilis and the sacred hilltop town of Moulay Idriss Zerhoun.

Weather and climate

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Weather data by Open-Meteo.com (CC BY 4.0)

Climate by month

Average low and highRainy daysFestivals & cultural events

Mawlid and the Moussem of Sidi Ben Aissa 2027(August)

Climate by month
Month	Average low and high	Rainy days	Event
Jan	5°C – 16°C41°F – 60°F	7	—
Feb	6°C – 17°C42°F – 63°F	7	—
Mar	8°C – 20°C46°F – 67°F	7	—
Apr	9°C – 22°C49°F – 71°F	6	—
May	12°C – 26°C54°F – 79°F	4	—
Jun	15°C – 30°C60°F – 87°F	1	—
Jul	18°C – 34°C65°F – 93°F	0	—
Aug	19°C – 34°C66°F – 93°F	1	Mawlid and the Moussem of Sidi Ben Aissa 2027
Sep	16°C – 30°C61°F – 85°F	2	—
Oct	14°C – 26°C56°F – 78°F	5	—
Nov	9°C – 20°C49°F – 68°F	6	—
Dec	6°C – 17°C44°F – 62°F	7	—

Source: WMO 1991-2020 climate normals, Meknes station 60150, via NOAA NCEI. Updated November 7, 2026. www.nodc.noaa.gov

Suggested itinerary

Checked by Morocco Insider Tips on November 6, 2026

Day 1 Day 1 — Bab Mansour, Moulay Ismail Mausoleum & Royal Granaries
Morning
Begin at Place El-Hedim to admire the monumental marble columns and green zellij tiles of Bab Mansour el-Aleuj, then visit the 14th-century Bou Inania Madrasa inside the medina and climb to its rooftop.
Afternoon
Walk through the imperial kasbah gates to the tranquil courtyards of the Mausoleum of Moulay Ismail and the subterranean vaulted chambers of the Qara Prison.
Evening
Take a horse-drawn calèche or short walk along the walled imperial avenues to the massive vaulted granaries of Heri es-Souani and enjoy sunset tea beside the Agdal Sahrij reservoir.
Day 2 Day 2 — UNESCO Roman Ruins of Volubilis & Moulay Idriss Zerhoun
Morning
Take an early grand taxi 30 km north through rolling olive groves to Volubilis (Walili) at 8:30 AM to walk among the Capitol, Basilica, Arch of Caracalla, and intact Roman floor mosaics in cool morning light.
Afternoon
Continue 5 km uphill to the whitewashed sacred town of Moulay Idriss Zerhoun for a rooftop grilled kefta lunch and panoramic terraces overlooking the green-tiled sanctuary.
Evening
Return to Meknès to browse the unhurried damascene metalwork workshops and olive stalls around Place El-Hedim Covered Market.

Tips

Volubilis has almost no shade across the archaeological site—arrive before 9:30 AM and bring water and a sun hat.
Look for Meknès's signature craft, 'damasquinage' (fine silver wire inlaid into blackened steel), in the medina guilds near Dar Jamai.

Getting around

Meknès has two ONCF train stations: descend at 'Meknès Al Amir Abdelkader' (closer to the Ville Nouvelle and medina) or the main 'Meknès' station; trains to Fès run every hour (40 min, 25–35 MAD).
Shared grand taxis to Moulay Idriss Zerhoun depart from outside the French Institute in Meknès (15 MAD per seat), or hire a private grand taxi for a 4-hour Volubilis + Moulay Idriss loop (~300 MAD).

Etiquette

Non-Muslim visitors are welcome inside the outer courtyards and staterooms of the Mausoleum of Moulay Ismail; remove shoes at the carpeted threshold and dress modestly.
In Moulay Idriss Zerhoun, the green-roofed mausoleum itself is reserved for Muslim worshippers, while the town's upper panoramic viewpoints are open to all.

Sources, updated November 6, 2026

Getting here by train and bus

Direct rail, high-speed train, and coach routes connecting Meknès.

Coach (CTM / Supratours)CTM
Arriving
Fès Meknès
1h(60 min)30 MAD
Schedule: Several daily departures; about 30 MAD (Supratours fares are similar)
Book on CTM site
Coach (CTM / Supratours)CTM
Departing
Meknès Fès
1h(60 min)30 MAD
Schedule: Several daily departures; about 30 MAD (Supratours fares are similar)
Book on CTM site

Festivals and events here

Annual cultural festivals, gatherings, and seasonal events in Meknès.

AugustAround 14 to 15 August 2027 (estimate, set by Morocco's moon sighting)Lunar
Mawlid and the Moussem of Sidi Ben Aissa 2027
Lunar calendar: dates move about 11 days earlier each year
The Prophet's birthday is a national holiday. In Meknes it coincides with the moussem at the mausoleum of Sidi Ben Aissa, founder of the Aissawa Sufi brotherhood, with processions and chanting.
TipsThe shrine itself is closed to non-Muslims; watch the processions respectfully from the street.

Places in Meknès

VolubilisوليليⵡⵍⵉⵍⵉRoman ruins with well-kept mosaics.Site · Half day (2 to 3 hours) · 379 mUNESCO

At a glance