Neighbourhood guide
Where to stay in Marrakech?
For a first trip to Marrakech, stay in the Medina in a riad if you want authenticity within walking distance of the souks, or in Guéliz / Hivernage in a modern apartment if you prefer space, restaurants and the high-speed train station nearby. Each neighbourhood suits a different trip. This guide compares them honestly, vibe, access, who they suit, and shows where My Kasbah offers places you can book direct, with no platform commission.
- →Medina: traditional riads, walking distance to Jemaa el-Fna and the souks. The "immersion" choice, no cars in the alleys.
- →Guéliz: modern shopping district near the Majorelle Garden and the high-speed train station. Restaurants, convenience, bright apartments.
- →Hivernage: hotel and nightlife district, calm by day, lively at night. Best for shared pools and going out.
- →Palmeraie: residential palm oasis 15-20 min by car from the centre, quiet villas and resorts, you need a vehicle.
- →Menara: secure residence with garden and pool, close to the Menara Mall and the airport. Handy for a late arrival or an early flight.
- →My Kasbah offers 8 riads in the Medina and 9 apartments in Guéliz/Majorelle, Hivernage and Menara, bookable direct on WhatsApp.
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The Medina, to live Marrakech from the inside
The Medina is the old walled city, a UNESCO World Heritage site. This is where Marrakech beats: Jemaa el-Fna square, the souks, the Koutoubia mosque, the Ben Youssef Medersa. You sleep in a riad, a traditional house built around an inner courtyard, often with a plunge pool and a rooftop terrace.
The upside: everything is on foot, and the atmosphere is unique, you're inside the scene, not beside it. The trade-off: the alleys are narrow, cars don't enter, and a taxi drops you at the mouth of the derb (alley) where a riad host meets you. It's the ideal area for a first trip, a couple, or a group buying out a whole riad.
My Kasbah offers eight riads here, including Riad Dar Maureen (Superhost, 4.92/5) and Riad Djemanna, rare in the Medina with its two pools, on the quiet Bab Doukkala side.
Guéliz, the modern, convenient, well-connected city
Guéliz is the 'new town', built during the protectorate era. Wide avenues, shops, cafés, restaurants, the Majorelle Garden and the Yves Saint Laurent museum nearby, and the high-speed train station (Al-Boraq) linking Casablanca in under 3 hours. You stay here mostly in a modern apartment.
It's the right pick if you want space, a full kitchen, easy walking, or family travel. The Medina stays 10-15 minutes away by taxi. My Kasbah offers apartments in Guéliz and the Majorelle area, including one with a jacuzzi overlooking the district.
Hivernage, hotels, pools and nightlife
Hivernage is the hotel and nightlife district, between Guéliz and the Medina. Leafy and calm by day, it comes alive at night with restaurants, bars and clubs. It's also the area for residences with a shared pool, handy when you actually want to swim rather than cool off in a patio plunge pool.
My Kasbah offers several modern apartments here, some with pool access, a few minutes' walk from the nightlife and the train station.
Menara, a residence with a pool, minutes from the airport
The Menara area, southwest of the city, takes its name from the Menara gardens and their basin set against the Atlas. It is a modern residential district, a few minutes from the Menara Mall and Marrakech-Menara airport.
You stay in a residence rather than a riad: garden, shared pool, equipped kitchen. It is the quiet-base option, less buzz than Hivernage or the Medina, but space, a pool, and a short ride on flight day.
My Kasbah offers three apartments here in a secure residence with garden and pool, from a studio for two to an apartment for six. Rates on request via WhatsApp.
Palmeraie and out of town, calm, in exchange for a vehicle
The Palmeraie is a residential palm oasis, 15-20 minutes by car from the centre. You find quiet villas and resorts there, with private pools. It's the 'retreat' choice: perfect to rest, less practical to sightsee on foot, you need a vehicle or taxis for every move.
Beyond it, the Ourika and Ouarzazate roads host guesthouses and wellness retreats away from the bustle. My Kasbah has no Palmeraie address: our selection focuses on the Medina and the city (Guéliz, Hivernage, Majorelle), where you can do everything on foot or in a few minutes.
Neighbourhood comparison
In one line: what sets each area apart, and who for?
| Area | Vibe | Who for |
|---|---|---|
| Medina | Authentic, walk to the souks, riads | First trip, couples, group buyouts |
| Guéliz | Modern, shopping, train station | Families, longer stays, modern comfort |
| Hivernage | Hotels, nightlife, shared pools | Going out, swimming, nightlife |
| Palmeraie | Residential oasis, quiet villas | Rest, stays with a vehicle |
Indicative distances: Medina ↔ Guéliz/Hivernage ≈ 10-15 min by taxi; Palmeraie ↔ centre ≈ 15-20 min by car.
Our places, by neighbourhood
Évasion Chic, Appartement au Cœur de la Ville
📍 Hivernage, Marrakech 40000
Chic, comfortable one-bedroom in a central pool residence, ideal for couples, city breaks and business stays
Vue d'Exception & Jacuzzi, Majorelle
📍 Quartier Majorelle, Gueliz, Marrakech 40000
Top-floor 130m² apartment with private terrace jacuzzi and uninterrupted views over the Majorelle gardens
⭐ Top pick Riad Dar Maureen
📍 Medina, Marrakech 40000
Private-pool riad deep in the Medina, Superhost rated 4.92
⭐ Top pick Spacious Modern Apartment
📍 Gueliz, Marrakech 40000
Luxury rooftop-pool apartment in central Gueliz, modern comfort with real Marrakech character
Dar Mar'Ouka
📍 Derb Sidi Bouloukat, Medina, Marrakech 40000
Budget family riad in the Medina, free parking, heated jacuzzi and rooftop, 15 min walk from Jemaa el-Fna
Cosy, Appartement Moderne & Piscine, Hivernage
📍 Hivernage, Marrakech 40000
Cosy one-bedroom with espresso machine in a secure pool residence in Hivernage, 300m from the TGV station
Frequently asked questions
What is the best area to stay in Marrakech? +
For a first trip, the Medina gives the most immersive experience: you sleep in a riad, walking distance from Jemaa el-Fna and the souks. If you prefer space, a kitchen and being near restaurants and the train station, choose Guéliz or Hivernage and their modern apartments. There's no absolute 'best'it depends on your trip.
Is it better to sleep in the Medina or in Guéliz? +
The Medina for authenticity and walking to the souks, accepting narrow car-free alleys. Guéliz for modern comfort, space and convenience, keeping the Medina 10-15 minutes away by taxi. Many travellers combine both: a few nights in a riad, a few in an apartment.
Do you need a car in Marrakech? +
No if you stay in the Medina, Guéliz or Hivernage: everything is on foot or by taxi (rides are cheap). A car becomes useful if you stay in the Palmeraie or out of town, or plan excursions (Agafay, Atlas, Essaouira), which we can also arrange with a driver.
Which areas does My Kasbah cover? +
My Kasbah offers 8 riads in the Medina and 9 apartments in Hivernage, Guéliz (Majorelle area) and near the Menara, all bookable direct on WhatsApp, with no platform commission. We have no Palmeraie address.
We point you to the right neighbourhood
Tell us your trip type (couple, family, group, nightlife, rest) and your dates: we suggest the area and the place that fit, with the exact rate, on WhatsApp.
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