One of the three imperial Moroccan cities. The city is not popular among tourists, as it is not a beach resort. Mostly come to Meknes with a tour. If you have time and want to feel the atmosphere of the Arab East, then go here. Meknes conditionally divided into two parts: in the medina concentrated historical monuments – palaces, mausoleums, ancient buildings, and in the new part of town – cafes, restaurants, souvenir shops. Meknes also attracts tourists with a very luxurious pastime – here you can play golf in the royal gardens. Near Meknes there are also famous Roman ruins of Volubilis, which are included in the list of cultural heritage of UNESCO.

Meknes is one of the three imperial cities of Morocco. The city is not popular among tourists because it is not a beach resort. Mostly come to Meknes with a tour. If you have time and want to feel the atmosphere of the Arab East, go here. Meknes conditionally divided into two parts: in the medina concentrated historical monuments – palaces, mausoleums, ancient buildings, and in the new part of town – cafes, restaurants, souvenir shops. Meknes also attracts tourists with a very luxurious pastime – here you can play golf in the royal gardens. Near Meknes there are also famous Roman ruins of Volubilis, which are included in the list of cultural heritage of UNESCO.

How to get to Meknes?

There are no direct flights from Novosibirsk to Morocco. Tourists from Siberia get to Morocco with a connection in Moscow.

By direct flight to Casablanca, then go to Meknes. The distance between the resorts is 240 kilometers. You can get there by bus, rent a car or pre-book a transfer.

Also from Casablanca and other resorts in Morocco you can get to Meknes by train.

Meknes Attractions

Tours to Meknes are not popular with tourists because there are fewer hotels. It is quieter than other resorts, and you can enjoy the beauty of historical monuments. To visit the sights enough to go to Meknes for 1-2 days along with a tour.

What to do in Meknes?

Take a walk in the medina

Of course, the heart of Meknes is the medina. The main attractions are located here. If you buy a tour to Meknes, be sure to walk through the medina. The old town is an Arab quarter with a lot of intricate streets and fairly dense housing. Along the perimeter of the medina are 10-meter stone walls with corner towers, which were built to protect against Berber raids. You can enter the medina through the Bab el-Mansour Gate. The beautiful gate with its mosaic patterns and fine stucco work is already a tourist attraction. They were built in the 18th century and are still considered the most beautiful gates in Morocco.

Walking around the old city, you will notice that the city has preserved many historical sites. Meknes was once the capital of the powerful Sultan Moulay Ismail. During his reign, many palaces, gardens, and mosques were built. In fact, the large number of mosques contributed to the fact that Meknes is called the “city of a thousand minarets. Recall that non-Muslims are forbidden to enter the mosques, but you can admire the exterior. The most popular mosque in Meknes is the Great Mosque with its majestic carved doors. Not far from the mosque is the Madrasa Bu Inania. It is built in an airy Spanish-Moorish style and is a landmark.

The medina is also home to famous palaces. Dar Jamai Palace was built in the late 19th century in the best Moorish traditions. The building is decorated with mosaic and tile tiles and festooned arches. Next to the palace there is a beautiful garden with cypress and orange trees. Nowadays in the palace there is an ethnographic museum. Visitors can get acquainted with the elements of everyday life, a rich collection of embossing, antique jewelry. Another palace, El Mansour, has become a popular tourist store.

Another of the attractions of Meknes located in the medina is the medieval building complex Kheri es-Suani. It combines stables, grain storage facilities, and an Agdal pond. These stables once housed more than 12,000 horses and the wheels of the waterworks were turned by slaves. After a full day’s sightseeing, you can pause and admire the water of the Agdal Pond.

The center and the magnet of the medina is El Khedim Square. During the day, vendors sell souvenirs, and in the evening the area is transformed into an open-air theater: snake tamers, artists, dancers performing unusual dances, acrobats, fire swallowers and much more. The feeling of plunging into an oriental fairy tale. You can also eat tasty and inexpensive food here – the site turns into a huge food court.