One of Morocco’s four imperial cities, Meknes wears its grandeur lightly. Built by Sultan Moulay Ismail into a city of monumental gates and walls, it offers the same imperial splendour as Fes at a calmer, more relaxed pace — and it’s the perfect gateway to the Roman ruins of Volubilis.
Meknes is a relaxed imperial city on the main rail line, about 40 minutes from Fes. See the monumental Bab Mansour gate and Place el-Hedim, the Mausoleum of Moulay Ismail and the vast Heri es-Souani granaries — then day-trip to the Roman ruins of Volubilis.
Getting there & around
Meknes is easy to reach and pairs naturally with Fes:
- Train — on Morocco’s main line, roughly 40 minutes from Fes and direct from Rabat and Casablanca
- As a pair with Fes — close enough to base in one and day-trip to the other
- For Volubilis — a short taxi or grand-taxi ride north, often combined with the hilltop town of Moulay Idriss
What to do
- Bab Mansour & Place el-Hedim — stand before one of the grandest gateways in North Africa, its zellij and carved detail framing the lively main square.
- Mausoleum of Moulay Ismail — the serene, beautifully decorated resting place of the sultan who made Meknes his capital.
- Heri es-Souani & the Agdal basin — the cavernous royal granaries and stables, beside a huge reservoir built to supply the imperial city.
- The medina — a UNESCO-listed old town with souks that feel relaxed and local, easy to wander without the crowds.
- Volubilis & Moulay Idriss — half a day among the best-preserved Roman ruins in Morocco, with mosaics still in place, plus the whitewashed holy hill town nearby.
When to go
Meknes is inland, so spring and autumn are the sweet spots — warm days, cool evenings and ideal weather for Volubilis. Summers are hot and dry, and winters are cool but perfectly pleasant for sightseeing.
