Marrakech and its houses behind walls
Marrakech keeps its luxury behind walls, from the medina to the Atlas foothills. Inside the medina and along the Hivernage, private riads and the grande dame of the city sit within a walk of Jemaa el-Fna and the Menara Gardens; on the Route de Ouarzazate and the golf corridor of Al Maaden, estates spread their villas among olive groves with the Atlas on the horizon; down the Route d'Amizmiz, toward the Agafay foothills, the resorts open onto golf courses and desert light; and under an hour south, at Asni in the High Atlas, a Moorish kasbah looks up the valley toward Imlil. We list eight houses, each described at exactly the tier it holds, with a concierge behind every stay.
Luxury hotels in Marrakech
8 hotels
The neighborhoods
Medina & Hivernage
The walled old city and the Hivernage beside it, where the grand hotels stand within a walk of the ramparts. Inside the walls lie Jemaa el-Fna, the souks, the Koutoubia and the riads behind their doors; the Hivernage is the garden quarter by the Menara Gardens.
Golf Royal & Al Maaden
The golf corridor on the Route de Ouarzazate, its walled estates set among olive groves and citrus orchards. The estates stand around the Royal Golf, Amelkis and Al Maaden courses with the Atlas on the horizon, twenty to twenty-five minutes from Jemaa el-Fna.
Route d'Amizmiz & Agafay
The road south-west out of the city toward the Agafay foothills, with golf resorts on open ground. The Atlas lies ahead, the stony desert of Agafay waits for lunches and sunsets, and the medina is half an hour away.
High Atlas: Asni & Imlil
The foothills and valleys of the High Atlas an hour south of Marrakech, with walnut groves and Berber villages. Asni holds its Saturday souk on the Tizi n'Test road; in Imlil, at the head of the valley, the trails to Mount Toubkal begin, and the snow stays on the peaks until late spring.
Good to know
Which are the five-star hotels in Marrakech?
Four. The five-star hotels we list in Marrakech are Royal Mansour Marrakech, the private riads by the ramparts near Jemaa el-Fna; Mandarin Oriental, Marrakech, walled villas among olive groves on the Route du Golf Royal; La Mamounia, the grande dame inside the medina walls; and Kasbah Tamadot, at the foot of the High Atlas at Asni, under an hour from the city. Four more houses hold four-star standing: The Oberoi, Marrakech; Four Seasons Resort Marrakech; Park Hyatt Marrakech; and Fairmont Royal Palm Marrakech. Each has its own page, reached from the list above, with a concierge behind every stay.
Which part of Marrakech should I stay in?
The medina and the Hivernage for Jemaa el-Fna, the souks, the Menara Gardens and the city's restaurants within a walk or a short ride. The Golf Royal and Al Maaden corridor, twenty to twenty-five minutes out on the Route de Ouarzazate, for walled estates, golf and Atlas views. The Route d'Amizmiz, toward the Agafay foothills, for golf resorts, open sky and the desert light half an hour from the city.
When is the best time to visit Marrakech?
October to May is the season: mild days, cool nights and clear views of the Atlas, with snow on the peaks from December to February. July and August bring extreme heat; the pools and shaded terraces work, sightseeing in the medina does not. Ramadan moves each year and some bars and kitchens change their hours during it.
How do I get to Marrakech — and do I need a visa?
Marrakech Menara Airport is fifteen minutes from the medina and the Hivernage, twenty-five from the Route de Ouarzazate and about half an hour from the Route d'Amizmiz. Most visitors from Europe and the Americas enter without a visa for a short stay; the rule changes, so check it before you fly. The estates outside the walls run their own transfers from the airport and into the medina.
How do I reserve a stay?
Search your dates on the hotel's page to see reference rates, then send the concierge a request. The concierge confirms exact rates and availability with you before anything is booked, and any payment and its timing are set out before you confirm.
