This article is a list of the best and cheapest hotels in Meknes. Whether you just want to save money or you are backpacking on a budget, this list will help you stay in Meknes without spending too much on lodging.
Meknes is a city that is very different from the rest of Morocco. Even though it has tons of historical sites, Meknes doesn’t seem to receive as many foreigners as other cities like Marrakesh, Fez or Rabat.
If you’re a fan of ancient Roman ruins, there is a super interesting ancient Roman city called Volubilis just half an hour away.
Reading Tip: The Honest Guide to Meknes and Volubilis – what to see and what to skip
Because the city has a lot of interesting sites, it’s worth staying there for a few days. Accommodation prices for hostels and hotels in Meknes tend to be high though.
If you’re traveling in Morocco on a budget, you’ll find out that hotels in Meknes are more expensive than in other places. The good side, however, is that the riads there are really cheap.
Riads are typical rich Moroccan houses with indoor courtyards and fountains, designed with zellij (Moroccan tiles) and beautiful colored glass windows.
The ones in Meknes are surprisingly cheap. Some riads have private rooms that cost the same as a bed in a dorm in Tangier (as low as 20 euros a night) and they are super beautiful.
Meknes doesn’t really have hostels but another great budget option where Cynthia and I stayed for a whole week is a bed and breakfast in the old medina called Maison Olga.
Here is a complete list of the best and cheapest hotels in Meknes. Whether you want to stay in a beautiful hotel near all the interesting sites of the city or in a cozy bed and breakfast in the old medina, you’ll find what you’re looking for in this list.
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The 6 Best budget-friendly Hotels in Meknes
1. Riad Dar Meknes Tresor
Although this riad is very old, it was lovingly and beautifully restored. It’s usually very quiet and cozy. Riad Dar Meknes Tresor is the ideal place to get a well-deserved rest after a whole day walking around Meknes.
The rooms are all very large and they have super comfortable beds. When I look for cozy riads, ample space in the rooms is what I look for. You won’t be disappointed by the size of the rooms of Riad Dar Meknes Tresor.
The food served at the riad is very good and the portions are very generous so it’s quite convenient to eat directly there instead of going out. I highly recommend eating on the rooftop terrace of this riad.
Because of its excellent location, this terrace usually receives a gentle breeze in the evening and it’s the ideal place for a romantic meal.
2. Riad Bab Berdaine
This riad is just 15 minutes from Bab Mansour so it’s very centrally located and easily accessed.
All the doors of this riad are beautifully sculpted and the whole place is decorated with traditional Moroccan tiles. If you’re looking for beauty and a lavish setting, this is where you’ll find it.
This riad is located in a very quiet and peaceful part of the city and if you’re arriving by car, you’ll be able to find a very cheap parking lot nearby. The owner speaks almost perfect English and he can give you great tips on what to see and do in Meknes.
The staff serves a delicious breakfast every day composed of Moroccan pancakes with toppings, a sweet bun, yogurt and two cups of coffee or tea.
3. Riad Malak
This is a new riad that was recently renovated. It’s located right in the center of Meknes near the old city. The best part of this riad is its rooftop terrace which offers a gorgeous view of the surroundings. The terrace also has some beautiful plants and a small roof that provides shading on hot days.
Each room includes a seating area, a TV with satellite channels, and a view of the patio. The private bathrooms are fitted with a bathtub. Breakfast is served daily and you can enjoy traditional Moroccan cuisine on request.
This riad is located right next to Bab Mansour, Lahdim square and the souk.
4. Riad Zahraa Al Ismailia
This riad feels almost like a historical house. The rooms have a traditional Moroccan style and the whole place is beautifully decorated.
The rooftop terrace of this riad has a beautiful view of the city and the mountains that surround Meknes.
One thing that I particularly like about this riad is that while it’s one of the most budget-friendly hotels in Meknes, it has an indoor swimming pool!
5. Riad Dar Zidane
Dar Zidane is a bit outside of the city center. It’s set on a huge property in the residential district of Meknes, just a 7-minute drive from the medina. Because the property is so big, the owners of this riad invested in creating a beautiful garden filled with flowers.
Staying at Dar Zidane feels like staying in nature and if you want to escape the hustle and bustle of the city, this is the place to be. It’s the perfect place for people who don’t want to sleep in the noisy medina.
In the garden, there are beautiful peacocks and a rooster but they won’t wake you up in the morning.
Another great option when staying in Meknes is a Bed and Breakfast in the old city. Here is the place we recommend:
6. Maison Olga
This is where Cynthia and I stayed the longest while in Meknes. The hosts Carlo and his wife were very lovely people and they gave us tons of tips and practical information to help us with our visit to the city.
Although this house is located right in the middle of the souk, it’s still very peaceful and calm. The rooms are all very large and spacious and we slept super well there.
Another great thing about Maison Olga is the delicious breakfast that is served every day. It’s mainly fruits, different kinds of bread, cheese, jam, tea, coffee and milk.
A word of advice before you book hotels in Meknes
A lot of the hotels in Meknes mentioned in this article are located in the old city. While this part of the city is beautiful, a few scammers here take advantage of unwary travelers.
Read 12 Common Scams you might encounter in Morocco).
One of the typical scams that you might encounter in the old medina is the ”Nice guy showing the way”.
This scam consists of offering unsolicited help such as pointing out the way to a hotel or guiding you to a restaurant. Once you arrive at the hostel the scammer will ask you for an overinflated tip in exchange for his service.
For example, while you’re walking with your backpack in the streets of the old medina of Meknes, someone approaches you and suggests guiding you to your hostel.
Once you arrive there, he asks for 30 or 50 MAD for the five minutes it took to help you and will not leave until you give him a tip.
How do you avoid this scam?
Be very wary of exaggeratedly friendly strangers who approach you out of nowhere and offer their help. Only ask for help if you absolutely need it, and if so only ask people inside their shops or traffic and police officers.
If there are young guys around just ask for directions but always remember to insist that you don’t need them to guide you.
A quick tip: Learning some words in Moroccan Arabic will help you avoid this trap.
More MOROCCO TRAVEL Resources:
- What you need to know before you go: 23 Travel Tips for Morocco
- Is Morocco Safe? Safety Guide to Morocco
- How to avoid the 12 most common scams in Morocco
- See the best of Morocco by following these 3 great travel itineraries
- Visit these beautiful 17 places in Morocco
- Tips for traveling to Morocco during Ramadan
- Morocco City Guides: Fez, Tangier, Essaouira, Chefchaouen, Rabat, Meknes, Marrakech, Casablanca, Agadir
- The best daytrips from Marrakech
- Fun things to do in the Sahara: how to plan a desert trip to Merzouga
- The Complete Guide to Imlil and Hiking Mount Toubkal
- Everything you need to know about visiting the Ouzoud Waterfalls
- Rock climbing and other fun things to do in the Todra Gorges and Tinerhir
- How to get to the Akchour Waterfalls from Chefchaouen
- A guide to visiting the Ouzoud Waterfalls
- Surfing in Morocco – The best surfing spots in Morocco
- How to visit Paradise Valley in Agadir
- What to wear in Morocco: Complete packing list for Morocco
- Morocco photography tips: How to take portraits of people in Morocco
- Extend your stay in Morocco using one of these 3 ways to renew your Morocco visa
- Useful tips on how to take the ferry from Tangier to Spain
- Books about Morocco: 10 Great Novels set in Morocco
We hope you find a great hotel in Meknes and that you have an awesome time in this city. If you have any questions or if you’ve already been to Meknes, we love to hear from you in the comments below!
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