Things to Do in Meknes
11 places, each on the map with the hour it is at its best. Pick yours and we plan the day.
Places to visit in Meknes
El Hedim Squareساحة الهديم
Bab Mansourباب المنصور لعلج
Dar Jamai Museumقصر دار جامع
Bou Inania Madrasa (Meknes)المدرسة البوعنانية
Grand Mosque of Meknesمسجد مكناس الكبير
Mausoleum of Moulay Ismailضريح المولى إسماعيل
Qara Prisonحبس قارا
Heri es-Souaniهري السواني
Agdal Basinصهريج السواني
Places near Meknes
Volubilisوليلي
Moulay Idriss Zerhounمولاي إدريس زرهون
Private day in Meknes with a driver and guide
Tell us the places and the date. A fixed written quote comes back within 24 hours.
Details
About each place in Meknes
4 of 11 places have a photo of the place itself so far. The others show none rather than a stand-in.
- El Hedim Square
Square, 45 min, best late afternoon or evening
The great square of Meknes, laid out in 1672-74 by Sultan Moulay Ismail between the old medina and his new imperial city. It measures about 200 by 90 metres, with Bab Mansour on its south side.
Near: Bab Mansour (90 m), Dar Jamai Museum (130 m), Bou Inania Madrasa (Meknes) (230 m). On our trip Volubilis & Meknes Day Trip. El Hedim Square on Wikipedia Back to Meknes list
- Bab Mansour
Gate, 15 min, best late afternoon
The monumental gate on the south side of El Hedim, built in the late 17th and early 18th centuries as the ceremonial entrance to Moulay Ismail's royal Kasbah. It is the most famous landmark in Meknes.
Near: El Hedim Square (90 m), Qara Prison (160 m), Dar Jamai Museum (220 m). On our trip Volubilis & Meknes Day Trip. Bab Mansour on Wikipedia Back to Meknes list
- Dar Jamai Museum
Museum, 45 min, best midday or afternoon
A museum of art and craft from Meknes and other regions, in a late 19th-century palace that the Jamai family built on El Hedim. The same family built the Jamai Palace in Fes.
Near: El Hedim Square (130 m), Grand Mosque of Meknes (180 m), Bou Inania Madrasa (Meknes) (200 m). Dar Jamai Museum on Wikipedia Back to Meknes list
- Bou Inania Madrasa (Meknes)
Madrasa, 30 min, best morning or afternoon
A Marinid-period madrasa in the medina, kept in good shape by later restorations and one of the finest richly decorated madrasas of its time.
Near: Grand Mosque of Meknes (50 m), Dar Jamai Museum (200 m), El Hedim Square (230 m). Bou Inania Madrasa (Meknes) on Wikipedia Back to Meknes list
- Grand Mosque of Meknes
Mosque, 10 min, any time
The main Friday mosque of the old city, the largest there and one of its oldest monuments.
Non-Muslims see the mosque from outside.
Near: Bou Inania Madrasa (Meknes) (50 m), Dar Jamai Museum (180 m), El Hedim Square (240 m). Grand Mosque of Meknes on Wikipedia Back to Meknes list
- Mausoleum of Moulay Ismail
Tomb, 30 min, best morning or afternoon
The tomb of Sultan Moulay Ismail, who ruled Morocco from 1672 until his death in 1727, inside his former Kasbah. It is a major religious site in the city.
Near: Qara Prison (130 m), Bab Mansour (230 m), El Hedim Square (320 m). Mausoleum of Moulay Ismail on Wikipedia Back to Meknes list
- Qara Prison
Monument, 20 min, any time
Vaulted underground chambers dug in the early 18th century on Moulay Ismail's orders and known in legend as the prison of Christian slaves. Most scholars think they were storerooms for the royal Kasbah.
Near: Mausoleum of Moulay Ismail (130 m), Bab Mansour (160 m), El Hedim Square (230 m). Qara Prison on Wikipedia Back to Meknes list
- Heri es-Souani
Monument, 45 min, best morning or afternoon
Moulay Ismail's vast granary for the imperial Kasbah, joined to the House of the Ten Norias, which lifted water for the palaces.
Near: Agdal Basin (280 m). On our trip Volubilis & Meknes Day Trip. Heri es-Souani on Wikipedia Back to Meknes list
- Agdal Basin
Lake, 20 min, best late afternoon
The great reservoir Moulay Ismail built to water the palace gardens, next to his granaries.
Near: Heri es-Souani (280 m). Agdal Basin on Wikipedia Back to Meknes list
- Volubilis
Roman site, 2 h, best morning or late afternoon
A partly excavated Amazigh-Roman city in farm country near Meknes, which may have been the capital of the kingdom of Mauretania under Juba II. Mosaic floors still lie in place among the ruins.
On our trip Volubilis & Meknes Day Trip. Volubilis on Wikipedia Back to Meknes list
- Moulay Idriss Zerhoun
Town, 1 h, best morning or afternoon
A town spread over two hills at the foot of Mount Zerhoun, built around the tomb of Idris I, first ruler of the Idrisid dynasty. It looks down on Volubilis, three kilometres away.
On our trip Volubilis & Meknes Day Trip. Moulay Idriss Zerhoun on Wikipedia Back to Meknes list
Questions about visiting Meknes
- What is Meknes best known for?
- Meknes is best known as the imperial city of Sultan Moulay Ismail, with monuments such as Bab Mansour gate, his mausoleum and the vast Heri es-Souani granaries and stables. Its historic centre is a UNESCO World Heritage Site.
- Is Meknes worth visiting?
- Yes. Meknes offers grand imperial architecture and a relaxed, uncrowded medina, plus easy day trips to the Roman ruins of Volubilis and the holy town of Moulay Idriss Zerhoun, making it a rewarding base in northern Morocco.
- Can you visit Volubilis from Meknes?
- Yes. The Roman site of Volubilis lies about 30 kilometres north of Meknes and is an easy half-day trip by car or taxi, often combined with a stop at the nearby pilgrimage town of Moulay Idriss Zerhoun.
More on Meknes: the Meknes city guide.
More things to do in Morocco: Things to Do in Marrakech, Things to Do in Fes, Things to Do in Essaouira, Things to Do in Chefchaouen, Things to Do in Ouarzazate, Things to Do in Merzouga, Things to Do in Tangier, Things to Do in Rabat. All cities.