15 THINGS TO SEE AND DO IN MEKNES (MEQUINEZ)

Meknes is one of the four imperial cities of Morocco, next to Fez, Rabat and Marrakech. The history of this city is the story of Sultan Moulay Ismail, who decided to move the capital of the country here in 1675, surround it with a few km of walls (they say 40!) And transform it into one of the most beautiful cities of his time. Among its streets there is a cozy, calm and relaxed air, being the least chaotic and tourist of the 4 imperial cities. If you plan to visit it, take note of the main things to see and do in Meknes:

1. The first thing we recommend you do is give yourself a walk through the Medina, much smaller and less overwhelming than that of the other big cities, although very authentic. There they sell both day-to-day products for locals and souvenirs for tourists, though, without the insistence of the trap-sellers of Marrakech or Fez. And it is appreciated.

2. Come to know The Great Mosque, in Almoravid style and famous for its 11 doors and a porch with more than 140 arches. Keep in mind that non-Muslims cannot enter, so you can only see it from outside (that happens almost in all the mosques of Morocco). Other interesting mosques are: Nejjarine Mosque and the Jamai Roua Mosque.

3. Another unmissable corner in Meknes is the El Hedim Square (Plaza de las Ruinas), which is in front of the beautiful Bab El Mansour door and that reminded us a little of the Jemma el Fna Square in Marrakech (yes, this is her little cousin). Do not miss it, especially at sunset, the square is full of life and ambient.

4. Take a photo of the Bab El Mansur Gate, one of the entrances to the imperial city and surely the most beautiful of tdas. There are even those who say it is the cutest door in the whole world. They say that when the architect finished the door, Moulay Ismail asked him if he could make another more beautiful ... the unsuspecting said yes and Moulay, who was not joking, decided to kill him. Truth or Legend? Who knows, although it is a story that is repeated a lot in other places and gives thought. If you have more time you can go to meet two other doors: the Bab lakhmis and the Bab berdaine.

5. The Dar Jamaï Museum It is a good stop to see a palace full of paintings, crafts and a beautiful courtyard. Although it is clear, the main protagonist here is the same building. It is located just in front of El Hedim Square and, although today it is a museum, until 1920 it was the residence of the Jamai family. The entrance costs 10 dhs, here you have more information. By the way, do not miss the source which is on one of its sides, dating from the seventeenth century.

6. Some of the souks What we recommend you visit are the Souk Sebbat, full of crafts or the Souk Nejarine, something more chaotic, with clothes and a lot of atmosphere. The truth is that the souks of Marrakech or Fez have seemed more beautiful, but these of Meknes are undoubtedly more real and authentic ... there is almost nothing for tourists!

7. Go up for a drink Pavillon Des Idrissides Terrace at sunset. They charge a 15D ticket that includes a drink. Stay until the sun disappears and get ready for the show: suddenly all the mosques flood the city with their songs. For us it is, without a doubt, the most magical moment of the day.

8. When you go down, take another lap on the El Hedim Square, as at night It is when he has more life (there are storytellers, stalls of natural juices of orange and pomegranate, women doing henna tattoos and, unfortunately, a few shows with exotic animals). The restaurants in the square are probably not the best places to eat in Meknes, but if you don't want to eat anything elaborate ... the ambience there is well worth it.

9. The Madrazas are very typical Koranic schools in Morocco: here the students come to learn the Koran and other areas of universal knowledge. The good thing that Meknes is not a very tourist city is that you will most likely visit the Madrasa Bou Inania alone (or almost). You can walk among the arcaded courtyards, the student rooms and visit the main fountain. We thought it was beautiful and an example of Islamic architectural expertise. We had read that the entrance cost 20dhs but surprise! Now it costs 60dhs. It is expensive, yes, but it is very beautiful (go up to the roof and freak out with the views!).

10. Did you know that Meknes has a “Imperial city"? Here are several interesting places, such as Mulay Ismail Mausoleum. This man is also known by the nickname of The Warrior King and he is reputed to be one of the bloodiest leaders in Morocco (beyond winning battles and stopping the advance of the Turks, they say he had the macabre ritual of killing slaves). The Mulay Ismail Mausoleum It is one of the few religious sites that everyone, Muslim or not, can visit (although if you are not Muslim you will NOT be able to access the tomb room). But beware: we get a disappointment because now (and as we were told for a couple of years) is closed for restoration.

Curiosity: Moulay Ismail is also legendary for his fertility ... they say he had more than 800 children (with more than 500 wives and 0_0 concubines).

11. For 10dhs you can visit what was once one of the most feared prisons in all of Morocco: the Kara prison. Thousands of people passed through here, especially slaves that Moulay Ismail did not hesitate to lock up and kill for the stupidest reasons.

12. You cannot visit the Royal Palace inside, but if you have time it is well worth approaching and turning around to see it from outside. It is here that Moulay Ismail resided during his reign of 55 years. Tip: we walked from the center ... the truth is that unless you do not feel like walking, the route is not attractive (you will almost always border a wall), so almost better go by taxi (on the way back we did so and we They put a meter without problems, you will pay less than € 1 to get from the center).

13. We went there because we had another great reason, and that is that within walking distance of the Royal Palace are the ancient Royal Stables, today in semi-ruins, but a clear example of how great this city became. Now, here we get another surprise: they raised the entrance from 10dhs to 70dhs! 7 euracos that we refused to pay (supported by a tourist bus driver who told us that it was not worth it and that the government had gone mad). In front of the walls of the stables there is a pond quite photogenic, so we hang out on benches ranting about the price increase XD

14. A highly recommended excursion from Meknes is the one that takes you to know the Roman ruins of Volubilis, Heritage of humanity by unesco. We visited them before arriving in the city and we were very surprised. Here we tell you more.

15. The other excursion that we recommend to those who have time is to get to know Moulay Idriss Zerhoun, very close to the ruins of Volubilis. It is a sacred city for Muslims, who pilgrim here. This was our visit.

Do you know more things to see and do in Meknes? The truth is that we did not have too many expectations and we were delighted. We believe it is a highly recommended stop if you travel the route from Merzouga to Fez! Enjoy your stay in Morocco 🙂

Video: Meknes Morocco - One Day Tour (April 2024).