Meknes & Volubilis
مكناس · وليليAn imperial city and the best Roman ruins in Morocco.
Overview
Meknes was the capital of Sultan Moulay Ismail in the 17th century, who built huge gates, granaries and stables. Its historic city is a UNESCO World Heritage Site, and it is calmer and less touristy than Fes. Nearby, Volubilis is a Roman city with superb mosaics, also listed by UNESCO, next to the holy town of Moulay Idriss Zerhoun.
How to get there
Meknes is about 45 minutes by train from Fes and about 2 hours from Rabat. Volubilis is about 30–40 minutes by taxi from Meknes.
Highlights
Bab Mansour
One of the most beautiful gates in Morocco, covered in green and black tiles, facing Lahdim square.
Heri es-Souani
Gigantic royal granaries and stables built for thousands of horses.
Volubilis
Walk among columns, the Arch of Caracalla and mosaics still in place on the floors of Roman houses.
Moulay Idriss Zerhoun
A white hill town and important pilgrimage site, with panoramic terraces.
Meknes medina
Relaxed souks for olives, spices and crafts, with fewer hustlers than in bigger cities.
Local tips
- Volubilis has little shade: go early, with a hat and water.
- Some monuments close for restoration; check opening before you go.
Explore Morocco
- Chefchaouen: The blue city of the Rif mountains.
- Ifrane & the cedar forest: Cool mountain air, alpine houses and wild Barbary macaques.
- Essaouira: A windy, artistic port town with blue boats and ramparts.
- Ouzoud Waterfalls: Morocco's most spectacular waterfalls, with monkeys and rainbows.
- Imlil & Mount Toubkal: Hiking in the High Atlas, under North Africa's highest peak.
- Ouarzazate & Aït Ben Haddou: Earthen kasbahs and film-set landscapes beyond the Atlas.
- Merzouga & the Sahara: Golden dunes, camel rides and a night under the stars.
- Laayoune & the Sahara coast: The largest city of the Moroccan Sahara, between dunes and ocean.
- Dakhla: A turquoise lagoon in the desert, a world capital of kitesurfing.