Meknes Morocco is one of the four imperial cities, a UNESCO-listed old town built up by Sultan Moulay Ismail, with a monumental gate, a royal mausoleum and a quieter medina than Fes. This Meknes guide covers the history, the main sights, the nearby holy town of Moulay Idriss and how to fit them into a trip from Fes, so you can decide how long to give it. For the Roman site nearby, see our guide to Volubilis.
Meknes at a glance
According to Wikipedia, Meknes stands at 546 m, and its name comes from the Miknasa Berber tribe that settled the region around the 10th century. The Almoravids built a fortified settlement there in the 11th century. The city’s great period began when Moulay Ismail took the throne in 1672 and made it his capital. His reign lasted until 1727, and the old city was added to the UNESCO World Heritage list in 1996. The 2024 census recorded 695,662 people.
The travel site Rome2rio gives about 54 to 60 km between Meknes and Fes, with a train time of around 38 minutes, a bus of about 58 minutes and a car of about 56 minutes. That makes Meknes an easy half day or full day from Fes. We run a day trip from Fes to Meknes if you prefer a guide and driver.
Bab Mansour and the old city
Bab Mansour is the city’s best-known gate. Wikipedia says it was begun in the later years of Moulay Ismail’s reign and finished in 1732 by his son Moulay Abdallah. Explorationvacation.net, a travel blog, calls it the most elaborate gate in Morocco. Nearby, Place el-Hedim is a large square at the southern end of the old city, and Wikipedia says its name means “rubble”, from the demolitions carried out to make room for the palace.
Wikipedia also lists the Bou Inania Madrasa, established by Sultan Abu al-Hasan, with the date given as 1335 to 1336 in one place and 1336 in another, and the Mausoleum of Moulay Ismail, built during his reign and modified by Ahmad ad-Dhahabi between 1727 and 1729. The blog says the mausoleum is an active shrine that is open to non-Muslims. Rules can change, so confirm access and dress requirements locally before you go.
Heri es-Souani and the Agdal Basin
Heri es-Souani is the imperial granary complex, which Wikipedia describes as a granary and storehouse. It sits beside the Agdal Basin, which Wikipedia says measures 148.75 by 319 m and averages 1.2 m deep. The blog says the stables here were built for a herd of 12,000 horses, but Wikipedia gives no horse count and says the royal stables were a separate structure with arcaded stalls about 1,200 m long that have not been preserved. We have not found a source that settles the question, so treat the horse number as a figure quoted by one blog.
Moulay Idriss Zerhoun
Many travelers combine Meknes with the holy town of Moulay Idriss Zerhoun. Wikipedia says it is about 28 km from Meknes and has 11,615 people (2014 census), and that Idris I, who founded the first Moroccan dynasty, settled at Volubilis, allied with Berber tribes in 789 and died in 791. Moulay Ismail rebuilt the mausoleum in 1719 to 1721. The town is a pilgrimage site with an annual moussem in August, and the green-tiled pyramid roof marks the shrine.
Wikipedia says the town was closed to non-Muslims until 1912, non-Muslims could not stay overnight until 2005 and the zawiya, the shrine complex, is still off-limits to non-Muslims. Frommer’s adds that you should dress modestly, limit photography, visit during the day and expect Saturday market crowds, and says a local guide to the summit lookout typically charges about 50 dirhams. Those prices come from an older guide, so confirm them locally. Distances differ by source: Wikipedia gives about 50 km from Fes, while Frommer’s gives 74 km. Wikipedia’s own distance to Volubilis is 3 km in one place and 5 km in another, and Frommer’s says 4 km, so treat it as a few kilometers. See our day trip from Fes to Volubilis and Moulay Idriss for a guided option.
Getting to Meknes and where to go next
Meknes works as a stop between Fes and Rabat, and the other imperial cities are close by. Read our guides to Rabat, Fes and the nearby Sefrou, and see the day trips from Fes to Ifrane and the Azrou cedar forest, Sefrou and Bhalil and Chefchaouen. For the blue city itself, read why Chefchaouen is blue.
For a longer route, see the 7 day imperial cities and Sahara desert tour, the 5 day Morocco journey from Casablanca to Fes or the 7 day Casablanca grand tour. For logistics, read train vs bus vs rental car and airport transfers in Morocco, plan meals with the Moroccan food guide and see the 7 days in Morocco route.
Meknes Morocco FAQ
Is Meknes worth visiting?
It suits travelers who want imperial architecture such as Bab Mansour without the crowds of Fes. Wikipedia says the old city has been a UNESCO site since 1996.
How far is Meknes from Fes?
About 54 to 60 km. Rome2rio gives roughly 38 minutes by train, 58 minutes by bus and 56 minutes by car.
Who built Meknes?
The Almoravids built a fortified settlement in the 11th century, and Moulay Ismail made it his capital in 1672, per Wikipedia.
Can non-Muslims enter Moulay Idriss?
Wikipedia says the town was closed to non-Muslims until 1912 and that non-Muslims could not stay overnight until 2005. The shrine complex is still off-limits to non-Muslims, though visitors can walk the town.
How big is the Agdal Basin?
Wikipedia says 148.75 by 319 m and about 1.2 m deep on average.
Can you combine Meknes with Volubilis?
Yes, many tours do. Volubilis is a few kilometers from Moulay Idriss, so the three can be done together on one long day from Fes.
Want Meknes and Moulay Idriss on your imperial cities route? Message us your dates and we will plan it with you.
Message us on WhatsAppNavigate Morocco is a team from the Sahara desert who work as a family. We will be glad to help you plan your Meknes visit and the rest of your route, from the imperial cities to the dunes.
More Navigate Morocco guides: Fes Morocco, Volubilis Morocco, Sefrou Morocco, Rabat Morocco, Ifrane Morocco.