Finding Your Oasis: The Best Mid-Range Hotels in Marrakesh
Marrakesh is a city of incredible contrasts, where the ancient world of the labyrinthine Medina meets the wide boulevards of the modern Ville Nouvelle. If you’re planning a trip to the “Red City,” a crucial decision is where to base yourself. Your choice of neighborhood and hotel can significantly impact your experience, whether you’re looking for a peaceful sanctuary or to be right in the thick of the action.
The city is broadly split into a few key areas that travelers typically consider. The Medina is the historic walled city, home to the famous Jemaa el-Fnaa square and the bustling souks. While authentic, it can be crowded, and navigating its narrow, winding alleys to get to your hotel can be a challenge.
For many looking for modern comfort and easier access, the newer districts are perfect. Hivernage is the upscale, green, and quiet quarter known for luxury resorts, large international hotels, and easy access to the city’s best restaurants and nightlife. It’s a short taxi ride or a pleasant walk to the Medina’s main gates. Similarly, Gueliz, the new town, offers a more contemporary, European feel with high-end shops, art galleries, and modern cafes, and is also very well-connected.
This list is for travelers who want the best of both worlds: a great price-to-value ratio without sacrificing comfort, safety, or convenience. These are not budget hostels or super-luxury escapes, but comfortable, well-managed hotels that offer above-average amenities and high customer ratings, ensuring a smooth and relaxing stay after a day of exploring. We’ve focused on chain hotels and large, established properties that consistently deliver on quality.
Excellent Value in Hivernage & Modern Marrakesh
The Hivernage and surrounding areas offer a perfect blend of tranquility and proximity, acting as a quiet, safe base from which to launch your daily adventures. These hotels typically feature spacious rooms, large pools, and all the modern conveniences you’d expect from international brands.
Mövenpick Hotel Mansour Eddahbi Marrakech
This large, well-known hotel offers modern amenities and a refined atmosphere in the high-end Hivernage district. It features extensive pool areas and multiple dining options, making it feel like a self-contained resort. Its contemporary Moroccan design is grand without being overwhelming. It’s directly next to the Palais des Congrès, making it convenient for business travelers, but its tranquil gardens appeal to all.
- Pros: Exceptional service, expansive and well-maintained grounds, large and comfortable rooms, excellent breakfast buffet, and very secure location.
- Cons: Not immediately walkable to the heart of the Medina (a short taxi is required), some guests find the pool area can get busy.
Savoy Le Grand Hotel Marrakech
Located on Avenue de la Menara, this hotel is known for its imposing facade and large, opulent interiors. It’s a modern, comfortable stay with a massive outdoor pool area that provides a true resort experience. Its location is excellent for access to the Menara Gardens and the airport road while remaining close to Hivernage’s best spots.
- Pros: Vast, beautifully designed rooms and suites, impressive pool area with plenty of sun loungers, very friendly and accommodating staff, ideal location for exploring the new city and easy airport access.
- Cons: The grandeur can feel a little impersonal to some travelers, food and beverage prices can be high.
Novotel Marrakech Hivernage
A reliable option from a major chain, this hotel is perfect for travelers prioritizing predictability and convenience. Its location is a major plus, putting you in the heart of Hivernage, close to restaurants and a walkable distance to the train station and the Medina’s gates. Rooms are contemporary, comfortable, and well-equipped for a corporate or family stay.
- Pros: Excellent, central Hivernage location, consistently good standards of cleanliness and service typical of a Novotel, highly convenient access to transportation, comfortable and modern room design.
- Cons: Pool area is functional but smaller than resort-style hotels, interior design is more corporate than traditional Moroccan.
Radisson Blu Hotel, Marrakech Carré Eden
A sleek, ultra-modern option located in Gueliz, right next to the popular Carré Eden Shopping Center. This hotel is for those who love contemporary design and being in the center of the new city. Its signature circular pool is a stylish feature, and the location is fantastic for shopping, cafes, and nightlife, offering a stark contrast to the old city.
- Pros: Superb location in the heart of Gueliz with immediate access to shopping and dining, sophisticated and very clean rooms, excellent service, and a memorable pool design.
- Cons: Farther from the Medina than Hivernage hotels, which requires a taxi, the atmosphere is distinctly modern and lacks traditional Moroccan charm.
Hivernage Secret Suites & Garden
This hotel offers a more secluded, intimate feel while retaining the security and convenience of the Hivernage neighborhood. It focuses on larger suites and apartment-style living, making it an excellent choice for longer stays or for families who appreciate extra space and privacy. The garden setting offers a lovely escape from the city hustle.
- Pros: Spacious suites with kitchenettes are great for families or extended stays, very peaceful and quiet setting, helpful and attentive staff, good proximity to the Menara Mall.
- Cons: Fewer on-site amenities than the larger resorts, can be slightly tucked away requiring a short walk or taxi to main streets.
Hotel Almas
A highly-rated hotel balancing traditional touches with modern amenities, located conveniently between the new town of Gueliz and the old city. It represents solid value for its location and comfort level, appealing to travelers who want to easily walk to both the Medina and the Gueliz shopping areas.
- Pros: Excellent central location for accessing both new and old Marrakesh, good service, well-maintained rooms, and a great choice for budget-conscious comfort.
- Cons: Smaller pool and public areas compared to the large resorts, room views can be limited to the city street.
Resort-Style Comfort for Extended Stays
These hotels are ideal for travelers who plan to spend significant downtime enjoying the hotel amenities, such as large pools, extensive gardens, and full-service spas, while still having convenient access to the city’s sights.
Kenzi Menara Palace
A large and beautiful resort situated opposite the Menara Gardens, offering a grand Moroccan-style experience. The palace theme carries throughout its extensive facilities, including a huge outdoor pool, a full spa, and large, tastefully decorated rooms. Its slightly removed location provides a quieter, more relaxed atmosphere.
- Pros: Luxurious traditional Moroccan decor, vast pool and garden area, excellent for couples and families looking for a peaceful retreat, top-notch spa facilities.
- Cons: A bit further from the central tourist areas, requiring taxi transport for most excursions, some areas of the hotel may show minor wear.
Palm Plaza Hotel & Spa
Located in the Agdal area, known for modern hotels and good shopping, this hotel offers a relaxing escape with an attractive Moorish design. It boasts a large pool and is popular with families and those seeking an all-inclusive or half-board option. The resort feel is strong here, with plenty of activities and space.
- Pros: Spacious rooms and beautiful common areas, large resort-style pool, excellent for families with children, good range of dining and relaxation options on-site.
- Cons: Not walkable to the Medina or Gueliz, taxi/shuttle service is essential, the hotel can get very busy during peak seasons.
Labranda Rose Aqua Fun
A great option for families, this hotel stands out for its extensive aqua park facilities and all-inclusive offerings. Situated in the Agdal tourist zone, it’s primarily a resort experience focused on fun and relaxation by the water, providing a lot of value for those who spend their days at the hotel.
- Pros: Fantastic pool and slide area for kids, offers good all-inclusive packages, bright and modern rooms, great value for money for a family resort stay.
- Cons: Very far from the Medina and Gueliz, making sightseeing require planned transportation, less of a traditional Moroccan cultural experience.
Hotel Du Golf Rotana Palmeraie
Located in the tranquil Palmeraie area outside the city center, this hotel is part of a large golf resort complex. It’s the perfect choice for golfers or travelers who desire a quiet, spacious retreat amidst palm groves. The rooms are contemporary and comfortable, and the environment is very peaceful.
- Pros: Extremely tranquil environment away from the city noise, excellent for golf enthusiasts, very large rooms, good shuttle service to the city center.
- Cons: Its distance means you rely heavily on the hotel shuttle or taxis for all city excursions, less lively than hotels in Hivernage or Gueliz.
Best of Both Worlds: Comfort Near the Medina
For those who want modern hotel comfort while still being as close to the old city’s pulse as possible, these properties deliver.
Hôtel & Ryads Barrière Le Naoura
This highly-rated property is an exceptional find, offering the space and services of a major hotel but with a more intimate, boutique atmosphere. It’s strategically located on the edge of the Medina, allowing for easy, safe access to the old city while providing a luxurious sanctuary to return to. The rooms are grand, and the service is known to be impeccable.
- Pros: Perfect location for easy, safe walking access to the Medina, extremely high quality of service and comfort, large rooms and luxury amenities, a peaceful haven despite its central location.
- Cons: On the higher end of the mid-to-upper price range, its superior quality can come at a premium.
The Pearl Marrakech
Located in the Hivernage district, but situated to offer easy access to the Medina, The Pearl is known for its stunning rooftop terrace and pool overlooking the Koutoubia Mosque. The design is contemporary and sleek with a focus on luxury, offering a stylish and vibrant base with excellent dining and bar options.
- Pros: Incredibly stylish and modern design, famous rooftop bar and pool with phenomenal views, walking distance to the main attractions of Hivernage and close to the Medina.
- Cons: Can be very lively and busy, especially the rooftop area, which might not suit travelers seeking absolute quiet.
Four Points by Sheraton Le Méridien Marrakech
A reliable, well-known international brand offering consistent quality and comfort. Its location near the Hivernage area makes it a convenient and safe place to stay, with easy access to the train station and the main city thoroughfares. The rooms are spacious and the hotel provides all the expected amenities for a comfortable, stress-free stay.
- Pros: High-quality service and spacious rooms typical of a Four Points, reliable and safe location, good access to the airport and transport links.
- Cons: The interior design is more functional and less decorative than some other properties, the breakfast buffet can sometimes feel busy.
Opera Plaza Hotel Marrakech
Located near the train station, this hotel is positioned for maximum transportation convenience. It offers modern, large-scale accommodation with a range of leisure facilities, including a bowling alley and multiple restaurants. It’s an energetic, contemporary choice in the new city.
- Pros: Excellent for connectivity (next to the train station and central bus lines), lively atmosphere and great on-site entertainment and dining options, good value for the number of amenities offered.
- Cons: The immediate surrounding area is more commercial and less picturesque than Hivernage, can be noisy due to its central location.
Atlas Asni
A long-standing and well-regarded hotel in the Hivernage district. It is known for its large outdoor pool and traditional Moorish architecture. It provides a comfortable and spacious stay with a very solid value proposition, often coming in at the lower end of the “slightly above mid-range” price.
- Pros: Proven track record of service, large pool area, traditionally styled and spacious rooms, convenient Hivernage location.
- Cons: Some parts of the hotel may feel slightly older compared to the newly built properties, decor is more classic than ultra-modern.
For the Active Traveler
Labranda Rose Aqua Fun
(Note: Though listed above under “Resort-Style Comfort,” it bears repeating for the active traveler due to its unique features.) With its Aqua Fun park, this hotel is for those who want their hotel stay to be an adventure in itself. It’s highly focused on leisure and activity, providing a great option for families or groups that want guaranteed on-site entertainment.
The 15 hotels above represent a sweet spot in Marrakesh lodging: high-quality comfort, excellent amenities, and convenient locations, all while maintaining a strong value proposition for the discerning traveler. Enjoy your stay in the vibrant Red City!