Marrakech Neighbourhoods
The Medina gets most of the attention, but Marrakech's other districts each have their own character — worth knowing whether you're choosing where to stay or just want a change of pace.
Marrakech is often described as a single destination, but it's really several distinct districts stitched together, each dating from a different period of the city's growth. The Medina is the walled 11th-century old city most visitors picture; Gueliz and Hivernage were laid out under the French protectorate in the early 20th century as a deliberate contrast — wide boulevards instead of winding alleys; the Kasbah sits inside the Medina's walls but grew up around the old royal palace complex and keeps a calmer, more residential feel than the souk-heavy centre.
None of this is purely academic — which district you spend time in changes the kind of trip you have. A Medina-based stay means walkability, atmosphere, and no cars able to reach your door; a Gueliz or Hivernage base trades some of that atmosphere for lifts, pools, and easy street access. Most visitors end up moving between all of them over the course of a trip regardless of where they sleep.
Gueliz
The modern, French-built new town — restaurants, shopping, nightlife and a completely different rhythm from the Medina.
Explore Gueliz →Kasbah
The southern Medina — quieter, close to the major palaces, and a good middle ground between old and new.
Explore the Kasbah →Hivernage
Leafy, upscale, and built around hotels and nightlife — Marrakech's answer to a resort district within the city.
Explore Hivernage →