ancient ruins
Volubilis
The best-preserved Roman ruins in North Africa, featuring impressive mosaics, a triumphal arch, and a basilica in a scenic setting near Meknes, Morocco.
20 km · about 25 min drive
AfricaMoroccoFes-Meknes
Meknes
Fes-Meknes, Morocco · Africa
About Meknes
Meknes is worth a stop: 10 minutes from Douar Toulal, 20km from Volubilis.
Meknes is in Fes-Meknes, Morocco, with about 570,000 people. You drive on the right here. The nearest town is Douar Toulal, about 5 km away.
Meknes is one of the four imperial cities of Morocco, located in northern central Morocco and the sixth largest city by population in the kingdom. Founded in the 11th century by the Almoravids as a military settlement, Meknes became the capital of Morocco during the reign of Sultan Ismail Ibn Sharif (1672–1727), sonRead more
of the founder of the Alaouite dynasty. Sultan Ismail created a massive imperial palace complex and endowed the city with extensive fortifications and monumental gates.
The city recorded a population of 551,503 in the 2024 Moroccan census. It is the seat of Meknès Prefecture and an important economic hub in the region of Fez-Meknes.
Where to Stay in Meknes
Compare prices across Booking.com, Airbnb, Expedia, and more. Select your dates to see availability.
Filter presets
Pick your must-haves once: provider links open pre-filtered. Each filter lists which sites it applies to.
Compare before you book!
Prices can vary significantly between platforms. We recommend checking at least 2-3 sites to find the best deal for your stay in Meknes.
Explore the Area
Discover famous landmarks, scenic roads, and more near Meknes.
Loading map...
Frequently Asked Questions
What is there to see near Meknes?
Within an hour or so of Meknes: Volubilis (20 km), Bab Bou Jeloud, Fes (55 km).
Where is Meknes?
Meknes is in Fes-Meknes, Morocco, about 5 km from Douar Toulal.
Road trip
Drive to Meknes
Add it as a stop and the planner works out the driving, the nights and what's worth seeing on the way.
Start planningWhat's nearby?
Swipe through places to go
Places within a drive of Meknes. Keep the ones you like and add them to your trip.
Explore now
Quick Information
- Population
- 568,295
- Continent
- Africa
- Country
- Morocco
- Region
- Fes-Meknes
- Timezone
- Africa/Casablanca
- Coordinates
- 33.8935, -5.5473
Emergency & Services
Essential numbers in Morocco
Royal Gendarmerie (outside cities): 177.
Full driving guide for MoroccoTags
Worth the detour from Meknes
2 notable places within an hour's drive.
landmark
Bab Bou Jeloud, Fes
The blue-tiled 1913 gateway forming the main western entrance to the Fes el-Bali medina, a UNESCO World Heritage site.
55 km · about 65 min drive
Nearby Destinations
Other places to explore near Meknes.
Your trip starts here
Plan a road trip from Meknes.
Pick the days, drop in the stops, and share it with whoever's coming.