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Outside the city: the great resorts

On the roads to the Atlas, Marrakech’s grandest resorts trade the souks for olive groves, private pools and silence, 10 to 25 minutes from the Medina.

Updated 5 min read

Some of the finest hotels in Morocco are not in Marrakech itself but just beyond it, along the roads that lead to Ouarzazate, the Golf Royal and Amizmiz. Here, among olive groves and gardens, the resorts have room for what the city cannot offer: villas with their own pool, vast spas, kids’ clubs, golf courses and long views to the snow-capped Atlas.

Staying outside the city is a choice for rest. You drive into Marrakech for a day in the souks or dinner on a rooftop, then come back to calm. Our five picks are all resorts in their own grounds, from about €360 to €1,310 a night.

Best for
Honeymoons, families, rest
Price
€360–1,310 a night
To the Medina
10–25 min by car
From the airport
15–30 min by car
Fairmont Royal Palm Marrakech luxury resort with pool, golf course and Atlas Mountains views

Our picks

Five resorts in their own grounds, from a golf and family resort with five pools to villas with a private pool facing the Atlas, from about €360 to €1,310 a night.

At a glance

Stay Price Kids Best for
01 The Oberoi, Marrakech €€€€ · from €822 Welcome Couples, Special occasions
02 Fairmont Royal Palm Marrakech €€€€ · from €359 Welcome Families, Golfers
03 Selman Marrakech €€€€ · from €575 Welcome Couples, Families
04 Mandarin Oriental, Marrakech €€€€ · from €1,310 Welcome Couples, Honeymoons
05 Amanjena €€€€ · from €1,050 Welcome Couples, Quiet escapes
  1. The Oberoi Marrakech luxury villa with private pool and gardens in a serene resort setting
    Royal suite at The Oberoi Marrakech featuring a private pool and elegant palace-inspired design
    Deluxe room at The Oberoi Marrakech with private terrace overlooking landscaped gardens

    01 Top pick

    The Oberoi, Marrakech

    Outside the city · Luxury Hotel · €€€€ · from €822

    A palace-scale resort east of the city, with water gardens, villas with private pools and service that guests rate the best in Marrakech.

    Best for Couples Special occasions Families

    Standout The highest guest score of any luxury hotel in Marrakech

    Why we like it

    • Best guest scores in Marrakech for a luxury hotel
    • Villas with private pools
    • Children welcome, extra beds free for young children

    Worth knowing

    • About 20 minutes by car from the Medina
    • Spring rates are among the city’s highest

    Pool · Hammam · Spa

    Check prices on Booking.com More about it

  2. Fairmont Royal Palm Marrakech luxury resort with pool, golf course and Atlas Mountains views
    Exterior view of Fairmont Royal Palm Marrakech surrounded by palm trees and landscaped grounds
    Spacious suite at Fairmont Royal Palm Marrakech featuring modern decor and a relaxing resort atmosphere

    02

    Fairmont Royal Palm Marrakech

    Outside the city · Luxury Hotel · €€€€ · from €359

    A golf and family resort in the countryside south of the city, with five pools, a big spa and the best rates of the big resorts.

    Best for Families Golfers Longer stays

    Standout Five pools and a golf course, at the best resort rates

    Why we like it

    • Five pools and a kids’ club
    • Own 18-hole golf course
    • Best value of the big resorts

    Worth knowing

    • About 25 minutes by car from the Medina
    • Feels far from the city: plan transfers

    Pool · Hammam · Spa

    Check prices on Booking.com More about it

  3. Selman Marrakech luxury hotel with grand pool and Arabian horse stables in Marrakech
    Elegant patio at Selman Marrakech with Moroccan architecture and serene ambiance
    Terrace pool at Selman Marrakech with palm trees and elegant resort setting

    03

    Selman Marrakech

    Outside the city · Luxury Hotel · €€€€ · from €575

    An Arab-Andalusian palace with a stud of purebred Arabian horses, long pools and a spa, south of the city.

    Best for Couples Families Riders

    Standout Arabian horses at the end of the pool

    Why we like it

    • Unique Arabian horse stables
    • Large terraces and long pools
    • Kids’ club for families

    Worth knowing

    • About 15 minutes by car from the Medina
    • Breakfast not always included

    Pool · Hammam · Spa

    Check prices on Booking.com More about it

  4. Mandarin Oriental Marrakech luxury villa with private pool and landscaped gardens in a serene resort setting
    Aerial view of Mandarin Oriental Marrakech resort with villas, pools, and landscaped gardens
    Private suite terrace at Mandarin Oriental Marrakech overlooking gardens and olive groves

    04

    Mandarin Oriental, Marrakech

    Outside the city · Luxury Hotel · €€€€ · from €1,310

    Private villas with their own pools in 20 hectares of olive groves and gardens, facing the Atlas, ten minutes from the Medina.

    Best for Couples Honeymoons Families

    Standout A villa with its own pool, ten minutes from the Medina

    Why we like it

    • Every villa has its own pool
    • Celebrated spa with hammams
    • Close to the city for a resort

    Worth knowing

    • The most expensive hotel on our list
    • Breakfast is not always included in the rate

    Pool · Hammam · Spa

    Check prices on Booking.com More about it

  5. Amanjena luxury pavilion with reflecting pools and minimalist Moroccan architecture in Marrakech
    Iconic reflecting pool at Amanjena Marrakech surrounded by pink architecture and palm trees
    Luxury pavilion suite at Amanjena Marrakech with minimalist design and serene desert tones

    05

    Amanjena

    Outside the city · Luxury Hotel · €€€€ · from €1,050

    Aman’s pink-walled retreat of pavilions around an ancient water basin, calm, spacious and among the best rated in the city.

    Best for Couples Quiet escapes Families

    Standout Aman calm, with pavilions around a great water basin

    Why we like it

    • Very high guest scores
    • Spacious pavilions, some with private pools
    • Free airport shuttle and bikes

    Worth knowing

    • About 15 minutes by car from the Medina
    • Among the most expensive stays in the city

    Pool · Hammam · Spa

    Check prices on Booking.com More about it

Our picks are chosen from research, guest reviews and photos; we have not stayed at every address. Nobody pays to be listed. Some booking links are affiliate links: if you book through them we may earn a commission, at no extra cost to you.

Where they are

The resorts sit on three roads out of the city. Mandarin Oriental is the closest, on the Golf Royal road about 10 minutes from the Medina. Amanjena and the Oberoi are to the east on the Ouarzazate road, towards the Ourika Valley, 20 to 25 minutes away. Selman and the Fairmont Royal Palm are to the south on the Amizmiz road, on the way to the Agafay desert.

Loading the map…

5 places

Why stay outside

A resort, with Marrakech on call

Outside the city, a hotel can be a whole world: gardens, villas, spas and restaurants, so that Marrakech becomes an outing rather than a base.

The resorts beyond the city were built on a scale no Medina address can match. Villas have their own garden and pool, spas fill entire buildings, and the grounds are big enough for orchards, tennis courts and, at the Fairmont, an 18-hole golf course. The air is calmer and cooler at night, and on clear days the Atlas fills the horizon.

It is the right choice for a honeymoon or a milestone trip, when the stay itself is the point, and for families who want kids’ clubs, big pools and space. It also suits travellers who have already seen the souks and want to come back to Marrakech differently.

The trade-off is that every outing needs a car. Plan a driver or the hotel shuttle for your days in town, and allow 10 to 25 minutes each way. For a first visit with lots of sightseeing, combine a few nights in the Medina with a few at a resort.

Best Atlas Mountains Day Trips from Marrakech

How to choose

All five are excellent; what differs is the road, the setting and who they are made for. Six things to weigh, and how far each resort is from Jemaa el-Fna.

  1. Villa

    A pool of your own

    The Oberoi, Mandarin Oriental and Amanjena offer villas or pavilions with a private pool. They cost more, but give you complete privacy.

  2. Kids

    Kids’ clubs and big pools

    Selman and the Fairmont Royal Palm have kids’ clubs, and the Fairmont has five pools. Check each resort’s child policy before booking a family room.

  3. 18 holes

    Golf

    The Fairmont has its own course; Amanjena sits by the Amelkis golf course and Mandarin Oriental on the Golf Royal road.

  4. Horses

    Something different

    Selman keeps a stud of purebred Arabian horses you can watch from the terraces, a favourite with children and photographers.

  5. Shuttle

    Plan your trips into town

    Ask whether the resort runs a shuttle to the Medina or arranges a driver. Mandarin Oriental is the closest, about 10 minutes away.

  6. €20–45

    Check what’s included

    At several resorts breakfast is not in the basic rate, and it costs about €20–45 per person. Compare rates with breakfast included.

To Jemaa el-Fna
  • Mandarin Oriental 10 min by car
  • Selman 15 min by car
  • Amanjena 20 min by car
  • The Oberoi 25 min by car
  • Fairmont Royal Palm 25 min by car

Typical door-to-door times, outside rush hour. Bar lengths use a log scale.

Staying outside Marrakech: your questions

Is it better to stay in Marrakech or outside the city?

Stay in the city, in the Medina or Hivernage, if you want to walk to the souks and restaurants. Stay outside if your priority is rest, space and a big pool or a private villa. Many travellers combine both: a few nights in a riad, then a few at a resort.

How far are the resorts from the Medina?

Between 10 and 25 minutes by car without heavy traffic. Mandarin Oriental is the closest; the Oberoi and the Fairmont Royal Palm are the furthest.

How do I get into town from a resort?

By hotel shuttle, private driver or taxi. Most resorts arrange transport on request; agree taxi prices in advance, especially for the ride back at night.

Which resort is best for families?

The Fairmont Royal Palm, with five pools and a kids’ club, and Selman, with its kids’ club and Arabian horses. The Oberoi and Amanjena also welcome children, with free extra beds for the youngest.

Which resort is best for a honeymoon?

Mandarin Oriental, the Oberoi and Amanjena all offer villas or pavilions with a private pool, the most romantic way to stay in Marrakech.

Are these resorts bookable on Booking.com?

Yes, all five are. Rates vary a lot by season, so compare a few dates; spring and autumn are the busiest and most expensive.

Other places to stay

Prices are the lowest double-room rates we found on Booking.com and change often. Drive times are typical times without heavy traffic; allow more in the evening rush.

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Marrakist Marrakist Concierge