Meknes, Volubilis and Moulay Idriss
An imperial city calmer than Fez and, half an hour's drive away, the Roman ruins of Volubilis, the best preserved in Morocco.
- Meknes, Volubilis and Moulay Idriss can be combined in one day.
- Volubilis is visited on foot, in full sun: take water.
- Meknes is less than an hour from Fez.
What to see
In Meknes, the Bab Mansour gate faces El Hedim square. Behind it lies the former imperial city of Moulay Ismaïl, with his mausoleum and the Heri es-Souani granaries.
Volubilis, a UNESCO World Heritage site, keeps Roman mosaics still in place, a triumphal arch and the columns of the basilica, in the middle of the fields.
On the neighbouring hill, Moulay Idriss Zerhoun is a holy town of white houses, linked to the founder of the first Moroccan dynasty.
Getting there from Tangier
Meknes is on the railway line between Tangier and Fez. Volubilis and Moulay Idriss are reached by taxi from Meknes, about thirty kilometres away.
When to go
In spring, when the fields around Volubilis are green and in flower.
How long to plan
One day from Fez, or one night in Meknes.
Limits of this page
Journey times are approximate and train, flight and site timetables change: check them before you leave. We give no price until it has been verified.