Riad or apartment in Marrakech: which to choose?
Two very different ways to experience Marrakech. Here is a simple comparison to help you choose for your stay: as a couple, with family or with friends.
Apartment vs riad
The ROOF40 apartment
- Entire, self-contained home, with no host on site
- Private terrace on the top floor, with rooftop views
- Fully equipped kitchen, washing machine, fibre WiFi
- Gueliz: lively by day, quiet in the evening
- Medina 20 minutes on foot, 5 minutes by taxi
- Up to 3 people · from €50 per night
Ideal for: couples, friends, long stays, remote work.
Check availabilityA partner riad
- Riad: a traditional house built around a patio with a pool
- Dar El Bacha district, one of the most sought-after and safest in the medina
- 12 rooms, each with its own private bathroom
- Double, triple, quadruple and family rooms for up to 5 people
- Breakfast, lunch and dinner available on site
- Heated rooftop jacuzzi, hammam, massages, solarium
- 7 minutes' walk from Jemaa el-Fna square
Ideal for: couples, families, groups, and a typically Moroccan experience.
Ask the riad on WhatsAppThe riad's family rooms
For more than 3 people, the riad lets you all sleep together in the same room, with its own bathroom.
Double room
For a couple.
Triple room
A couple and a child, or three friends.
Quadruple room
A family with two children.
Family room
A large family or a group of friends.
For larger groups, the riad has a second house about a hundred metres away, accommodating up to 35 to 50 people in total.
The differences, point by point
| Apartment in Gueliz | Riad in the medina | |
|---|---|---|
| Capacity | 1 to 3 people | 2 to 5 people per room |
| Privacy | Entire home, nothing to share | Private rooms around a shared patio |
| Meals | Fully equipped kitchen, you cook for yourself | Breakfast, lunch and dinner on site |
| Relaxation | Private terrace | Pool, jacuzzi, hammam, solarium |
| Neighbourhood | Gueliz: modern, cafés and restaurants, quiet in the evening | Dar El Bacha, in the medina: souks and monuments on foot |
| Atmosphere | Independence, just like home | Moroccan tradition and services |
Which one to choose?
Go for the apartment if…
you are travelling solo, for work or as a couple, staying several nights, want to cook, work remotely or simply feel at home, in a neighbourhood that is quiet in the evening. It is also the choice of many solo travellers and lots of couples.
Go for the riad if…
you want to experience a traditional house at the pace of the medina, or bring a group together to celebrate an event: a birthday, a company retreat, a yoga retreat… On site, lots of activities can be combined with your stay: cooking classes, hammam, massages, rooftop jacuzzi, and even golf breaks.
Why not both? Many travellers stay in Gueliz and treat themselves to a day in a riad: that is the “Day Pass” in our guide A week in Marrakech.
Frequently asked questions
Riad or apartment: which to choose for a stay in Marrakech?
It all depends on your stay. The apartment suits couples and small groups who want independence, a kitchen and a neighbourhood that is quiet in the evening, such as Gueliz. The riad suits those looking for a traditional house with a patio, services and meals on site, in the heart of the medina.
Are there riads with rooms for 4 or 5 people in Marrakech?
Yes. The partner riad we recommend offers double, triple, quadruple and family rooms for up to 5 people, each with its own private bathroom.
Where to stay in Marrakech as a family with children?
For a family of more than 3, a family room in a riad lets you all sleep together, with meals available on site and a pool in the patio. For 3 people at most, an apartment with a kitchen and terrace offers more independence.
Is an apartment in Gueliz far from the medina?
No: the medina and Jemaa el-Fna square are about 20 minutes' walk from Gueliz, or 5 minutes by petit taxi.