IF you fancy African sunshine but less of the hustle and bustle from the likes of Marrakesh and Rabat, check out this alternative.
It still has everything you’d want from a visit, from historical sites to souks as well as lively festivals.
This is the city of Meknes in northern Morocco. It’s just 50 minutes away from Fez – and it’s much quieter.
For those who love history, Meknes has an interesting one as it was once the capital of Morocco.
During the late 17th and early 18th centuries, Sultan Moulay Ismail made it the capital of Morocco.
Meknes was transformed into a massive imperial city with palaces, fortifications, and monumental gates – lots of which still stand today.
The Kasbah of Moulay Ismail was built during the 1600s and is one of the most popular sites for tourists to see in Meknes.
It’s still used as an occasional royal residence by the current King of Morocco.
The medina of Meknes is a UNESCO World Heritage Site in itself and according to VisitMorocco, is nicknamed the “Versailles of Morocco”.
Place El-Hedim has all kinds of shops with locals selling all sorts, from vases, plates to bracelets.
There are green spaces within the city too, from orchards to olive groves and vineyards.
Just outside of Meknes is a popular historical site, called Volubilis, a well-preserved Roman city, where tourists will find ruins of mosaics, and even a Triumphal Arch.
While Meknes is quieter than the likes of Fez because it generally has less tourists, that doesn’t mean there’s not much going on there.
In fact, Meknes holds festivals through the year, like Festival International de Volubilis des Musiques Traditionnelles du Monde – a big music festival.
This includes the International Festival of Animated Film and its own Fantasia festival which is a traditional Moroccan horse festival.
Like most of Morocco, Meknes is pretty warm throughout the year.
In November, there are highs of 30C and lows of 9C and little rainfall. The coldest month is generally January – but there can still be highs of 16C.
The hottest months are July and August, where the city can experience highs of 34C.
Meknes does not have its own airport as the closest is in Fez.
Brits can take direct flights to Fez in as little as three hours 20 minutes and journeys in November start from £17 with Ryanair.
It’s easy to get there from Rabat too, which you can fly to from the UK in a little over three hours.
From there you can get a direct train from Rabat to Meknes which takes around two hours and tickets cost as little as £5.50.
Here’s a little more on other citiies in Morocco…
Marrakesh
From a bustling Medina, to activities in the desert, vibrant cafes and spice stalls, you can’t go wrong with Marrakesh.
The city in western Morocco is at the bottom of the Atlas Mountains and in the winter months offers warm weather and lots of sunshine.
Lisa Minot, Head of Sun Travel, went on a trip earlier this year and said: “I’ve spent a wonderful long weekend in Marrakech and the city is as exciting as ever.”
Agadir
Morocco doesn’t just offer city breaks, Agadir has incredible golden beaches. It’s known to be a premier resort destination with beautiful hotels and pristine pools.
Deputy Travel Editor Kara Godfrey visited Agadir last winter and enjoyed the much warmer weather of 25C.
Kara added: “The Moroccan city is home to the country’s largest market, Souk El Had, as well as a bustling harbour and modern marina. No wonder the North African country looks set to be a holiday hotspot as Brits look past Spain.”
Fez
Another lesser-visited city in Morocco is Fez. It’s found inland and has been referred to as the “country’s cultural capital”.
There’s plenty of shopping to be done in Fez at the Medina, which is the oldest in North Africa and a UNESCO World Heritage Site. It’s made up of over 9,000 alleys that are separated from the outside world by high walls.
Inside you’ll find lots of food, leathers, handmade rugs and hand-painted ceramics.
Tangier
The city at the very tip of Morocco is Tangier – on a clear day, you can even see Spain across the Strait of Gibraltar.
Tangier has been a major trade centre for thousands of years thanks to its location and busy port.
Visitors can learn about its interesting history with a guided tour, and wander through Kasbah, the walled part of the city full of tiny streets and alleys.
Kasbah has been used for Hollywood movies including James Bond and the Bourne film series.
For more on Morocco, read more about Head of Sun Travel Lisa Minot’s trip to Marrakesh.
Plus check out this peaceful African city right by the sea that feels ‘more like Europe’ – but tourists always miss it.