Choosing a villa in Marrakech comes down to deciding where and how your group will live during the stay. A villa is reached by car, is arranged around its garden and leaves plenty of room for time spent at the house. The criteria that matter are few: the location in relation to the city, the actual capacity, the outdoor spaces, the amenities shown on the listing and the budget per traveller.
The villas in our selection are rented in full, for your group only. They differ in their location, their size and their amenities, which each listing details.
Villa or riad: what really changes
A villa puts the outdoors first: a garden, terraces, often a pool, and distance from the neighbours. A riad in the medina lives inside its walls, around a patio and a roof terrace, with the city on foot from the door.
The choice therefore depends on where you will spend your days. If the programme is mostly at the house, between the garden, meals outside and quiet afternoons, a villa suits. If it is mostly in the souks and the lanes, on foot, a riad makes everything simpler. In return, a villa means organising every outing into town by car.
A pool is more common in a villa than in a riad, but only the property's listing can confirm it.
Choosing your location around Marrakech
The Palmeraie, north-east of Marrakech, is 15 to 25 minutes from the medina depending on traffic and about 25 to 30 minutes from Marrakech-Menara airport. It suits stays that alternate time at the villa with outings into town.
The Ourika Road heads south. The villas along it are 20 to 40 minutes from the centre depending on their location. It suits groups who will spend most of the stay at the villa and go into town less often.
Our selection also includes villas in the Amelkis golf area and at other points around the city: the location of each one is shown on its listing.
To decide between two addresses, ask yourself a simple question: how many trips into town do you plan? The more there are, the more being close to the medina matters. The more the stay happens at the house, the more the garden and the calm count. Our guides to the Palmeraie and the Ourika Road describe each area in detail.
What to check on the listing
Capacity and bedrooms. The number of travellers shown is a maximum; also look at the number of bedrooms and bathrooms, and at how the beds are split, especially if several families share the villa.
The garden and outdoor spaces. Their size, the shade, the terraces and the place where meals can be taken outside make the difference in a villa, where a large part of the day is spent outdoors.
The pool according to the listing. If it does not appear among the amenities, assume there is none. For any detail that matters to you, such as safety around the pool with young children, ask before booking.
Access by car. A villa is reached by car right up to the door: check whether there is parking on site and plan how the group will get around during the stay, by rental car or by transfer.
The other amenities. Air conditioning, wifi, a hammam, an equipped kitchen or a gym vary from one villa to another and are shown on the listing when they are present.
What is included. Cleaning, linen, breakfast or a welcome on arrival depend on the property: ask in writing what the price covers before confirming.
Working out the price per person for a villa
A villa's price is for the whole property and for one night. To bring it down to each traveller, multiply it by the number of nights, add the items not included that you have had confirmed in writing, then divide by the number of people sharing the villa.
This way of counting makes comparisons fairer. A large villa that is well filled can cost each person less than a smaller villa with a lower nightly price; conversely, a large villa occupied by a small group works out expensive per person. So compare villas of similar capacity, for the same dates, since the rate varies with the period.
Count separately what is not part of the accommodation: the car or the transfers, which weigh more in a villa than in the medina, meals and activities. The starting price of the villas in our selection in Marrakech is given in the frequently asked questions below.
Mistakes to avoid
Choosing the location without looking at the journeys. A villa far from the medina suits a stay spent at the house, much less so if you plan outings into town every day.
Relying on the photo of the pool alone. The garden, the shade, the bedrooms and the bathrooms matter just as much day to day: read the whole listing.
Exceeding the capacity. The number of travellers shown on the listing is a limit.
Forgetting about transport. Without a car or a transfer arranged, a villa away from the city quickly becomes restrictive.
Assuming the services are included. Cleaning, breakfast or a welcome depend on the property: have the list confirmed in writing.
Sending a request without dates or the number of travellers. Our team needs both to reply to you.
Choosing a villa for a stay entirely focused on the medina. If you plan to do everything on foot in the old town, a riad will be more practical; our guide to choosing a riad in Marrakech sets out the criteria.
Frequently asked questions
Where should you start when choosing a villa in Marrakech?
With the number of travellers and how the beds are split, then with the location, depending on how many outings into town you plan. After that, look at the garden, the amenities shown on the listing and the price per traveller.
What share of the villas have a pool?
In our selection in Marrakech, 53 villas out of 64 have a pool shown on their listing. The property's listing is what counts.
From what price can you rent a whole villa in Marrakech?
Whole villas in our selection in Marrakech start at €311 per night. This price covers the entire villa: divide it by the number of travellers to get the cost per person. The rate varies with the dates.
Palmeraie or Ourika Road: how do you decide?
The Palmeraie is 15 to 25 minutes from the medina depending on traffic, the Ourika Road 20 to 40 minutes from the centre depending on the location. The more outings into town you plan, the more being close matters; for a stay spent mostly at the villa, the difference counts for less.
Do you need a car when renting a villa?
It is advisable: the villa is reached by car, and every outing into town is made by car or by transfer. Check on the listing whether there is parking and plan your journeys before the stay.
Luxury villas in Marrakech
Faracha Bungalow
Namira Lodge
Bena Apartment
Villa Aana
Riad Agadir
