Itineraries
Meknès & Volubilis — A Food Day Trip
Meknès is the imperial city travellers skip, which is exactly why it is worth a day. It has the grand gates and scale of Fes without the crowds or the hard sell, and it sits in Morocco's richest agricultural belt — olives, orchards and the country's best-known wine region around nearby Moulay Idriss. Pair it with the Roman ruins of Volubilis and you have a day that feeds body and imagination.
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- 20 July 2026
At a glance
- Meknès is calmer and cheaper than Fes for the same imperial grandeur.
- This is olive and wine country — the local olives are outstanding.
- Pack a picnic for Volubilis; the setting deserves a proper spread.
Morning in the Meknès medina
Start at the monumental Bab Mansour gate and the great square of El Hedim, then dive into the covered market beside it — one of the most pleasant food markets in Morocco to browse, with mountains of olives, preserved lemons, dried fruit and spices, and far less pressure than the Fes or Marrakech souks. Buy a selection of olives here; the region cures some of the best in the country.
For an early lunch, the medina's cook-shops and grill counters serve honest, cheap plates to a local crowd. A brochette sandwich or a bowl of the day, eaten standing, is the Meknès way. This is a working city rather than a tourist stage, and the food is priced accordingly.
Volubilis and a picnic
Drive out to Volubilis, the remarkably preserved Roman city with its mosaics still in place under the open sky. There is little food on site beyond a simple café, so this is the moment for the picnic you assembled in the market — bread, olives, cheese, fruit and pastries eaten within sight of two-thousand-year-old olive presses is a fitting meal, since Volubilis grew rich on olive oil.
Nearby Moulay Idriss Zerhoun, the whitewashed holy town on its twin hills, makes a scenic add-on. Its small square has cafés and snack stalls, and it is famous for a particular nougat sold from stands — a sweet, sticky souvenir to round off the day.
Wine country and the return
The plains around Meknès are Morocco's principal wine region, and a few estates near the city welcome visitors for tastings. Wine is legal and produced openly in Morocco, though drunk discreetly; a vineyard lunch is an unusual and pleasant counterpoint to the day's Muslim-city eating for those who wish it.
Back in Meknès in the late afternoon, take mint tea on the Place El Hedim and watch the city go about its evening. Meknès rarely makes anyone's highlight reel, which is precisely its charm — a genuine Moroccan food city getting on with its life.
Frequently asked questions
Is Meknès worth visiting for food?
Yes, especially as a calmer alternative to Fes just an hour away. Its covered market is one of the most enjoyable to browse in Morocco, the surrounding region produces superb olives and wine, and cook-shop prices are low because it is a working city rather than a tourist hub. It rewards travellers who like their imperial cities without the crowds.
Can I visit Volubilis and Meknès in one day?
Comfortably, as they are only about half an hour apart. A typical day spends the morning in the Meknès medina and market, drives to Volubilis for the ruins and a picnic lunch, and returns via Moulay Idriss. Hiring a grand taxi or driver for the day makes the loop easy without your own car.
Is there anywhere to eat at Volubilis?
Only a basic café at the site, so the best plan is to bring a picnic assembled from the Meknès market. Eating bread, olives and fruit among the Roman olive presses is atmospheric and practical given the limited on-site options. Carry plenty of water too, as the ruins are exposed and hot in summer.
Can I drink wine near Meknès?
Yes — the plains around Meknès are Morocco's main wine region, and a few estates offer tastings and lunches. Wine is legally produced and sold in Morocco, though it is consumed discreetly out of respect for local custom. If a vineyard visit appeals, arrange it in advance, and keep drinking low-key in public elsewhere.