Experience in Ifrane, Morocco by fz

What is it like to live in Ifrane? Would you recommend it? What is the city like?

Ifrane is a small city in the Atlas mountains between Fes and Meknes. The city is known to be one of the cleanest in the world thanks to the fact that there is no industrial factories around the city. It’s a very calm and peaceful place known for the beauty of its landacapes and weather. Living in Ifrane, one does not feel in Morocco anymore. The main places in the city would be the city center and the “marché”. The city center is known by its emblematic Atlas Lion Statute. Most of the hotels, restaurants and banks are in the center. One very important thing that Ifrane’s economy rely on most of the time is Al Akhawayn University. A beautiful american university that takes you out of the Moroccan context and gathers people from all over the world to live and study in one place.

What is the student lifestyle like in Ifrane?

The only university in Ifrane is Al Akhawayn University, like the whole city, the campus is very calm and peaceful. During week days the university clubs organize many events and talks one can go to after classes. During the weekends the city has few good places to party in at night. It also has a bowling and a paintball. As the city is very touristic, visiting the touristic places around wouldn’t be a bad idea for weekend.

How much does it cost to live in Ifrane?

The city is very small and it doesn’t take more than two days to visit it all and know it by heart. However the transportation cost can be found a bit more expensive than in other Moroccan Cities. A taxi ride from the university to the marché and back can cost around 24dhs ~2€.

However, the uni provides tickets at only 2dhs for its own busses. but again the whole city is so small that it only takes you a maximum of 20 min to get from the uni to the marché, passing by the city center. I would say that the cost of living in Ifrane in general is slightly more expensive than other Moroccan cities. Talking numbers, if you want to live one week in Ifrane without eating in all the fancy restaurants around, it would probably cost you more or less than 300Dhs~30€ depending on your own consumption.

Is it difficult to find accommodation in Ifrane? Is there any advice you can give?

If in a school exchange, the uni guarantees accomodation in its campus inside the university which is most probably the bests quality accomodation one can get for the price offered. On the private market, accomodation is available but once again the prices might be high for a student. That is why it would be recommended to find a flatmate to rent a flat with. The private market only offers flats or appartement, there are no rooms or studios available besides in the university campus.

What is the food like? What are your favourite dishes?

Ifrane is known for its roasted chicken restaurants mainly in the marché. You can find a variety of food in the city from the sushi and mexican restaurants in the center to the traditional restaurant in the marché. The prices of food are relatively good as well.

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What places would you recommend visiting in Ifrane?

“La prairie”, “michlifen” (both the ski station and the luxurious hotel with the most beautiful view of the city and its mountains), “Ain Vitel”, and finally “Rass Elma” to contemplate the beauty of the sunset.

The students usually get to those places by car but in case you don’t have one you can call a taxi to take you there (again the prices might be slighty high as these places are a bit far from the center).

Is it good to eat out in Ifrane? Can you tell us your favourite spots?

Ifrane has so many good places to eat in but the ones students go to the most are “la paix”, “l’empreinte”, “le grand hôtel” bar and restaurant, “TexMex”, “Latino”, a sushi restaurant and “brahim” for late night low price sandwiches. All these places are in the center and very close to each other. For the marché I would recommend “wlad lhaj” for fastfood and roasted chicken, “Foody” for texan mexican food, and either “platane” or “chez grand mère” for Morocco’s traditional tajines.

Some restaurants in the center have discounts for AUI students, make sure to have your student card with you.

Is the nightlife good in Ifrane? Where is good to go?

As metioned before the city has a bowling you can go to at night, few meters away there is a bunch of nice night clubs you can go to like “GH” (stands for Grand Hôtel) night club or “le repère”. These are the two places where students go the most without forgetting the african and rugby parties organized by students.

What advice would you give future students heading to Ifrane?

During the week, between classes and clubs meetings in the afternoon one gets really busy, but once it is the weekend, besides the two night clubs there isn’t much to do. Make sure you register in clubs that organize trips during the weekends so you can visit as many Cities as you can (surf club, horse riding club or trips organized by a “student travel company”), better than staying in campus.

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