Experience in Meknes, Morocco by reda

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

life in Meknes is fine, there is not so many dangerous people, and it cheaper than most Moroccans big cities, and espeacially people are so friendly,
i recommend it for moroccans to live in, and also for tourist, because it an old city and have so many monuments and history. it was a favorite place of the kings of the different civilizations that reigned Morocco

What is the student lifestyle like in Meknes?

student lifestyle in Meknès is normal, just the routine of studying, they dont have so many activities to do with the university, and we have some difficulties as Phd Students, because we don't have new matérials and tools to do a good research. 

but in other wise, we organize congresses and conferences together, and all Phd Students benefit.

How much does it cost to live in Meknes?

For me, as i am not from Meknès ( I am From Taza city ), i am just doing PhD in Meknès, i can say that i spend 250 euro for one month in Meknès ( including money to rent the house with 2 other friends ( 50 euros for each one ) and bills (electricity, water) + money that you need to live with ). 

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

it not that difficult, and tripadvisor website have so many hostels and hotels in Meknès city, then you can just search there, and also we have some people working in this area, they have there offices, and you can go directly to them to ask for accomodation in their neighborhood.

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

food in Meknès is good a cheaper than other cities (example : 1/4 of chiken + rize + potato chips for 2 euros), and the quality of food is also good.
my favourite dishes :
1- Tajine of the Dorado (fish, Portuguese name ( dorada ))

2 - tajine of chicken, it is traditionally prepared in the traditional tajine cooked on fire maked using wood.

3 - chiken with rize and potato chips and tomato sauce.
4 - fried fish mixt ( mean so many kind of fish together )
5 - and of course all kind of PIZZA

If you desire to tayst traditional food, you can go to the old Square named ( sahat Lahdim ) where you can find so many kind on Moroccan traditional food.

picture of Sahat Lahdim at night

What places would you recommend visiting in Meknes?

Best places for tourist are :
Volubilis (Roman old city in Morrocco)

Bab al-Mansour : one of the doors of the Old City in Meknès.

Bab al-Mansour museum : it inside Bab al-Mansour, ( i prefered to ansert this picture because all three of us on it are erasmus students.

Mausoleum of Moulay Ismail

Meknes old Medina
Museum of Moroccan Art (Dar Jamai)

Bou Inania Medersa
Moulay Idriss (small old town near to Meknès)
Royal Palace
Bab Moulay Ismail

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

it depend about the place, because some of restaurant dont have good quality of foods and dont care about the health of consumers.

i will advise this restaurant in Meknès :

1 - Jazirat errif restaurant
2 - aljazira restaurant
3 - black iris coffee
4 - Riad Selma restaurant ( this one is the best and in middle of the old city).

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

Meknès is a safe city during night also, at night it will be good to go to the old square in middle of the old part of Meknès ( we call it : Sahat Lahdim ) where you can find so many traditional things (food, clothes, ...). or to have coffee in some places near to this area wich have a nice view to the old city.

there are also so many bars and night clubs in the city centre, this area is named (Hamria), i can suggest you some of the best  : zaki hôtel & spa, Menzeh Dalia, BODEGA DE CORBE.