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Ouarzazate is a small city of about 72,000 people, but its districts spread from the central Avenue Mohammed V to the palm groves and kasbah villages on the edges. Where you base yourself changes the character of your trip, from walkable town centre to a UNESCO ksar. Here’s the breakdown of the best Ouarzazate neighborhoods Plan around the climate with Ouarzazate weather by month, and see the Ouarzazate city guide for the full overview.
Ouarzazate Neighborhoods: City Centre Districts
Centre Ville (Avenue Mohammed V)
Centre Ville runs along Avenue Mohammed V, where you’ll find the CTM bus station, banks like BMCE and Attijariwafa, ATMs, pharmacies and most restaurants. It’s the most practical base for first-time visitors and backpackers, with budget hotels from about 250 to 400 MAD a night and the Kasbah Taourirt at its west end. Everything is walkable within 15 minutes.
Taourirt District
Taourirt wraps around the 19th-century kasbah and includes the oldest lanes of the city plus the main souk. It suits travelers who want the kasbah and market on their doorstep, though the streets are tighter and parking is harder. A few small guesthouses here run 200 to 350 MAD a night. It’s the best district for street food and early-morning market visits. It’s the closest district to the things to do in Ouarzazate like Kasbah Taourirt and the Cinema Museum.
Mansour Eddahbi and Tassoumaat
Mansour Eddahbi, just north of the centre, holds Ouarzazate’s largest hotels, including the Berbère Palace, and the Cinema Museum. Tassoumaat to the west is a residential area near Atlas Studios. These quieter districts suit families and tour groups, with 4 and 5-star hotels running 600 to 1,200 MAD a night. You’ll want a taxi for evening trips into the centre. Most Ouarzazate events and festivals attendees and film crews stay in this district.
Ouarzazate Neighborhoods: Base Villages Outside Town
Ait Ben Haddou
Ait Ben Haddou, 30km northwest, is a village beside the UNESCO ksar where many travelers spend one night to catch sunrise and sunset on the ramparts. Accommodation runs from simple guesthouses at 250 MAD to 3-star kasbah hotels at 600 to 900 MAD. It suits photographers and anyone who wants to walk the ksar before the day-trippers arrive at 10am. Allow a full day here; see Ouarzazate travel tips for the grand taxi route.
Skoura Oasis
Skoura, 40km east on the N10, is a palm oasis dotted with kasbahs, the most famous being the Amridil Kasbah (20 MAD entry). Its small kasbah-guesthouses and eco-lodges run 400 to 800 MAD a night and suit couples and cyclists who want a quiet, green contrast to the desert. It’s also the natural overnight stop on the way to the Draa Valley.
For specific hotels in each district, read the where to stay in Ouarzazate guide, and match your base to the season with best time to visit Ouarzazate.
