Ouarzazate: A Guide to Morocco’s Gateway City

Last Updated on 27th January 2026 by Jessie

An honest take on Ouarzazate: what to expect, whether it’s worth visiting, and the best ways to pass your time. 

Historically, Ouarzazate was one of the key stops on the trans-Saharan caravan route from Marrakech to the desert. Oddly, the transient nature of the city persists. Though it’s one of Morocco’s most iconic tourist destinations, Ouarzazate tends to be more of a stopover spot than an attraction in its own right. 

Previously, just one of my most beloved Moroccan words to say, I finally got around to checking out waaraaazaaate this winter. Unfortunately, I’d just come down with a dogshit cold post long-haul flight, so the mood was pretty sombre. Nonetheless, here’s my scoop on all things Ouarzazate. 

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What is Ouarzazate Like?

There’s not a whole lot going on in Ouarzazate itself. Given how iconic it is as a tourist destination, I was surprised by how low-key the atmosphere is. 

It’s an odd one, very much geared towards brief day visits by tourists on their way towards sandier pastures (the Sahara Desert). Or used as a base camp for visiting nearby attractions like Aït Benhaddou, Dades Gorges and Fint Oasis. 

There are loads of hotels and swanky guesthouses, well equipped to accommodate the international film crews that park up for months at a time. Plus a few budget hostels for the backpacking/bikepacking folk. 

The main tourist haunts are Kasbah Taourirt and the surrounding Jewish quarter, and the film museums. Beyond that, it’s largely just a regular rural Moroccan city. As a tourist, you’re pretty inconsequential to the everyday goings on, which is a bit of a relief after some time in Marrakech. 

See my Budget Guide to Marrakech. 

The city of Ouarzarzate is vast and spread out. Don’t expect a quaint little rural village. Though, despite the size, there is still a real slow, leisurely feel to the place. Whilst much of the city is modern, the architecture is consistent with the buildings of yore – flat roofs and box layouts, in the same shades of terracotta pink. Unlike cities such as Agadir, where it’s a bit of a contemporary muddle, the old and the new meld together nicely. It’s a super picturesque place, in an understated way. 

I get the sense that the shopkeepers and guides around the Kasbah are used to green (gullible) travellers. Which makes sense, as most people who visit do so as part of a guided tour. They’re pretty persistent in roping you in for a visit, expect you to be easily wowed by sub-par quality products, and will try to grab an extra buck where you can. 

I suppose they’re just tired of being ignored or photographed (rarely just considered regular humans). I was also a sick, impatient grump at the time, so take my pessimism with a grain of salt. But I did have one man tell me the Kasbah was closed due to damage from the earthquake and offer me a guided tour of the Jewish neighbourhood. I said no, walked 20m further and found the entrance to the very open and functioning Kasbah. 

In short, not much to do, but it’s a cool place. My advice would be to hire a car in Marrakech, stop in at Ouarzazate for a night, take a wander of the Jewish quarter, explore the epic landscape nearby, then continue on to the desert. 

How Much Time Should You Spend in Ouarzazate?

You could definitely hit up all of Ouarzate’s main attractions in a day. Most tours from Marrakech will just allocate a couple of hours to visiting Ouarzazate and Aït Benhaddou before continuing on. 

If travelling by public transport, I’d recommend spending one or two nights, using Ouarzazate as a base to explore all the nearby attractions. 

If I had a car, I’d probably check out Ouarzazate in a day, then opt to spend a night in Aït Benhaddou. Then continue on to another sweet little remote guesthouse somewhere like Dades Valley. 

Aït Benhaddou or Ouarzazate?

Aït Benhaddou often gets lumped in as an attraction in Ouarzazate, but it’s actually a distinct village 25-minutes away. If you Google Ouarzazate, it’ll usually show photos of the Aït Benhaddou Kasbah. In the same way that Tamraght used to be marketed as Taghazout to rope in more travellers. 

Ouarzazate largely functions as a regular city, whereas Aït Benhaddou is predominantly a tourist village. Pretty much everyone living there works within tourism. Despite this, I prefer Aït Benhaddou and highly recommend spending a night at one of the guesthouses. 

There’s no nightlife or much of a social atmosphere in either place, but the remote landscape in Aït Benhaddou is more alluring. Particularly once the tour buses leave for the day, it becomes a pleasant little ghost town. 

See How to Get to Aït Benhaddou. 

What to Do in Ouarzazate

Within the city, your options are pretty much: explore the Kasbah and the surrounding neighbourhood, maybe buy some rugs or antique treasures, and check out the film paraphernalia. 

Beyond that, you could spend the day (either by taxi or hire car) exploring the valleys, gorges and oases nearby. 

Kasbah Taourirt
In layman’s terms, it’s a grand mudbrick residence built in the 17th century. It’s partially open to the public and costs 20dh (€2) to enter.  There are a few guides hanging out the front offering tours. I opted not to, but it wouldn’t be a bad idea. It’d be good to get some historical context, otherwise you’re just wandering around admiring the unfathomable architecture. You’d spend no more than 30-minutes soaking it all in. 

Jewish Quarter
This was my favourite part of Ouarzazate. Just behind the Kasbah, there’s a labyrinth of narrow streets – also constructed from mud brick, but a little more ramshackle than the upkept residence. Equally as impressive as the Kasbah, and free to enter. There’s a handful of small stores selling the usual Moroccan goods: rugs, traditional clothing, herbs and spices. It’s pleasant for a little wander, especially in the early morning when the weather is cooler and there’s hardly anyone around. 

Antique Stores
Across the road from the Kasbah are a handful of stores with the most incredible collections of antique Berber jewellery, vases, furniture and knick-knacks. I stumbled into one called Caverne d’Ali Baba, and it truly was a cave of treasures. If I had a million dollars, I’d return to buy it all to fill my own Kasbah.  

Film Studios in Ouarzazate 

Ouarzazate is known as the ‘Hollywood of Morocco’. A bunch of huge films and series (Gladiator, Lawrence of Arabia, The Mummy, etc.) have been filmed there, utilising the desert landscape and local film studios. Tourism is weird; it baffles me that the suggestion of a blockbuster movie interests people more than the historical significance of the city itself. But alas, Ouarzazate capitalises on the movie scene, roping visitors in to tours of the production studios and film museums. 

Musée du Cinema
Across from the Kasbah is the Musée du Cinéma. I didn’t visit. I’m not that into movies. But it looked like a good way to pass the time. Apparently, there’s no signage, so you just have to meander your way around and come up with your own origin stories for all the artifacts. It costs 80dh (€8) for adults and 40dh (€4) for children. 

Atlas Film Studios
On the outskirts of the city is Atlas Studios, where a bunch of Hollywood movies have been made. I would have dropped in, but I was sick, so I didn’t have the patience nor the energy. You can check out the film sets and props remaining from a few big-name films like The Mummy and Black Hawk Down. It’s 80dh (€8) to enter, free for under 5’s, and guided tours are available. 

Gas Station
This is one place I was actually bummed to miss out on. It’s the abandoned film set of ‘The Hills Have Eyes’ – one movie I have watched and am still haunted by. It’s a 40-minute drive west of Ouarzazate. Kinda cool, kinda spooky. 

Attractions Near Ouarzazate 

Dades Valley
Dades Valley is a good 2 hours north east of Ouarzazate, so probably best as a midway point before continuing on to somewhere like Merzouga. There are several gorges with dramatic, limestone cliffs; loads of old Kasbahs; and several Berber villages. The landscape is incredible, it’s a good spot for hiking, and well worth a visit. 

Draa Valley
More of a scenic drive than one particular attraction, Draa Valley is Morocco’s largest river valley. It’s a lush oasis stretching from Ouarzazate to the Sahara. 

Fint Oasis
If you don’t have the luxury of a long, leisurely road trip, you can check out Fint Oasis, just 10km from Ouarzazate. Four Berber villages surround this little pocket of river and date palm paradise. There are a few guesthouses with restaurants attached. Well worth stopping in for lunch. 

Where to Eat in Ouarzazate

There are a few decent local restaurants around Ouarzazate. But many of the boutique hotels and home stays will include breakfast and offer home-cooked lunches and dinners on request. Often, these are better than you’ll find in other venues in town. 

Here’s a handful of my top places to eat in Ouarzazate:

• Restaurant Toudgha – Great tagines 
• La Datte d’Or – Great value Moroccan cuisine 
• Sabrine – Nice rooftop terrace
• Pasto Four à Bois – Woodfired pizza 
• Snack Kisse Laze – Cheap, local spot 

Where to Stay in Ouarzazate

I stayed at Afgo Hostel, a great little budget backpackers’ in the suburb of Tabounte. Cheap, clean, comfy and includes a good communal brekky. Just note that it’s a good 45-minute walk from the centre of Ouarzazate. But there’s a taxi rank just by the hostel where you can catch a collective taxi for 5dh (€0.50). 

Here are my top accommodation recommendations for each budget:

• Hostel: Afgo 
• Mid-range: Dar Soufian and Riad Chay 
• Luxury: Kasbah Tamsna

How to Get to Ouarzazate 

CTM and Supratours buses run multiple times a day from Marrakech to Ouarzazate. They are cheap, safe and reliable. Tickets cost about 100dh (€10) and can be purchased online or at the bus station. 

See Guide to Catching Buses in Morocco. 

You can also take a taxi from Marrakech. It’s a 3-hour drive, and you can opt for either a collective taxi (just paying for one seat) or a private one. This is a solid option if you’re travelling as a group. 

For more details and prices, check out my full overview of Transport Options to Ouarzazate. 

If you just want to pop in for a day trip, I recommend this Ouarzazate and Aït Benhaddou tour from Marrakech. 

Ouarzazate Weather

Situated far from the coast, Ouarzazate has a dry desert climate with big temperature swings between day and night. 

Summers (June–August) are extremely hot, with daytime temperatures often pushing past 40°C, while winters are mild during the day but surprisingly cold after sunset. You can expect the winter nights to reach 3-5°C, so pack accordingly. It’s common to see snow on the nearby mountains. Rainfall is minimal year-round.

The most comfortable time to visit is spring (March–May) and autumn (September–November), when days are warm but manageable and nights are cooler without being harsh.

For more of my unwarranted opinions, see:

• Where to Eat in Marrakech
• Essential Tips for Mirleft
• 10-Day Itinerary from Taghazout to Essaouira
• Best SIM Card for Morocco
• Sidi Kaouki Travel Guide

For more Maroc info and a little less of my own opinions, I’ve created a travel wisdom-sharing hub over on Reddit. Join the group here.