Can I do a night tour of the medina in Morocco?

A night tour of the medina is not only possible, it is one of my favourite things to recommend, because the old cities transform completely after dark. The daytime crush of shoppers, mopeds and tour groups thins out, the harsh sun gives way to the warm glow of lanterns and shopfronts, and the medina takes on an intimate, almost secretive character. In Marrakech, the great square of Jemaa el-Fnaa does the opposite of emptying — it erupts into a night market of food stalls, storytellers, musicians and smoke, and watching it come alive from a rooftop café before plunging into it is unforgettable.

Fes after dark is a different but equally compelling experience. The world's largest car-free medieval medina becomes quiet and mysterious at night, its tangle of nine-thousand-odd lanes lit in pools by hanging lamps, the sounds reduced to footsteps, distant calls to prayer and the occasional clatter of a late workshop. A good guide will take you to lit landmarks, a viewpoint over the city, and perhaps a traditional dinner in a hidden riad, weaving in the stories that the daylight bustle drowns out. It feels like stepping into another century.

The honest caveat is navigation and comfort. Medinas are deliberately labyrinthine, many alleys are poorly lit or unlit, and they are far quieter at night than by day, which can feel disorienting for a first-time visitor going solo. This is precisely why I steer people towards a guided night walk rather than wandering off alone after dark — a licensed local guide knows the lanes by heart, keeps you to the lively, safe routes, and turns what could be a nervous experience into a magical one. It also neatly handles the faux-guides who target lost-looking tourists.

Practically, evenings are generally calm and Moroccan cities are used to visitors out at night, especially around the main squares and food areas. Keep valuables minimal and tucked away, wear comfortable shoes for uneven cobbles, and carry a little cash for street food and tips. Women travelling can absolutely enjoy night tours, ideally guided or in company. We can arrange a private after-dark medina walk in Marrakech or Fes, combined with a rooftop dinner, which I think is the single best way to fall for these old cities.