Meknes in March

March brings spring to the imperial city. Daytime highs climb to around 20°C, the rain begins to ease, and the surrounding Saiss plain and vineyards turn green. The light improves, the medina hums back to life, and the monumental Bab Mansour gate, the Moulay Ismail Mausoleum and the Heri es-Souani granaries are pleasant to explore for full days. Evenings are still cool, so a jacket is handy, but the city feels brighter and more alive after the long, wet winter.

It is an excellent month to pair the imperial monuments with the countryside. With drier, warmer weather, the exposed Roman ruins of Volubilis — Morocco's best-preserved Roman site, with its mosaics, Capitol and Triumphal Arch — are at their best, green grass between the stones and storks on the columns. The nearby holy hill town of Moulay Idriss completes a rewarding day trip in the mild spring conditions, just a short drive from the city.

As the season opens, Meknes still sits ahead of the main crowds, so its imperial monuments stay calm and prices remain reasonable — a quiet advantage over busier Fes next door. March pairs the two cities neatly into an imperial circuit, with Volubilis and Moulay Idriss as a green, photogenic excursion. For mild weather, greener landscapes and lighter crowds, March is a comfortable, value-led time to visit.