Meknes in September

September is the turn of the year in the imperial city. The fiercest summer heat eases — daytime highs settle to a more manageable 31°C and keep falling through the month — the crowds of peak summer thin, and the light softens into a warm, golden autumn tone. It is a genuinely excellent month: warm and bright enough to feel like summer, but increasingly comfortable for full days exploring the Bab Mansour gate, the Moulay Ismail Mausoleum, the granaries and the medina.

As the heat relaxes, the countryside reopens to easy travel. The exposed Roman ruins of Volubilis become pleasant again, especially later in the month — the mosaics, the Capitol and the Triumphal Arch are far more comfortable to explore once the midday heat eases. The hilltop holy town of Moulay Idriss completes a rewarding day trip, and Fes next door rounds out a two-city imperial circuit in warm, settled early-autumn weather.

September sits in the comfortable shoulder, so prices and crowds are gentler than the spring peak while the weather trends toward ideal. It is a smart pick for travellers who want warmth and long bright days without midsummer's heat or expense — and who appreciate that golden, slightly softened light for photographing the great gates and the Roman ruins as autumn arrives on the Saiss plain.