Travel writing based on first-hand experience
Far from Marrakech’s buzz and Casablanca’s commotion, Ouarzazate—nicknamed the “gateway to the desert”—is a perfect escape for travelers chasing a more authentic slice of Morocco.
If you love the Moroccan sun, the depth of its cuisine, the skill of its artisans, and those wide-open landscapes—but you also crave calm—Ouarzazate is calling. Its name means “the city without noise” in Berber, and you feel it right away: quieter streets, slower rhythms. Summer can be fierce, but winter is ideal for exploring adobe kasbahs set against cool, green oases.
It’s also a film capital. With studios that host Hollywood epics and French comedies, you might spot actors or directors in what many affectionately call “Ouarzawood.” So why not join them—and dive into the best things to do in Ouarzazate?
Table of Contents
Best Things To Do In Ouarzazate
Discover the Kasbah of Taourirt, the pearl of Ouarzazate
Right in the middle of Ouarzazate, the Kasbah of Taourirt and its old medina pull us straight into the city’s past. A kasbah is a bit like a medieval fortress-home—part residence, part defense system—where a powerful local ruler, or pasha, once lived with his family. Built in the 17th century using rammed earth—that clever sun-dried mix of earth and straw—the kasbah feels both imposing and strangely elegant. Walking through it, we get a glimpse of the kind of wealth and refinement that once defined Morocco’s elite circles.
And this is where things get properly interesting. Look up at the stucco details, peek into the geometry of the rooms, and pay attention to the ingenious natural ventilation system. Long before air conditioning came along and started bossing everyone around, builders here had already worked out how to cool the space using carefully placed openings that pulled in fresh air and pushed hot air out. The whole place is part of a UNESCO World Heritage Site, and the surrounding lanes of the old ksar are a pleasure to wander before crossing over to the nearby souks for a little shopping detour.
Enjoy serene shopping in the souk
Now, if the idea of souk shopping makes you picture chaos, sensory overload, and twenty people trying to sell you the same lamp, Ouarzazate is here to calm your nerves. Shopping in Ouarzazate is far more relaxed than in the sprawling souks of Marrakech. Everything feels tidier, more organized, and easier to navigate, with merchants set up in neat rows of shops and far less pressure to stop, browse, and buy immediately. This is a provincial city with a gentler rhythm, and you can feel it in the way people actually take time to talk before jumping into the sales pitch.
If you love artisan pottery, you’ll want to keep an eye out for the famous green ceramics of Tamegroute, made in a village a few hours from town. These rustic pieces—plates, cups, candleholders, and more—have been crafted for centuries and stand out instantly thanks to their rich green glaze, created using a blend of manganese, copper oxide, and even barley flour. They’re the kind of objects you later spot in expensive concept stores and boutique interiors, only here they still feel rooted in place rather than styled within an inch of their lives. Another beautiful regional buy is rose water, produced by women from the nearby villages using the fragrant Damascus rose. It’s one of those simple, locally made treasures that somehow feels both practical and luxurious.
Explore the cinema behind the scenes at “Ouarzawood”
Ouarzazate did not accidentally end up with the nickname “Ouarzawood”. Film studios started appearing here in the 1960s, when early Hollywood directors realized the region had the full package: dramatic landscapes, near-constant sunshine, and highly skilled Moroccan craftsmen who could build enormous sets at startling speed. Then came Lawrence of Arabia, which helped put the area firmly on the cinematic map. Since then, directors, actors, costume teams, and production crews have kept returning, and today the city still has three active studios just outside the center. Some of them welcome visitors, including the legendary Atlas Studios.
Founded in 1983, Atlas Studios has hosted major productions including The Mummy, Asterix and Obelix: Mission Cleopatra, and Gladiator, not to mention TV giants like Prison Break and Game of Thrones. Guided tours take us through sprawling sets where you might stumble across extras, horses, camels, or actors in costume if filming is underway. One minute you’re looking at a Tibetan temple created for Scorsese’s Kundun, the next you’re peeking into the stables where four-legged performers wait for their cue. To keep the film obsession going, head over to the Cinema Museum, right across from the Kasbah of Taourirt. Set inside a former Italian studio, it preserves old film sets including a church cloister, a Roman temple, and Egyptian-style bas-reliefs, which makes the whole visit feel delightfully surreal.
Explore the fortified villages around Ouarzazate
Once we leave the city, the landscape around Ouarzazate starts showing off. The region is dotted with kasbahs and fortified villages that look so cinematic it almost feels unfair. Some of them have indeed served as film sets, but long before cameras arrived, they were already central to trade routes, family life, and local power. The most famous is the Ksar of Aït-Benhaddou, a UNESCO World Heritage Site that rises above the landscape like a mirage. Perched on a rocky hill, this fortified village is at its most magical in the late afternoon, when the low sun turns the earthen walls gold and the whole place starts looking suspiciously like the set of an epic historical film.
Another must-see is the Kasbah of Amridil, on the right bank of the El Hajaj wadi. Surrounded by a palm grove and celebrated as one of the finest examples of Berber architecture, this kasbah is one of those places where history suddenly feels tangible. Its square layout, central patio, towering walls, and corner towers offer a vivid sense of how large Berber households once lived—raising livestock, growing food, and protecting daily life behind fortified walls. It remained inhabited until 1962, and because it is so exceptionally preserved, it even appeared on the 50 dirham note for years.
More activities
- For hiking lovers, the Dades Gorges deliver dramatic scenery and seriously memorable trails.
- If you’re chasing the perfect golden-hour photo, the Fint Oasis is the place to aim for.
- And if you want something more adventurous, you can head into the dry, open landscapes around Ouarzazate by quad or camel—which is, admittedly, a slightly dramatic but very memorable way to channel the spirit of Lawrence of Arabia.
PRACTICAL INFO
When to go
The weather in Ouarzazate is classic edge-of-the-desert stuff: lots of sunshine, very little mercy in peak heat, and cooler nights once the sun disappears. The most pleasant times to visit are usually autumn and winter, when the days stay bright and warm enough for exploring, but the evenings cool down nicely. Summer, on the other hand, can be brutally hot, with temperatures regularly climbing above 40°C. Unless you enjoy sightseeing inside a giant outdoor oven, it’s not the easiest season.
Getting Around Ouarzazate
Getting around Ouarzazate is usually refreshingly simple. The center is compact enough that we can walk between cafés, shops, and a handful of local sights without too much effort, but for anything beyond that, a taxi or rental car quickly becomes the better move.
Petit taxis are the easiest option for short rides within town, while a car makes much more sense if you want to visit Aït Ben Haddou, nearby kasbahs, film studios, or desert scenery without working around someone else’s timetable. If you’re taking taxis, agree on the fare before setting off. And if Ouarzazate is one stop on a wider Morocco road trip, this is absolutely one of those places where having your own wheels feels less like a luxury and more like a very smart life decision.
Best Places To Stay
Berbere Palace
Actors, directors, film crews, and all the glamorous people behind the scenes have long made the Berbère Palace their temporary base in Ouarzazate. And honestly, the hotel looks the part. Designed like a vast fortified kasbah, complete with high walls and crenellated towers, it feels theatrical in exactly the right way. This is the luxury hotel in town, the one that fully leans into the city’s cinematic identity. Wandering through its corridors, you’ll spot Egyptian statues and old film props salvaged from productions shot in the region, which only adds to the slightly surreal charm.
Curious about which celebrities slept here before you? The hotel proudly displays portraits of Hollywood stars who stayed on the property while filming nearby. From Brad Pitt to Leonardo DiCaprio, plenty of famous faces have passed through. And yes, there’s also that enormous palm-lined swimming pool, which looks exactly like the kind of place where someone important once floated around pretending not to be important at all.
Double room from €238.
Click to find out more about Berbere Palace
Oscar Hotel by Atlas Studios
Are you a proper movie lover, but not quite in a Berbère Palace budget bracket? Then Oscar Hotel is the obvious backup plan, and a rather fun one at that. This charming boutique hotel sits right beside Atlas Studios, so the whole setting already feels wonderfully on-brand. At its center is a lovely swimming pool, ringed by guest rooms named after—and decorated in tribute to—actors and actresses who filmed in Ouarzazate.
Game of Thrones fans, take a breath: yes, you can stay in Khaleesi’s room, complete with her portrait and dragon references looming above the bed. Prefer swords and sand over dragons? There’s even a Gladiator suite for fans of Russell Crowe. It’s theatrical, slightly kitschy, and exactly the kind of place that makes a stay in Ouarzazate feel more memorable.
Double room from €124.
Click to find out more about Oscar Hotel
Best Places to Eat in Ouarzazate
Jardin des Aromes
Le Jardin des Arômes is easily one of the standout places to eat in Ouarzazate. This is where classic Moroccan dishes—think pigeon pastilla and lamb mechoui—arrive with a slightly more polished, modern touch. The setting is part of the appeal too, especially if you grab a table on the lush green terrace. Service is polished, the crowd is stylish, and the whole place has that quietly confident mood that works just as well for a romantic dinner as it does for an evening out with serious food-loving friends.
Jardin des Aromes, 69 Av. Mohamed V Ouarzazate
Chez Dimitri
Chez Dimitri is one of those places that feels woven into the city itself. Open since 1928, it’s practically an institution in Ouarzazate. The menu blends hearty Moroccan classics with old-school French dishes like Niçoise salad and duck confit with parsley potatoes, while the homemade moussaka gives a subtle nod to the Greek roots of the family behind the restaurant. It’s historic, well-loved, and exactly the kind of place we want to find in a city like this—full of character, local memory, and very good food.
Restaurant Chez Dimitri, 22 Avenue Mohamed V, Ouarzazat, Ouarzazate
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