A riad is a traditional Moroccan house built around an interior courtyard — often with a small fountain, citrus trees, and rooms opening inward rather than to the street. Staying in one, especially in Marrakech, Fes, or Essaouira's medina, is a completely different experience from a modern hotel: quieter, more intimate, and usually with a rooftop terrace for sunset views over the old city.
Most riads include a home-cooked breakfast and can arrange airport transfers, hammam visits, and local guides directly. The one catch: they're tucked deep in the medina's unmarked alleys, so get exact GPS coordinates from the riad beforehand and expect to be walked in the last stretch, since cars usually can't reach the door.
