Medina

A medina is the old walled Arab-Muslim quarter at the heart of cities across North Africa and the Middle East. The word simply means city in Arabic. Typical features: defensive walls, narrow car-free alleys, a central mosque and souk, plus historic fondouks (merchant inns), madrasas, and hammams. The medinas of Marrakech, Fes, and Tunis are UNESCO World Heritage Sites. For travelers, the medina is where you'll find riads, traditional courtyard houses converted into boutique hotels since the 1990s. The Royal Mansour (built as its own purpose-designed medina inside the walls in 2010) and La Mamounia anchor the luxury end, while Riad El Fenn and Riad Yasmine define the boutique tier.