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Morocco🇲🇦 | citiesOujdaHigh-plateau city, small medina, Bab Sidi Abdelwahab, street snails and pastries | things to do and best time to go

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Backpacking in Oujda
👍 Recommendedcity ranked #10
By Johan Kruseman 🇳🇱 | Updated October 22, 2026

Oujda is not a beach or mountain stop, and it sits nowhere near the Mediterranean coast travelers imagine; it is a high-plateau city of about half a million people in the north of Morocco, near the Algerian border. The medina is small and worth two or three hours. The modern center is just pleasant. I once spent a morning hunting for a river or view the map seemed to promise, found a dry ravine, and learned to ask locals for the real draw first: food and the old walls. Come for a relaxed, unhurried city and skip it if you want big sights. Bring cash, because many small places do not take cards.

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✨ Why go?
Ranked #10 city in MoroccoWhy visitors keep coming back

Oujda works as a real-life Morocco stop, a place where you eat among locals and nobody is selling you a rug. Backpackers mostly come for the eastern route between the Mediterranean coast and the interior, since it is the end of the line for trains from Fez and Taza and a natural pause before Saidia or Berkane. The center is flat and compact, so you can walk from the medina to the Boulevard Mohammed V cafés in minutes. Food is a second reason: harira, grilled sheep meat and sweet pastries come in generous portions, and the student population keeps cafés open late. Nightlife is quiet. It suits a one or two night breather, not a long stay.

💡 HighlightsThe experiences that define the visit

  1. Old Medina and Bab Sidi Abdelwahab: the walled quarter is small, with a gate, spice stalls and leather and brass workers, and far fewer touts than Fez. Go in the morning, free, 1 to 2 hours.
  2. Grand Mosque exterior and Place du 16 Août: a handsome square for watching city life from a bench. Evening is best, free, about 30 minutes.
  3. Parc Lalla Meriem: a large green park with shaded paths and fountains, where families gather in the late afternoon. Free to US$1, 1 hour.
  4. Sidi Yahya Mausoleum area: a sacred site on the edge of the city with a quiet, local feel. Visit by day, outside is free, 1 hour including the taxi.
  5. Musée Régional de l’Oriental: modest displays on eastern Moroccan crafts, history and archaeology in a calm building. About US$1 to 2, 45 minutes to 1 hour.
  6. Souk El Fal and Rue Zerktouni
… read more 👉
  1. Old Medina and Bab Sidi Abdelwahab: the walled quarter is small, with a gate, spice stalls and leather and brass workers, and far fewer touts than Fez. Go in the morning, free, 1 to 2 hours.
  2. Grand Mosque exterior and Place du 16 Août: a handsome square for watching city life from a bench. Evening is best, free, about 30 minutes.
  3. Parc Lalla Meriem: a large green park with shaded paths and fountains, where families gather in the late afternoon. Free to US$1, 1 hour.
  4. Sidi Yahya Mausoleum area: a sacred site on the edge of the city with a quiet, local feel. Visit by day, outside is free, 1 hour including the taxi.
  5. Musée Régional de l’Oriental: modest displays on eastern Moroccan crafts, history and archaeology in a calm building. About US$1 to 2, 45 minutes to 1 hour.
  6. Souk El Fal and Rue Zerktouni food stops: for snails, grilled meats and fresh pastry at street stalls. Go at lunch or after dark, US$2 to 6, 1 hour.
  7. Sidi Maafa market quarter: an everyday market area where locals shop for produce and clothes, with no tourist angle. Morning, free, 45 minutes.
Oujda also anchors easy outings to Saidia’s beach, the Beni Snassen gorges near Berkane and the Zegzel valley. The medina, the squares and the park cost nothing to enter.
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🏘️ NeighborhoodsUnderstanding the local layout

Oujda is compact, and nearly everything worth your time sits within a 25-minute walk of the central square.
  • Medina: The old walled quarter is the one area to prioritize. It is small and far less hassle than Fez or Marrakech, with narrow lanes, a grain and spice souk, butchers, and sweet stalls selling honey pastries. Allow two hours, and go in the morning when it is busiest.
  • Boulevard Mohammed V and the Ville Nouvelle: The French-built grid of wide avenues, cafés and shops is where locals stroll in the evening. It is flat, walkable and good for coffee and people-watching. Skip any museum hunting here and just wander.
  • Sidi Yahya and Lalla Mimouna Park: The leafy zone around the shrine is pleasant for a short green break, though the sights are modest. Take a taxi if it is hot.
  • Train station and
… read more 👉
Oujda is compact, and nearly everything worth your time sits within a 25-minute walk of the central square.
  • Medina: The old walled quarter is the one area to prioritize. It is small and far less hassle than Fez or Marrakech, with narrow lanes, a grain and spice souk, butchers, and sweet stalls selling honey pastries. Allow two hours, and go in the morning when it is busiest.
  • Boulevard Mohammed V and the Ville Nouvelle: The French-built grid of wide avenues, cafés and shops is where locals stroll in the evening. It is flat, walkable and good for coffee and people-watching. Skip any museum hunting here and just wander.
  • Sidi Yahya and Lalla Mimouna Park: The leafy zone around the shrine is pleasant for a short green break, though the sights are modest. Take a taxi if it is hot.
  • Train station and bus station area: Useful for transfers, but there is nothing to see. Do not plan time here beyond arrivals and departures.
  • University district: Student cafés and cheap eats give the east side life after dark, but only come for a meal, not for sightseeing.

⌛️ 1 dayWhat you can realistically do in a day

8:30 AM, Bab Sidi Abdelwahab: Start at the medina gate while the shutters are still opening and the light is soft, so you see spice and bread sellers before the heat builds. Wander the lanes for about two hours.
11:00 AM, Musée Régional de l’Oriental: A short walk takes you to this calm museum, a good place to learn about the region’s craft traditions and cool off.
1:00 PM, Rue Zerktouni: Eat grilled meat or a bowl of harira at a local stall, then walk to the main boulevards.
3:30 PM, Parc Lalla Meriem: Rest in the shade and watch families and students pass by. It is a gentle way to spend the hottest hours.
5:30 PM, Sidi Maafa market quarter: Not on most itineraries, this working market is where locals buy produce and household goods. Walk it slowly, then take a short taxi toward the center.
7:30 … read more 👉
8:30 AM, Bab Sidi Abdelwahab: Start at the medina gate while the shutters are still opening and the light is soft, so you see spice and bread sellers before the heat builds. Wander the lanes for about two hours.
11:00 AM, Musée Régional de l’Oriental: A short walk takes you to this calm museum, a good place to learn about the region’s craft traditions and cool off.
1:00 PM, Rue Zerktouni: Eat grilled meat or a bowl of harira at a local stall, then walk to the main boulevards.
3:30 PM, Parc Lalla Meriem: Rest in the shade and watch families and students pass by. It is a gentle way to spend the hottest hours.
5:30 PM, Sidi Maafa market quarter: Not on most itineraries, this working market is where locals buy produce and household goods. Walk it slowly, then take a short taxi toward the center.
7:30 PM, Place du 16 Août: Finish on a bench or café terrace as the square fills up, ending with a sweet pastry and strong coffee.

🌤️ When to go?Choosing the right time of year

Spring and autumn give Oujda its most comfortable weather for walking and day trips.
  • Spring (March to May): Days run 16 to 26°C (61 to 79°F), with occasional showers early on. Prices stay low and crowds are minimal.
  • Summer (June to August): Hot and dry at 30 to 38°C (86 to 100°F), with daylight past 14 hours. Visits spike in July and August when Moroccans living abroad return, so buses and rooms fill.
  • Autumn (September to November): Warm and easier at 18 to 30°C (64 to 86°F). Rain shows up from late October.
  • Winter (December to February): Cool at 5 to 16°C (41 to 61°F), with the wettest days and cold nights. Rooms are cheapest and the streets are empty.
Aim for April or October, and avoid the August returnee rush.

source: climatestotravel.comJANJanuary: good for travelingFEBFebruary: good for travelingMARMarch: highly recommended for travelingAPRApril: excellent for travelingMAYMay: excellent for travelingJUNJune: good for travelingJULJuly: fair for travelingAUGAugust: fair for travelingSEPSeptember: excellent for travelingOCTOctober: excellent for travelingNOVNovember: good for travelingDECDecember: good for traveling
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🛏️ Where to stay?Best areas and accommodation options

The Ville Nouvelle around Boulevard Mohammed V is the best bet for budget sleepers in Oujda. Cheap hotels and simple guesthouses cluster there, with private rooms usually costing US$12 to 25, while dorm beds are rare in the city. Streets are lit, cafés stay open late and the area is easy to walk at night. Noise from traffic and café terraces can run until late, so ask for a room away from the street.
The second option is the edge of the medina, near Bab Sidi Abdelouahab. Rooms here are the cheapest, often at the bottom of that price range, and you wake up beside the morning market. The lanes empty … read more 👉
The Ville Nouvelle around Boulevard Mohammed V is the best bet for budget sleepers in Oujda. Cheap hotels and simple guesthouses cluster there, with private rooms usually costing US$12 to 25, while dorm beds are rare in the city. Streets are lit, cafés stay open late and the area is easy to walk at night. Noise from traffic and café terraces can run until late, so ask for a room away from the street.
The second option is the edge of the medina, near Bab Sidi Abdelouahab. Rooms here are the cheapest, often at the bottom of that price range, and you wake up beside the morning market. The lanes empty and get dim after dark, though, so solo travelers may prefer to head back via the main avenues. Both areas are a short walk from taxis, and the train and bus stations are about a 10 to 15 minute ride away. Book ahead in July and August.
Best hostels in Oujda


Best quality hotels in Morocco

🚌 Getting aroundHow to get around Oujda

Oujda’s red petit taxis cost roughly US$0.60 to 1.50 for most rides inside the city, and you pay the driver in cash, ideally with small coins and notes. The center is flat and walkable, traffic is light compared with bigger Moroccan cities, and public transport is basic but workable.
  • Walking: Best for the medina, the Boulevard Mohammed V area and the main squares. Everything central sits within 20 to 25 minutes on foot, so you rarely need anything else during the day.
  • Petit taxi: The most useful option for a budget traveler. Ask the driver to use the meter. Fares rise a little after dark, and a ride across town rarely passes US$2. Taxis hold up to three passengers.
  • City bus: Runs on main roads for about US$0.35 to 0.50 a ride, paid to the conductor or driver. Routes are confusing for newcomers
… read more 👉
Oujda’s red petit taxis cost roughly US$0.60 to 1.50 for most rides inside the city, and you pay the driver in cash, ideally with small coins and notes. The center is flat and walkable, traffic is light compared with bigger Moroccan cities, and public transport is basic but workable.
  • Walking: Best for the medina, the Boulevard Mohammed V area and the main squares. Everything central sits within 20 to 25 minutes on foot, so you rarely need anything else during the day.
  • Petit taxi: The most useful option for a budget traveler. Ask the driver to use the meter. Fares rise a little after dark, and a ride across town rarely passes US$2. Taxis hold up to three passengers.
  • City bus: Runs on main roads for about US$0.35 to 0.50 a ride, paid to the conductor or driver. Routes are confusing for newcomers and buses get crowded, so I would skip them unless you are heading to the outskirts.
  • Grand taxi: Shared white or beige cars leave from the taxi stand for nearby towns such as Saidia, Berkane and Ahfir. Each seat costs about US$2 to 5, and cars leave when full. This is the quickest way to reach the coast and nearby towns.
  • Train and intercity bus: The train station links Oujda with Fez, Taza and Rabat on the line from the west, with a Fez ride taking about 4 to 5 hours and costing roughly US$12 to 18. Buses cover the same routes and more at similar or lower prices. Book the evening train in summer.

👛 Costs (as of 22 October 2026)Travel costs and budget guide for Oujda

Oujda costs about US$24 to 50 a day for a backpacker, and the lower end is easy to hit since it is one of Morocco’s cheaper cities.
CategoryBudget RangeLocal Reality
Dorm accommodation (high season)US$12 to 20Dorms are scarce, so a basic private room is the norm
Dorm accommodation (off-season)US$9 to 15Cheaper rooms in winter
MealsUS$8 to 14Street snacks, sandwiches and simple tajine lunches
Local transportUS$1 to 4A few petit taxi rides
City transport passNot availablePay per ride, cash only
Basic activities/entry feesUS$0 to 5Medina and park are free, museums are small fees
MiscellaneousUS$3 to 7Water, SIM data and snacks
Total Daily BudgetUS$24 to 50Private room in high season included
Eat karan and sandwiches from street counters at lunch to keep food costs low.
⚠️ Prices can change and everyone travels differently, so take this as a rough guide. Hope it helps you plan your adventure!

🚌 Day tripsShort trips worth adding

Oujda works well as a base for short trips because grand taxis run to the coast and nearby mountains every day.
Saidia:
The Mediterranean beach resort lies about 60 km north, roughly 50 minutes by shared taxi for US$2 to 4. Go from June to September when beach cafés are open, and avoid weekends in August when it is packed. Many first-timers arrive too late to get a return seat, so head back before 6 pm.

Beni Snassen Mountains:
These gorges and limestone cliffs near Berkane make a good hike, with Zegzel Gorge the highlight. Reaching them takes about 1.5 hours via Berkane by grand taxi, with a local taxi for the final stretch bringing the total to US$8 to 15. Spring is best for green hills and flowing water. Bring water, because there is little shade or food on the trails.

Berkane:
This orchard … read more 👉
Oujda works well as a base for short trips because grand taxis run to the coast and nearby mountains every day.
Saidia:
The Mediterranean beach resort lies about 60 km north, roughly 50 minutes by shared taxi for US$2 to 4. Go from June to September when beach cafés are open, and avoid weekends in August when it is packed. Many first-timers arrive too late to get a return seat, so head back before 6 pm.

Beni Snassen Mountains:
These gorges and limestone cliffs near Berkane make a good hike, with Zegzel Gorge the highlight. Reaching them takes about 1.5 hours via Berkane by grand taxi, with a local taxi for the final stretch bringing the total to US$8 to 15. Spring is best for green hills and flowing water. Bring water, because there is little shade or food on the trails.

Berkane:
This orchard town is known for its clementines and an easy market. A shared taxi takes about 45 minutes and costs US$2 to 3. Visit between November and January for the citrus harvest, and combine it with the mountains.

Figuig:
The oasis town is far, so skip it as a single day trip unless you start at dawn.

🍲 FoodEating & Drinking in Oujda

Oujda’s food leans on the Oriental region’s mix of Moroccan and Algerian flavors. Try kharchef, a flaky stuffed pastry sold at bakeries, and karan, a hot chickpea flatbread baked in a wood oven and eaten from a paper wrap, which is the city’s signature cheap snack. Brochettes and grilled liver sandwiches come with strong cumin. Sweet-toothed travelers should look for honey pastries and almond cookies around the medina.
The best bargain meals are at street stalls and small counters near the old market, where a filling lunch costs US$2 to 4. In the evening, locals gather in the cafés along Boulevard Mohammed V for coffee, fresh orange juice and mint tea, and the terraces fill up late. Alcohol is hard to find outside a few licensed hotel bars, so plan on tea and juice. Local clementines from nearby Berkane are sweet and cheap in winter.

🛡️ SafetyTraveler Safety Guide

Oujda is calm and one of Morocco’s less hassled cities, with few tourists and almost no pushy touts. Petty theft is rare but possible in the medina crowds and around the stations, so keep your phone and wallet in front pockets. Solo travelers, including women, generally walk the center after dark without trouble, though women will get more attention on quiet side streets, so stick to the lit boulevards. The city sits near the closed Algerian border, and nobody crosses there, so do not plan routes toward it. Some taxi drivers will skip the meter, so insist on it or agree the fare first. Street staring and persistent conversation are the main annoyances, and a polite smile and keeping moving handles both.
Check Country Safety

FAQFrequently asked questions about Oujda

One to two days covers Oujda itself, with a morning in the medina and an evening along Boulevard Mohammed V. Add a third day for Saidia beach, about 50 minutes by shared taxi for US$2 to 4, or the Beni Snassen gorges. Most travelers pass through on the way between Fez and the border region, so two days is plenty.
Yes, Oujda is among the calmer Moroccan cities for solo backpackers, with little hassle and few touts. Petty theft is rare, though phones and wallets are best kept in front pockets in medina crowds. Women traveling alone should stay on the lit main boulevards after dark. Insist on the meter for petit taxis, which cost US$0.60 to 1.50 per ride.
Oujda is known for its position in eastern Morocco near the Algerian border, a lively medina, and karan, a hot chickpea flatbread sold on the street. It also serves as the gateway to the beach resort of Saidia and the Beni Snassen mountains. The Fez train takes about 4 to 5 hours and costs roughly US$12 to 18.
⚠️ Things can change over time, so always validate details locally before you go.

Other Moroccan cities near Oujda

Explore more nearby:

  • Nador—Marchica lagoon, Rif coast, cross-border trade| 109 km away
  • Taza—limestone caves, mountain pass, ancient ramparts| 199 km away
  • Fes—medina labyrinth, tanneries, religious schools| 295 km away

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We 💚 feedbackWhat to keep in mind

Oujda is best in spring or autumn, and in the evening, when the squares fill and the day cools. Summer afternoons are slow and hot. I would plan one night here, eat well, and skip trying to see more than the medina and the park.

✈️ When did I visit Morocco?
In October 2011, I backpacked Morocco for two weeks, with climbing the Mount Toubkal in summer clothing as a highlight.

✍️ Help improve this page!
The information on this page is based on my own backpacking experience in Morocco, supplemented with up-to-date research and feedback from other travelers. Travel details can change, so if you notice anything outdated or incomplete, feel free to let me know.



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Johan, backpacker and founder of TakeYourBackpackHi, I’m Johan (Netherlands 🇳🇱), the creator of TakeYourBackpack. Over the past 3 decades, I’ve backpacked through 90+ countries across six continents, gaining extensive experience with independent travel, long-term trips, and overland routes.

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