Hotels in Ifrane

Ifrane: Morocco's Middle Atlas Mountain Town

Ifrane sits at 1,664 metres elevation in the Middle Atlas range, 63 km south of Fès. Built by the French Protectorate in 1929, the town features red-pitched rooftops and chalet-style architecture that earned it the nickname "Little Switzerland." Cedar forests surround the town, and the Ifrane National Park — established in 2004 and covering 125,000 hectares — shelters Barbary macaques and migratory birds.

Where to Stay

Accommodation clusters near the Place de la Marche Verte and along the road toward Azrou, 17 km to the southwest. Hotels range from simple guesthouses to the landmark Hôtel Michlifen, a state-owned property open since the 1940s. The town draws Moroccan families escaping summer heat, skiers in January and February when Michlifen ski resort operates, and birders targeting the cedar woodlands year-round.

Practical Tips

• Getting there: CTM and ONCF-affiliated buses connect Ifrane to Fès in roughly 1.5 hours; shared taxis run the same route.
• Best season: June–September for cool temperatures averaging 22 °C; January–February for snow.
• Altitude: Pack a light layer even in summer — evenings drop sharply at 1,664 m.
• Currency: Moroccan Dirham (MAD); ATMs are available near the town centre.