Why are Moroccan beds so hard?

They're not broken. That's how they're supposed to feel.

Moroccan mattress tradition favours firm, thin mattresses — often wool-stuffed or high-density foam — placed on solid bases (wooden platforms or masonry). The aesthetic descends from the *sedari* — the long, firm cushioned benches that line the walls of Moroccan living rooms and double as seating and sleeping surfaces. A mattress that sinks or bounces reads as cheap, not comfortable, in Moroccan domestic culture.

Wool-stuffed mattresses (the traditional standard) are dense, flat, and compress over time into something closer to a padded board than anything a European or North American hotel guest would recognise. They sleep cool, last decades, and are restuffed rather than replaced. Higher-end guesthouses increasingly install European-style spring or memory foam mattresses, but many traditional riads still use the local standard — and some guests prefer it once they adjust.

Some guests check mattress type before booking. Properties catering to international guests sometimes mention mattress upgrades in their descriptions. An extra blanket folded underneath can help. And give it two nights — some guests report that what felt punishing on night one felt supportive by night three.