Why can you hear everything inside a riad?
The short answer
The open courtyard is a vertical amphitheatre. Hard surfaces — zellige, plaster, stone — amplify every sound. Traditional wooden doors have gaps designed for airflow, not privacy.
A conversation at the breakfast table carries to the second-floor balcony. Water in a fountain, footsteps on tile, a door latch — the courtyard collects and amplifies everything.
The same architecture that makes riads feel alive creates this. The sound of the fountain, morning birds, the call to prayer — that's the atmosphere. The other guests having dinner and the door opening at midnight — that's the tradeoff.
Upper-floor rooms are quieter. Rooms at the back catch less external noise.