best travel guide for marrakech

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Home » Africa » Marrakech

INSIDER MARRAKECH ITINERARY for 2024

Marrakech is a destination like no other! This vibrant city is an explosion of the senses, with things to see, touch, smell, and hear wherever you go. It is an essential part of any trip to Morocco, as this city has so much to offer its visitors. Our Marrakech itinerary will show you just what.

As you walk down the busy streets of Marrakech, you will  be inspired by the colorful walls, decorated doors, pristine piles of spices, the busy shops and the unique Moroccan charm found wherever you go. Read on to discover our ultimate Marrakech itinerary guide. You’ll undoubtedly fall in love with this magnificent destination.

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Best Time To Visit Marrakech

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There is certainly no bad time to visit Morocco, as the weather here is pleasant all year round. However, there are definitely ideal seasons that will make your weekend in Marrakech as enjoyable as possible.

The best time to travel to Marrakech would have to be during the shoulder seasons. This would be from March to May, and September to November. These seasons provide the most desirable weather conditions – sunny skies with moderate temperatures. Not only this, but the city is more affordable during these periods, with accommodation prices often dropping a little. 

Be aware that the summer months here can be scorching hot! If you don’t deal well with the heat, then consider visiting during winter. While Morocco’s warmth and sunny skies may seem appealing, the summer heat can get a little bit unbearable. While the winter months have great weather, the city also fills up with tourists over this period. 

Wondering when to visit Marrakech? Take a look at our detailed weather guide below. 

Choosing the best place to stay in Marrakech can be difficult. This vibrant city is split into two different sections – Medina (the historic part) and the European District (the new town). The different areas in Marrakech are all unique, giving you many different places to experience during your Marrakech itinerary. 

The most popular and possibly best choice of areas to stay in Marrakech would be Medina. This is the heart of old-world Marrakech, with all kinds of charming winding streets, alleys, and points of interest. There are many great accommodation choices in this part of the city, and it is the ideal base for exploring the rest of Marrakech, as everything is within easy reach! 

If you would like to stay somewhere a little bit less visited by tourists, then Gueliz is a great area. Gueliz is part of the more modern European District and is a super trendy hub of shops, restaurants, and nightlife hotspots. If you would like to experience the modern side of Morocco, then this is the place to be. 

Now that you know where to stay, its time to choose your accommodation! Here are some of the best accommodation options for your Marrakech itinerary. 

Best Hostel in Marrakech – Rodamon Riad Marrakech Hostel

• Has an authentic Moroccan feel to it
• Central location
• Awesome rooftop terrace

Rodamon Riad Marrakech Hostel is the ultimate place to stay in this city! With an ideal Medina location, clean modern facilities and comfortable rooms, everything you need is right here! The rooftop terrace, bar, and pool make this a really fun place to stay!

For more cool hostel options, check out our Best Hostels in Marrakech guide!

Best Airbnb in Marrakech – Beautiful home with a lot of space

Riad Barbmar is a renovated traditional Moroccan riad in the Marrakech Medina. A riad is a type of traditional Moroccan house or palace with an interior garden or courtyard. It accommodates up to eight guests in four bedrooms. Regardless of whether you are 1 traveller or a group of 2-8 people, you will have the private use of the entire house and will not share with other guests. The indoor pool is perfect for cooling off after sightseeing. The third floor roof terrace is a great space for socialising with family and friends. The upper terrace on the fourth floor is shaded and ideal for outdoor meals. From there you look over the entire Medina.

Best Budget Hotel in Marrakech – Hotel & Spa Riad El Walaa

• Excellent location
• Fantastic facilities
• A beautiful outdoor terrace

Hotel & Spa Riad El Walaa is a brilliant accommodation choice for your trip to Marrakech. This place offers affordable luxury, with amazing rooms, thoughtful facilities, and a top location in the heart of Marrakech. Enjoy the authentic Moroccan decor, the stunning outdoor terrace, and the relaxing spa. 

Best Luxury Hotel in Marrakech – Four Seasons Resort Marrakech

• Luxurious rooms and facilities
• Loads of thoughtful touches
• An amazing pool area

For the absolute best that Marrakech has to offer, consider checking into the Four Seasons Resort here. This place has world-class modern facilities, well-equipped rooms, and all kinds of thoughtful touches across the hotel. The service is excellent, and the pool is a great place to relax!

Before you start to plan your itinerary for Marrakech, it is important to know how to get around this awesome city. When you are in the medina old town, walking around is one of the best things to do in Marrakech . This way you get to see and experience all the magic that this city has to offer. However, walking around here can also be pretty intimidating and confusing at times. 

In terms of public transport taxis, are your best options. Taxis are easy to catch and will take you wherever you want to go without any stress. They are also very cheap – just be sure to agree on a price before you get in! The bus network in Marrakech is also pretty good, allowing you to travel all over the different parts of the city but it can be slow and can get hot. 

It’s time to start planning your trip! Here are some of the best things to include in your Marrakech itinerary. 

Jemaa el-Fnaa | Koutoubia Mosque | Hammam | Saadian Tombs | Marrakech Museum | Souk | Bahia Palace

Your 2 days in Marrakech will start off with some of the top sights and landmarks in the city. This first day will show you some of the most iconic Moroccan points of interest and cultural attractions. Here is what to do in Marrakech on your first day.

Day 1 / Stop 1 – Jemaa el-Fnaa

• Why it’s awesome: The main central hub of Marrakech
• Cost: Free to explore
• Food recommendation: There are all kinds of delicious local foods on offer at the stalls here. Grab a fresh orange juice in the morning, a delicious lamb dish at night, or even some boiled snails if you are feeling adventurous!

Jemaa el-Fnaa is an essential addition to any Marrakech itinerary! When in the city, you just have to wander through this central hub in order to really experience the place properly. This is one of the top Marrakech points of interest due to its bustling walkways and truly Moroccan atmosphere. 

Take a walk through here and take in all of the stalls and entertainers around you. You will pass snake charmers, henna tattoo artists, huge piles of spices, dates, olives, and more! As this square is the heart of Marrakech, it is always busy no matter what time you visit! 

This is a brilliant place to try some delicious local foods, buy something to take home or to just soak up the unique culture in this city. No Marrakech itinerary would be complete without a trip to Jemaa el-Fnaa.

Insiders tip: This square can get very busy and a little overwhelming, so visit early to avoid crowds. 

Day 1 / Stop 2 – Koutoubia Mosque

• Why it’s awesome: The largest mosque in Marrakech
• Food recommendation: Cafe Kif Kif is located nearby the Koutoubia Mosque, offering the perfect place to grab a bite to eat or a pot of local mint tea. The menu boasts some of the best Moroccan classics. This is a great setting to try some of the best local food in Marrakech. 

Mosques play a huge role throughout Marrakech and these buildings have great historical and spiritual importance to the locals. Not only this, but they also offer some of the best architectural points of interest in the city. 

During your Marrakech itinerary, be sure to visit the Koutoubia Mosque – the largest in the city! This stunning 12th-century mosque is a marvel to look at, being an iconic structure in the city. 

Visit during the call to prayer to take in one of the most important sites in the city. It is important to understand and appreciate the various mosques here during your Marrakech itinerary, as this will give you a stronger understanding of the city. 

Insider tip: The call to prayer occurs five times a day from the top of the minaret. This is great to experience up close. 

Day 1 / Stop 3 – Experience a Hammam

• Why it’s awesome: Traditional local bathhouses found throughout the city
• Cost: Entry to local hammams usually costs around USD $4, while different treatments and establishments differ in price
• Food recommendation: Patisserie Anjar is located near the popular Hammam Ziani, offering the perfect place to grab a treat after your relaxing experience. Choose between many local delicacies, teas and sweet treats at the authentic patisserie. 

When in Morocco, treating yourself to a relaxing hammam experience is a must. Hammams are local bathhouses/spas that are found throughout the city. These are popular attractions for locals and tourists and they will be sure to leave you relaxed, clean, and glowing.

Enjoy a massage, a steam in the sauna, or a dip in the different thermal pools. This is such a great way to escape the frenzy of the busy city and enjoy a peaceful, quiet moment relaxing inside. You can choose between busy local hammams and secluded private hammams.

Some of the most popular hammams in Marrakech include Hammam Ziani, Hammam De La Rose, Hammam-e Sultan Mir, Les Bains de Marrakech Morocco, and Hammam Mouassine. A treatment at a hammam is an essential addition to your Marrakech itinerary! 

Insider Tip: Consider booking a private hammam experience if public nudity is not your thing

Day 1 / Stop 4 – Saadian Tombs

• Why it’s awesome: Historic tombs for many important rulers of the Saadi Dynasty
• Cost: USD $1
• Food recommendation: Dar Cherifa is the ideal place to grab an authentic Moroccan meal nearby these tombs. You must try the tagine and Moroccan couscous in this Marrakech gem. 

The Saadian Tombs are one of the most popular Marrakech landmarks, offering visitors a great historical place of interest. These tombs are where many of the most important rulers and members of the Saadi Dynasty are buried. The tombs were rediscovered in 1917 after they had been sealed for centuries! 

The Saadian Tombs are beautifully decorated with colorful tiles, carvings, and Arabic calligraphy. This is a wonderful site to explore, as you will learn all about the rich history of the area as you witness some stunning decorated tombs. 

If you love history and want to learn more about this ancient city, then a visit to the Saadian Tombs should be an essential addition to your Marrakech itinerary. 

Day 1 / Stop 5 – Marrakech Museum

• Why it’s awesome: An amazing art museum in the center of Marrakech
• Cost: USD $4
• Food recommendation: Le Trou au Mur is an excellent restaurant near the museum. With a stylish interior and delicious cuisine, this is a fantastic place for a sightseeing break!

Marrakech boasts many brilliant museums, with the Marrakech Museum being one of the best! This is an art museum located in the heart of the city. Expect to see loads of modern and traditional Moroccan art, as well as many other interesting displays. 

While the museum is a fascinating place to visit with all its exhibitions, the building itself is definitely worth adding to your Marrakech itinerary! Housed in a 19th-century palace, this is a grand building to explore. 

Admire the magnificent Moroccan architecture and details throughout this museum. Soak up art, history, and culture as well! This is one of the best Marrakech attractions for those wanting to discover more about the city and its interesting past. 

Day 1 / Stop 6 – Old Town Souk

• Why it’s awesome: The old town trading hub offers the most authentic Moroccan market experience
• Cost: Free to browse
• Food recommendation: Terrace des Epices is the perfect place to grab something to eat between shopping in the busy souks. This rooftop terrace provides a peaceful escape from the busy streets below, with some fantastic food options!

Exploring the bustling souks of Medina is an essential addition to any Marrakech itinerary. Souks are the traditional market streets that are found all over the city. 

These originate from the times when merchants would sell their goods that were transported by camel across the desert into Marrakech. There may not be the camels anymore, but souks today are just as vibrant and important to the Moroccan lifestyle as they have always been! 

Wander through the busy market streets and admire all of the goods for sale. Carpets, lamps, leather products, spices, foods, and all kinds of other things will be on offer here. If you are after a truly authentic Marrakech experience, then the souks of the Old Town/Medina are the places to be.

Insiders tip: While the souks are a lot of fun, they can also be pretty intimidating. Merchants will often try to rip off tourists, and taking in all of the stalls on offer can be overwhelming. Try to bring your negotiating skills and a firm attitude when navigating through the busy souks. 

Day 1 / Stop 7 – Bahia Palace

• Why it’s awesome: Magnificent 19th-century palace and gardens
• Food recommendation: La Table de Marrakech is the perfect place to grab something to eat or drink after a long day of sightseeing. Sit outside next to the palace and enjoy some quality Moroccan cuisine. 

The Bahia Palace is a 19th-century building that was designed to be the greatest palace of its time. This stunning structure is a real marvel to take in, with its iconic Islamic and Moroccan style. Bahia translates to brilliance, and you will see why when you visit.

The palace is a great place to explore and learn more about the history and cultural traditions of Marrakech. It is also the perfect place to take in some of the best architecture in the city. Beyond the amazing palace building, there are also beautiful gardens located here. These are well worth spending some time exploring. 

For a look into the royal life of this old city, be sure to add the Bahia Palace to your Marrakech trip itinerary! 

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Jardin Majorelle | El Badi Palace | Ben Youssef Madrassa | Maison De La Photographie | Menara Gardens

Day 2 of our 3-day itinerary in Marrakech will give you a deeper insight into the history, culture, and atmosphere in the city. Here are some must-do attractions for you if you are seeing Marrakech in 2 days. 

Day 2 / Stop 1 – Jardin Majorelle

• Why it’s awesome: A stunning botanical garden to add to your itinerary for Marrakech
• Cost: USD $20
• Food recommendation: Cafe Jardin Majorelle Marrakech is the perfect place to grab some food, tea or coffee during your trip to the garden. Enjoy local favorites in a beautiful setting. 

Jardin Majorelle is a two and a half acre botanical garden in Marrakech, but really it is so much more than that! This beautiful attraction is a kind of artistic landscape created by the French artist Jacques Majorelle over a period of almost 40 years. The garden was then acquired by the famous designer Yves Saint-Laurent who restored it to its glory.

As you walk through this amazing garden, you will pass through an absolute Eden. There are many magnificent plants, water features, trees, and sculptures. Beyond the gardens, the space also houses the Berber Museum and the Islamic Art Museum of Marrakech. Both of these cultural institutions are well worth the visit. 

If you are after amazing art, culture, history, and an unbeatable garden oases, then Jardin Majorelle is the place to go. This stunning city attraction will certainly be a highlight of your Marrakech itinerary. 

Insider Tip: These gardens and museums are not to be confused with the Yves Saint-Laurent museum nearby (which is also well worth the visit!)

Day 2 / Stop 2 – El Badi Palace

• Why it’s awesome: An ancient ruined palace
• Food recommendation: Dar Marjana, located close to El Badi Palace, is one of the best traditional Marrakech riad restaurants. Try some of the tastiest authentic Moroccan food here in a charming setting! 

El Badi Palace is one of the world’s greatest examples of ancient ruins. Comparable to the Roman Forum, or the Acropolis in Athens, this enormous building shows off the ancient past of Marrakech. 

Explore the huge ruins of El Badi Palace to experience just how grand this place must have been back in its time. The palace was built in the 16th century to commemorate the victory of The Battle of the Three Kings. The palace consisted of 300 rooms, decorated in gold, turquoise, and crystal. 

Visiting this site will teach you a great deal of the history behind Marrakech. Experience first hand what the ancient city might have looked like, and learn about its interesting past. This is a must-do activity for history lovers! 

Day 2 / Stop 3 – Ben Youssef Madrassa

• Why it’s awesome: A beautiful 14th-century Islamic school
• Cost: USD $6
• Food recommendation: Jnane Tamsna is a brilliant place to grab a bite to eat or some relaxing tea when visiting Ben Youssef Madrassa. Enjoy the tranquil setting and excellent food!

Ben Youssef Madrassa is a former Islamic school dating all the way back to the 14th century. Ben Youssef Madrassa is a popular attraction in Marrakech for anyone wanting to get a glimpse into the magnificent past of this city. 

While it is old, the Madrassa is beautifully preserved providing an unbeatable example of Moroccan architecture and design. 

Admire the detailed tiles and unique curves of the building. As you explore the Ben Youssef Madrassa, take some time to appreciate the tiny rooms that once held 900 students. Enjoy the peaceful courtyard and stunning wooden windows throughout the building. 

This is one of the best places to visit in Marrakech for an authentic look into Moroccan design and architecture. This is also an interesting historical stop in the city. 

Day 2 / Stop 4 – Maison De La Photographie

• Why it’s awesome: An interesting Moroccan photography museum
• Cost: USD $11
• Food recommendation: Enjoy a great pot of mint tea or a bite to eat from the rooftop cafe here. Not only is the food and service excellent, but the view from here is definitely worth the visit!

Maison De La Photographie is an excellent museum to add to your Marrakech itinerary. This may be a fairly small gallery, but it really has a great deal to offer. During your visit here, you can expect some of the best photography from Marrakech.

The museum mostly displays excellent street photography and portraits, but there are also some interesting photographs dating back over 150 years. This offers an amazing insight into Moroccan life and history. 

The small building housing the museum is also lovely to explore, with beautiful colorful tiles and a magnificent rooftop. This is a really special addition to your 2-day itinerary in Marrakech . 

Day 2 / Stop 5 – Menara Gardens

• Why it’s awesome: 12th-century botanical gardens
• Food recommendation: Cafe Oasis et Tafernout is a great spot to stop and enjoy a cup of coffee or bite to eat while exploring the Menara Gardens. 

The Menara Gardens are the most popular landscaped gardens in Marrakech. The gardens can be found near the Atlas Mountains, to the west of Medina. These beautiful gardens surround a lake, and they offer the perfect breath of fresh air from the busy city. The gardens date back to the 12th century, and so they have an interesting history as well!

Enjoy walking around the pristine lake, and appreciate the wonderful pavilion alongside it. Explore the gardens and take in all of the different flowerbeds, trees, and lush green spaces. If the streets of Marrakech are getting too much, then escaping to this peaceful oasis is the perfect thing to do! 

Insider Tip: Visit on a sunny day and enjoy relaxing under a tree in this picture-perfect garden

Rodamon Riad Marrakech Hostel

Rodamon Riad Marrakech Hostel is the ultimate place to stay in this city! With an ideal Medina location, clean modern facilities and comfortable rooms, everything you need is right here!

• Linen Included

Souk Place des Epices | Gueliz | Hot Air Balloon | Dar Si Said Museum | Quad Bike Tour

If you are looking for more places to visit in Marrakech, then here are some excellent ideas. There is so much to see and do around this city, so planning at least 3 days in Morocco is always a good idea. 

Souk Place des Epices

• A lively souk
• Famous for its many spice traders
• These spices are an essential part of Moroccan culture

Souk Place des Epices is a large square-based souk in the heart of Marrakech. When you are in this bustling city, visiting the different souks is a vital way to really experience the local culture and buzz. This souk, in particular, is special due to its piles of colorful spices!

Morocco is world-famous for its unique cuisine, something that comes from its many flavorsome spices. Wandering through this souk will show you the many immaculately piled spices. The kind of smells and sights that you take in here really could never be found anywhere else in the world.

Whether you are looking to purchase some of these amazing spices to take home, or simply want to admire them in their tall piles, a visit to Souk Place des Epices will always be worth it! Exploring this busy souk is one of the best ways to get an authentic insight into Moroccan life and culture, and it is a great place to learn more about this country’s delicious cuisine.

• The most modern and trendy area of Marrakech
• Offers excellent shopping and restaurants
• Often called the European district

When exploring Marrakech, chances are you will be spending most of your time within the old town. This is where the majority of landmark attractions and riad accommodation options can be found. If you have 3 days in Marrakech, or if you would just like a change of scene, consider visiting the trendy district of Gueliz. 

Gueliz offers you an insight into what modern-day Morocco looks like. This is a super trendy part of the city. Spend your time enjoying the vast array of boutique shops, malls, and beautiful homeware stores. Between this, there are also some of the best restaurants and cafes in the city – perfect for a break between your retail therapy! 

Gueliz also boasts some of the best nightlife in Marrakech. There are plenty of fun and lively bars here to visit for an unforgettable night out! 

In order to truly understand Marrakech, you will need to experience both the new and the old. This is why spending an afternoon wandering around Gueliz can be highly rewarding for any Marrakech itinerary.

Ride a Hot Air Balloon

• This is a must-do activity in Morocco
• The best views in Marrakech
• A fun and unique experience

There are many different ways to see and experience Marrakech, but a hot air balloon is possibly the best. Taking an exciting and absolutely breathtaking hot air balloon flight is one of the most popular activities for tourists in Marrakech,

The best hot air balloon flights in Marrakech will start at dawn, allowing you to witness the magnificent sunrise during your flight. As you rise up, you will get the most unbelievable panoramic views across Marrakech. 

As you float across the stunning desert and towards the Atlas Mountains, you will get to experience the true majesty of this destination. Beyond the amazing views though, hot air balloon rides are such a fun experience. This way of flying cannot be compared to anything else. This is a truly unique thing to do in Marrakech, and an experience you will certainly remember! 

There are a number of hot air balloon companies that operate from Marrakech. Flights generally last about an hour, giving you plenty of time to soak up all of the incredible views around you. 

Dar Si Said Museum of Weaving and Carpets

• A fascinating museum
• The museum is focused towards Berber carpets
• A great place to learn more about Moroccan cultural heritage

A museum completely dedicated to carpets may not sound that exciting to everyone, but this Marrakech attraction is seriously worth the visit. Whether you are interested in Berber carpets or not, you will be sure to learn a great deal of interesting information here, as well as admire some very impressive exhibitions! 

The museum will teach you all about the unique Berber carpets in Marrakech. There are all sorts of fascinating displays devoted to this. There is also a central focus on the art of weaving these products, and what kind of role that has played in Morocco. 

As you will learn from a visit here, these carpets are truly special parts of the cultural heritage in this country. They have a rich and interesting history and have helped to shape Marrakech in many ways. Beyond the carpets though, this museum is an awesome building to visit!

There are some seriously impressive halls here, as well as stunning courtyards and gardens within the museum. This is a great place to take in some beautiful examples of Moroccan architecture while learning about some of the country’s most iconic designs and products. 

Quad Bike Tour

• Quad bike tours are available through the desert
• A fun way to see the area
• Explore the rugged surrounding desert

Now that you have seen some of the best sights and attractions within Marrakech, its time to do some exploring in the surrounding desert. If you would like to experience the breathtaking desert through one of the most exciting ways possible, then consider taking a quad bike tour! 

Not only is speeding along in a quad bike loads of fun, but it is also the best way to navigate the desert landscape. You will get to ride between the stone desert, the dramatic valley found here, and the famous palm groves. 

There are a number of quad bike experiences available in Marrakech. While each may be unique, they will all offer a valuable insight into the life and scenery of the harsh desert. This is a really great way to experience the dramatic landscape around Marrakech. 

Marrakech received loads of each year and most end without incident. While safety does not need to be a major concern while you are here, it is important to understand any potential safety precautions that you might want to take in Marrakech. 

The souks are super busy, small spaces. If you are not careful, these can be easy places for thieves and pickpockets to do their work. When walking through the souks, always keep your belongings close. Also, try to avoid walking through the souks at night. 

Scams are also pretty common in Marrakech, so always be on the lookout for these. Tourists can often look like easy targets for scammers or people trying to rip you off, so keep your wits about you! Also avoid walking alone at night, and stay away from empty alleys.

Shopkeepers, hawkers and unsolicited guides can be persistent and a real nuisance.  Be firm and if anybody bothers you too much, use the magic word “police” and they will disappear.

Be sure to always drink bottled water, and try to avoid ice (as this may contain bacteria). You may also want to avoid eating from street vendors, as there is always the chance of getting ill.

Besides exercising regular caution and following standard safety procedures of a big city, Marrakech should be a safe destination for all visitors! 

If you are also visiting other places in Morocco, you will be pleased to know that on the whole Morocco is a safe country .

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If you are planning a 3-day itinerary in Marrakech, then you may want to consider exploring some more of Morocco . This city serves as the perfect base for your Moroccan travels, allowing you to do so much more while touring Marrakech. 

Here are some of the best day trips from Marrakech to experience during your visit. 

Full-Day Tour to Ouzoud Waterfalls

Marrakech is an amazing city to experience, but there is also plenty of natural splendor just beyond the city itself. Spend a day taking in the magnificent Ouzoud Waterfalls on this sightseeing tour from Marrakech. 

The highlight of this tour is, of course, witnessing the incredible cascades of the Ouzoud Waterfalls. Your day will also be filled with plenty of other exciting activities, such as swimming in nature in the Al Abib River, and seeing local monkeys in the mountains! The tour includes round trip transportation and an expert Marrakech tour guide. 

Take a Trip to the Atlas Mountains

Just beyond the city of Marrakech tower the impressive Atlas Mountains. These mountains are not just a breathtaking sight to see, but they are brimming with Moroccan Berber culture and picturesque villages. Take this exciting day trip to escape the busy city and explore a more peaceful side of Morocco. 

The trip will include a visit to the village of Imlil, as well as a fun camel ride. You will get to drink mint tea, admire the highest peak in North Africa, and learn all about traditional Berber culture. This is one of the best day trips from Marrakech for those wanting to discover more about the interesting culture and natural beauty of the area. 

Tour Essaouira and the Atlantic Coast

Morocco is famous for its magnificent desert landscapes, but there is also an amazing coast to discover in this country. To experience the best of the Atlantic Coast here, take a full day trip out to Essaouira. 

This is a beautiful coastal town that you will be able to explore at your own pace. Enjoy the laid-back atmosphere, the historic medina in the town, and the long stretches of pristine beaches. This day trip will show you a great deal more of the unspoiled and absolutely beautiful Moroccan landscape. 

Visit Ouarzazate and Ait Benhaddou

Across the Atlas Mountains lie two of the most majestic deserts in Morocco. Enjoy a day trip out to this area to take in some of the most impressive and important sites in the area. The day will include a visit to the UNESCO World Heritage site of Ait Benhaddou kasbah, a crossing over the Tizi-n-Tichka pass, and a journey through Ouarzazate. 

This area is referred to as the “Hollywood of Africa” as famous films such as The Mummy, Lawrence of Arabia, and Gladiator were filmed here. Needless to say, this day trip will show you some of the most magnificent landscapes in Morocco! 

Explore the Berber Villages and 3 Valleys

If you are planning a trip to Marrakech, exploring the unique Berber culture here is a great idea. If this sounds like fun, consider taking this day trip out to the beautiful Berber settlements high up in the Atlas Mountains.

You will get to trek through beautiful hamlets and valleys, and soak up some of the best scenic views in the area. You will get to stop for lunch in a traditional Berber home in one of the stunning villages that you visit. This is a truly unforgettable experience that could only be enjoyed during your Marrakech itinerary! 

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Find out what people want to know when planning their Marrakech itinerary.

How many days do you need in Marrakech?

To see all the main highlights, I would allow 3 days to see everything. However, you could easily stay 4-5 days and enjoy the cities unique charm.

Is Marrakech worth visiting?

Yes, absolutely! Marrakesh is the most famous and unique city in Morocco and there’s no where else like it.

What is the best month to visit Marrakesh?

The best time to visit Marrakesh is during the Spring (March-May) when the weather is at its nicest.

Is Marrakesh safe for tourists?

Marrakesh is on the whole quite safe for tourists, but you should keep your eyes on the look out for petty crimes such as pick pocketing and bag snatching.

Marrakech is a busy and vibrant city, with so much going on in every street. Walking through the old town truly is an explosion of the senses, as there is just always such a great deal to take in. This city has such a unique charm to it, and should be a definite bucket-list destination for any traveler.

Marrakech is famous for its spices and cuisine, its peaceful riads, bustling souks, visible history, and beautiful desert landscapes. As you walk down the streets here, you will notice the iconic Moroccan design and sights that just can’t be experienced anywhere else. 

Marrakech really is a destination like no other! With so much to do and see in this city, one day in Marrakech probably isn’t enough. You could spend weeks here without getting bored. We hope our ultimate Marrakech itinerary helps you to make the most of your time in this epic North African destination! 

If your plan is to travel around Morocco and you need to sort your accommodations, check out our Best Hostels in Morocco guide!

And for transparency’s sake, please know that some of the links in our content are affiliate links . That means that if you book your accommodation, buy your gear, or sort your insurance through our link, we earn a small commission (at no extra cost to you). That said, we only link to the gear we trust and never recommend services we don’t believe are up to scratch. Again, thank you!

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Marrakech Travel Guide: Travel Tips and our Honest Review

Marrakech – just a four hour flight from Europe, but a totally different world . Marrakech is overwhelming yet full of life, it will fascinate you and take your breath away. Anyone who travels to Marrakech expects a dream from the Arabian nights but is brought to the ground of reality pretty quickly. Why? We will tell you about it in this blog article.

So if you are planning a trip to Marrakech and are looking for reviews, then you’ve landed in the right place on our travel blog. We show you the most beautiful sights and highlights in Marrakech and reveal our personal tips . Ready for a full-on experience? Let’s go!

1. Marrakech: Expectations vs. Reality

2. marrakech travel guide: best places to visit, 3. eating & drinking in marrakech: our tips, 4. where to stay: hotel tips for marrakech, 5. extra travel tips: transport and security in marrakech.

Marrakech – some love it, others hate it. Ok, hate may be an exaggeration, but let’s put it this way: we know enough people who traveled to Marrakech with very high expectations and were subsequently left very disappointed. The reason for this is quite simple: many associate Marrakech with a dream from 1001 Arabian nights. Unfortunately, this is not quite the reality . Let’s go into that a little more.

Marrakech: what REALLY awaits you

Almost nowhere in Morocco is tourism as strong as in Marrakech. The locals react with such behavior that you cannot even accuse them of: they are just trying to make as much money as possible. In the souks (the markets) you get ripped off quickly. And when you are invited to a mint tea, it is clear what follows: of course they want to sell you something.

In addition, there is of course the Arab culture : In patriarchal Morocco (sadly) men are in charge. And you can see that on the streets, too, because comparatively, you find few local women. As a European-looking woman, you immediately stand out and are often addressed.

The feeling that someone is constantly trying to sell you something is not a nice one. And after the 10th time “No, thank you.” It will – admittedly – also be annoying. In this respect we can understand people who find Marrakech exhausting.

The good news: if you adjust to it, it’s not half as bad. We personally have had no negative experiences in Marrakech. Sure, the dealers sometimes get uncomfortably close, but fortunately physical assaults are rare.

Marrakech is not the same everywhere as what Instagram shows

The hotels and riads (traditional Moroccan accommodation) in Marrakech are at least as nice as you would expect. To be honest, we have never traveled to a country where the hotels are as tasteful as in Morocco. If you are looking for the dream of 1001 nights in Marrakech, you will almost certainly find it in your own accommodation.

However, the streets are a different story. You have to be aware of that. The bustling souks, the people, the donkey carts and other animals, the rushing mopeds, the smells and new impressions that are pounding on you – all this can be overwhelming pretty quickly. Marrakech is an adventure – and not just a pretty Instagram feed.

How many days should I plan for a trip to Marrakech?

Our biggest recommendation to you is this: Please don’t just stay in Marrakech. Morocco has so much more to offer and we highly recommend exploring more of this country. (We also liked many other destinations, such as Fez , better than Marrakech.)

If you are planning a tour of Morocco , Marrakech is a good first stop. We would recommend that you stay here for about 3 to 4 nights . During this period you get a good insight and can easily visit the most important sights of Marrakech.

If Marrakech is your only travel destination in Morocco, we would stay a little longer, maybe about 5 nights . So you can take one or two extra day trips (e.g. to the Atlas Mountains).

Medina & Souks

Let’s start right here, where the action is: the medina. The medina is the old town of Marrakech and a labyrinth of allegedly narrow streets. Some of the sights that we will list here are also in the medina – nevertheless, the medina is definitely a highlight in itself, so we wanted to describe it separately.

Keeping your bearings in the medina is practically impossible. So just go ahead and see where your path leads you. It is particularly crowded in the souks , i.e. the markets of Marrakech. If you go north from Djemaa el Fnaa (the huge square – more on that in a moment), you will get straight to the souks.

Teapots, carpets, lamps, spices, shoes, scarves – if you want to buy souvenirs or new favorite items for your apartment, you’ve come to the right place. Very important: negotiating or bartering is part of the experience ! Traders will initially ask for at least double to three times what they imagine.

Would you prefer to visit the souks accompanied by an experienced guide? Then we can highly recommend a guided tour of the markets.

You can book the tour here: Tour of the souks of Marrakech

Djemaa el Fna

The infamous big square of Marrakech is the heart of the city and probably the most important sight of Marrakech . The official name of the square is Djemaa el Fna – in Marrakech, however, the French word “La place” is usually used interchangeably.

On the Djemaa el Fna, a vibrant, colorful hustle and bustle of jugglers, drummers and food stalls awaits you. The place is incredibly spacious, incredibly chaotic – and incredibly touristy. After the first sensations have pelted on you, someone will probably be standing in front of you trying to sell you something.

Important: On Djemaa el Fna, it is common for you to be asked for money as soon as you point your camera at locals. (Incidentally, this is the case in many larger cities in Morocco.) With the bustle you don’t even notice that you might have someone in front of your lens. So just stay polite and tip. But please leave the animal shows with snakes and monkeys!

The later the afternoon , the fuller it gets on the Djemaa el Fna. The flair becomes very special in the evening when the street restaurants start their grills and smoke plumes spread over the square.

Our tip: There are countless rooftop bars and restaurants on the edge of the square. You shouldn’t miss out on watching the sunset over the rooftops of Djemaa el Fna. The best thing to do is order a fresh mint tea and be a witness of how the place changes from minute to minute.

Bahia palace

One of the most beautiful sights in Marrakech is without a doubt the magnificent Bahia Palace. The palace dates back to the late 19th century and beautifully combines Andalusian and Moorish architecture .

When visiting, you usually follow the tour that leads you through countless rooms and courtyards . You will pass orange trees, fountains, elaborate carvings and mosaics – in short: a paradise for all those who can do something with Moroccan architecture.

Because the Bahia Palace is one of the highlights in Marrakech, the rush is usually quite large. We therefore recommend that you come as early as possible so that you can visit the palace in peace.

Admission: 70 Dirhams Opening times: 9 am to 5 pm

Ben Youssef Madrasa

One of our favorite places in Marrakech! The Ben Youssef Madrasa is a former Koran school . No kidding, it looks like a scene taken from a picture book! We have to say that we were really lucky because we came during a time slot in which there were hardly any other people on site. (A huge tour group arrived after us – so it’s unfortunately not always so ‘empty’.)

The Ben Youssef Madrasa probably dates back to the 14th century . Although the building is not too spacious, we spent at least an hour soaking up the flair and taking photos of the mosaics.

Current note: The Koran school is currently being renovated (early 2020), but should be opened again soon.

Entry: 50 Dirhams Opening times: 9 am to 5 pm

Koutoubia Mosque (= Kutubiyya Mosque)

The Koutoubia Mosque is the largest mosque in Marrakech and the symbol of the city . Its impressive 77 meter high minaret is visible from many places in the city and is a good point of orientation. The mosque dates back to the 12th century, making it one of the oldest in the country.

The downer: The Koutoubia mosque can only be visited by Muslims. Other believers are denied access. Even though we could only admire the mosque from the outside, it was still quite a highlight.

Majorelle Gardens (Jardin Majorelle)

The Jardin Majorelle is one of the most visited attractions in Marrakech and is highly praised in many travel guides. This botanical garden was once bought by the French artist Yves Saint Laurent and extensively redesigned in several stages.

The color scheme is rather strange: cobalt blue and yellow are predominant. In the midst of huge cacti and palm trees, cobalt blue and yellow elements such as pavilions or benches flash out.

The Jardin Majorelle is an oasis away from the hectic medina of Marrakech. But we have to be honest: personally, the garden didn’t impress us as much as we were expecting. Although we did find it a little overrated, the Jardin Majorelle is of course still worth a visit.

In addition to the Jardin Majorelle itself, you can also visit the Berber Museum and the Yves Saint Laurent Museum . We generally recommend that you avoid lunch time, because there is usually a lot going on at that time. It is not uncommon to have to queue at the entrance for a really long time.

Admission: 100 Dirhams (Jardin Majorelle only), 220 Dirhams (combined ticket for Jardin Majorelle, Berber Museum and Yves Saint Laurent Museum) Jardin Majorelle opening times: May to September from 8 am to 6 pm, October to April from 8 am to 5:30 pm, during Ramadan from 9 am to 4:30 pm

Anima: André Heller garden

One of the newest sights in Marrakech is André Heller’s garden called Anima. The garden is by no means as crowded as the Jardin Majorelle, but it is made a lot more impressive and complex.

What awaits you here? A three hectare (!) Large garden that combines wonderfully lush vegetation with art . You are surprised as you peer around every corner and there are so many botanical and artistic details that you can never pay attention to everything during a visit.

The Anima Garden is located a few kilometers outside the center of Marrakech. There is a free shuttle that runs about three times a day. Departure is from the parking lot behind the Koutoubia mosque (Parking + Lavage La Koutoubia). The journey takes about 40 minutes.

You should take enough time for your visit. You can stroll for several hours without any problems and you will always discover something new. There is also a nice café on the site, Café Paul Bowles , which is perfect for a break.

Entry: 120 Dirhams Opening times: 9 am to 6 pm

La Maison de la Photographie

The Maison de la Photographie is a photo museum that shows historical photographs from Morocco . The museum is housed in a beautifully renovated riad and is therefore worth visiting.

If you are interested in photography, we can warmly recommend a visit to this museum. We personally really enjoyed the Maison de la Photographie. It is a small oasis away from the lively medina.

Our tip: The pinnacle of the visit is waiting for you on the roof terrace of the museum. There is a small restaurant with a wonderful view – be sure to drop by!

Entry: 50 Dirhams Opening times: 9:30 am to 7 pm

Marrakech has an incredible variety of restaurants and cafes. There are simple, inexpensive street restaurants as well as hip, international trendy restaurants with fusion cuisine.

You shouldn’t miss two specialties in Morocco. First of all, there is fresh mint tea . This is drunk on almost every occasion in Morocco and is characterized by the fact that it is very sweetened. And the second specialty would be Tajine , a braised vegetable and meat dish that is prepared in the clay pot of the same name and is often served with couscous.

Tajine is often available as a vegetarian version, but unfortunately this is often the only meatless dish in traditional restaurants. If you have a vegetarian or vegan diet, we recommend the HappyCow app when searching for a restaurant.

Tips for restaurants and cafes in Marrakech

Nomad: trendy place with a beautiful roof terrace from which you can see the Atlas Mountains. Creative Moroccan dishes are on the menu.

M Rooftop: Very nice, young rooftop restaurant with a view of the minaret of the Koutoubia mosque. Traditional dishes with a modern touch are served at a very high level. Highly recommended!

Café Clock: Young, artistically inspired restaurant with good cuisine. Moroccan dishes are served.

The accommodations in Marrakech (and generally in all of Morocco) are to die for. If possible, we would recommend staying in a riad. Riads are traditional Moroccan houses with a beautiful courtyard. We stayed in two very different accommodations in Marrakech, both of which we highly recommend.

Tip for boutique riad: Riad dar Karma

The Riad dar Karma is a beautiful boutique riad located in a hidden alley in the center of Marrakech. From the outside you cannot imagine what kind of an oasis awaits you behind the gates.

You spend the night here in traditional and very tasteful rooms. There are only six rooms or suites in total, which is why the Riad dar Karma has a very personal, pleasant atmosphere. There is a small pool in one of the two courtyards. The highlight, however, is on the roof: the roof terrace is literally a dream. In good weather, breakfast is served here every day. There is no better way to start the day.

The Riad dar Karma is located in the so-called Kasbah district , which is about a 20-minute walk from Djemaa el Fna. The advantage: It is comparatively quiet in the Kasbah district, but you are pretty central and you can reach all sights on foot.

You can book the riad here: Riad dar Karma

Tip for luxury hotel: La Sultana Marrakech

Would you like to treat yourself to a little luxury ? Then we can recommend La Sultana Marrakech. We stayed here for one night. A palace-like, stately hotel with a unique flair awaits you here. There are 28 rooms, but over 100 employees – that actually says it all.

Breakfast is terrific and the spa is in a class of its own. The indoor pool is a dream of 1001 nights and rightly the most photographed motif in the whole hotel. Another highlight is the roof terrace, from which you can enjoy a wonderful view.

If you could find a fault in anything, it would be the location of some rooms on the ground floor, which get very little light entering the room. Nonetheless: a unique, highly recommended hotel.

You can book the hotel here: La Sultana Marrakech

Local transport: How do I get from A to B in Marrakech?

Most of the sights in the center of Marrakech can be easily reached on foot : The Djemaa el Fna, the souks, the Koutoubia mosque and the Ben Youssef Madrasa, for example, are all within walking distance. In addition, the alleys in the medina are sometimes so narrow that you cannot even get in with a car.

However, some distances (for example to the Jardin Majorelle) are too far to walk – or of course you are just too tired at some point. Then we recommend a so-called petit taxi.

Taxis in Marrakech

There are Grands Taxis (i.e. large) and Petits Taxis (i.e. small) in many cities in Morocco. Petits taxis are more for inner-city transportation. They are so small that they can drive in very narrow streets.

A petit taxi ride in Marrakech costs around 30 Dirhams . There should actually be a taximeter in every taxi, but the driver will almost certainly try to convince you that it doesn’t work. Arguing often makes little sense, so it’s best to set a fixed price. If the price seems clearly excessive (50 Dirhams or more are often asked for), just ask the next taxi driver.

From the airport to the city

The easiest way to get to the hotel from the airport is by taxi. You can take both a petit and a grand taxi for this. Be sure to set the price in advance! The trip should not cost more than 150 Dirhams – best case you are bartering down from there.

Travel Guide to Marrakech

Option 1: complete travel guide for morocco.

If your trip not only takes you to Marrakech, but also to other parts of Morocco, we can highly recommend the Rough Guide travel guide. Rough Guide travel guides are well-known by the fact that they are fairly detailed and very well researched.

The new edition of the Morocco travel guide by Rough Guide was published in 2019 and is therefore quite up to date. Our conclusion: perfect for all individual travelers!

You can buy the guide here: The Rough Guide Morocco

Option 2: Travel Guide to Marrakech

If you only travel to Marrakech, an entire Morocco travel guide makes no sense. In this case we recommend the Lonely Planet Pocket travel guide. This guide is rather compact, but sufficient for a city trip to Marrakech. We really like the clear design of this travel guide series.

You can buy the guide here: Lonely Planet Marrakech

Security in Marrakech

We have to honestly admit: In Marrakech we felt the most uncomfortable of all places in Morocco. Fortunately, nothing happened to us, but the narrow streets of the medina were really not a place to relax, especially at night.

As already described in the introduction to this blog article, some of the men are very pushy. Poverty is also a big issue in Morocco. Pickpocketing is just a norm. We therefore strongly recommend that you carry your valuables as close to your body as possible instead of simply hanging them loosely around your shoulders.

Would we still go back to Marrakech? For sure! Would we recommend women traveling alone to Marrakech? On condition, to be honest. But we wouldn’t specifically advise against it either. At any rate, we would only avoid the medina at night.

Disclaimer: Affiliate Links

We were invited by La Sultana Marrakech for one night – thank you very much! This blog article contains our personal recommendations in the form of affiliate links. If you book or buy something through these links, then we will receive a small commission. This will not change the prices for you at all. A million thanks from the both of us!

Have you ever been to Marrakech? How did you like it? Are you perhaps one of those who were rather disappointed? Maybe you have other recommendations? We look forward to reading your comments with any extra tips!

You might also be interested in this

Morocco Travel Guide: How to prepare and plan your Trip

Fez Travel Guide: Best Sights and Tips for the Oldest Medina in Morocco

Casablanca Travel Guide: How to Spend the Perfect Day

2 responses.

We are traveling to Marrakech in November and your travel guide has been very useful, thank you.

Hello Ann, Thank you so much – really appreciated! :) Safe travels Kathi & Romeo

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25 Tips for your First Trip to Marrakech, Morocco

By Brianna | January 27, 2020

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Few cities capture the imagination quite like Marrakech. A blend of Berber, Arabic and French influences give this UNESCO World Heritage site a timeless appeal. With the beautiful frenzy of the Medina, ornate Arabic architecture and one of the world’s greatest cuisines it’s no surprise that more people are traveling to Marrakech now more than ever. Whether you spell it Marrakech or Marrakesh (both are acceptable), a visit to Morocco’s Red City is surely an experience you will  never forget. Marrakech can be overwhelming to say the least, with a dizzying array of sights, smells and tastes providing a sensory overload; but armed with these tips you can find the best things to do in Marrakech and make your first trip one to remember.

This post contains affiliate links. The Casual Travelist receives a small commission for any purchases made through these links at no additional cost to you

1.Airport/Transportation in Marrakech

Flights to Marrakech arrive at Menara Airport (RAK). A valid passport is required for entry into Morocco, currently for Americans visas are not required for visits less than 90 days ( check the State Department website for the latest requirements ).

Taxis are available but best to arrange transportation with your hotel. If you are staying in the Medina be aware that cars can’t make it through the narrow streets to drop you off directly at your accommodation. Your riad or hotel can arrange for staff to meet you at a drop off point and walk with you to your destination.

2.Money in Morocco

Cash is king in Marrakech as only resorts, riads, some restaurants and a handful of shops accept credit cards. ATMs can be hard to find in the Medina (much easier in the new city) so your best bet is to exchange money at the airport (this can be done for no fee). Some riads and resorts will also exchange money for you. The official currency is the Moroccan Dirham(MAD) and currently the exchange rate is approximately 9 MAD/1USD. Of note, it is also illegal to take dirham out of Morocco so make sure you spend or exchange your dirham before leaving the country.

3. Tipping in Morocco

Morocco has a big tipping culture and it is expected that you tip anyone you assists you (whether that help was wanted or not). Be sure to carry plenty of coins and small bills.

4. Dress for Women

I did not once feel unsafe as a woman travelling in Marrakech and while many women visit and have a great experience it is not uncommon to hear from women who have received unwanted attention or catcalls. Marrakech tends to be more accepting of Western attire but as Morocco is a Muslim country women are advised to dress conservatively. So what should you wear in Morocco ? This means making sure your knees and shoulders are covered ( save the halter top for Ibiza ladies ). I wore loose t shirts and lightweight pants or long skirts most days, with a wrap or scarf to cover up if I got chilly at night. Close toed shoes are also a good idea as donkeys and other animals (and what they leave behind) are a common sight in the Medina.

5. Stay in an Authentic Riad in Marrakech

For a more authentic Marrakech experience a stay in a riad is your best bet. Riads are traditional Moroccan homes centered around a courtyard located within the Medina, most are 10 rooms or less and offer up a more intimate experience. Most riads are decorated with handmade items from the local souks and many feature beautiful courtyard pools and gardens as well as rooftop terraces. There are beautiful riads throughout Marrakech for every budget, for less than $100 per night you can enjoy the boutique hospitality of Riad Al Loune  or if you’re looking to splash out  check in at the luxurious  El Fenn . I loved my stay at Riad Farnatchi , a beautifully restored guesthouse in the heart of the Medina (read my review of Riad Farnatchi here ).

Riads in Marrakech

Budget riads.

Riad Haraka

Mid-Range Riads

Riad Sapphire

Riad Annyssates

Luxury Riads

6. Luxury Resorts in Marrakech

Marrakech’s modern and fashionable Ville Nouvelle (new city) is home to some some of the world’s most glamorous resorts. For five star luxury with a decidedly Moroccan flair check out the Royal Mansour   and La Mamounia .

7.Weather in Marrakech

Marrakech is a popular destination with nearly year round sunshine. Summers (June-September) can get quite hot with temperature near 100 degrees F while the winter months can get chilly with night time temps dipping into the 30 degree F range. March-May and September-October are generally pleasant with highs in the 70s and 80s.

8.Shop the Souks in Marrakech

I’m typically not a big shopper when I travel but Marrakech is one of the few places where I wish I had shopped more. Morocco has a rich heritage of crafts and instead of the typical “made in China” souvenirs I found the souks filled with leather goods ( I got a pair of handmade leather shoes for $18 ), beautiful metal work, colorful ceramics and handmade rugs.

9.Buying Moroccan Rugs in Marrakech

I had zero intention of buying a rug went I visited Marrakech.

I now own a Moroccan rug.

Our tour guide brought us into the cooperative and I fully expected to enjoy the demonstration while sipping my mint tea and go on my way. I’m not sure if it was the intricate Berber patterns, or the softness of the camel wool but I soon found myself the proud owner of a Moroccan rug and I absolutely love it. The quality of this handmade Berber rug far surpasses any commercial rug I’ve owned before. You will find rugs of varying size and quality throughout the souks, be prepared to haggle or buy your rug from a cooperative that ensures a fair wage for the craftswomen.

10. Language in Morocco

The official languages in Morocco are Modern Standard Arabic and Amazigh (Berber) and additionally many Moroccans speak French. While most people I interacted with spoke English it’s always a good idea to learn a few words of the local language wherever you travel, here are a few common words in Arabic:

Hello -Al Salam Alaikum,

Thank You – Shukran,

Yes – naäam,

No – Laa

11. Scams in Marrakech

Scams are an unfortunate part of life in the Medina, often in the form of unsolicited help with directions, telling tourists that the street they are on is closed or “tannery tours” , all of which will then demand a payment for their services. My friend Amanda of Marocmama has excellent advice on various scams in Marrakech.

12.Consider Hiring a Guide in Marrakech

The winding streets of the Medina can be overwhelming for a first time visitor, I recommend hiring a guide for your first afternoon or morning out to get a feel for the city as well learn about the history and culture of Marrakech. Have your hotel or riad arrange a guide for you or if you hire one on your own make sure they are licensed( licensed guides will have a badge).

13. You Will Get Lost

With the narrow winding streets of the Medina and little signage the chances of you getting lost at some point is fairly high. Paper maps provided by your hotel immediately mark you as a tourist, a better option is to download an offline map via Google maps. Beware of unsolicited advice for directions ( see Scams above ), if you must ask for directions your best bet is asking a shopkeeper or restaurant staff.

14. Food in Marrakech

Food in Marrakech is a feast for all the senses. The souks are lined with rows of sweet oranges, plump dates and countless varieties of olives while the air is heavy with the scent of intensely fragrant spices from the spice market.  Gently spiced shakshuka (eggs cooked in a gently spiced tomato sauce) and spongy Moroccan pancakes are a must for breakfast. You can’t leave Marrakech without  having a tagine; a stew, usually with chicken, lamb, beef or vegetables cooked and served in a clay pot of the same name. Eating is one of the best ways to experience Marrakech and a few of my personal favorites were sfenj ( a fried doughnut drizzled with intensely floral honey), msemen (fried bread either served plain or stuffed with spices, meat or cheese),  and tanjia (succulent lamb slow roasted in clay pots for hours in underground ovens). To see where the locals eat join one of several tours offered by Marrakech Food Tours or take a Moroccan cooking class .

15. Mint Tea in Morocco

Whether served as a sign of welcome, sipped during a business transaction or enjoyed as a way to unwind in the afternoon mint tea is central to life in Marrakech. A blend of green tea and fresh mint it is traditionally served very sweet.

16. Alcohol in Marrakech

Being a Muslim country alcohol is not prevelant though you can increasingly find wine, beer and cocktails in restaurants and hotels catering to tourists (often at exhorbitant prices). Surprisingly there are even a handful of Moroccan vineyards producing Spanish style wines. Drinking to the point of intoxication (especially in public) is highly frowned upon.

17.Religion

Islam is the official state religion of Morocco, you will hear the call to prayer ring throughout the city 5 times per days and in general non-Muslims are not allowed inside mosques. Friday is the Muslim day of prayer and you may find some businesses and restaurants closed.

18. Jamma el fna

When night falls Marrakech’s main square comes alive in what’s some call the greatest show on Earth. One of North Africa’s oldest and busiest market squares it is home to a dizzying array of dancers, magicians and storytellers vying for your attention (and dirham) as well as food vendors hawking a variety of Moroccan specialties. Of note, the animals you see with the snake charmers and dancing monkey acts are usually poorly treated and it’s best not to patronize these acts.

19.Be Prepared to Bargain

Haggling is an essential part of the shopping experience in Morocco. Don’t be afraid to walk away if the vendor does not agree to a final price you are comfortable with.

20. Argan Oil and Traditional Medicine in Morocco

Argan oil is arguably one of Morocco’s best known exports, usually used for hair and skin care in the US. Many shops in the souks sell pure argan oil both for cosmetic and culinary uses. Morocco has a long tradition of using herbs as traditional medicine and I recommend a stop at an herbalist for everything from natural remedies to fragrant cooking spices.

21. Bottled Water

To avoid any tummy issues it is advised that you use bottled water for drinking and brushing your teeth.

22.Toilet Paper

Toilet paper in public restrooms is not a given in Marrakech so it’s best to carry your own. In places where there is a restroom attendant make sure you leave a small tip.

23. Going to a Hammam in Marrakech

A visit to a hammam, a traditional Moroccan bathhouse, is a must for any visit to Marrakech. A typical hammam experience starts with a steam room, a thorough scrubbing with a traditional kessa mitt and an olive based black soap and several rinses alternately with warm and cool water. For a traditional experience you can visit one of Marrakech’s community hammams ( be aware that community hammams are separated by gender, either with separate spaces or differing times for men and women) or treat yourself to an elevated hammam experience at one of Marrakech’s luxury spas. Whatever hammam experience you choose know you will be naked (or nearly naked) in front of others.

24. Top Marrakech Attractions

Ben youssef madersa.

One of the most popular sites in Marrakech, the Ben Youssef Madersa previously served as a center for Islamic learning for over 400 years.  Today visitors marvel at the intricately carved Moorish walls and stunning tile mosaics.

Majorelle Gardens

Once a private retreat for famed French designer Yves Saint Laurent the Majorelle Gardens are a beautiful mix of Berber and French cultures and provide a calming respite from the hustle of Marrakech.

Le Jardin Secret

An oasis from the chaos of the Medina, this beautifully restored courtyard features stunning tile work and lush gardens.

Bahia Palace

Considered one of the most lavish palaces in Marrakech, Bahia Palace features expansive courtyards, lush gardens and ornate architecture.

There are also many great day trips you can take from Marrakech , from the golden sands of the Sahara to the rugged peaks of the Atlas Mountains . You can also visit the blue city of Chefchaouen .

25. Photography in Marrakech

The sights and colors of Marrakech can be irresistible to photographers but before you start snapping away nonstop be aware that many people in Marrakech are not open to having their picture, or pictures of their products, taken. In fact, I saw several signs in the souks requesting no photography. The main thing is to ask permission to take pictures and be respectful if the answer is no.

More Marrakech Inspiration

Review of the Selman Hotel, a luxury hotel in Marrakech  

Make sure to include Marrakech when you’re traveling through Morocco with kids .

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About the Author

Freelance travel writer and blogger who seeks out laid back luxury. Focus on culinary, adventure and nature travel. [READ ALL ARTICLES]

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February 9, 2018 at 1:24 pm

This is sooo helpful as we’re likely taking our first trip to Marrakech this spring after two years of living close by in Spain! Especially BYOTP (bring your own toilet paper) – eek!

Absolutely beautiful photos too, now you’ve got me even more excited to visit!

Brianna says

March 2, 2018 at 10:31 pm

Thank you so much! Marrakech is an amazing destination.

Rhonda Albom says

February 10, 2018 at 6:02 am

The medinas in Moroccan cities were fascinating. I always stayed in riads whenever I could. The staff in the riads provided great tips on everything from where to eat down to which stalls in the souk to buy particular items from. Don’t forget, Friday is couscous day although my favourite dishes were chicken tajines with preserved lemon and olives or chicken with prunes.

March 2, 2018 at 10:32 pm

The couscous dishes were some of my favorites!

February 10, 2018 at 9:17 am

What beautiful photos you have of Marrakech!

Hannah says

February 10, 2018 at 10:24 am

This is a great list! I was nervous about visiting Marrakech because I’ve read so many negative things but your list makes it sound incredible and has totally changed my mind about going! Thanks so much for sharing 🙂

March 2, 2018 at 10:33 pm

Marrakech can be overwhelming at first but is an amazing destination!

Marissa says

February 10, 2018 at 11:21 am

I just got back from Morocco last week, so I 100% agree with all of these! I found the souks in Marrakech had the best options compared to other cities I visited. It’s also important that you mentioned you will get lost because it’s true, but it’s fine. I tried to embrace it and “purposely” get lost during the day to explore more.

March 2, 2018 at 10:34 pm

The streets can be crazy to navigate for sure!

Rocio Novarino says

February 10, 2018 at 11:41 am

Nice pictures!! I am a photographer, so I take a particular look at the pictures always!! Stunning ones!

March 2, 2018 at 10:35 pm

Brianne Miers says

February 10, 2018 at 12:10 pm

Thanks for such a thorough and helpful post, Brianna! Marrakech is very high on my list, so this will be a great resource for me. Jamma el fna sounds like an incredible sight to see! And very interesting about the sensitivities surrounding photography.

Carmelatte says

February 10, 2018 at 12:12 pm

I am totally in love with your pictures <3

http://carmelatte.co/dubai-tour-guide-firsttimers/

Esther says

February 10, 2018 at 2:57 pm

I totally agree on this. Husband and I travelled through Morocco and loved staying in Riads. Guides were worth our money, since we really didn’t like the scams. Also, after visiting Morroco twice, we now know that it can take quite a while to get into the country as queues for customs can be looong. In Casablanca I nearly finished my book waiting kn line for almost 2 hours!! #weekendwanderlust

March 2, 2018 at 10:36 pm

Hiring a guide in Marrakech was a life saver for us!

February 10, 2018 at 10:22 pm

Thanks for all the tips.. They will come handy when I plan for Morocco.. Would you recommend going solo in that country?

March 2, 2018 at 10:39 pm

I had several friends travel solo in Morocco. Like anywhere be sure to take your usual safety precautions and be aware.

February 11, 2018 at 5:21 am

Souks of Marrakech look so colorful. I am not sure if I will pick up a carpet as they are heavy to carry, but I know I will end up picking something or the other. Are there herbalists available to explain those herbs? Due to lack of explanation, I always find it difficult to buy herbs.

March 2, 2018 at 10:40 pm

The merchant was able to ship my rug to me. There was an herbalist and she was very helpful.

Claire says

February 11, 2018 at 7:03 am

Great tips! Especially for the closed shoes – I wouldn’t want to step in something unpleasant! The food sounds amazing, I love shakshuka and tagine, although the European versions of them – I’ve never had them in Morocco. I think I’d need to take a food tour to sample all the delicious dishes I can!

Carolina Colborn says

February 11, 2018 at 12:05 pm

Great tips. I remember our trip to Tangier and it is the same: getting lost in narrow alleys and poorly treated animals for show. But the colors and food are truly amazing. Lots of good photographs and meals!

Yvette Benhamou says

February 11, 2018 at 2:45 pm

My dad is from Casablanca and a Morocco has long been on my list of places I’d like to visit. Great tips and your photos are stunning.

Indrani says

February 12, 2018 at 4:29 am

You had an excellent tour there! I am relieved to know it isn’t so unsafe for women there as it sounds. Thanks for the tips on dressing. Lucky you got a rug from there, hope to have one myself. This no photography sign I saw in Sharjah, UAE too.

February 12, 2018 at 5:56 am

Great tips! Morocco is high on my list of places to visit. Actually hope to make it there around April after traveling through Asia. It just seems like a place full of life, color and more. Saving this one so I can start planning my trip there. #weekendwanderlust

February 13, 2018 at 8:14 am

Morocco seems to be a popular spot right now. It was not on my radar so you comprehensive set of tips are something I have pinned in case we travel there. It would be a toss up for me whether I stay in a traditional Riad or what looks to be great luxury accommodations. Maybe splitting my time would work. We did a hammam in Cordoba and it was so relaxing. I would definitely look for one here. I must admit I laughed when I heard you bought a rug. I too usually avoid places like this – maybe because I am afraid I too would go home with a rug!

Sandy N Vyjay says

February 13, 2018 at 12:21 pm

This is an exhaustive dossier on Marrakech. Indeed a ready reckoner for first time visitors to Marrakech. Marrakech and Morocco have been on our bucket list and we hope to get there some day. When we do this post and the tips therein are going to stand us in good stead. Who knows, we may end up being the proud owners of a Moroccan rug.

alison abbott says

February 13, 2018 at 10:14 pm

I hear you! I had no intention of purchasing a carpet either. It’s one of my most favorite purchases ever and takes me back to the medina each day I walk on it. Great tips-they are all spot on.

JeffNourse says

February 15, 2018 at 8:23 am

What a useful tips you shared with us. It is really interesting and informative post. Thank you so much for sharing it.

Kristin L. says

February 15, 2018 at 10:03 am

I remember going to Marrakech for the first time in 2005 and I was SO stressed about what to wear, so I made sure I had plenty of things that covered my knees and my shoulders. Then, to my surprise, I arrived and found all the young local women wearing the shortest mini-skirts and tank tops! I’ve been back to Morocco twice since then and don’t worry about my clothing, except if I’m going in a mosque.

Lauren Monitz says

February 15, 2018 at 1:58 pm

Morocco is just so hot right now! While I don’t like going to super trendy places, I keep seeing these amazing photos and feel like I must!

Mike from TravelAndDestinations says

February 17, 2018 at 1:34 pm

Definitely the best post I have read on Marrakech. Me and my gf are thinking of visiting this year so it’s super helpful and also good to know about the scams. I will also check out your friends post that you recommended. The city looks amazing and I can’t wait to visit!!

February 17, 2018 at 9:45 pm

Very useful tips! I’m looking at going to Morocco so this is very timely. thanks!

February 19, 2018 at 11:01 am

OMG I’ve been dying to go to Morocco all year. Your pictures made my wanderlust worse, I went back in 2008 but as a backpacker so I couldn’t bring any big souvenirs back, I want to go back with an empty suitcase and hit the souks hard!

Charlotte says

February 19, 2018 at 11:57 am

I loved this post, so many great tips! Marocco is high on my travel wish list. And I have every intention of buying one of those incredible rugs 😀 Can’t wait!

Rob+Ann @TravelLatte(.net) says

February 20, 2018 at 9:32 pm

What a great post! We are ashamed to say that we have not been to Morocco, and we even have friends to visit there! Shame Shame Shame on us. When we do go, though… we’ll be reading through your posts again! Meanwhile, your beautiful pictures are fueling our Moroccan day dreams. 🙂

March 2, 2018 at 8:15 am

Lovely post and great tips to get me ready for my trip to Morocco! Cheers!

Cory Lee says

March 2, 2018 at 9:33 am

This is such a great post! I’ll be going to Morocco next month and while I’ll be touring a lot of the country, I’m most excited for Marrakech. Awesome tips here!

Jossus Travelpics says

March 2, 2018 at 10:11 pm

I loved Marrakech and the Bahia Palace.

Bernie Watt says

April 25, 2018 at 12:27 pm

Great advice. We are so, so keen to get to Morocco and this is quite the inspiration.

Sebastian Vaz says

August 10, 2018 at 2:42 am

I haven’t been to Morocco. But I have heard lots of good things about the country. Must visit soon. Your guide will help me plan. Thanks 🙂

Violet Tellez says

August 30, 2018 at 1:29 pm

Thank you for the insightful info. I’m currently planning a trip for next spring and originally thought about joining a tour group but since I’d rather have a more relaxed schedule, an individual tour guide might be best to help me get around. Can you recommend a good company that does this, please?

We3Travel says

September 21, 2018 at 5:00 pm

Great tips and I’m glad I read them before our trip!

Marilyn Jacob says

June 21, 2019 at 1:14 am

We are travelling.to Morocco in December,so it’s our very first time.Looking forward to our.holiday.Good tips and advice made sense to.me,so I.am aware ,I will make the best and enjoy Morocco.

August 2, 2019 at 7:09 pm

the amount of times i got lost in Medina, sometimes it was fun – like in Essaouira, sometimes a bit scarry like in Marrakesh, but still at least i have stories to tell.

Katie Diederichs says

February 1, 2020 at 12:02 pm

This is SO helpful! We’ve been itching to get to Morocco, so I’m definitely saving this for later.

February 1, 2020 at 1:14 pm

The food and the night market look amazing! I always feel like Morocco is a mysterious place.

Linnea says

February 1, 2020 at 1:36 pm

Great guide! I appreciated the tip about cash. How much was your rug if you don’t mind me asking? Did you ship it home?

Kariss Ainsworth says

February 1, 2020 at 3:49 pm

I’ve been looking at going here, it is so colourful!

Diana Sahara says

October 24, 2020 at 3:08 am

yeah it s amazing. Colors and smells…

February 1, 2020 at 9:36 pm

This guide was so so helpful thank you so much and loved the recommendations and the pictures. Looking forward to go to Le Jardin Secret it makes me curious.

October 24, 2020 at 3:06 am

Very useful tips! There is also a bus to go to the medina for those traveling on budget and yeah! For sure everyone gets lost in the medina. I think it s important to point that someone will try to help you when you get lost (expecting some tip) so better to let him know you will not tip him in advance…

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The Ultimate Marrakech Travel Guide

Published: October 14, 2023

Modified: December 28, 2023

by Sella Benge

• Plan Your Trip
• Travel Guide

Introduction

Welcome to the enchanting city of Marrakech, an exotic destination that seamlessly blends old-world charm with modern vibrancy. Nestled in the heart of Morocco, Marrakech offers travelers a rich cultural experience, with its bustling markets, stunning architecture, and tantalizing cuisine.

Known as the “Red City” due to the distinctive hue of its ancient walls, Marrakech is a treat for the senses. From the vibrant colors of the souks to the aromatic spices that waft through the air, every corner of this city has a story to tell.

Stepping into Marrakech is like entering a time portal where the traditions of the past intertwine effortlessly with the contemporary spirit of the present. The city’s history dates back to the 11th century, and it has since become a hub for artists, musicians, and travelers from around the world.

As you explore the labyrinthine streets of the medina, you’ll be captivated by the intricate architecture, adorned with stunning tilework, carved wood, and ornate stucco. The medina is a UNESCO World Heritage site and is home to a myriad of hidden gems, including historic palaces, tranquil gardens, and ancient mosques.

But Marrakech is not all about history and culture. The city also offers a vibrant and modern side, with trendy cafes, stylish boutiques, and a thriving nightlife scene. Whether you’re a history buff, an art enthusiast, or simply seeking a unique travel experience, Marrakech will leave you spellbound.

This ultimate travel guide to Marrakech will take you on a journey through all the must-see attractions, hidden gems, and insider tips to make the most of your visit. From navigating the bustling souks to savoring traditional Moroccan dishes, we’ll provide you with all the information you need to create unforgettable memories in this captivating city.

So, grab your passport, pack your bags, and get ready to immerse yourself in the colorful tapestry of Marrakech. Let the magic unfold as you embark on an adventure of a lifetime in this vibrant Moroccan city.

Getting to Marrakech

Getting to Marrakech is convenient as it is well connected to major cities around the world. The city is served by Marrakech Menara Airport, which offers regular flights from international destinations. Many airlines, including low-cost carriers, operate flights to Marrakech, making it accessible for travelers from different parts of the globe.

If you are coming from Europe, there are direct flights from major cities such as London, Paris, Madrid, and Rome, among others. The flight duration from these cities is relatively short, making Marrakech a popular weekend getaway destination.

For travelers from other continents, there are connecting flights available from major hubs like Dubai, Istanbul, New York, and Casablanca. Marrakech Menara Airport is located just a few kilometers from the city center, and you can easily reach your accommodation by taxi or shuttle service.

Another option to reach Marrakech is by train. Morocco has an extensive rail network, and there are trains connecting major cities like Casablanca, Rabat, and Fes to Marrakech. The train journey offers scenic views of the countryside and is a comfortable way to travel within the country.

If you prefer a road trip, you can consider renting a car and driving to Marrakech. The roads in Morocco are well-maintained, and there are major highways connecting Marrakech to other cities. However, it’s important to familiarize yourself with the local traffic rules and regulations before embarking on a road trip.

Once you arrive in Marrakech, getting around the city is relatively easy. The most common mode of transportation within the city is by taxi. You can easily find taxis on the streets, or you can opt for the more convenient option of ordering a ride through a mobile app.

For a unique experience, you can also explore the city on foot. Marrakech is compact, and many of the main attractions are within walking distance of each other. Walking through the narrow alleys of the medina allows you to soak in the local atmosphere and discover hidden gems along the way.

Now that you know how to get to Marrakech, it’s time to start planning your trip to this mesmerizing city. Whether you choose to fly, take the train, or embark on a road trip, get ready to immerse yourself in the colors, sounds, and flavors of this vibrant Moroccan destination.

Best Time to Visit Marrakech

Marrakech enjoys a warm climate throughout the year, but it’s important to consider the season and weather when planning your visit. The best time to visit Marrakech is during the spring (March to May) and autumn (September to November) when the weather is pleasant and mild.

During the spring, Marrakech is in full bloom, with colorful flowers adorning the city and the temperatures averaging between 20°C to 26°C (68°F to 79°F). This is a great time to explore the outdoor attractions like the Majorelle Garden and wander around the medina without the scorching heat of the summer months.

In autumn, the weather starts to cool down, making it another ideal time to visit Marrakech. Temperatures range from 18°C to 25°C (64°F to 77°F), and the city experiences fewer crowds compared to the peak summer season. You can enjoy comfortable outdoor activities and explore the bustling souks without feeling overwhelmed by the heat.

However, if you’re a sun-seeking traveler and don’t mind the heat, you can plan your visit during the summer months (June to August). Marrakech experiences high temperatures during this time, with averages ranging from 30°C to 45°C (86°F to 113°F). This is the peak tourist season, so expect larger crowds and higher prices. It’s crucial to stay hydrated, wear sunscreen, and plan your activities during the cooler parts of the day.

Winter (December to February) is also a viable time to visit Marrakech, especially if you prefer milder temperatures and fewer tourists. While the days are relatively sunny with temperatures ranging from 15°C to 20°C (59°F to 68°F), the evenings can get chilly, dropping to around 5°C to 10°C (41°F to 50°F). It’s advisable to pack layers and a light jacket for the cooler evenings.

It’s worth noting that Marrakech hosts several festivals throughout the year, which can add a unique experience to your visit. The Marrakech Popular Arts Festival takes place in July and is a celebration of Moroccan music, dance, and traditional arts. The International Film Festival in December attracts renowned filmmakers from around the world.

Ultimately, the best time to visit Marrakech depends on your preferences and the activities you plan to engage in. Whether you choose to visit during the spring, autumn, summer, or winter, Marrakech will captivate you with its vibrant culture, stunning architecture, and warm hospitality.

Where to Stay in Marrakech

Marrakech offers a wide range of accommodation options to suit every budget and preference. Whether you prefer a luxurious riad in the heart of the medina or a modern hotel in the newer parts of the city, Marrakech has something for everyone.

If you’re looking to immerse yourself in the old-world charm of Marrakech, staying in a traditional riad is a must. Riads are traditional Moroccan houses turned into boutique hotels, featuring stunning architecture, peaceful courtyards, and rooftop terraces. Many riads are located within the medina, offering easy access to the bustling souks and historical attractions. Some popular riads include Riad Yasmine, Riad BE Marrakech, and Riad Dar Anika.

For a more modern and luxurious stay, there are numerous four and five-star hotels scattered throughout the city. These hotels often offer spacious rooms, swimming pools, spa facilities, and on-site restaurants. Some top-rated hotels in Marrakech include La Mamounia, Royal Mansour Marrakech, and Mandarin Oriental, Marrakech.

If you prefer a lively and energetic atmosphere, the Gueliz neighborhood is a great option. Here, you’ll find a range of mid-range and budget hotels, as well as trendy cafes, shopping centers, and art galleries. It’s a more modern part of the city, providing a different perspective on Marrakech without compromising its charm.

The Palmeraie district, located on the outskirts of Marrakech, offers a tranquil and luxurious escape from the bustling city center. This area is home to several high-end resorts and luxury villas, surrounded by palm groves and offering a serene retreat.

Alternatively, if you’re traveling on a budget or prefer a more social experience, you can consider staying in a hostel or guesthouse. Marrakech has a variety of affordable accommodations that cater to backpackers and budget-conscious travelers. Hostels often offer dormitory-style rooms and communal spaces where you can meet fellow travelers and exchange stories. Some popular hostels in Marrakech include Equity Point Marrakech and Riad Lola & Demeures.

When choosing your accommodation, it’s important to consider factors such as location, amenities, and your personal preferences. Whether you’re seeking a traditional riad experience, a luxurious hotel stay, or a budget-friendly option, Marrakech has a wide array of options to ensure a comfortable and enjoyable stay.

Regardless of where you choose to stay, Marrakech will captivate you with its rich culture, vibrant atmosphere, and warm hospitality.

Top Attractions in Marrakech

Marrakech is a city that is brimming with history, culture, and stunning sights to explore. From ancient palaces to bustling markets, here are some of the top attractions that you shouldn’t miss during your visit to Marrakech:

• The Medina: The heart and soul of Marrakech, the medina is a UNESCO World Heritage site and a must-visit attraction. Lose yourself in the labyrinthine streets filled with colorful shops, handicrafts, and local vendors. Don’t forget to visit the iconic Koutoubia Mosque, which stands tall as a symbol of the city.
• Jemaa el-Fnaa Square: Located at the entrance of the medina, Jemaa el-Fnaa is a vibrant and bustling square that comes alive with performers, musicians, henna artists, and food stalls as the sun sets. Immerse yourself in the lively atmosphere, taste delicious Moroccan street food, and witness traditional storytellers and snake charmers.
• Majorelle Garden: Escape the hustle and bustle of the city and take a stroll through the peaceful Majorelle Garden. Designed by French painter Jacques Majorelle, the garden features a beautiful collection of exotic plants, vibrant blue buildings, and a small museum dedicated to Berber culture.
• Bahia Palace: Step into the opulent world of the Bahia Palace, a stunning 19th-century palace that showcases the grandeur and beauty of Moroccan architecture. Meander through the intricately decorated courtyards, visit the luxurious rooms, and admire the exquisite mosaic work.
• Saadian Tombs: Discover the hidden treasure of Marrakech at the Saadian Tombs. Dating back to the 16th century, these tombs were rediscovered in 1917 and showcase exquisite craftsmanship and intricate tilework. Marvel at the beautifully decorated mausoleums and the tranquil garden surrounding them.
• El Badi Palace: Explore the ruins of the once grand El Badi Palace, which now stands as a reminder of the city’s rich history. Climb to the top of the ancient walls to enjoy panoramic views of Marrakech, and imagine the grandeur that once filled this palatial complex.
• Koranic School of Ben Youssef: Step into the past at the Koranic School of Ben Youssef, one of the largest theological colleges in North Africa. Admire the stunning architecture, intricate carvings, and the peaceful atmosphere of this historical site.
• Atlas Mountains: Escape the city and embark on a day trip to the magnificent Atlas Mountains. Just a short drive from Marrakech, the Atlas Mountains offer breathtaking scenery, traditional Berber villages, and opportunities for hiking, trekking, and immersing yourself in the natural beauty of Morocco.
• Menara Gardens: Enjoy a moment of tranquility at the Menara Gardens, located just outside the city center. Stroll around the expansive garden, centered around a large reflecting pool, and marvel at the views of the Atlas Mountains.
• Souks: Dive into the sensory overload of the Marrakech souks. These bustling markets are a shopper’s paradise, filled with a variety of goods, including textiles, spices, ceramics, leather goods, and traditional Moroccan handicrafts. Practice your negotiation skills to get the best deals and immerse yourself in the vibrant atmosphere.

These are just a few of the many incredible attractions that Marrakech has to offer. Whether you’re exploring the historical sites, indulging in mouth-watering Moroccan cuisine, or getting lost in the narrow alleys of the medina, Marrakech will capture your heart and leave you with unforgettable memories.

Exploring the Medina

The medina of Marrakech is a captivating maze of narrow alleys, vibrant markets, and ancient architecture, offering a glimpse into the city’s rich history and culture. Exploring the medina is like stepping back in time, where the traditions of the past blend harmoniously with the modern influences of today.

As you wander through the labyrinthine streets, prepare to be enchanted by the sights, sounds, and aromas that fill the air. Admire the intricate tilework, carved wooden doors, and ornate stucco decorations that adorn the buildings, showcasing the exquisite craftsmanship of Moroccan artisans.

One of the highlights of the medina is the bustling souks, where you can find a myriad of treasures waiting to be discovered. Lose yourself in the maze of narrow alleyways, and immerse yourself in the vibrant atmosphere as you browse through a wide range of goods, including traditional textiles, leather goods, spices, ceramics, and jewelry. Don’t forget to hone your bargaining skills as haggling is a common practice in the souks.

Among the souks, you’ll find the famous spice market, where piles of vibrant spices, dried fruits, and aromatic teas dazzle the senses. Let the enticing scents guide you through the market and consider purchasing some traditional Moroccan spices to take home with you.

Another must-see in the medina is the Koutoubia Mosque. With its towering minaret, the Koutoubia Mosque is an iconic landmark of Marrakech and serves as a reminder of the city’s strong Islamic heritage. Although non-Muslims are not allowed to enter the mosque, you can appreciate its beauty from the outside and listen to the melodic calls to prayer echoing through the medina.

As you explore the medina, you’ll stumble upon hidden gems, such as the Mouassine Mosque and its beautiful courtyard, the peaceful Dar Si Said Museum, and the Maison de la Photographie, where you can discover a fascinating collection of historical photographs depicting life in Morocco over the years.

To escape the bustling streets, take a moment to relax in one of the traditional riads scattered throughout the medina. These peaceful oases offer a serene retreat from the busy city, where you can unwind in tranquil courtyards and enjoy a cup of refreshing mint tea.

Exploring the medina of Marrakech is a sensory adventure that will transport you to another time and place. Immerse yourself in the vibrant atmosphere, interact with the friendly locals, and embrace the unique charm of this UNESCO World Heritage site.

Visiting the Majorelle Garden

Step into a world of botanical beauty and tranquility at the Majorelle Garden, an enchanting oasis nestled within the bustling city of Marrakech. Created by French painter Jacques Majorelle in the 1920s and later restored by fashion designer Yves Saint Laurent, this botanical garden is a must-visit attraction for nature lovers and art enthusiasts alike.

The Majorelle Garden is a haven of lush greenery, vibrant blue buildings, and serene pools that create a serene and captivating atmosphere. As you enter through the iconic blue gate, you’ll be greeted by a landscape of exotic plants from all corners of the world, including cacti, bamboo, palm trees, and colorful flowers.

Wander along the meandering paths, taking in the sights and sounds of nature, and discover hidden corners of tranquility. The garden provides plenty of shaded nooks where you can sit and relax, immersing yourself in the peaceful ambiance away from the hustle and bustle of the city.

One of the highlights of the Majorelle Garden is the striking Villa Oasis, which houses the Berber Museum. Explore the museum to learn about the indigenous Berber people and their rich cultural heritage through a collection of artifacts, textiles, jewelry, and traditional crafts.

The vibrant blue building that serves as the focal point of the garden is known as the “Majorelle Blue.” This particular shade of blue is synonymous with the garden and has become an iconic symbol of Marrakech. The bold blue color creates a striking contrast against the greenery, making it a perfect backdrop for photos and a visual feast for the eyes.

Another highlight of the Majorelle Garden is the small but captivating Islamic Art Museum. Housed within a charming pavilion, the museum showcases a collection of ceramics, textiles, and artwork representing various periods and regions of Islamic art. The intricate designs and stunning craftsmanship on display provide insight into the cultural heritage of Morocco and the Islamic world.

To complete your visit, don’t miss the opportunity to visit the boutique located within the garden. Here, you can find a range of high-quality products inspired by Moroccan and Berber design, including clothing, accessories, and decorative objects. It’s a perfect place to find unique souvenirs or to simply indulge in some retail therapy.

Visiting the Majorelle Garden is a serene and unforgettable experience. Whether you’re exploring the diverse plant life, admiring the iconic blue architecture, or delving into the rich cultural history within the museum, this botanical oasis will transport you to a world of beauty and tranquility.

Experiencing Jemaa el-Fnaa Square

No visit to Marrakech is complete without immersing yourself in the vibrant atmosphere of Jemaa el-Fnaa Square, the beating heart of the city. This bustling square, located at the entrance of the medina, is a sensory overload of sights, sounds, and flavors that will leave you captivated.

Jemaa el-Fnaa comes alive as the sun sets, transforming into a lively open-air theater where local performers, musicians, and storytellers gather to entertain the crowds. As you stroll through the square, you’ll encounter acrobats, snake charmers, henna artists, and traditional musicians, each showcasing their unique talents.

The square is a hub of activity and an excellent vantage point for people-watching and soaking up the vibrant street life of Marrakech. You’ll witness the buzz of locals and tourists mingling, food vendors sizzling up traditional Moroccan delicacies, and the constant rhythm of life in the city.

One of the highlights of Jemaa el-Fnaa is the mouthwatering street food. Tantalize your taste buds with an array of Moroccan culinary delights, from savory tagines and grilled meats to flavorful couscous and freshly squeezed fruit juices. Indulge in local specialties like Moroccan pastries, barbecued skewers, and the famous orange and avocado juice available from the numerous stalls.

For a truly immersive experience, venture into one of the many rooftop restaurants surrounding the square. From these elevated vantage points, you can savor delicious traditional dishes while marveling at the energetic scene below, with the distant sound of music and the aroma of food wafting through the air.

Amidst the hustle and bustle of Jemaa el-Fnaa, you’ll find an array of market stalls offering an assortment of goods. From colorful textiles and leather bags to intricate metalwork and authentic Moroccan crafts, the market is a shopper’s paradise. Practice your negotiation skills and haggle for the best prices, but be prepared for the lively banter and friendly salesmanship that is synonymous with Moroccan markets.

Jemaa el-Fnaa Square is also a gateway to the enchanting maze of the medina. From here, you can venture into the narrow alleyways, exploring the souks and discovering hidden gems along the way. Take a leisurely stroll through the medina, soak up the vibrant atmosphere, and get lost in the myriad of sights and sounds that make Marrakech truly unique.

Visiting Jemaa el-Fnaa Square is an experience that will ignite your senses and stay with you long after you leave Marrakech. Embrace the energy, embrace the diversity, and embrace the magic that can only be found in this captivating square.

Discovering the Bahia Palace

Step into the opulent world of the Bahia Palace and immerse yourself in the beauty and grandeur of Moroccan architecture. Located in the heart of Marrakech, this magnificent 19th-century palace is a must-visit attraction that showcases the splendor of Moroccan craftsmanship and design.

As you enter the palace, you’ll be greeted by lush gardens, tranquil courtyards, and intricately carved wooden doors that lead to beautifully decorated rooms. The name “Bahia” translates to “brilliance,” and the palace lives up to its name with its stunning combination of Islamic and Moroccan architectural styles.

Originally built for Si Moussa, a former slave who rose to become the vizier of the sultan, the Bahia Palace was later expanded upon by his son Ba Ahmed, who added more extensive sections to the palace complex. The result is a sprawling masterpiece that is spread across a vast area.

As you wander through the palace, marvel at the elaborate stucco work, hand-painted ceilings, and the intricate zellige tilework that adorns the walls and floors. Each room tells a story of the luxury and opulence enjoyed by the families who once lived within its walls.

Some of the must-see areas within the Bahia Palace include the Grand Courtyard with its central fountain, surrounded by lush gardens and beautiful flower beds. The harem quarters, with their private gardens, offer a glimpse into the secluded world of the palace’s women.

Another highlight is the Council Chamber, an exquisitely decorated room adorned with ornate chandeliers and stunning stained glass windows. This chamber is a testament to the skill and artistry of the craftsmen who worked on the palace.

As you explore the palace, take a moment to pause in the peaceful courtyards, where you can admire the intricate details, listen to the soothing sounds of the water features, and appreciate the tranquility away from the bustling streets of Marrakech.

Visiting the Bahia Palace is like stepping back in time, offering a glimpse into the extravagant lives of Morocco’s elite. The palace allows you to appreciate the rich cultural heritage and exquisite craftsmanship of the country.

Make sure to allocate plenty of time for your visit to fully explore the palace and soak up its beauty. Whether you’re an architecture enthusiast, a history buff, or simply seeking a serene escape, the Bahia Palace will leave you awe-struck and inspired by its timeless elegance.

Enjoying Traditional Moroccan Cuisine

Indulging in the flavors of traditional Moroccan cuisine is an essential part of any visit to Marrakech. The country’s culinary traditions are a delightful blend of aromatic spices, succulent meats, and vibrant fruits, creating a rich tapestry of flavors that will tantalize your taste buds and leave you craving for more.

One of the signature dishes of Morocco is the tagine, a slow-cooked stew that derives its name from the conical clay pot in which it’s cooked. Tagines are made with a variety of ingredients, such as tender meats, aromatic vegetables, and an array of spices, resulting in a delectable and fragrant dish. Try the traditional lamb tagine or the vegetarian-friendly options like vegetable tagine or the popular tagine with preserved lemons and olives.

Couscous is another staple in Moroccan cuisine and is often considered the national dish. Made from finely ground semolina, couscous is usually served with a flavorful broth and a selection of vegetables and meats. The couscous is steamed to perfection, creating light and fluffy grains that soak up the delicious flavors of the accompanying ingredients.

Moroccan cuisine also showcases a variety of savory pastries and street food. Don’t miss the opportunity to sample the famous Moroccan street food snack, the delicious and satisfying “b’stilla”. This pastry is filled with layers of flaky pastry, spiced meat (usually chicken, pigeon, or fish), and a sprinkle of cinnamon and sugar, creating a unique blend of sweet and savory flavors.

For those with a sweet tooth, Moroccan desserts will not disappoint. Treat yourself to traditional pastries such as “m’hanncha” (a coiled almond pastry) or “chebakia” (a fried sesame-coated cookie). Finish your meal with a cup of refreshing mint tea, a staple in Moroccan culture and a symbol of hospitality.

As you wander through the bustling streets of Marrakech, you’ll come across numerous food stalls and restaurants offering an array of Moroccan delicacies. Visit the food stalls at Jemaa el-Fnaa Square, where you can sample an assortment of authentic street food, including grilled meats, aromatic spices, and freshly squeezed fruit juices.

For a more refined dining experience, visit one of Marrakech’s many restaurants that offer traditional Moroccan cuisine. These establishments often provide a cozy and elegant atmosphere, complete with richly adorned interiors and attentive service. Don’t be shy to try unfamiliar dishes and ask for recommendations from the friendly staff.

During your culinary journey in Marrakech, be prepared to indulge in the hearty flavors of Moroccan cuisine and embrace the warmth of Moroccan hospitality. From the aromatic spices to the rich and satisfying dishes, traditional Moroccan cuisine is truly a feast for the senses.

Shopping in Marrakech

Shopping in Marrakech is a vibrant and immersive experience that will delight any avid shopper or curious traveler. The city is renowned for its bustling souks, where you can find a treasure trove of traditional Moroccan goods and immerse yourself in the local culture.

One of the most iconic shopping destinations in Marrakech is the Medina, particularly the labyrinthine streets of the souks. Here, you’ll find a myriad of stalls and shops offering an array of goods, including textiles, leather goods, spices, ceramics, jewelry, and traditional Moroccan handicrafts.

The souks are a sensory overload of colors, scents, and sounds. Navigate your way through the bustling alleys, bargaining with friendly shopkeepers, and discovering unique items along the way. Take your time to explore the different sections of the souks, each dedicated to a specific craft, such as the leather souk, the carpet souk, or the spice souk.

When shopping in the souks, it’s important to embrace the art of negotiation. Haggling is a common practice in Moroccan markets, so don’t be afraid to negotiate for the best prices. Remember to approach the process with a friendly and respectful attitude, and be prepared to meet in the middle to reach a fair deal.

If you’re looking for a more modern shopping experience, Marrakech also offers several shopping malls and boutiques. The Gueliz neighborhood is a popular area for modern shopping, with its trendy boutiques, designer stores, and stylish galleries. Here, you can find a mix of international and local brands, as well as contemporary fashion, homeware, and accessories.

For those interested in traditional Moroccan crafts, a visit to the Ensemble Artisanal is a must. This government-run artisan complex offers a selection of high-quality crafts, including handwoven textiles, intricate woodwork, ceramics, and metalwork. You can directly support local artisans here and have the opportunity to watch them work on their crafts.

When shopping in Marrakech, keep in mind a few useful tips. Be prepared to bring cash as many small shops in the medina may not accept card payments. It’s also a good idea to carry a bag or backpack to store your purchases, and be aware of your belongings in crowded areas.

Lastly, shopping in Marrakech is not just about acquiring souvenirs or material items, but also about immersing yourself in the vibrant local culture and supporting the talented artisans who keep traditional crafts alive.

Whether you’re hunting for unique treasures in the bustling souks or exploring the modern boutiques in Gueliz, shopping in Marrakech is an adventure that will leave you with lasting memories and one-of-a-kind souvenirs of your Moroccan journey.

Day Trips from Marrakech

While Marrakech offers an abundance of captivating sights and experiences, venturing beyond the city on a day trip allows you to explore the diverse landscapes and cultural treasures that Morocco has to offer. From stunning natural wonders to historical landmarks, here are some of the top day trips you can embark on from Marrakech.

Atlas Mountains: Escape the bustling city and venture into the magnificent Atlas Mountains. Just a short drive from Marrakech, this mountain range offers breathtaking scenery, picturesque villages, and opportunities for hiking or trekking. Explore the Ourika Valley, Imlil, or the Ouzoud Waterfalls for an unforgettable experience amidst stunning landscapes.

Essaouira: A visit to the charming coastal town of Essaouira is a popular day trip option. Known for its laid-back atmosphere, beautiful sandy beaches, and vibrant blue and white medina, Essaouira offers a refreshing change of pace. Stroll along the historic ramparts, enjoy fresh seafood at the port, and soak in the artistic vibes that have attracted musicians and artists to this charming seaside town.

Ouarzazate: Embark on a journey to the “Gateway to the Sahara” – Ouarzazate. Located at the edge of the desert, this city is home to the exquisite Kasbah Ait Ben Haddou, a UNESCO World Heritage site and a backdrop to many famous films and television shows. Explore the labyrinth of narrow alleys, admire the stunning architecture, and immerse yourself in the rich history of this ancient fortified village.

High Atlas Berber Villages: Discover the unique Berber culture by visiting the traditional villages nestled in the High Atlas Mountains. Take a journey to remote settlements such as Imlil, Aroumd, or Amizmiz, and experience the hospitality of the locals. Enjoy a traditional Berber lunch, hike through scenic landscapes, and learn about the ancient customs and traditions of the Berber people.

Agafay Desert: Experience the desert landscape without venturing too far from Marrakech by visiting the Agafay Desert, also known as the “Desert of Marrakech”. Explore the vast expanse of golden sand dunes, enjoy camel rides, and savor a traditional Berber tea in a desert camp. This is a perfect option for those looking to have a taste of the desert experience within a short distance from the city.

These are just a few examples of the incredible day trip options available from Marrakech. Whether you choose to explore the majestic Atlas Mountains, stroll along the captivating Essaouira coastline, or delve into the rich history of Ouarzazate, each day trip will offer you a new perspective on the beauty and diversity of Morocco.

With so many diverse and fascinating destinations within reach, day trips from Marrakech are a fantastic way to complement your city adventure and create lasting memories of your journey through this enchanting country.

Safety Tips for Travelers in Marrakech

Marrakech is generally a safe city for travelers, but it’s always essential to take precautions to ensure a smooth and hassle-free trip. Here are some safety tips to consider when visiting Marrakech:

• Be cautious of your belongings: Like in any city, be mindful of your belongings and keep them secure. Pickpocketing can occur in crowded areas, so it’s advisable to use anti-theft bags or keep your valuables close to you. Avoid displaying expensive items, and always be aware of your surroundings.
• Dress modestly: Morocco has a conservative culture, and it’s respectful to dress modestly, especially when visiting religious sites and public places. Avoid overly revealing clothing and respect the local customs and traditions.
• Negotiate prices: Haggling is part of the Moroccan culture, particularly in the souks. Bargaining is expected, so don’t be afraid to negotiate prices for goods and services. However, be fair and respectful during the process.
• Use reputable taxis: When taking taxis, choose official taxis with the meter running or agree on a price in advance. Avoid unmarked or unofficial taxis, as they may overcharge or take longer routes.
• Drink bottled water: As tap water may not be safe to drink, it’s best to stick to bottled water and avoid consuming drinks with ice from unknown sources. Stay hydrated, especially during hot days, and carry a bottle of water with you.
• Plan ahead and use official guides: If you’re interested in taking tours or hiring guides, opt for licensed and reputable operators. Research and plan your activities in advance to ensure you choose trusted providers.
• Stay alert in busy areas: Places like Jemaa el-Fnaa Square can get crowded, so stay alert and keep an eye on your belongings. Be cautious of individuals trying to sell or offer services aggressively, as they may become persistent if declined.
• Follow local customs and traditions: Respect the local culture by observing customs and traditions. Learning a few basic Arabic phrases can go a long way in establishing goodwill with locals.
• Know emergency numbers and embassy information: Familiarize yourself with emergency contact numbers, including those for the police and medical services. Also, make note of your embassy’s contact information in case of any emergency or assistance needed.
• Trust your instincts: Trust your instincts and use common sense throughout your trip. If a situation or place feels uncomfortable or unsafe, it’s best to remove yourself from it.

By practicing these safety tips, you can enjoy your time in Marrakech with peace of mind and make the most of your experience in this captivating Moroccan city.

Marrakech is a city that captivates visitors with its vibrant culture, rich history, and breathtaking landscapes. From the bustling markets of the medina to the tranquil gardens and historic palaces, Marrakech offers a diverse range of experiences that will leave a lasting impression.

Throughout this ultimate travel guide, we have explored the best time to visit Marrakech, where to stay, top attractions, and must-try experiences. We’ve provided insight into the enchanting medina, the magnificent Majorelle Garden, the lively Jemaa el-Fnaa Square, the opulent Bahia Palace, and the tantalizing world of traditional Moroccan cuisine.

We have also discussed opportunities for day trips, allowing you to venture beyond the city and discover the stunning Atlas Mountains, charming Essaouira, historical Ouarzazate, thriving Berber villages, and the nearby Agafay Desert.

While exploring Marrakech, it’s important to prioritize your safety by being mindful of your belongings, respecting local customs, and staying alert in busy areas. By following the provided safety tips and planning ahead, you can navigate the city with confidence and peace of mind.

Marrakech is a city that stimulates all the senses, from the vibrant colors and aromatic spices to the sounds of laughter and music that fill the air. It’s a city where ancient traditions seamlessly blend with the modern world, offering a unique and immersive experience for travelers.

So, whether you’re strolling through the labyrinthine souks, sipping mint tea in a traditional riad, or marveling at the intricate architecture, Marrakech will leave an indelible mark on your heart.

Pack your bags, open your mind, and prepare yourself for an unforgettable adventure in the enchanting city of Marrakech. Allow yourself to be swept away by the magic, warmth, and timeless beauty of Morocco.

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Marrakesh Travel Guide

TripSavvy / Chris VR 

Situated at the foot of the Atlas mountains, the imperial city of Marrakesh is large, noisy, polluted and smelly. But Marrakesh is also fascinating, full of history, the cultural center of Morocco and beautiful. If you enjoy a daily assault on all your senses then you'll have a lot of fun. When the most popular sights include numerous references to "tranquility" and "peace" like the Majorelle gardens or the gardens around the Saadian Tombs you know you're in for an interesting experience. If you find it a little overwhelming then get an official guide to take you around.

There are so many things to see, you should spend at least 3 days in Marrakesh. If you can afford it, treat yourself to a stay in a Riad so when you return from a hectic day amidst carpet salesman, fire jugglers and noisy souqs, you can relax and have a cup of mint tea in a nice quiet courtyard.

This guide to Marrakesh will help you figure out the best time to go; the best sights to see; how to get to Marrakesh and how to get around; and where to stay.

When to Go to Marrakesh

It is best to try and avoid the summer heat and crowds and visit Marrakesh in the cooler months between September and May. But, some annual events take place in summer which you may not want to miss.

• Marrakesh Popular Arts Festival in July. This annual festival attracts folk singers, dancers, fortune-tellers, acting troupes, snake charmers, fire-swallowers and more, from all over Morocco. Since 2000 the festival has also attracted many artists and entertainers from Europe and Asia. The main events take place in the ruins of the 16 century Badi Palace and the Djemma el Fna (main town square - see below).
• Fantasia is a horse-riding spectacle that includes hundreds of charging horsemen (and women) wearing traditional clothing. It's part of the Popular Arts Festival so it takes place at the same time in July. You can experience the Fantasia in the evenings outside the city walls near the Bab Jdid. If you don't get to see it in July, there's a restaurant that offers the Fantasia as entertainment while you dine, the Chez Ali . Up-market and touristy but I'm sure you won't forget the experience in a hurry.
• Imilchil Marriage Feast is a Berber marriage festival where up to forty couples tie the knot. It takes place in Imilchil in the Middle-High Atlas Mountains near Marrakesh. The festival is a great way to experience Berber culture including music and dance. The event takes place after harvest every year so the dates vary, it's usually held late August or early September.

Winter in Marrakech From mid-January to mid-February there is usually enough snowfall in the Atlas mountains to accommodate skiers . The Oukaimden ski resort is less than 50 miles away from Marrakech. There are several ski lifts and if they don't work you can always take a donkey up the slopes. If there's not enough snow the views are always spectacular and it's still worth the trip.

What to See in Marrakech

Djemma el Fna The Djemma el Fna is really the heart of Marrakech. It is a large central square in the old city (Medina) and during the day it's a perfect place to grab a freshly-squeezed orange juice and a handful of dates. At the end of the afternoon, the Djemma el Fna transforms into an entertainers paradise -- if you're into snake charming, juggling, music and that sort of thing. Snack stalls are replaced with stalls offering more substantial fare and the square comes alive with entertainment that hasn't changed much since medieval times.

The Djemma el Fna is surrounded by cafe's overlooking the square so you can just relax and watch the world go by if you're tired of jostling the crowds below. Be prepared to be asked for money when you take photos of the performers and stop to watch the entertainment.

Souqs The souqs are basically undercover markets that sell everything from chickens to high-quality crafts. The souqs of Marrakech are considered to be among the best in Morocco, so if you like  shopping and bargaining  you'll enjoy yourself tremendously. Even if you don't like shopping, the souqs are a cultural experience you wouldn't want to miss. Souqs are divided into small areas that specialize in a certain good or trade. The metal workers all have their little shops clustered together, as do the tailors, butchers, jewelers, wool dyers, spice merchants, carpet salesmen and so on.

The souqs are situated north of the Djemma el Fna and finding your way around the narrow alleyways can be a bit tricky. Guides are plentiful in Marrakech, so you can always use those services, but getting lost in the chaos is also part of the fun. It's often more interesting to peek into souqs where local wares are being produced than to be taken to yet another carpet shop by your guide. If you get lost, just ask for directions back to the Djemma el Fna.

Majorelle Gardens and the Museum of Islamic Art In the 1920's, French artists Jacques and Louis Majorelle created a stunning garden in the middle of Marrakech's new town. The Majorelle gardens are filled with color, plants of all shapes and sizes, flowers, fish ponds and perhaps the most pleasing aspect, tranquility. The designer Yves Saint Laurent now owns the gardens and has also built himself a house on the property. The building that gets most of the attention, however, is the bright blue and yellow building the Marjorelles used as their studio and which now houses the  Museum of Islamic Art . This small museum includes some good examples of Moroccan tribal art, carpets, jeweler, and pottery. The gardens and museum are  open daily  with a 2-hour lunch break from 12-2pm.

Saadian Tombs The Saadian dynasty ruled much of southern Morocco during the 16th and 17th centuries. Sultan Ahmed al-Mansour created these tombs for himself and his family in the late 16th century, 66 of them are buried here. The tombs were sealed up rather than destroyed in the 17th century and were only re-discovered in 1917. Consequently, they are beautifully preserved and the intricate mosaic is stunning. Despite being situated in the heart of the somewhat hectic old town (medina) the tombs are surrounded by a nice peaceful garden. The tombs are open daily except for Tuesday. It's advisable to get there early and avoid the tour groups.

The Ramparts of Marrakech The walls of the Medina have been standing since the 13th century and make for a wonderful early morning stroll. Each gate is a work of art in themselves and the walls run for twelve miles. The Bab ed-Debbagh gate is the entry point for the  tanneries  and provides an excellent photo opportunity full of vivid colors from the dyes used. It is a little smelly though.

Palais Dar Si Said (Museum of Moroccan Arts) A palace and museum in one and well worth a visit. The palace is opulent and beautiful in itself with a lovely courtyard where you can relax and take some pictures. The museum's displays are well laid out and include jewelry, costumes, ceramics, daggers and other artifacts. The museum is open daily with a couple of hours break for lunch.

Ali ben Youssef Medersa and Mosque The Medersa was built in the 16th century by the Saadians and could house up to 900 religious students. The architecture is beautifully preserved and you can explore the tiny rooms where the students used to live. The mosque is adjacent to the Medersa.

El Bahia Palace This palace is a wonderful example of the best of Moroccan architecture. There's lots of detail, arches, light, engravings and what's more, it was built as a harem's residence, which makes it even more interesting. The palace is open daily with a break for lunch although it is closed when the royal family visits.

Getting to Marrakech

By Air Marrakech has an international airport with direct scheduled flights coming in from London and Paris and many charter flights arriving from all over Europe. If you are flying from the US, Canada, Asia or elsewhere, you'll have to change planes in  Casablanca . The airport is only about 4 miles (15 minutes) from the city and buses, as well as taxis, operate throughout the day. You should set the taxi fare before you get in. The major car rental companies are represented at the airport.

By Train Trains  run regularly between Marrakech and Casablanca . The trip takes about 3 hours. If you want to go to Fez, Tangier or Meknes then you can take the train through Rabat (4 hours from Marrakech). There is also an  overnight train  between Tangier and Marrakech. It's best to take a taxi to the train station in Marrakech since it's quite far from the old town (if that's where you're staying).

By Bus There are three national bus companies that operate between Marrakech and most major towns and cities in Morocco. They are Supratours, CTM and SATAS. According to recent traveller accounts on VirtualTourist.com SATAS doesn't have a very good reputation. Long-distance buses are comfortable and usually air-conditioned. You can buy your tickets at the bus depot. Supratours buses are handy if you are travelling onward by train since they stop at the Marrakech train station. The other bus companies arrive and depart from the long distance bus station near Bab Doukkala, a 20-minute walk from Jema el-Fna.

Getting Around Marrakech

The best way to see Marrakech is on foot especially in the Medina. But it's a sizable town and you'll probably want to make use of some of the following options:

• Taxis  are readily available throughout town and probably the most efficient way of getting to the main sites.  Grand taxis  are old Mercedes cars that carry up to six people for a fixed fare. They usually keep to specific routes and you'll find them at the bus station, Djemaa el Fna and the main Post Office in Gueliz (new town).  Petit taxis  are a little more expensive but you get it to yourself and they'll take you anywhere you want to go. The meters aren't always used so either ask the driver to switch it on or bargain for your fare before you hop in. Ask your hotel staff what a reasonable fare is if you know where you're going. Petit taxis in Marrakech are usually beige and you can just flag them down.
• Caleche  is a horse-drawn carriage and a popular way to get around Marrakech. There are set prices for the more common routes, around the ramparts for example, but for other routes, you'll have to bargain with the driver. Set the price before you hop in. You can catch a Caleche in the garden square between the Koutoubia Mosque and Djemaa el Fna, El Badi Palace and the more expensive hotels.
• Buses  within the town are frequent and cheap but can get crowded. The central bus station, Place El Mouarabitene is just outside Bab Doukkala on the northwestern edge of the old city. You can pay the bus driver directly. The no 8 will take you to the train station; the no 10 to the central bus station and the no 1 travels between the Medina and Gueliz (new town). Most buses will stop at the Djemaa-el-Fna
• Moped or Bicycle  is also a popular way to get around Marrakech and you can cycle within the medina which is handy. Check out  Maroc deux Roues  to get an idea about rates.

Where to Stay in Marrakech

Riads One of the most sought-after accommodations in Marrakech is a  Riad , a traditional Moroccan house situated in the Medina (old town). All riads have a central courtyard that will often have a fountain, restaurant or a pool. Some riads also have rooftop terraces where you can eat breakfast and look out over the city. A comprehensive list of riads in Marrakech including photos and prices can be found on the Riad Marrakech website . Riads are not all expensive, check out the  Maison Mnabha ,  Dar Mouassine  and the  Hotel Sherazade  where you can stay in style but pay less.

There are two Riads in Marrakech of note:

• La Maison Arabe ; a luxury riad in the heart of the Marrakech Medina. Famous for its restaurant it also offers 13 rooms overlooking two courtyards and a beautiful hammam (traditional Moroccan sauna). You can catch hourly shuttles to the hotel's cooking school (20 minutes away) with swimming pool and gardens. Check rates and reviews.
• Riad Kniza ; situated in the heart of Marrakech's Medina just a few minutes walk from the Djemma el Fna (the main square). This small, romantic, beautifully furnished traditional Riad has 7 rooms, two lounges, a courtyard and several patios. The owner is an antique dealer and extremely knowledgeable about Marrakech. The Riad Kniza comes very highly recommended with glowing  reviews  from all who stay here.

Hotels Marrakech has lots of  luxury hotels  available including the famous La Mamounia, featured in the  Sex and the City 2  movie and which Winston Churchill described as "the most beautiful place in the world". There are also several popular chain hotels like the  Le Meridien , and  Sofitel . These hotels are often housed in historic buildings and retain the Moroccan character and style. 

Budget hotels  are also plentiful and Bootsnall has a decent listing of affordable options. Since many of the smaller budget hotels won't have websites or online booking facilities you should get a good guidebook, like the Lonely Planet and follow their recommendations. Most budget accommodation is situated south of the Djemaa el Fna.

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Marrakech has attracted visitors for nearly a millennium. The city first grew rich from camel caravans that brought gold and salt from the Sahara Desert, but today its lifeblood is tourism. Travelers come seeking the street performers in the historic Djemaa el-Fna square, the winding alleys of the centuries-old medina, and the endless array of handicrafts. In between cultural excursions, they recharge in a boutique riad and discover the rich spices of Moroccan cuisine. And the Berber carpet of your dreams is just a haggle and a glass of mint tea away.

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Courtesy of Club Adventures

Can’t miss things to do in Marrakech

Marrakech beats to the rhythm of the Djemaa el-Fna, the square at the heart of the medina. Here, snake charmers, acrobats, and street food hawkers create a vibrant fusion of sounds, sights, and smells. Life in the old city unfolds before you. Walk in one direction, and you’ll reach imperial palaces and the minaret of the Koutoubia Mosque; go another way, and you’ll find ancient tombs. Surrounding you are alleys and souks selling almost anything your heart desires. When the sensory overload demands a break, head to the tranquil Jardin Majorelle or a hammam for a steam and a scrub. Finish your day with some fluffy couscous and drinks at a chic riad .

Food and drink to try in Marrakech

Tajines and couscous taste better in their native land, and Marrakech serves both Berber dishes with plenty of gusto. But there’s a lot more to sample, from roasted meats to fish from the Mediterranean and Atlantic coasts. The medina offers a dizzying array of street food, while stalls in the souk practically overflow with sticky treats. You can always find a nearby café for a restorative glass of mint tea or a freshly squeezed orange juice. And for a libation that’s a little stronger, Morocco has a thriving viticultural scene dominated by reds. Pair one with grilled lamb or a slice of pastilla , a sweet and savory meat pie.

Culture in Marrakech

Marrakech’s culture plays out in a variety of ways. Listen to storytellers in the Djemaa el-Fna, and the call to prayer as it floats over the medina. Take in the ornate mosaics, carved stucco, and painted wood of the city’s ancient palaces. These highlights date back centuries, but Marrakech has also made strides in recent years to bolster its modern cultural presence. The Marrakech International Film Festival attracts big Hollywood (and Bollywood) names. And an ever-expanding group of galleries showcase the next generation of Moroccan artists.

Marrakech’s numerous souks will make you wish you had a larger luggage allowance. The city is a haven for artisans, and you’ll find many open-air markets filled with stands and traders hawking all types of goods and souvenirs. Silver-tongued merchants unfurl a succession of rugs, each more beautiful than the last, and then debate the price down to the last dirham. If they’re feeling cheeky, they may try to sell you the camel they claim transported your new carpet. You can also browse silver jewelry, intricately worked leather, argan oil cosmetics, and filigreed lamps. As you wander, you’ll see both traditional designs and contemporary ones created by young Moroccan artists.

Practical Information

New Year and Easter are peak tourism periods. Spring and fall are best for their warm temperatures and long days. The heat in July and August can be oppressive so you’ll want to know the location of a good pool or two. During Ramadan, the logistics can be awkward for visitors since many restaurants close during the day. Visas are not required for visits of up to 90 days. Menara Airport has buses and taxis to the city center. Insist that city taxi drivers use meters. The languages are Arabic and French. The currency is the dirham ; ATMs are widespread. Tipping is expected: a dirham or two in a café and up to 10% in nice restaurants. Electricity is 220 volts, and sockets take round-pin European plugs.

Guide Editor

Tara Stevens and Paul Clammer .

How to spend a weekend in Marrakech

An insider guide to the Red City, where Europe, Africa and the Middle East mingle and merge

Founded almost a thousand years ago, Marrakech is one of the great cities of the Maghreb. Somehow this bursting-at-the-seams city exists on the edge of the Sahara Desert, its pink pise (rammed earth) palaces framed by the snow-capped High Atlas. In its seething souks, Europe, Africa and the Middle East mingle and merge, and the past and present are hard to tell apart.

But make no mistake, Marrakech isn’t some petrified piece of history. Instead, this centuries-old trading hub is a creative sweet spot where ideas thrive and a buzz of entrepreneurialism charges the air with an intoxicating, and sometimes, intimidating energy. This isn’t a place you can gracefully glide through. Instead, you’ll find yourself telling jokes with snake charmers, hankering after the latest henna tattoo or getting a scrub down in the local hammam. Pause for unexpected beauty and banter, after all, what are the chances you’ll come this way again?

Explore our interactive map below for all the local highlights, scroll down to find plenty to inspire you for a short break in the city... while here are our guides to Marrakech's best restaurants , attractions , shopping , bars  and hotels . 

Start by discovering the city’s history at the 16th-century Saadian Tombs , where Sultan al-Mansour spared no expense decorating his mausoleum with imported Italian Carrara marble and a gilded honeycomb muqarnas ceiling that still dazzles those who look upon it. The entrance to the tombs is unmarked and hard to spot. You’ll find it at the southern end of the Kasbah Mosque, opposite the Kasbah Café. Note you should arrive when it opens to see it at its most peaceful.

Move on to al-Mansour’s once magnificent Badi Palace   (Ksibat Nhass), now a monumental ruin with vast reflecting pools and impressive views of the city from its ramparts. Don’t scrimp on your ticket here as the additional MAD 10 (80p) to view the Koutoubia’s original minbar (prayer pulpit) is worth every cent.

From here it’s a short hop to the beautiful Bahia Palace   (Avenue Imam El Ghazali), a vast, gorgeously decorated palace once owned by slave-turned-vizier Abu ‘Bou’ Ahmed. Allow plenty of time to enjoy the different spaces, the most impressive of which are the quarters of Bou Ahmed’s favourite concubine, Lalla Zineb.

Lunch on exotic salads and vegetarian tarts in the shady patio of La Famille , before heading northwest across the Djemaa el-Fna and picking up Rue Mouassine, which is lined with some of the souk's chicest shops. Just past the landmark mosque and Mouassine fountain, you can slip into Le Jardin Secret , one of the Medina’s largest and most important gardens set out in the shell of a 19th-century palace. Divided into two distinct areas, the gardens are a triumph of Islamic design.

The first area faithfully recreates a Persian 'paradise' garden, featuring tufty grasses and traditional fruit trees such as olive, pomegranate, fig and date; while the second, smaller garden nurtures exotic plants in a fourfold layout. Just as interesting is the elaborate irrigation system that weaves through the gardens, part of an ancient network that once distributed water from artesian wells (fed by the ring of mountains around Marrakech) throughout the city.

Dining in the Medina is an adventure wherever you choose to eat. Like a magnet, everyone is drawn to the Djemaa el-Fna where smoke rises from hundreds of barbecues and storytellers, Gnawa musicians, acrobats and fortune-tellers attract throngs of Marrakshi’s out for their evening constitutional. You can eat here on long trestle tables, but regardless you should come for the show. Carry a handful of coins so you can tip the performers (a few dirhams is appropriate). If you do decide to eat in the square, stick to your own bottled water and use your bread instead of rinsed utensils.

Afterwards, you can head to the famous Pâtisserie des Princes for ice cream and sweet treats. For a more refined Moroccan dining experience, hunt down Le Trou au Mur , where you can sample traditional dishes in a beautifully renovated traditional house; or, for something more contemporary, head to the rooftop restaurant of Riad El Fenn , where executive chef Bob Touatou serves a creative, spice-laced, modern Moroccan menu. 

When fashion icon Yves St Laurent first arrived in Marrakech in 1964 he was overwhelmed by the city’s vivacity. The experience changed the way he saw the world and he ditched his previously rigorous monochromatic look in favour of an outrageously bold palette of Fauvist colours. It comes as no surprise then that Jardin Majorelle , the home where he lived with his partner Pierre Bergé, is painted an intense shade of ultramarine blue. Arrive early to enjoy the extraordinary desert garden filled with giant cacti, palms and bamboo groves.

Then tour the gorgeously curated Berber Museum , which is filled with St Laurent’s personal collection of indigenous jewellery and fashion from which he drew much of his subsequent inspiration. Stay in the garden and enjoy a salad at Café Majorelle or, if its busy, pop across the road to MyKawa  for a plate of crunchy briouat (pastries stuffed with spinach and cheese, or meat) and a smoothie.

Continue following St Laurent’s development in the Musée Yves St Laurent  next door. Christophe Martin’s stunning choreography presents the clothes in a dramatic all-black hall where dresses stand like paintings and echo the outrageous silhouettes and embellishments of the garments you’ve just seen in the Berber Museum. Suddenly, you can see that the strikingly bold jewellery, shapely clothes and extravagant accessories do just as well at New York dinner parties as Berber weddings.

After such inspiration, it only makes sense to go shopping in Gueliz, where young Moroccan designers like Artsi Ifrach  are now attracting international attention. Other makers to look out for are Lalla, who does a chic line of slouchy bags, Atika, for beautifully made leather shoes in rainbow colours, and Moro Marrakech (Rue Yves St Laurent) for chic homewares and accessories.

As the sun sets follow the crowd to the terrace of the Grand Café de la Poste  for a glass of rosé on its chic, secluded terrace or beneath the slow-moving fans in its beautiful bistro-style interior.

Then push on to Chez Mado  for Oualidia oysters and towering seafood platters, or Al Fassia  for a high-brow Fez-style feast in one of Marrakech’s most highly respected Moroccan restaurants. Afterwards, pop in to Le 68  for late-night drinks and an arty intellectual vibe.

Insider tips

Attractions.

Time your visit to the Ali Ben Youssef Medersa in the late afternoon when the tour groups have gone and the light is at its best. Once the largest Islamic study centre in North Africa, this 14th-century school is a masterpiece of Hispano-Moresque architecture.

Neighbourhood watch 

Currently undergoing an extensive renovation, the Mouassine neighbourhood showcases the Medina’s changing face with new concept stores, designer boutiques and cafés sandwiched between traditional souk stalls. Make time for Max & Jan and Hanout. 

Beige petits taxis (small taxis) around town should charge MAD 10 (80p) to MAD 20 (£1.60) per journey, and no more than MAD 30 (£2.40) at night. Hail off the street to ensure better rates as most taxis parked near popular tourist sites, particularly the Djemaa el-Fna and the Jardin Majorelle, quote exorbitant rates.

Non-guests can enjoy the beautiful gardens and pool at the Mandarin Oriental by purchasing a lunch and pool pass for MAD 500 (£41).

Did you know?

Hammams (public baths) were first introduced to the city by the Romans and adapted to fit with Islamic ablution rituals. Experience the ritual at Hammam de la Rose , the Farnatchi Spa or the deluxe Royal Mansour .

Where to stay . . . 

Luxury living.

Where other properties have borrowed from traditional Moroccan interiors and architecture, the Mandarin Oriental, Marrakech has forged a new modern Moroccan style lexicon informed by the colours of the desert and the rich creative heritage of Morocco’s original Berber inhabitants. The result is a cool, contemporary oasis.

Boutique bolthole

Little L’Hotel , Jasper Conran's 19th-century riad, is a haven of effortless good taste. Its extravagant green garden and art-filled suites channel the same soignée glamour as the 1942 film, Casablanca. Walk-on roles are played by a cosmopolitan guest list, who look every inch the part lounging fireside in the luxe salons.

Budget beauty

The well-located Riad Jardin Secret (it's just a five-minute walk from the souks) is arranged around a flourishing green garden. Fashion duo Cyrielle and Julien have worked hard to retain the artisanal authenticity of their historic Medina house while creating five simple, soulful rooms and host of artful niches and lounges. The riad has a unique-for-Marrakech vegan restaurant, which is situated on the bright pink roof terrace.

Doubles from €95 (£82). 43-46 Derb Arset Aouzal; 00 212 524 376 606

What to bring home . . .

French-Algerian designer Norya Nemiche is one of a new breed of Medina designers revamping traditional crafts with a cool contemporary eye. Buy her must-have kaftans, clutches and leather bags at Le Jardin  or La Mamounia .

Chabi Chic  is a Moroccan lifestyle brand that turns out super trendy homewares including their signature ceramic range in bold colours, embossed leather purses, woven bags and painted glasses. It's a treasure trove for souvenirs.

When to go . . .

The most pleasant time to explore Marrakech is spring (mid-March to May) when the roses bloom and the days are fresh and sunny. Next best is autumn (September to November), when the summer heat has subsided. Winter can be idyllic in the day time, but nights are chilly enough to warrant booking that bedroom with a fireplace. Don’t underestimate the extreme heat in the summer, when daytime temperatures can hit a sweltering 45C. Also bear in mind that during Ramadan, the traditional month of fasting and purification, some restaurants and cafés close during the day and general business hours are reduced. 

Know before you go . . .

Essential information.

British Embassy:  Rabat: 00 212 537 63 33 33;  gov.uk

British Honorary Consulate Marrakech : 00 212 524 42 08 46; 47 Boulevard Abdelkrim El Khattabi, Gueliz

Tourist police : 00 212 524 38 46 01

Ambulance : 150

Polyclinique du Sud hospital : 00 212 524 44 79 99

Tourism Office : 00 212 524 43 61 79; Place Adbdel Moumen ben Ali, Gueliz

Currency:  Dirham (abbreviated to MAD or Dh)

Telephone code:  Dial 00 212 if calling Marrakech from the UK. From inside Morocco, substitute 00 212 in all the above numbers with 0

Time difference:  +1 hour

Languages:  Darija (Moroccan Arabic); French; Tashelhit (Berber)       

Flight time:  London to Marrakech is between 3hr 30min and four hours

Local laws and etiquette

While Marrakech is one of Morocco’s most liberal cities, a degree of modesty in how you dress will be greatly appreciated by your hosts. Both women and men should avoid revealing clothing and keep knees and shoulders covered.

Marriage in Morocco remains a highly respected institution. For this reason it is not in the least rude to enquire about marital status and new acquaintances are questioned early on in a conversation. Solo women travellers, in particular, may be prone to questions as to why they would travel unaccompanied. In addition, Moroccan laws still prohibit extra-marital sex, drinking in public and smoking kif (hashish).

Mosques, zaouias (saint’s shrines) and cemeteries are not open to non-Muslims. Also, the left hand in Muslim society is used for personal hygiene and should not be used to handle food. 

Although Marrakech has largely eliminated the problem of faux guides (false guides), some still linger around the Djemaa el-Fna offering help with directions or recommendations for shops and restaurants (from which they get commission). Be firm, but polite when declining unsolicited company, and don’t feel embarrassed to ask for directions when lost. In such situations its best to ask the nearest hanout (shop owner).

Official guides can be hired through hotels and riads or at the tourist office. The official rates are £12 for half a day and £30 for a full day, but private operators and riads can charge up to £50 for a half-day tour and £90 for a full-day tour. 

Paula has been shuttling back and forth between London and the Red City for over 15 years. During that time, she’s authored numerous guides to the city and amassed far too many kaftans. 

Telegraph Travel's best hotels, tours, cruises and holidays in Marrakech, tried, tested and recommended by our Marrakech experts.

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Marrakesh Travel Guide

Last Updated: September 2, 2023

Marrakesh is the fourth-largest city in Morocco and is usually on every traveler’s itinerary when visiting the North African country. My time visiting Marrakesh was everything I thought it would be: a modern mix of Moroccan and international culture, delicious food, and beautiful architecture in the medina, a UNESCO World Heritage Site.

Founded in 1070, the city has been the capital of various kingdoms and dynasties throughout the ages. But the history of the region stretches back even further, with indigenous Berbers inhabiting the area since the Neolithic era (10,000-4,500 BCE).

Though Marrakesh lacked the grit and edge that the rest of the country had, it was the most eclectic city of my trip. The famous Jemaa el-Fnaa square is truly the mess that everyone describes, with tens of thousands of people eating, shopping, getting henna tattoos, listening to bands and storytellers, and watching magicians (and snake charmers during the day). It is the busiest square in Africa. It still blows my mind how big and full it was!

Marrakesh is on the map and should undoubtedly be part of your trip to Morocco. Few travelers visit the country without stopping in this city. While parts may be touristy, it is a remarkable and beautiful city worth a visit.

This travel guide to Marrakesh can help you plan your trip, save money, and make the most out of your time here!

Table of Contents

• Things to See and Do
• Typical Costs
• Suggested Budget
• Money-Saving Tips
• Where to Stay
• How to Get Around
• How to Stay Safe
• Best Places to Book Your Trip
• Related Blogs on Marrakesh

Top 5 Things to See and Do in Marrakesh

1. Explore the town square

Djemaa el-Fna is Marrakesh’s main square, where you can find exotic street performers, snake charmers, tattoo artists, musicians, storytellers, and more. It’s huge, chaotic, crowded, and a sensory overload. At night, the market fills with food vendors and crowds of locals and tourists alike.

2. Visit the Bahia Palace

La Bahia was built in the late 19th century over the course of 14 years. Although the palace has 150 rooms, only a fraction of it is open to the public. The Grand Riad, with its studded fountains and carved wood lintels, is the oldest part of the palace and probably my favorite part. Entrance is 70 MAD.

3. Mosey through the Jardin Majorelle

The Jardin Majorelle was created by French painter Jacques Majorelle between 1886-1962. The garden is a collection of 300 species of plants from five different continents. The entrance fee is 120 MAD and another 30 MAD for the Berber Museum. The new YSL Museum costs an additional 100 MAD.

4. Walk through the Ben Youssef Madrasa

This Quranic learning center dates to the 14th century and is greatly admired for its detailed tile, woodwork, colorful mosaic walls, and Italian marble. The main courtyard has some stunning tile work. Admission costs 70 MAD. Currently closed for renovations.

5. Marvel at the Saadian Tombs

Saadian Sultan Ahmed al-Mansour ed-Dahbi flaunted his extravagance and wealth, as you’ll see at his tombs. This royal necropolis was built in the late 16th century with imported Italian marble and decorated with pure gold. The open-air museum costs 70 MAD.

Other Things to See and Do in Marrakesh

1. visit the maison de la photographie.

The Maison de la Photographie (Museum of Photography) opened when friends Patrick Menac’h, a Parisian, and Hamid Mergani, a Marrakshi, decided to combine their collections of vintage Moroccan photography. Together, they collected 4,500 photos, 2,000 glass negatives, and 80 documents between 1870 and 1950. Works are on display through three floors, organized thematically by content and region. Most photos are also for sale. Entrance is 50 MAD.

2. Get lost in the medina

Marrakesh’s medina, which means “city” or “town” in Arabic, is the historic walled city, with a labyrinth of alleys and stalls upon stalls to peruse. Watch the making and selling of traditional handicrafts, eat some street food, and take in the sights and smells in the historic walled quarter of the city. You’ll find stalls selling merguez sausage, grilled meats, potato tagines, maakouda potato cakes, and so much more. Don’t be afraid to get lost in the alleys and tiny streets. The alleys seem endless, but I found it less intimidating than the medina in Fez.

3. Visit Morocco’s largest Jewish cemetery

The largest Jewish cemetery in Morocco, Miara Cemetery dates to 1537 and is still in use today. The graveyard is divided into three sections: one for men, another for women, and a third for children. Due to space constraints, there are three layers of burial grounds. This is an excellent historical site and I highly suggest you visit. After visiting the cemetery, wander around the Jewish quarter, which is home to the 15th-century Lazama Synagogue. It’s the last synagogue in the quarter.

4. Relax in a traditional hammam

A hammam is a steam bath popular in North Africa. It used to be the only place where people could bathe because private bathrooms were a luxury only few could afford. They are usually found near mosques or toiletry shops and can be upscale or public (traditional). Public hammams cost about 10 MAD and you need to bring your own scrubbing glove, soap, brush, razor, shampoo, towel, and change of clothing. Hotel hammams provide the necessary kit and usually cost around 300-500 MAD. If you want to try a public hammam, go to Hammam Dar el-Bacha or Hammam Mouassine.

5. Hang out on the terrace of Grand Café de la Poste

This is an institution in Marrakesh. While the food is good, most people come for the architecture and atmosphere. Built in the 1920s, this originally was a café, hotel, and postal relay. Today, the café retains much of its original grandeur with vaulted ceilings, black and white tiled floors, leafy palms, red sofas, and leather chairs. The terrace is a fantastic spot to drink a cold beer. On the weekend, you’ll find locals and expats eating brunch and catching up. The menu is mostly French cuisine, with dishes ranging in price from 80-280 MAD.

6. Hang out in the parks

Marrakesh has a lot of parks, with everything from formal gardens with trees planted in straight rows, to expansive parks, to neighboring palaces, to Yves Saint Laurent’s blue-splashed garden. My favorites are Arsat Moulay Abdeslam Cyber Park (featuring free Wi-Fi), Jardin el Harti (over 80 years old), The Agdal Garden (over 700 acres and next to the Royal Palace), and Lalla Hasna Park (a small park right by the Koutoubia Mosque).

7. Visit the Menara botanical gardens

Located west of the city center, this botanical garden was established around 1130 by the Almohad Caliphate. The Menara pavilion, with its green pyramid-like roof, is a focal point because of its views of the nearby man-made lake. It was built in the 16th-century during the Saadi dynasty. From the gardens, you can see the Atlas Mountains in the distance. Admission is free.

8. Take a cooking class at the Marrakesh Culinary Arts Museum

Found in the mellah (Jewish quarter), this museum offers cooking classes twice a day. Each class is around two hours in duration and the menus feature Jewish and Moroccan dishes. Cooking classes are around 500 MAD. You can visit the museum for 60 MAD or 120 MAD with tastings. (Temporarily closed due to COVID-19.)

9. Stroll the ruins of El Badi palace

The “Incomparable Palace” is a massive palace of over 300 rooms, built by Sultan Ahmad al-Mansur in the 16th-century. With the sultan’s death and the decline of the Saadian dynasty, the palace fell into decline, and today the palace is a large-scale ruin. Admire the views over the city, stroll the gardens, descend into the dungeons, and learn more at the small museum inside. World Folklore Days, the biggest folk-dance festival in Africa, takes place in the palace complex each March. Entrance to the palace is 70 MAD.

  For more information on specific cities in Morocco, check out these guides:

• Fez Travel Guide

Marrakesh Travel Costs

Hostel prices – Dorm rooms with 6-8 beds cost around 60-90 MAD per night, while a bed in a room with 10-20 beds costs 40-70 MAD per night. Private rooms cost around 260-380 MAD per night. Hostels usually offer free breakfast, Wi-Fi, towels, linens, and many communal spaces designed for you to meet other travelers.

Budget hotel prices – Budget hotels cost around 270-410 MAD per night and include private bathrooms, Wi-Fi, and breakfast.

On Airbnb, private rooms start around 200-320 MAD per night. Entire homes/apartments start at around 350-550 MAD per night.

Food – Moroccan cuisine is a colorful, flavorful mix of Berber, Andalusian, and Mediterranean traditions with a pinch of French and sub-Saharan cuisine to round things out. It is a land of spices, so expect flavorful meals at every turn (the traditional ras el hanout spice mix is composed of 27 different spices). Beef, goat, and lamb are some of the most common meats, usually eaten with couscous. Fish like mackerel and anchovy are also quite common, owing to the country’s location on the coast. Be sure to try pastilla , a pastry filled with meat or seafood.

Food can be cheap in Marrakesh if you eat at the street stalls and local restaurants, especially in the main square. Most hostels include breakfast, but a budget cafe breakfast costs around 25 MAD.

Restaurants and street stalls in the souk have affordable and traditional meals such as tagine, grilled fish, and meats for 30-50 MAD. Eating Western food and in fancy restaurants starts at around 150 MAD for a dish and can go as high as 300 MAD.

Fast food (think burger and fries) costs around 50 MAD for a combo meal.

Beer is around 35 MAD while a latte/cappuccino is around 18 MAD.

In the main square, try Cafe Clock, Bakchich Cafe, and PepeNero. Try traditional Moroccan foods such as harira (a soup popular during Ramadan), tajine, and Sfenj (Moroccan style donut).

If you cook your own food, expect to pay 200 MAD per week for groceries such as pasta, seasonal produce, and some meat or seafood.

Backpacking Marrakesh Suggested Budgets

If you’re backpacking Marrakesh, my suggested budget is about 230 MAD per day. This budget covers staying in a hostel dorm, eating mostly from cheap street stalls and cooking some meals, walking or taking public transit everywhere, limiting your drinking, and sticking to cheap or free attractions like the botanical gardens.

A mid-range budget of about 500 MAD per day covers a private Airbnb room, eating out at cheap restaurants for all your meals, enjoying a few drinks, taking the occasional taxi to get around, and doing more paid activities like museum visits and visiting the palace.

On a “luxury” budget of 1,090 MAD per day or more, you can stay in a hotel, eat at nice restaurants for all your meals, drink more, rent a scooter or take a taxi to sites outside the city, and do whatever tours and activities you want. This is just the ground floor for luxury though. The sky is the limit!

You can use the chart below to get some idea of how much you need to budget daily, depending on your travel style. Keep in mind these are daily averages — some days you’ll spend more, some days you’ll spend less (you might spend less every day). We just want to give you a general idea of how to make your budget. Prices are in MAD.

Marrakesh Travel Guide: Money-Saving Tips

Marrakesh, like the rest of Morocco, is very affordable so it’s easy to visit here without breaking the bank. That said, here are some ways to save money in Marrakesh without cutting your fun:

• Eat at the markets – Stick to eating at the local markets in the medina or away from the tourist centers in the new town and you’ll spend very little money on food!
• Negotiate your cab fare – Be sure to negotiate a price before you get into the taxi. There aren’t set prices and you need to bargain hard. Ask your hostel/hotel staff for rough price estimates so you can avoid being scammed.
• Avoid faux guides – Faux guides (or false guides) linger in the medina and offer you tour services. Be forceful in saying no and keep walking away, and eventually they will give up.
• Stay with a local – If you want to save money and get some local insight into the city, use Couchsurfing. Staying with a local is the best way to get a feel for the city and learn some insider tips. There’s a small Couchsurfing community in the city.
• Avoid drinking – Even though drinking is frowned upon in the country, you can still find plenty of drinking establishments. They are overpriced and the drinks aren’t that good. Avoid drinking during your visit, save money, and align yourself closer to local norms.
• Eat from street stalls – While restaurant meals can typically cost as little as 30 MAD, street food is even cheaper. For just a few dollars, you can indulge in delicious kebabs, sausages, barbecued corn on the cob, hot roasted chicken, and huge sandwiches, among many other tasty options.
• Make change at your hotel – A lot of vendors and museums do not give change back when you pay with paper notes, and the lowest denomination you can get from an ATM is 100 MAD. Hotels and larger grocery stores are best for getting smaller bills and change. This way you can give to correct amounts, and not lose money unnecessarily.
• Bring a water bottle – The tap water here is generally safe to drink but you should bring a reusable water bottle with a filter just in case. LifeStraw is my go-to brand as their bottles have built-in filters to ensure your water is always clean and safe.

Where to Stay in Marrakesh

There several hostels in the city. Here are my recommended places to stay in Marrakesh:

• Riad Jennah Rouge
• Kasbah Red Castle Hostel
• Hostel Riad Marrakech Rouge

How to Get Around Marrakesh

Marrakesh is a very walkable city, but the medina can be confusing, so I recommend using GPS. Outside of the medina, there are a few different methods of transportation that you can use.

Public transportation – Bus rides around the city cost 2-5 MAD. Buses are run by Alsa and run from 6am-10pm, with most buses running every 15-20 mins. Bus 1 runs from the Kasbah, through Gueliz, and Bab Doukkala. Bus 11 runs through Bab Doukkala, Djemaa El Fna, and Menara Gardens. Bus 12 runs through Jardin Majorelle, Bab Doukkala, and Hivernage.

Scooters/Motorcycles – Scooters and motorcycles are also available for rent around the city, with a half-day scooter rental costing around 180 MAD. You can find rental places near the medina.

Taxi – Taxis have a base fare around 7 MAD and cost about 4 MAD per kilometer. Don’t expect to receive change, so pay the exact price and ask to use the meter at the beginning of the ride.

A taxi from the airport to the city center runs about 60-100 MAD, while an airport express bus only costs about 30 MAD.

Always negotiate the price before getting into the taxi, as prices can inflate quite a bit when you arrive at your destination if you don’t.

When to Go to Marrakesh

March-May and September-November are the best times for visiting Marrakesh. During these months, temperatures average 30°C (86°F) so the weather is hot but not unbearable.

July and August are the hottest months, with temperatures an average of 38°C (100°F). That’s just too hot to comfortably explore on foot.

Marathon des Sables takes place in Morocco each April. It is a 6-day foot race in the Sahara Desert, one of the toughest races of its kind in the world. In July, the Marrakesh Popular Arts Festival attracts fortune tellers, dancers, snake charmers, and fire-swallowers from all over the world. It’s an interesting distraction from the heat of summer when the crowds of tourists are lower.

Ramadan takes place in the ninth month of the Islamic calendar (which is based on lunar cycles so it varies every year) and lasts for 30 days. During this time, Muslims abstain from food and drink during the daytime. It is also considered a sober month in Morocco. Most restaurants and businesses are still open, but often with reduced hours.

In winter, the daytime temperatures average around 7°C (45°F), and while the days can be sunny, the nights can be quite chilly. There are fewer visitors during this time but pack a sweater.

How to Stay Safe in Marrakesh

Marrakesh is fairly safe and the risk of violent crime here is low. Like anywhere else, avoid walking through unfamiliar areas alone at night and beware of pickpocketing and petty theft.

Pickpocketing, petty theft, fake tour guides, and harassers are your most likely problems here, especially in the medina. Be firm when saying no to touts who try to sell you excursions. Beware of locals inviting you into their shop for tea, as you may end up spending a lot of money to buy something you don’t want.

Women traveling alone can attract a lot of attention, and the chances of being followed, and possibly groped, is high. Walking alone at night is generally not a good idea. Dress appropriately and respectfully. Although Marrakesh is touristy and slightly more liberal, women should still dress modestly to avoid harassment and having to spend money on extra clothing to cover up while there.

If you’re worried about getting scammed, you can read about common travel scams to avoid here.

If you experience an emergency, dial 19 for assistance (112 for mobile phones).

Always trust your gut instinct. Avoid isolated areas at night and be aware of your surroundings at all times. Make copies of your personal documents, including your passport and ID.

The most important piece of advice I can offer is to purchase good travel insurance. Travel insurance will protect you against illness, injury, theft, and cancellations. It’s comprehensive protection in case anything goes wrong. I never go on a trip without it as I’ve had to use it many times in the past.

Marrakesh Travel Guide: The Best Booking Resources

These are my favorite companies to use when I travel. They consistently have the best deals, offer world-class customer service and great value, and overall, are better than their competitors. They are the companies I use the most and are always the starting point in my search for travel deals.

• Skyscanner – Skyscanner is my favorite flight search engine. They search small websites and budget airlines that larger search sites tend to miss. They are hands down the number one place to start.
• Hostelworld – This is the best hostel accommodation site out there with the largest inventory, best search interface, and widest availability.
• Booking.com – The best all around booking site that constantly provides the cheapest and lowest rates. They have the widest selection of budget accommodation. In all my tests, they’ve always had the cheapest rates out of all the booking websites.
• Get Your Guide – Get Your Guide is a huge online marketplace for tours and excursions. They have tons of tour options available in cities all around the world, including everything from cooking classes, walking tours, street art lessons, and more!
• SafetyWing – Safety Wing offers convenient and affordable plans tailored to digital nomads and long-term travelers. They have cheap monthly plans, great customer service, and an easy-to-use claims process that makes it perfect for those on the road.
• LifeStraw – My go-to company for reusable water bottles with built-in filters so you can ensure your drinking water is always clean and safe.
• Unbound Merino – They make lightweight, durable, easy-to-clean travel clothing.
• Top Travel Credit Cards – Points are the best way to cut down travel expenses. Here’s my favorite point earning credit cards so you can get free travel!

Morocco Travel Guide: Related Articles

Want more info? Check out all the articles I’ve written on backpacking/traveling Morocco and continue planning your trip:

The Best Tour Companies in Morocco

Is Morocco Safe? 11 Ways to Stay Safe During Your Visit

A Journey of 1,000 Mint Teas: Reflections on Traveling Morocco

11 Reasons Why I Fell in Love With Morocco

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• Where To Stay
• Transportation
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The 17 best things to do in Marrakech

From museums and souks to fabulous restaurants, here are the things in Marrakech you should not miss

Within minutes of arriving in Marrakech you’ll learn a new word: ‘ Balek !’ Roughly translated as, ‘move it, donkey coming through!’ It’s a good word to know as Marrakech is a creative cauldron and is currently making an exciting dash to the future. 

Having earned the prestige of being Africa’s first Capital of Culture, the city is now on a mission to introduce you to the best Moroccan food, fashion, design, art and hospitality. The Medina has recently benefited from careful architectural restoration; new museums have opened showcasing jewellery, desert gardens and ethnographic collections; the city’s souks sell almost anything you can dream up; and, the food scene is booming. So, join the throng and try out these must-do recommendations.

RECOMMENDED: 🥘  The best restaurants in Marrakech 🇲🇦 Your ultimate guide to Morocco

This guide is by Paula Hardy , a writer based in Marrakech . At Time Out, all of our  travel guides  are written by local writers who know their cities inside out. For more about how we curate, see our  editorial guidelines . 

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What to do in Marrakech

1.  Medersa Ben Youssef

• Things to do

An architectural marvel and Marrakech’s most important monument, this 14th-century religious school has recently undergone a painstaking five-year renovation during which the rich zellij tiling, ancient cedarwood ceilings and vine-covered stuccowork have been brought back to stunning life. Up in the dormitories of   Medersa Ben Youssef you’ll find absorbing videos about the restoration.  

Why go?  To get an appreciation of the extraordinary technical skill and imaginative power of Morocco’s master craftsmen, who still ply their trade in the city’s souks.  

2.  Souk Semmarine

Souk Semmarine is the Bond St of Marrakech’s central souks, lined with carpets, cut brass lanterns, leatherwork and babouche. Dive in and get lost in the tangle of alleys which lead off into  Rahba Kedima (the  spice market) and  souk Haddadine ( blacksmiths alley).

Why go?  Did you even go to Morocco if you didn’t come back with something to remember it by? Haggle with the traders for that beautiful rug you spotted   – you won’t regret it. 

3.  Musée Yves Saint Laurent

The French designer loved spending time in Marrakech so much   he bought the famous   Jardin Majorelle in 1980 and   made it home. Now, the   Musée Yves Saint Laurent, located next door,   is dedicated to Yves’s couture legacy and has a permanent display of hundreds of garments spanning his 40-year career.

Why go?  The YSL collection is an amazing body of work that even non-fashionistas can appreciate. It’s housed in one of the city’s most striking   contemporary buildings, and includes a beautiful café, bookshop, archive library and auditorium.

4.  Jardin Majorelle

Created by the French painter Jacques Majorelle, this botanical garden is home to more types of cacti than you can shake a terrarium at and has a stunning indigo blue art deco house as its centrepiece.

Why go?  Phone cameras at the ready – Jardin Majorelle with its sculptural cacti and indigo blue villa is pure Instagram gold. Majorelle’s studio also houses the Berber Museum, showcasing a rich collection of traditional Moroccan jewellery and fashion.  

5.  Bahia Palace

Bahia Palace (which roughly translates to ‘beautiful palace’) was built in the late 19th century, and now forms the epicentre of the city’s culture.  You won’t believe the decor until you see it, with high, gilded ceilings, rooms filled with paintings, mosaics and stuccos, and a huge, open garden to wander.

Why go?  To find a spot in the shade and sit for hours to take it all in. 

6.  El Badi Palace

What is it?  The epic ruins of Sultan Ahmed al-Mansour's once-magnificent palace, within which are set sunken gardens of orange trees surrounded by epic ramparts whose decrepit towers offer panoramic views over the medina.

Why go? El B adi  may be a ruin, but it offers a fascinating insight into the power and wealth of past Moroccan dynasties. Within the ruins, you’ll also find the jewel that is the Koutoubia’s  minbar  (prayer pulpit), crafted by 12th-century Cordoban artisans. 

7.  Maison de la Photographie

What is it?  A three-storey riad-turned-gallery housing the vintage Moroccan photography collection of Patrick Menac’h and Marrakshi Hamid Mergani. The images document the lifestyle and landscapes of Morocco between 1870 and 1950 – more than a century later, many things remain exactly the same.

Why go?   To immerse yourself in the visual history of Morocco. Maison de la Photographie 's rooftop café is also one of the highest in the medina and is a great spot for lunch .

8.  Indulge in a restorative hammam

The  hammam  – public bathhouse – is a Moroccan institution and you’ll find one in every neighbourhood in Marrakech as well as hotels like La Mamounia , Riad Tarabel and Es Saadi . It’s where Moroccans go for their weekly, relaxing  gommage  (scrub), but also to reconnect with themselves and with friends and family.

Why go?   Because it’s an authentic Moroccan experience and is incredibly restorative. Alongside a full body scrub, most hammams offer masques and massages as well. 

9.  Contemporary Art Crawl in Gueliz

Ten minutes west of the walled medina, you’ll find the neighbourhood of Gueliz, the so-called 1930s ‘New Town’. Alongside its cafes and shopping malls, it harbours some exciting modern and contemporary art galleries like Galerie Siniya 28 , Galerie 127 and Comptoir des Mines . 

Why go?  Gueliz is the modern face of Marrakech and these galleries offer an insight into the vibrant, multidisciplinary art scene that Morocco fosters.  

10.  Jemaa el-Fna

The vast open square at the heart of the medina is one of Marrakech’s biggest attractions and is a Unesco world heritage site. Expect snake charmers, street entertainers and over-enthusiastic henna artists at every turn.  Locals and tourists descend on the Jemaa every night, drawn by the ceaseless hoopla and  halqa  (street theatre). 

Why go?  Grab some food from one of the barbecue stalls, listen to some music, head up to a rooftop bar and marvel at the sunset.

11.  Musée des Confluences

The former governor’s palace and home to the notorious Thami El Glaoui, Lord of the Atlas. Now the Musée des Confluences , it houses the archaeological collection of American Patty Birch and puts on shows exploring the intersection of eastern and western cultures.

Why go?  This is one of the most beautiful palaces in the medina, vast in ambition and covered in intricate detail: coffered cedar ceilings, geometric tiling, stucco worked into elaborate floral motifs. Don’t miss Marrakech’s best cafe , Bacha Coffee House , which serves more than 40 brews in a jewel-like space .

12.  Marrakech Insiders

Hop aboard a vintage sidecar motorbike for Marrakech Insiders ' tailormade tour of the Red City. The essential tour nips down alleys and through grand royal gates to give you a behind-the-scenes peak of local neighbourhoods, while other tours take you out to Art Deco Gueliz and beyond to the Palmeraie and desert. 

Why go? Because it’s fun and revealing and will give you a fabulous insight into Marrakech that will be hard to access on your own. It’s also a tremendously adventurous way for families to tour the city.  

13.  Musée de Mouassine

A jewel of 16th-century Saadian architecture, this  douiria  (guest apartment) was built by a  chorfa  (noble) family and retains all its exquisite original decoration that acts as a backdrop to thoughtful exhibitions and musical events.

Why go?  Every Monday and Friday from October to May, Musée de Mouassine hosts concerts of classical Moroccan music. Set in such beautiful surroundings, the events are super-atmospheric and accompanied by tea and pastries.

14.  Sahbi Sahbi

Sahbi Sahbi is an atmospheric modern Moroccan restaurant in the New Town, Gueliz, designed by renown architectural practice Studio KO. Presided over by an all-female team, Sahbi Sahbi serves up some of the best traditional Moroccan dishes in a stylish interior with an open, central kitchen where you can see the magic happen. 

Why go?  To sample traditional Moroccan cooking at its finest, including unctuous beef tangia with white beans and cinnamon-dusted pigeon pastilla. Reserve a seat at the counter to see the chefs in action.  

15.  The Mellah

The Mellah is the ancient Jewish quarter of Marrakech, which has undergone an extensive renovation programme reinstating Jewish street names and repairing unique architectural. Make sure to visit the Al Azama synagogue, founded in the 16 th -century, and the extraordinary Miaara cemetery, the largest Jewish cemetery in Morocco.

Why go?  Tours give an insight into a fascinating part of Marrakech’s (and Morocco’s) history. The Mellah is also an area of the city is less well explored by tourists and still has a very authentic neighbourhood atmosphere.

16.  Souk Cuisine

Souk Cuisine  puts on cookery classes with a twist. Starting with a tour of the souks, you shop for ingredients before heading to a riad where you’re taught how to cook by a group of local women.

Why go?  Food is a huge part of Moroccan culture, and the course is a fab way to learn more about the country and its traditions. You’ll also make some of the tastiest tagines in town.

17.  Café Clock

Café Clock is a hybrid restaurant-café-cultural centre where you can consider the merits of date milkshakes and camel burgers and sign up for storytelling workshops, calligraphy classes, oud lessons and Gnaoua jam sessions.

Why go?  To dive deep into Moroccan culture and give some things a go yourself. Also, 10 dirhams from every camel burger Café Clock sells goes to charity.

More great things to do in Marrakech

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Marrakech   Travel Guide

Courtesy of hadynyah | Getty Images

14 Best Things To Do in Marrakech

Updated February 11, 2021

The major attraction here is the city itself. Marrakech's vibrant colors, aromatic dishes, indecipherable sounds and inimitable feel will linger in your memory long after you leave its corridors. Plan to spend most of your time in or around the medin

• All Things To Do

Medina of Marrakesh Medina of Marrakesh free

The heart of Marrakech lies in its historic city center – a UNESCO World Heritage site . For centuries, the medina acted as a political and economic hub whose influence radiated throughout the Middle East. Royals resided here, international trade took place here and cultures developed here. As you stroll through this 11th-century labyrinth of alleyways, you'll see that Marrakech's history remains intact.

Past visitors said that the medina is a must-see, especially at night. Most of its popular food and merchandise stalls are situated in Jemaa El Fna , but for a less crowded atmosphere, explore the streets outside the medina's main square. It's easy to lose your bearings here, so some former travelers also suggest visiting with a guide. Companies that offer guided walks around the medina include Marrakech Guided Tours and Marrakech Tour Guide   – both recommended by recent travelers.

Jemaa El Fna Jemaa El Fna free

It's hard to miss Jemaa El Fna. Sitting at the center of the  medina , this open-air square stands as the city's main gathering spot. By day, Jemaa El Fna hosts dozens of entertainers, from snake charmers to fortune tellers to herbalists. By night, the area fills with the aromas of piping hot couscous, grilled meats and simmering vegetables from the food stalls. From the square, narrow alleyways lead intrepid shoppers through a maze of  souks  (markets), composed of spice vendors and carpet sellers who will stop at nothing to get you to buy something. Here's a tip: Never settle for the original price. Half the fun of shopping around Jemaa El Fna is practicing your bargaining skills. Most hawkers will negotiate with you, but walk away if you encounter a stubborn seller.

Recent visitors praised Jemaa El Fna's bustling marketplace but suggested visiting at night when there's more to see. Several also stressed the importance of saying "no" when you do not want an item or service and suggested keeping a close eye on your belongings since pickpockets are regularly spotted here.

Bahia Palace (Palais Bahia) Bahia Palace (Palais Bahia)

Within walking distance of must-see sights like  Jemaa El Fna , the Badi Palace and the Saadian Tombs sits the intricate Bahia Palace. This 19th-century palace exemplifies the lavish lifestyle of the Moroccan elite. Before it was accessible to the public, this property housed various Moroccan royals. Although the palace was ransacked in the early 1900s, members of the royal family continue to occasionally stay here. Meanwhile, visitors can check out the public areas of the property, which feature rounded entryways that lead to colorful mosaics and intricate latticework, as well as cool, shady walkways that guide you to vast, sunny courtyards and gardens.

According to previous visitors, this beautiful palace is worth visiting, especially if you love history, art or architecture. However, several cautioned that the property can get crowded later in the day, so consider arriving before 10 a.m.

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Badi Palace (Palais Badi) Badi Palace (Palais Badi)

It's hard to imagine at first glance, but during the 16th century, the Badi Palace was once a playground for Saadian royalty. Today, all that remains of the Badi Palace are picturesque sandstone ruins, the skeleton of a once opulent home. But you can still envision the Badi's grandeur as you stroll past the four sunken gardens and empty reflecting pools, walk beneath the 50 chandeliers and eight Venetian sconces in the prayer hall, and admire the 300,000 alumnium tiles that adorn the roof. The former palace also houses several objects from  Koutoubia Mosque 's minbar (or pulpit) that are worth a look.

To fully comprehend the extent of the Badi Palace, several travelers suggest checking out the property's exhibits and paying extra to see the minbar. Others highly recommend taking in the city panoramas from the palace's rooftop terrace.

Koutoubia Mosque (Mosquée Koutoubia) Koutoubia Mosque (Mosquée Koutoubia) free

In the southwest corner of the medina , within walking distance of the bustling Jemaa El Fna , lies Marrakech's most recognizable landmark, Koutoubia Mosque. Featuring intricate tile work, salmon-hued walls, expansive archways and an impressive 253-foot-tall minaret (or tower), this 12th-century Moorish mosque has served as the model for several other notable religious sites, including the Hassan Tower in Rabat, Morocco, and La Giralda in Seville, Spain .

Recent travelers enjoyed visiting Koutoubia Mosque, adding that it's a great place to escape the hustle and bustle of the city. Many were also quick to praise the building's beautiful architecture. However, if you're set on seeing the inside of a mosque, consider heading elsewhere, since this one does not permit entry to non-Muslims.

Majorelle Garden (Jardin Majorelle) Majorelle Garden (Jardin Majorelle)

When it comes to beautiful green spaces in Marrakech, Majorelle Garden, situated northwest of the  medina , steals the show. The garden was crafted by French painter Jacques Majorelle (who lived in the Red City from 1923 to 1961). After his death in 1962, the property was bought by fellow Marrakech-lover and late fashion designer Yves Saint Laurent, and it was eventually opened to the public after Saint Laurent's death in 2008.

In this garden, you won't find the city's typical desert setting: Thick bamboo, palm and cactus groves shelter trickling streams, ponds filled with water lilies and a bright blue water fountain that matches the adjacent Berber Museum are just some of the property's features. An art gallery, a gift shop, a bookstore and a cafe are also located on-site.

Museum of Photography (Maison de la Photographie) Museum of Photography (Maison de la Photographie)

When you need a break from Marrakech's street hawkers and religious sites, consider checking out the Museum of Photography. Situated in the medina by the Medersa Ben Youssef, this photography museum features roughly 10,000 original prints from photographers like Jean Besancenot, Joseph Bouhsira and Pierre Boucher, many depicting various Moroccan scenes and landmarks. Collections with postcards, glass negatives and documentaries, plus a library with 19th- and 20th-century works are also available on-site.

Though some say this small museum is tricky to find, many rave about its photographs, adding that the facility does an excellent job of telling the city's history. Another highlight of this property is its rooftop terrace, which offers tasty Moroccan cuisine and breathtaking city and mountain views.

Hammams Hammams

When the hustle and bustle of the  Jemaa El Fna  takes its toll, seek refuge at one of the city's hammams  (public baths). A plethora of hammams are available in Marrakech, but some of its most well-known include Les Bains de Marrakech , Hammam Dar El Bacha and traveler favorites like HERITAGE SPA and Hammam Rosa Bonheur .

Hammams can intimidate first-timers. Those expecting a Western spa experience are often taken aback by the openness of the baths and the requirement to remove clothing. However, most past visitors said that their hammam attendants helped put them at ease, adding that the slight discomfort they initially felt was easy to overlook for such a "wonderful" experience.

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Marrakech Desert Tours Marrakech Desert Tours

Though you could easily spend the majority of your vacation wandering around Marrakech's medina or historic mosques, no visit to Morocco would be complete without exploring the country's desert. A variety of tour options are offered, including all-terrain drives, camel rides and hikes. The Ourika Valley, the Atlas Mountains, Ouzoud Falls and the Ksar of Ait-Ben-Haddou (a UNESCO World Heritage-listed group of clay dwellings that once served as a trading post) are just some of the locales you may see during a desert tour.

For half- or full-day excursions from Marrakech, visitors recommend local companies like M & A Tours , Dunes & Desert Exploration and Arib Voyages , citing their friendly guides and tasty lunches (which are served at a local restaurant or in a Berber home) as highlights. Multiday tours are also available from traveler-approved operators, such as RoughTours Company and Moroccan Active Adventures . These trips generally cover a few meals and accommodations (either a tent at a camp or a room at a hotel) for some or all nights of the itinerary.

Saadian Tombs (Tombeaux Saadiens) Saadian Tombs (Tombeaux Saadiens)

This cemetery, which sits just south of the medina , features more than 160 tombs filled with the remains of prominent Saadians (members of an Arab dynasty who are reportedly descendents of the prophet Muhammad) and their advisors and royal wives. First used in the early 14th century, the Saadian Tombs' intricate decor (think: cedar ceilings, colorful mosaics and Carrara marble headstones) was not added until the 16th century by Ahmed El Mansour. Unlike other ornate structures in the region, this property was not plundered by Sultan Moulay Ismail in the early 18th century, making it one of Marrakech's only surviving Saadian sites.

Although a few former travelers felt underwhelmed by the cemetery's grounds (especially after visiting the Alhambra in Granada ), others appreciated its quiet atmosphere and "amazing" architecture. To avoid waiting in a long line to enter and feeling rushed while exploring this small attraction, several visitors recommended arriving shortly after opening.

Cooking Classes Cooking Classes

Moroccan dishes combine local proteins (think: pigeon, chicken and sardines) with an array of aromatic spices. Many eateries throughout the city serve traditional fare, but one of the best ways for foodies to try this one-of-a-kind cuisine is to sign up for a cooking class. Items generally prepared during cooking classes include tajines (a stew-like dish baked in its namesake pot), mint tea and various salads and desserts.

Overall, recent visitors enjoyed sampling and learning about Moroccan cuisine, adding that this fun experience cannot be missed. Many also heaped praise on their friendly chefs and guides, and said that this activity is great to do with kids. Several tour companies, hotels and culinary schools offer cooking demonstrations, including traveler favorites like Faim d'Epices , La Maison Arabe , Atelier de Cuisine and Urban Adventures .

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Everything you need to know before going to Marrakesh

Nov 29, 2023 • 6 min read

Marrakesh can be a sensory overload for first-time visitors so read on for some local advice before you go © minoandriani / Getty Images

I lived in Marrakesh full-time for almost 10 years with no intention of leaving. My life in Morocco was colorful, diverse and endlessly inspiring for a curious, creative soul like me. And today the city’s intrigue and magic continues to pull me back. 

I will never tire of wandering the tiny alleyways of the Marrakesh medina, stopping for a nouss nouss at Cafe des Epices or gazing at the art deco architecture throughout my Gueliz neighborhood, stepping inside to discover independent art galleries . 

Picture-perfect guest houses, and chefs putting a creative spin on local cuisine, are also part of the charm. The design scene in Marrakesh is second-to-none, and in my opinion unique in Morocco as traditional artisans sell their wares alongside contemporary designers, putting a new touch on the traditional techniques and crafts.

A visit to Marrakesh is not about ticking sites off a must-see list but rather meandering – stumbling upon a historic site and watching the world go by from a street-side cafe – the city itself is a sight. Allow three days to see the main historical sites, sample local cuisine and take in a bit of shopping, but design lovers could easily spend a week here.  

1. Plan your days prior to arrival

While there is something to be said for spontaneous wanders and chance encounters, Marrakesh is the country’s leading tourist destination and guides, experiences and restaurants book up days, weeks and months in advance.

Jardin Majorelle  and the nearby Musée Yves Saint Laurent  require online advance bookings via their website. To ensure a table at popular restaurants like +61 , La Famille  and Nomad , book prior to arrival for best availability. 

2. Book an airport transfer or catch the local bus

It’s best to organize an airport transfer via your accommodation provider for a smooth arrival. Taxis have a reputation for overcharging clients, despite posted rates. A city bus departs frequently from the airport to Djemaa el Fna and destinations throughout Gueliz for Dh30 (cash only). Find the bus stop beyond the waiting taxis, near the car rental offices. 

3. Hone your negotiation skills in advance

From haggling in souqs to negotiating fares with taxi drivers, bargaining is commonplace in Marrakesh. Shopkeepers often state an offer and the buyer is expected to negotiate a price they are prepared to pay. I say: pay what the goods are worth to you . You may find the same item cheaper (or more expensive) elsewhere, but is that worth worrying about? It's all part of the Morocco experience.

Prior to hopping in a cab, negotiate a price in advance if the meter is not activated, or if it (notoriously) doesn’t work. The price within Marrakesh city limits shouldn’t cost more than Dh30 if the meter is activated. Daytime rates start at Dh1.70 – Dh2.40 at night – and increase based on distance. If the meter does not work, negotiate the price in advance and make sure you have small bills and coins to pay the exact amount agreed upon (the amount will already include a tip).

4. Be wise about the street food you eat

Some of the best food is served up street side in Marrakesh. When deciding where to eat, consider how many locals are pulling up a seat to tuck into the local delicacy like msemen (pancakes), harira (soup) or a tajine. In Djemaa el Fna , opt for stalls where the food is prepared in front of you. 

5. Stay current

Morocco’s Dirham is a closed currency, and visitors are permitted to arrive and leave with a maximum of 1,000 Dirhams. Most ATMs distribute up to Dh2,000 per transaction to a daily maximum of Dh4,000 per bank card, though this varies by international bank. All banks will charge a fee.

For the best currency exchange, head to Hotel Ali in Djemaa el Fna or Hotel Farouq on Avenue Hassan II near the train station. 

6. Dress like a local for a comfortable experience 

For women, I suggest ditching any belly tops and short shorts while wandering in the Marrakesh medina, one of the city’s most traditional neighborhoods. Instead, opt for dresses that fall below the knee or trousers and a shirt that covers your shoulders. For men, knee-length shorts or trousers are advised. For traversing the cobblestoned and uneven footpaths, flats are best, ideally close-toed.

7. Don’t avoid visiting Marrakesh just because it’s Ramadan

Don’t put off a trip to Marrakesh during the month of Ramadan. It provides an insight into another aspect of this rich culture. Locals will expect that visitors will want to eat and drink, even while out in public. Guides may join you at the table and won’t want you to feel guilty about eating or drinking. During this holy month it is even more important that you're mindful about alcohol consumption. 

8. Local table manners

When accepting a sample of olives or dates in the souqs, or sharing a tajine with locals, always use and eat with your right hand. If invited into a local’s home, arriving with some sweet treats will be graciously received, and bakeries – Amoud,  Pâtisserie Amandine and Café 16 – are local favorites. 

9. When it comes to love, discretion is key 

Sexual relations between non-married Moroccan men and women are not typically flaunted in public. It is illegal for an unmarried Moroccan to book a hotel room or self-catering apartment with a non-Moroccan. Discretion is recommended when it comes to flaunting one’s affection for their partner, regardless of nationality or sexual orientation.

10. Knowing a few words of Darija will earn you points

Though folks working in tourism often speak several languages, with English becoming increasingly common, learning a few words of Darija (Moroccan Arabic) will earn respect. Walking into a shop, it’s common to greet fellow customers and shopkeepers with an "Assalaamu alaykum"  (peace be with you) and respond with “Wa alaykum ssalaam”. “Chakrun” for thank you, “la chakrun” for no thank you, and “afak” for please are also key. 

11. Problems you may encounter in Marrakesh

Stumbling upon a faux guide either on foot in the medina, or a man on a bike who claims to work at your hotel with offers to visit the Berber market or another special, can’t-miss event may result in being led to a family member’s carpet or spice shop. A firm, but polite “no thank you” is often sufficient as you walk confidently in the direction you plan to go.

While it may cause frustration, getting lost in the Marrakesh medina is part of the fun – until it’s not. If and when this happens, remain confident in where you’re going. Ask an older gentleman in the souqs for directions if necessary. If engaging a local lad to show the way, expect to pay for their assistance (Dh20 is reasonable).

Plain-clothes police officers roam the medina frequently and are there to help, taking tourist concerns seriously. A central police station is located in Djemaa el Fna.

Also note: Although Morocco experienced a magnitude seven earthquake in September 2023, with the area surrounding Marrakesh heavily hit, natural disasters within the city are rare.

12. Keep these must-have items in your day bag 

Brushing one’s teeth with tap water is not likely to cause any health issues, but bottled or filtered water for hydrating is recommended. You’ll also want to pack hand sanitizer and wet wipes for days spent wandering, shopping and eating. Always keep a pack of tissues on hand for bathrooms which may not be stocked with toilet paper.   

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Oct 11, 2023 • 7 min read

Things To Do in Marrakech, Morocco: A 3-Day Guide

Marrakech is more than just an ancient city in Morocco . It’s a sensory experience of vibrant colors, flavors, smells, sounds, and unique sights. It’s world-famous for its markets and shopping in the Medina (old city), but there is so much more to do in Marrakech. Once you’ve witnessed the fascinating mix of European, Middle Eastern, and African cultures, head out of the city for unparalleled mountain and desert scenery.

Day 1: Medinas and Markets

Everything in Marrakech goes on within the hustle and bustle of the Medina, the walled, most ancient part of the city. Spend a day soaking up the sounds, smells, and sights of this remarkable area, experiencing the souks and squares.

1. Wander Around the Medina

The most beautiful part of the Medina is its maze of narrow streets that transport you back in time. Throw your map in the garbage and lose yourself in the excitement while dodging donkeys and carts.

Here are all your hotel options in Marrakech.

Admire the colors of the walls and buildings, the smells of the food and spices, and speak to friendly locals. It’s also possible to book a street food tour by night to discover a variety of flavors and local delicacies while exploring the markets.

Most unique of all is the sound of the call to prayer echoing among the narrow streets coming from the many mosques situated close by. To experience this high up, head to one of the many rooftop cafes to experience panoramic sounds and views.

2. Jamaa El Fnaa

At the heart of the Medina lies the world-famous Jamaa el Fnaa square. Walking through this square is an experience like no other! Feel the heat beating off the stone floor as you worm your way through snake charmers, entertainers, and street food stalls selling fresh juices.

By night, the square comes to life with music, with flute players, dancers, and artists all showing their talents under the twinkling lights of the stalls. This amazing demonstration of Moroccan culture is not to be missed!

Tip: Pickpockets happen in this area so always be wary and keep an eye on your belongings. 

Book a guided tour exploring the medina and more

3. Explore the Souks

If the square is the heart, then the souks are the true soul of Marrakech. Wander just off the main square to discover an extraordinary labyrinth of markets. It’s easy to lose yourself in the covered markets and the network of tiny streets that all seem to look the same.

Don’t worry about this, and enjoy the fantastic colors of the textiles, the magical smells of the vibrant mountains of spices, the high-quality leatherwork, and the glittering lights bouncing off the lanterns and colored glassware. Make sure to visit the main souk: ‘Souk Semmarine’, located just off Jamaa el Fnaa. A little further away is the ‘Souk Place des Epices’, which is the traditional spice souk. 

Tip: Get ready to bargain! This is a key part of the culture, so shop owners will always bargain on the price. Be aware that shop owners can hassle tourists to buy products in the souks. Be firm and politely say no before moving on quickly.  If you’re worried about getting lost in the souks, it’s a good idea to hire a reputable guide.

4. Find the Best Places to Eat and Drink

Marrakech has a great selection of traditional and fusion restaurants that serve up delicious tagine and couscous. Our personal favorite was Cafe Atay. There is also Cafe Clock, which is more of a fusion one but also very good!

In Morrocan architecture, all buildings have flat roofs, which are perfect for rooftop bars. Head to a rooftop cafe overlooking Jemaa el Fnaa for a delicious mint tea, or visit the museum Maison de la Fotagraphie, which has the highest rooftop bar in the medina for incredible views!

Note: Marrakech is an Islamic city, which means alcohol is forbidden outside of bars. Many bars and restaurants won’t serve alcohol at all, so search beforehand for places that do, or enjoy a dry trip!

Day 2: Incredible Architecture

Enjoy day 2 by jumping between beautiful buildings. See the traditional Moroccan architecture and designs of arches and blue tiles, but also the more innovative designs of artistic buildings and museums. 

5. Stay in a Traditional Riad

Staying in a traditional riad (guesthouse) is the best way to see the stunning details of Moroccan architecture. On the outside, they are normally a sandy color with basic architecture. However, once you open the door, there is a whole different world. This is the link to the riad below in the photograph.

A world of wonderful colored tiles, detailed patterns, and plants that are normally centered around a dreamy-looking swimming pool. Staying in a riad is definitely a peaceful experience that provides a tranquil oasis away from the noises of Marrakech.

6. Jardin Majorelle

This incredible, vibrant blue house is one of the biggest tourist attractions in Marrakech and an absolute must-see! The beautiful house and gardens were originally created by Jaques Majorelle, who was the inventor of this deep blue shade, named ‘Majorelle blue’.

Later the house was bought by Yves St Laurent, who restored the house and botanical gardens to their former glory. This truly feels like a tropical oasis, with green plants from all over the world that look beautiful against the blues and yellows of the house.

Entrance Fee: A ticket is 70 Dhs to the garden (around 7 USD). The museum entrance fee is 30 Dhs (around 3 USD). The house and gardens are open from 8AM – 5.30PM every day and 8AM – 6PM in the summer months. Go as early as possible to avoid the crowds, and get the best photos possible. You can also book your entry ticket or tour in advance.

7. Ben Youssef Madrassa

Explore a world of stunning symmetry, and intricately patterned mosaics, in this former Islamic school. Located near the medina, Ben Youssef Madrassa used to be the largest Islamic college in Morocco. Spend an hour or so here, admiring the beautiful Moroccan architecture, especially the remarkable interior terrace that’s centered around a tranquil pool. 

Entrance Fee: Tickets are approximately 5 USD.

8. Bahia Palace

This extraordinary palace, with 150 rooms, was built in the 19th century by the grand vizier of the sultan, who hoped for it to be the greatest palace of all time. Discover the traditional Moroccan architecture of the courtyards, filled with orange trees and fountains, and the beautiful stained glass windows and tilework.

Book a tour exploring all historic landmarks of Marrakech

Most impressive of all is the huge, luxurious marble courtyard at the center of the palace complex. Don’t miss out on the opportunity to learn about the fascinating history of the grand vizier, his family, and his many wives. 

Note: Only a portion of the palace is available to see, but it’s definitely worth it, especially as it’s located just a 20-minute walk from Jamaa el Fnaa square. Entrance is 70 Dhs (7 USD), and it’s open Monday to Sunday from 8 AM – 5 PM.

Travel Insurance Don't forget a travel insurance for your Morocco trip! Heymondo covers medical emergencies, theft, delays, cancellations, lost luggage, and more, with 24/7 worldwide assistance and medical chat. As a Salt in our Hair reader, we've got you 5% off! Check Heymondo here

Day 3: Outside of Marrakech

The stunning nature of Morocco is just a stone’s throw away from the city. Once you’ve soaked up all the culture of dynamic Marrakech, take one of these day trips to experience country life, majestic mountains, or the heat of the Sahara.

9. A Day Trip to the Atlas Mountains

Take a day trip to the jaw-droppingly beautiful atlas mountains, situated just an hour or two drive away from Marrakech. Book a tour that offers a return journey to Marrakech and that takes you through beautiful valleys and traditional Berber villages. This is a perfect way to see some of the amazing nature in Morocco and get up to the cooler climates of the mountains.

Must read: The ultimate 10-day Morocco itinerary!

Tip: Visiting in the winter? Take advantage of the fact you can go skiing in the Atlas mountains! If you’re visiting in summer, don’t forget that the mountains get a lot cooler as it approaches the evening, so make sure to take an extra layer.

10. Aït Benhaddou

Situated on the Atlas mountains south of Marrakech lies the movie-like scenery of Aït Benhaddou. Earthen, sandy buildings that make up this ancient village date back hundreds of years. The UNESCO site is exceptionally well preserved and allows travelers a glimpse into a simpler way of life.

Spend some time here, wandering through the village admiring the surrounding mountains, and enjoy a mint tea as the sun sets over the red clay. Experience Aït Benhaddou and explore the nearby Atlas Film Studios in Ouarzazate as part of a day tour ( book your tickets here ).

11. Sahara Desert Tour

No trip to Morocco is complete without seeing the epic scenery of the Sahara Desert. Adventure by jeep or foot amongst the rippling sand dunes by day. By night, experience some of the most incredible stargazing in the world by a roaring campfire. Most drives to the Sahara take about 8 hours, stopping at villages and natural sights along the way. Because of this, it’s recommended to book a 2-3 day tour of the Sahara.

Read more: Visit the Sahara Desert in Morocco!

Tip: Looking for a desert day trip? Head for the nearby Agafay Desert instead! It might not be as impressive as the Sahara, but you’ll still find just as much adventure!

How to Get to Marrakech

Marrakech is easy to reach by train, plane, or bus. It has an international airport and the roads in Morocco are perfect. You can easily reach other cities in Morocco, such as Fes , by train.

Getting Around

Once you’re in Marrakech, all the sights are within walking distance of each other. Walking is the perfect way to see the city! However, if you plan to see more of Morocco, it’s worth it to rent a car to get around.

We recommend to rent a car in Morocco through Sunny Cars with free cancellation and insurance included. Book your rental car here .

Where to Stay in Marrakech

Take the opportunity to stay in one of the beautiful riads! Whether you’re looking to splash a bit more cash or something a bit more budget-friendly, there is amazing accommodation for every kind of traveler in Marrakech.

Hotels in Marrakech 😴

Best Time to Visit Marrakech

The best time to visit Marrakech is in the shoulder seasons of March-May or September-November. In these months it will be beautifully warm and sunny but not too hot. The winter months can still be lovely and sunny and are a great time to visit if you want to ski in the Atlas Mountains.

By purchasing through our links, you support us at no additional cost. Thank you for your support. ♥️

• Find Hotels via Booking.com
• Find a Rental Car via Sunny Cars
• Find Flights to Morocco via Skyscanner
• Get a Travel Insurance via Heymondo
• Book Tours & Attractions via GetYourGuide
• Book a Bus/Train/Transfer via 12Go

Morocco Travel Guide: Best Things To Do (10-day Itinerary)

Sahara morocco: visit the merzouga desert on a 3-day tour, 9 best things to do in chefchaouen, morocco.

Looking for more travel information? Plan a chat with us for personalised travel advice or get an answer from the Salt in our Hair Travel Community on Facebook.

We are traveling out to Marrakech in November and your travel guide has been such a help, thank you.

You’re welcome Ann! Have the best time there.

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22 Best Things to Do in Marrakech, Morocco

Written By: The Planet D

Updated On: September 20, 2023

Marrakech truly epitomizes the exotic. Often referred to as the “Red City” due to its vibrant pink-hued walls, Marrakech is an enchanting fusion of ancient traditions and modern flair. Nestled at the foot of the snow-capped Atlas Mountains in Morocco, this city brims with a rich tapestry of history, culture, and architectural marvels. Whether you’re a first-time visitor or a seasoned traveler returning for more, here’s a curated list of the best things to do in Marrakech that promises a journey like no other. Dive deep into the heart of Moroccan culture and uncover the treasures that lie within this mesmerizing metropolis.

Table of Contents

Top Things To Do In Marrakech

Marrakech is the fourth-largest Moroccan city and was founded in 1062 AD. It still feels as if time has stood still. Visiting Marrakech city is like a dream. In the Medina old town, you’ll be dodging snake charmers while gazing in awe at blacksmiths at work. You will be dazzled by acrobats at the main square of Djemaa El Fnaa and Berber Dancers will entertain you as you fantasize about ancient caravans traveling to Timbuktu. So are you ready to explore Marrakech? Let’s go.

1. Get Lost In The Medina

Visiting The Medina is one of the most exciting things to do in Marrakech. A Medina is the old part of the city surrounded by stone walls and it is bustling with activity. This Medina at Night tour is a great way to get a sense of the energy of the city in a safe environment. Nighttime is the best time to visit Jemaa el Fna as the food stalls light up and locals come out to shop. Your guided tour will share insights into history, culture and traditions offering an excellent introduction to the city.

We couldn’t wait to explore the old city and get lost in the Medina. We stayed in a Riad in the heart of the Medina and had the privilege of spending a lot in this ancient walled part of Marrakech. In the Medina, you’ll discover a maze of alleyways and markets selling everything from carpets and lamps to mint tea and fresh dates. Forget the modern world and lose yourself inside.

Tips for visiting the Medina and shopping at the Markets

Don’t fret about taking a wrong turn, each one will take you on a great adventure. Part of the fun is getting lost in the Medina.

• Don’t buy the first trinket that you see. Get a feel for prices by bartering and walking away.
• This is a great way to find out if you are getting scammed or getting a deal. If people let you walk away, you have bargained too low.
• But if you don’t barter, you could end up paying a hefty fee for a piece of junk.
• See our Guide to Bartering like a pro

2. Watch the Sun Set over Djemaa El-Fnaa

If you ask a local what to do in Marrakech, chances are they will tell you to start off at the main square, Jemaa el-Fnaa. It’s a giant square filled with food stalls and it is a UNESCO World Heritage Site. Grab a spot at one of the rooftop bars to watch the sun go down. There is a minimum cover charge for rooftops around the square but it is minimal and definitely worth it.

For the cost of a beer, you can enjoy the view and watch the chaos from a quiet spot above. Afterward, you must stroll through the stalls for dinner and tea. There are street entertainers from snake charmers to musicians dancing in the square. It is chaotic and full of aromas that ignite the senses. It is a delight to visit and the Moroccan food is to die for.

Expert tips for Djemaa el Fna

• Go to the rooftop to watch the sunset.
• Watch for pickpockets they are everywhere.
• Don’t let someone force a snake or other exotic animal onto you. They may be interesting or cute, but they will demand money.
• You will have to pay the street performers for a photo.

This was one of our favorite places to visit in Marrakech, not only for the view but because you can really get a feel for the hustle and bustle of the city without being right in it.

3. Shop In The Souks

The Souks of Marrakech are simply another word for a marketplace. The Medina has many souks within its walls and they are located directly off the main square of Marrakech. It is here that you truly feel that you have stepped into traditional Morocco. This maze of covered markets weaving through narrow alleyways can be overwhelming. The labyrinth is filled with shops and stalls selling everything under the sun.

There are different types of souks that are connected and lead from the Square, Souk Place des Épices (Spice Souk) is dedicated to everything spice and Souk Semmarine is the largest of the Marrakech Souks.

Wandering a Souk with a Local Guide is an excellent way to explore the souks without getting lost and avoiding stress. Especially if it is your first visit to Marrakech. We often ask our guide what a good and fair price is to pay for the souvenir we are looking for.

Things to Remember when visiting the Souks of Marrakech

• Vendors can be aggressive and even follow you around. But they are very friendly.
• Negotiate hard. They expect it.
• Shop around. Some things are genuinely handmade and some are imported from China.
• If you are offered tea they are expecting you to buy. So only accept if you are serious about shopping there.
• If you don’t like to haggle check out the Ensemble Artisanal. Fixed-priced items at a little higher prices.
• You can watch artisans at work, dodge gypsies, and even grab a quick bite on the run.
• You have to keep your wits about you though as vendors are aggressive and are hard-pressed to take no for an answer.

4. Visit A Hammam

If you want to experience the truly exotic, a visit to a Hammam is a must. Hammams are a massage and steam bath. Prepare to leave all inhibitions at the door because you are in for the most intimate, painful, awkward massage of your life. But when you sit back, relax and let it happen, it’s also one of the coolest and relaxing experiences you’ll ever have and you’ll want to keep coming back for more!

You will be naked in a hammam. The treatment starts in a steam bath and then the masseuse will come and get you to start the program. You will start with a vigorous scrub with a rough soap and then the fun begins with a massage consisiting of contortions, twists, turns, and a beating.

Private Tour

A great introduction to Marrakech is to book a private guided tour where you’ll begin in Djemaa El Fena to soak in the atmosphere of buskers and snake charmers before heading into the lively markets where you’ll search for spices, and traditional food and peak into the leather shops. You’ll also have a choice to visit the Bahia Palace or Badii Palace and a stop at the Saadian Tombs and Menara Gardens before visiting the Koutoubia mosque which is considered a UNESCO World Heritage site. This tour has easy cancellation with a full refund if canceled within 24 hours of trip.

5. Stay In A Riad

If you are a couple and want to stay somewhere romantic in Marrakech, we thought we’d start off by booking your trip to Marrakech . When planning your accommodation, a stay in a traditional Riad is a truly authentic experience. We recommend Riad el Cadi.

Chances are your Riyad will be located in the Medina and this is where you want to stay when visiting Marrakech. A modern city is the same almost anywhere, but staying in the ancient walled city is where you will feel the energy and history resonate deep inside.

What is a Riad?

A Riad is a tall house with a courtyard in the center of the building. Usually, it has a soaker or full pool in its center where you can escape from the heat and a rooftop terrace to take in the sunsets. All Riyads are not created equal so choose wisely.

• You can book through an apartment rental company and stay in your own private Riyad complete with a kitchen, swimming pool, and rooftop deck.
• Or you can book a boutique stay at a hotel type Riad where large palaces have been converted to luxury hotels. We experienced both kinds and love each one equally. If you have a few days, why not split it up and stay in both!

Recommended Places to Stay in Marrakech

• Luxury: Riad Dar Anika :  a Beautiful rooftop terrace with a courtyard pool and attached spa.
• Mid Range: Riad Asna: It has a pool, breakfast included and has free WIFI.
• Budget: Riad Sapphire: Located in the medina, with breakfast included, a large pool, and a beautiful rooftop terrace.

6. Take A Cooking Class

Moroccan food is up there as our favourite cuisine on earth. It can be overwhelming when visiting a new city and culture to figure out the menu and food, so a cooking class is a great way to get an introduction and one of the best things to do in Marrakech.

We took a cooking class at Riyad El Cadi with a local chef and it was so much fun. We had hands-on training in making Chicken Tagine and traditional Moroccan sauces. If you’ve ever wondered why Moroccan food is more expensive than other middle east and Asian countries, it’s because it takes so long to prepare. Everything is done by hand with fresh ingredients like plum tomatoes, olives, nuts and herbs, and spices.

Chef Hassan meticulously prepared 5 Moroccan Salads and two main hot dishes over the course of three hours. We then enjoyed a private candlelit dinner complete with wine and drinks by the fire. Warning! Do not eat before this tour!

Tips for eating in Marrakech

Meals take a long time to prepare so give yourself time to enjoy them. Wash your hands before eating your meal if a bucket or sink is provided. Always eat only with your right hand. Read more: Delicious Moroccan Food to Eat in Morocco or At Home

Most establishments will only accept cash so have it on hand, especially when eating at street vendors or food stalls, so always have small bills on hand.

Morocco is a dry country meaning that alcohol consumption is limited. Most places will not serve alcohol, but if you want it visitors can get it, it is just pricier than usual. Alcohol can only be purchased at licensed hotels, restaurants, and in major supermarkets in tourist areas. Read: Etiquette in the Middle East- Travel for Men and Women

Food Tours in Marrakech

Another popular food experience in Marrakech is with Souk Cuisine. Souk Cuisine immerses you in Marrakech culture beginning with shopping for fresh local ingredients in the souk before going back to a traditional riad for a cooking class. This full-day experience has become one of the most popular things to do in Marrakech. They even offer full food experiences for up to five days.

• A Taste of Marrakech: Evening Food Tour + Dinner – This tour takes you through the markets to sample treats from food stalls before enjoying a sit down meal in Djemaa El Fna.
• Marrakech Walking Tour for Foodies – Take this walking tour to enjoy the scents and flavours of Morrocan cuisine. Try handmade couscous and honeyed pastries, fresh smoothies, and freshly prepared desserts.

7. Visit The Saadian Tombs

The Saadian Tombs are one of the most visited sights in the city (the lines ups are there to prove it) and thus one of the not to miss things to do in Marrakech. But Saadian tombs are worth visiting for their glorious splendor.

Built by Sultan Ahmed al-Mansour ed-Dhabi, these tombs are grand, containing a 12-pillar mausoleum.  After the death of Al-Mansour, the following Sultan walled up the magnificent mausoleum in the 1600s. It wasn’t re-discovered again until 1917. It can be quite busy but no matter how many people are there it always seems so peaceful. Marvel at the beautiful mosaics and marble work or have fun just watching the stray cats jumping around the mausoleum.

• Rue de La Kasbah, Marrakesh Hours:
•  8 AM – 4 PM Daily
• A tour of Saadian Tombs are often combined with a walking tour of Marrakech. Get your skip the line tickets in advance here.

8. Koutoubia Mosque

It’s hard to miss the Koutoubia Mosque with its tall minaret standing tall over the Medina. What is even more magnificent is that it is the oldest of the three great Almohad minarets remaining in the world! The mosque is not open to non-muslims, but we did walk around it and explore the walls. 

This is a great place to photograph at night or at sunset as the sun actually sets behind the mosque with palm trees and lively streets dazzling in the golden hue.

9. Take a Tour of the Bahia Palace

We booked a tour with Get Your Guide t o the Bahia Palace and had a pleasant day strolling the gardens of this palace. Built in the late 19th century it is a quiet escape from the city as you explore the 160 rooms admiring Morrocan architecture.

You will weave through the maze of rooms built as a riad that includes a mosque, Koranic school, harem, hammam, and stables. Finish off at the Gardens of the Bahia Palace.

10. Jardin Majorelle

One of the most popular things to do in Marrakech is to visit the enchanting gardens of Jardin Marjorelle. Thanks to the fashion designer, Yves Saint Laurent Jardin Marjroelle was saved from destruction. The botanical gardens are a quiet escape filled with exotic plants and trees. The gardens were designed by French painter, Jaques Majorelle in 1922 who planted exotic plants from around the world. Today it spans 9000 square meters and houses Art Deco and Moorish designs, water ponds and fountains.

Combine two of the most popular things to do in Marrakech with this tour takes you to Majorelle Garden to explore its garden paths, cactus gardens and beautiful landscapes before continuing to Palmeraei to enjoy a camel ride through the palms.

11. Dar Si Said Museum

Also known as the Museum of Moroccan Arts, Dar Si Said Museum is the oldest museum in Marrakech that focuses on Moroccan carpets. The architecture is very similar to the Bahai Palace but on a smaller scale. Plus, you’ll see fewer crowds here too. Make sure to go visit the courtyard with a fountain surrounded by tiles, mosaics, and beautifully carved doors. It has recently been renovated and is definitely worth a visit.

Opening Hours: Wed-Mon: 10am-6pm; closed on Tuesdays

A full day tour is a great way to include this into your Marrakech itinerary. Learn of the Red City’s history beginning at Koutoubia Mosque. You’ll see traditional crafts and carpets as you wander the streets before heading to Bahia Palace. Stop at the Saadian Tombes and get lost in the souks. It includes a traditional Moroccan lunch and a visit to Dar Si Saïd Museum situated in the Alaouite-style palace of the 19th century

12. The Ruins of El Badi Palace

Another palace that you should visit in Marrakech is El Badi Palace. Built by the Sultan Ahmed el Mansour in the 16th century, the vast grounds offer a glimpse into what life was like at the height of the city’s glory. The palace was once an epitome of luxury, with its intricate stuccowork, shimmering tiles, and vast gardens. However, today, it stands predominantly as ruins, bearing witness to the passage of time and the intrigues of history. During its time, it was considered the 8th wonder of the world.

These ruins, though a shadow of the palace’s former magnificence, offer visitors a hauntingly beautiful glimpse into its past. The sunken gardens, the remnants of ornate walls, and the reflection pools all echo tales of a bygone era of extravagance.

This Tour is an excellent way to see two of Marrakech’s best palaces . Follow your expert guide on a guided walking tour from the medina of Marrakech to the Bahia Palace. With the guide you’ll have skip-the-line tickets to skip right in front of the crowds. This tour includes entry to the Sultan Ahmed El Mansour’s 16th-century Grand al Badi Palace and the option of adding the Saadian Tombs.

13. Ben Youssef Madrassa

A madrassa is a former educational institution and the Ben Youssef Madrasa was the largest Islamic school in Morocco. Walking through the doors feels as if you have stepped back in time and you can picture the students walking its halls and sleeping in the dorms surrounding the courtyard.

14. Visit a Tannery

Tanneries have been around for a thousand yes and visiting is one of the highlights of traveling in Morocco. Situated in the Bab Debbagh quarter, the tanneries in Marrakech, although smaller in comparison to Fez, offer a fascinating glimpse into the traditional methods of leather production. Here, craftsmen have been employing age-old techniques for centuries.

The process starts with soaking raw hides in limestone vats to soften them, followed by pigeon poop baths, which further soften and cleanse the hides. Afterward, the leather is dyed using natural pigments, ranging from poppy flowers for reds to indigo for blues. Visitors to Marrakech’s tanneries can observe this intricate process from nearby terraces, offering panoramic views of the dye pits, and are often greeted with fresh mint leaves to mask the strong odor.

I don’t know of any tours that take you to the Tanneries, but there is no shortage of guides offering to do so. Make sure you use an accredited guide with badges to take you. Be sure to ask to take photos and be prepared for the smell.

15. Visit the Jewish Quarter

The Mellah (or Jewish Quarter) dates back to Marrakech and has undergone major renovations since 2016. It has now become one of the main tourist attractions in the city housing Morocco’s largest synagogue Slat Al Azama and the largest Jewish Cemetery in Morroco.

A good way to explore the Jewish Quarter is to take a private city tour . This tour includes not only a visit through the Jewish Quarter, but Jardin Majorell, the botanical garden once owned by the fashion designer Yves Saint Laurent, the Berber Museum to learn more of Moroccan culture, The New City that has become the hub of modern Marrakech, and other Marrakech tourist attractions.

16. Dar el-Bacha Palace

One of the Marrakech Medina’s finest examples of a traditional riad is the Dar El Bacha Palace. It was built for Pacha Thami El Glaoui who ruled Marrakech for 44 years until 1956. Today it has been turned into the Museum of Confluences and one of its most interesting displays is a 12th-century map and a well-preserved Hammam.

Arrive at the stunning Moulay El Yazid Mosque then see the Bab Agnaou, one of the 19 gates of Marrakech and the main entrance to the Royal Kasbah. Finally, wander through the fascinating labyrinths of the city’s most vibrant and colorful open-air marketplace. Wander through bazaars full of charm and character, stalls packed with mysterious potions, colorful piles of spices, exquisite rugs, and much more. The combination of sounds, sights, and smells are enough to leave even the most hardened of travelers feeling completely mesmerized.

17. Meet The Locals

A visit to any city must include a visit with the locals. Moroccans are very hospitable people and you may find yourself invited in for tea on more than one occasion.

When visiting a household be sure to bring a gift of figs, dates or pastries, remove your shoes, and when they bring around a basin filled with water, be sure to thoroughly wash your hands with soap. And then enjoy sweet delicious tea!

Some useful phrases to help you interact with the locals.

• Greetings =  Salaam Alaikum means ‘peace be with you’
• Thank you =  Choukran
• You’re welcome  = aafwan
• Yes =  naäam
• No  = laa (example No Thank you = choukran la)
• Please  = min faDlik
• Excuse me  = alaaffw

18. Gueliz – Modern Marrakech

Not every tourist experience needs to take place in the Old Town, there is plenty of modern life in Marrakech as well. If you want to get away from the hustle and bustle of the Medina, make your way to Gueliz to enjoy air conditioned shopping malls, bars, cafes and some of the best restaurants in the city.

While the historic part of the city is always the top tourist draw, we enjoy going into the new city to get a feel for real life in Marrakech.

19. Best Rooftop Bars in Marrakech

One of our favourite things in any city is to sit on a terrace to take in the sunset and the energy of the city. Marrakech has many rooftop bars that offer just that. There are several rooftop patios situated around the main square where you can watch the chaos below as you enjoy a beer from the terrace. Most are free to enter as long as you order food and drink.

Some of the best rooftop bars include L’Amazigh Rooftop a quieter option from the Medina, Nomad located in the Rahba Kedima Spice Square, M Rooftop located at the top of Medina Heritage, Cafe des Espice and Kabana, both in the heart of the Medina.

Day Trips from Marrakech

20. see the dunes.

The Sahara Desert is just a short drive from the city center and a visit to Marrakech would not be complete without exploring the dunes. We chose to see it by dune buggy and it was a blast. Bounce your way through palm groves and rock gardens and Berber villages and see a quiet way of living where people tend their sheep and farms.

The landscape is beautiful and it’s a nice change of pace to leave the frenzy of the city for the day. Book your Quad Experience here!

Address:  5 Rue Riad Zitoun el Jdid, Marrakesh 40000, Morocco Opening Hours:  8AM – 6PM Daily, Closed Friday

21. The Atlas Mountains and Agafay Desert

One of the best day trips from Marrakech is to visit the Atlas Mountains. This tour lets you explore the Atlas Mountains and the Agafay Desert in one trip. This guided tour starts with a drive to the Atlas Mountains where you’ll stop at a traditional village for a camel ride and to meet the local Berber people.

Enjoy mint tea and learn how argan oil is made by pressing the argan nut. Continue on to see the terraced fields of Tamatert and then enjoy a traditional Moroccan Meal. IT is then on to the Atlas Mountains where you’ll pass through the stone desert, an oasis, the brown Plateaus and admire the surrounding Agafay Desert.

22. Mountain Biking

If you want a bit more adventure, this Mountain biking tour in the Atlas Mountains is a day trip from Marrakech to remember. Take a mountain biking tour through Berber villages while admiring the countryside from dirt roads and bike trails. All gear is provided for your ride to ride to Tizi n’ Tamatert pass that includes lunch, mint tea, and the largest Berber Village in the Imlil valley, Aremd village.

Hot Air Balloon Ride

Floating gracefully above the ancient city of Marrakech in a hot air balloon offers an unparalleled vantage point, unlike any other. As the sun begins to paint the sky with hues of amber and gold, the vast landscape unfolds below, revealing the contrast between the bustling medina, the expansive palm groves, and the majestic Atlas Mountains standing sentinel in the distance.

The stillness of the morning air, interrupted only by the occasional roar of the balloon’s burners, provides a serene backdrop to the vast tapestry of Marrakech’s terracotta buildings and verdant farmlands below. It’s a moment of transcendence, where time seems to stand still, allowing one to drink in the sheer beauty of Marrakech from a bird’s-eye view. A hot air balloon ride here is not just an adventure but a poetic encounter with the heart of Mor

Where to stay in Marrakech

If it is your first time in Marrakech, we highly recommend staying in a Riad. Riads are traditional houses that have interior courtyards creating a quiet oasis within the city. They usually have a plunge pool or fountain in the entrance and rooftop terraces for extraordinary views.

Riad El Cadi is a beautiful riad spread over 6 houses with gardens, courtyards, traditional Berber art, and a rooftop terrace. This luxury property has a pool, restaurant, free WiFi, and spa.

This Luxury Riad is recently renovated and located near the city center in the Dar El Bacha district. It combines modern luxury with traditional char. Rooms overlook a central courtyard with a fountain.

Movenpick Hotel Mansour Eddahbi – is located in the city center just outside the Medina and close to the international airport. We love Movenpick hotels and this one in Marrakech has a well-being center offering yoga, swimming, three restaurants, and a bar. It is surrounded by gardens creating a quiet setting.

Sofitel Marrakech Lounge & Spa and Hotel – Located just outside the city center of the Medina, this luxury hotel is surrounded by a garden and fountains creating a tranquil setting. There are three pools, three restaurants, nearby bars, and a Turkish Bath.

Aqua Fun Club 475 Water Parks – Families will love this all-inclusive accommodation 15 minutes from the city center. There seems to be many water parks popping up outside Marrakech and this one is located on 10 acres of land surrounded by shady olive trees overlooking the Atlas Mountains. Check it out on TripAdvisor

Marrakech Travel Tips

I can guarantee that we missed a lot on this list of things to do in Marrakech. After all, we were only there a little over a week but we did manage to fit as much as we could in.

Tips for visiting Marrakech

• Morocco is a Muslim country and it is important to respect the local cultures and customs. See our etiquette travel tips for the Middle East. 
• Women should wear light breathable fabrics, long pants, and long sleeves. Trust me, this is more comfortable than shorts and a T-shirt in the Moroccan Heat.
• Try the Mint Tea, it is delicious!
• Avoid the Medina at night – like any big city, dark alleyways are best avoided in the dark.

magnet for travelers and history buffs alike, Marrakech offers a myriad of unforgettable experiences, from the bustling souks with their myriad of colors and fragrances to the serene gardens that offer respite from the desert sun.

A place where the ancient city meets the modern world and where French and Arabic are spoken evenly. There are many remarkable things to do in Marrakech that will set your vacation apart from any other. And here are some of the top things to do in Marrakech that will set that vacation apart.

Whenever you visit a city or destination, it takes weeks, even months to truly explore. Do you have any more suggestions on things that you must do when visiting Marrakech?

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17 thoughts on “22 Best Things to Do in Marrakech, Morocco”

The best place I have ever been to , the country is just fabulous

Marrakech is really a city of cultural, artistic, traditional and natural diversity. Today, its heritage comes back to its history and its legends and even its art.

I believe that Marrakech is among the best cities in the world.

Morocco is a good and nice country

Thank you for reporting and not editorializing. I throughly enjoyed this article!

I travelled to morocco last year and it was one of the best life experience I have. I love the country and especially Marrakech.

Going to Morocco next year so this was a good guide to read. I like the idea of going to a rooftop to watch the sunset at the Medina! And the taking of a local cooking class! Will definitely consider that.

Fifty five years ago, I travelled as a newlywed bride from New England to Marrakech….the cultural shock was a delightful shock! Since then I have returned to Morocco 11 times, exploring the entire County as well as returning to enchanting Marrakech

I would love to return to Marrakech and stay in a riyadh. I can see from all the photos you have in here, they’re all great! Yes, in Marrakech there are many things to visit and see. Especially the moroccan hospitality and the charming city.

I have yet to visit this place. It looks like an old city where everything looks natural and relaxing. I cannot wait to go there.

Marrackech is remarkable. It’s a city that truly transports you back in time and while you are there you feel as if you need to keep pinching yourself. It’s just that cool.

Yes, in Marrakech there are many things to visit and see. Especially the moroccan hospitality and the charming city, you can find them everywhere. Very welcome to Marrakech

Well said! The Moroccan hospitality is wonderful. We made many friends and enjoyed a lot of tea with welcoming hosts.

It seems you guys had a blast on your week-long adventure! I can see from all the photos you have in here, they’re all great! I especially loved the Jemaa El Fnaa.. it looks so enchanting, and cold.

I would love to return to Marrakech and stay in a riyadh. I certainly got lost in the medina!

Suze | LuxuryColumnist

great thank you

World Wanderista

Magic happens when the adventure begins

Africa , Marrakech , Morocco , Travel Guide · January 8, 2023

14 ultimate things to do in Marrakech, Morocco

If you are looking for the best things to do in Marrakech, look no further! I spent 5 days in this enchanting but chaotic pink city, and found so many fantastic things to do! I loved exploring the narrow bustling streets of the medina, looking for a new colorful item to spice up my interior. The architecture of the palaces and museums is simply awe-inspiring. There are so many restaurants to try out some delicious traditional food, it is hard to choose! Marrakech is a city with never-ending options and you will never get enough of this place. I hope this travel guide with everything you need to know about Marrakech will help you to plan your trip.

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14 very best things to do in Marrakech, Morocco

Where is marrakech & how to get there.

Marrakech is situated in the mid-southwestern region of Morocco. South from Marrakech you will find the foothills of the snowcapped Atlas Mountains and coast town Essaouira is about 190 kilometers to the west. Marrakech has its own airport so it is easy to fly in. If you are traveling through Morocco you can take the train from Casablanca, Rabat or Fes. You can also take the  CTM bus from most cities in Morocco, rent a car or hire a driver like I did.

Where and how long should you stay

I recommed staying in the medina (the old town) in one of the wonderful riads or hotels. That way you are close to the souks, the sights and the restaurants. I stayed a total of 5 nights in Marrakech in two different places, because I love to experience different quarters.

The first two nights I spent at L’Oriental Medina Riad & Spa . I received a very warm welcome with the traditional mint tea and I loved its riad atmosphere immediately. Traditional Moroccan music with a lounge twist was playing in the background and the whole riad smelled like orange blossom. The white and green mosaic gave it a fresh clean look and the small pool in the middle of the patio looked so inviting! My room was small but pretty and cozy with a spacious bathroom.

The other three nights I stayed at Riad Palais Sebban . Which, as its name states, was more of a palace than a riad (which is actually a traditional Moroccan house built around a central courtyard). Riad Palais Sebban consists of various parts with their own patios. The main part has a courtyard with a gorgeous terrace and swimming pool. The reception area is a magnificent space with white marble walls, all intricately carved and designed. The rooftop views of this place were amazing. When I was waiting for my room, a tour group actually entered the main courtyard. Apparently some tours added this palace to their itinerary, as it is simply stunning! I stayed at a standard room in the back, which was spacious enough for just me.

If you prefer an even more luxurious stay in Marrakech, you probably should stay at La Mamounia . I didn’t stay here, but had the opportunity to visit the hotel and enjoy lunch at the beautiful pool pavillion. The staff was extremely friendly and if I could afford it, I would definitely stay here!

Use the map to choose your perfect stay:

When is the best time to go

I visited Marrakech the first week of April. One day it was pouring rain, but the other days it stayed dry (Locals told me this weather wasn’t normal for the time of the year). Temperatures were between 15 and 25°C. In the evening I had to wear a jacket because it really cools off once the sun is setting.

I think you can visit Marrakech the whole year. But the best times are probably Spring and Fall. Winters can be cold and wet, Summers too hot.

What to pack when going to Marrakech

What you need to know about Marrakech is that even though by day it can get really warm, it cools off quickly in the evening. So when you want to experience all the best things to do in Marrakech in all comfort, I recommend non-synthetic long loose pants or long flowy dresses to respect the local culture. I also took a cardigan and a jacket to wear in the evening. Don’t bring high heels, because the streets are often cobblestoned and not the easiest to walk.

How to experience Marrakech at its best

The best way to experience Marrakech is to stay in a riad in the medina. You can go exploring early in the morning and in the afternoon you can explore more, relax at the pool of your riad or go shopping in the souks. I loved being able to have dinner in one of the many restaurants in the Jemaa El Fna area or at the Place des Epices. I didn’t have to take a taxi, I could just walk around and enjoy the evening vibes of the city.

Things you need to know before you go

Most streets in the Marrakech medina are car free, but you will see scooters everywhere . They drive fast and don’t stop for anything so if you hear a scooter, make sure to step aside. They even drive in the narrowest streets so be aware.

Always keep your belongings close to you. There is a lot of pickpocketing and a local told me there are guys on scooters who will try to steal your bag or what you’re holding in your hands.

Marrakech isn’t that hard to navigate . It is not like Fes. If you have a maps app, you probably won’t get lost.

“ La shokran ” means “No, thanks”, you can use this if store owners ask you to visit their store and you’re not interested. Use “ Salam Aleikum ” to say hi to someone. It will bring a smile on their face. When I greeted people with it, they became super friendly.

14 Best things to do in Marrakech

1. bahia palace, the most popular palace.

One of the most popular things to do in Marrakech is Bahia Palace. So I visited this palace at opening time. I was the only one there for about 15 minutes and then other people started to arrive. My favorite part of the palace was the garden next to the main patio. It had a fountain surrounded by orange trees, flowers and richly decorated walls. I loved all the palace rooms with the colored tiles and the arches surrounded with arabesques.

2. El Badi Palace, the ruined palace

The Badi Palace is totally different from the Bahia Palace. This ruined palace was completed in 1593 and it must’ve been huge because there is even a water bassin in the middle of the giant court. This is a place where you need to imagine what it once looked like. The storks nesting here are a nice extra!

3. Dar Si Said, an underrated museum

This is in fact a museum for carpets and Moroccan artisanal objects. But I visited Dar Si Said because of its amazing architecture. Here you also find the traditional tiled walls and carvings. It is not far from Bahia Palace.

4. Saadian Tombs, beautiful architecture

These 66 tombs were only recently discovered in 1917. They are the final resting place of the royal family of the Saadian dynasty. The first grave was created in 1557, the last in 1659 when the dynasty came to an end. Since the new ruler Sultan Moulay Ismail wanted to remove traces of the former ruling family, he sealed the tombs. The tombs were forgotten and nature took over the complex until 1917, when aerial photographs revealed the existence of the tombs. The architecture of this place is breathtaking!

5. Kasbah Area

This area around the Moulay El Yazid mosque is a fun neighbourhood to explore. You’ll find some cute restaurants and shops here. I visited a berber pharmacy called Herboristerie Mishkat here and I had so much fun with the owner who showed me how cremes and oils were made.

6. Jardin Majorelle, one of the most colorful things to do in Marrakech

This is probably the most popular sight of Marrakech. Yves Saint Laurent and Pierre Bergé bought this garden in 1980 to save it from destruction to make room for a hotel complex. They restaured the garden and now you can visit the garden and the museum. The trees, plants and flowers are simply stunning and I loved the blue colored buildings! Don’t expect to be here on your own. It is always crowded, even early in the morning.

7. Jardin Secret, a hidden garden in Marrakech

This place really is a bit of a secret, because not many people visit it. I loved spending time here in the afternoon sun. Unlike Jardin Majorelle this is a place where you can enjoy some silence and rest.

8. Shopping at the Souk, one of the most fun things to do in Marrakech

Shopping in the souk is one of the most amusing things you can do in Marrakech. You won’t believe all the things I bought here. Carpets, poufs, lamps, clothes, shoes, bags, tea sets, pottery,… the options are endless. Even if you don’t want to buy anything, all the colors are super photogenic and the smells of the food and spices incredible.

9. Place des Epices

This is a small colorful square where they sell spices and straw objects such as bags and baskets. Also when you are hungry, this is the ideal place to hang out! There are a lot of fantastic rooftop restaurants here!

10. Stroll around the Jemaa El Fna, the most famous thing to do in Marrakech

This is the most famous and busiest square of Marrakech. Besides shops and fruit juice stalls, you will find people trying to put monkeys on your shoulders or head, snake charmers, musicians, games and a lot of other activities and things. During the day it is crowded, but in the evening it becomes a mad place. It seems as if the whole city gathers on the square during the evening. You really need to experience it at least once. But keep your belongings close to your body!

11. Mosque Koutoubia

The Koutoubia mosque is the biggest mosque in Marrakech. You can’t enter but the area around the mosque is beautiful to explore, like the park and the ruins of the former mosque.

12. Dar el Bacha Museum / Musée des confluences, one of my favorite things to do in Marrakech

I received this tip from my new Austrian friends. They took me to this breathtaking place that back then was not to be found in any travel guide (not even Lonely Planet). It turned out to be the most beautiful palace and one of my most favorite things to do in Marrakech! There was so much detail and color in the architecture! And it was not crowded at all! We were there alone!

13. Ben Youssef Madrasa

The Ben Youssef Madrasa in Marrakech is a marvel of Islamic architecture that leaves visitors in awe with its intricate details and serene atmosphere. The Madrasa was once a theological college, founded in the 14th century by the Marinid dynasty, and has since undergone several renovations and restorations to preserve its historical significance. Unfortunately when I was in Marrakech it was closed due to these renovations.

Just like the ones in Fes and Meknes, this former islamic college has a stunning courtyard adorned with colorful zellige tiles, ornate stucco carvings, and a central fountain that glistens in the sunlight. The walls of the Madrasa are covered with delicate Arabic calligraphy and geometric patterns, while the dormitory rooms showcase traditional Moroccan craftsmanship with their wooden ceilings and small alcoves. The Ben Youssef Madrasa is not only a testament to the rich Islamic culture of Morocco but also a peaceful haven amidst the hustle and bustle of the vibrant city of Marrakech.

14. Enjoy the delicious local food

• Le Bougainvillier : a Moroccan restaurant near Jardin Secret. Not only do they serve traditional Moroccan food like tajine and pastilla, they also make very good pizza (and I loooove pizza!).
• Café des Epices : This trendy restaurant at the Place des Epices has an incredible rooftop terrace with a fantastic view on the square. The menu consists of salads, tajines and sandwiches. You need to reserve a table if you want a good one on the terrace.
• Café Snack Rahba Kedima : Less trendy, but more traditional than the previous one and also situated on the Place des Epices with a small tooftop terrace (but with a better view than Café des Epices). I tried the kefta and egg tajine, which was delicious.
• Nomad : Another trendy restaurant at the Place des Epices from the same group as Cafe des Epices with a nice rooftop restaurant.
• Café de France : I ate a few times here just for the view on the Jemaa el Fna square. The food was good, but the view at sunset even better!
• Café Clock: I didn’t visit Café Clock in Marrakech, but I did visit the others in Fes and Chefchaouen and they were both great! Try the camel burger here! I’m sure you will like it!

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Marrakesh Travel Guide

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Marrakesh – “Morocco City”, as early foreign travellers called it – has always been something of a marketplace where tribesmen and Berber villagers bring their goods, spend their money and find entertainment. At its heart is the Jemaa el Fna, an open space in the centre of the city, and the stage for a long-established ritual in which shifting circles of onlookers gather round groups of acrobats, drummers, pipe musicians, dancers, storytellers, comedians and fairground acts. The city’s architectural attractions are no less compelling: the magnificent ruin of the El Badi Palace, the delicate carving of the Saadian Tombs and, above all, the Koutoubia Minaret, the most perfect Islamic monument in North Africa.

Brief history of Marrakesh

Accommodation in marrakesh, marrakesh food and drink, marrakesh entertainment and nightlife, festivals and events in marrakesh, gay marrakesh, shopping in marrakesh, around place de la kissaria, east of place de la kissaria, el glaoui: the pasha of marrakesh, the jemaa el fna, the southern medina, the koutoubia, the ville nouvelle.

It won’t take you long to see why Marrakesh is called the Red City. The natural red ochre pigment that bedecks its walls and buildings can at times seem dominant, but there’s no shortage of other colours. Like all Moroccan cities, it’s a town of two halves: the ancient walled Medina, founded by Sultan Youssef Ben Tachfine in the Middle Ages, and the colonial Ville Nouvelle, built by the French in the mid-twentieth century. Each has its own delights – the Medina with its ancient palaces and mansions, labyrinthine souks and deeply traditional way of life, and the Ville Nouvelle with its pavement cafés, trendy boutiques, gardens and boulevards.

Marrakesh has become Morocco’s capital of chic, attracting the rich and famous from Europe and beyond. Though the vast majority of its residents are poor by any European standard, an increasing number of wealthy foreigners are taking up residence and their influence on the tourist experience is evident.

Marrakesh has Berber rather than Arab origins, having developed as the metropolis of Atlas tribes. Once upon a time, it was the entrepôt for goods – slaves, gold, ivory and even “Morocco” leather – brought by caravan from the ancient empires of Mali and Songhay via their great desert port of Timbuktu. All of these strands of commerce and population shaped the city’s souks and its way of life, and even today, in the crowds and performers of the Jemaa el Fna, the nomadic and West African influence can still seem quite distinct.

Despite its size and the maze of its souks, Marrakesh is not too hard to navigate. The broad, open space of the Jemaa el Fna is at the heart of the Medina, with the main souks to its north, and most of the main sights within easy walking distance. Just west of the Jemaa el Fna is the unmistakable landmark of the Koutoubia Minaret, and from here, the city’s main artery, Avenue Mohammed V, leads out through the Medina walls at Bab Nkob and up the length of Guéliz, the downtown area of the Ville Nouvelle. You might want to consider hiring a guide to explore the Medina, but given a decent map, it really isn’t necessary.

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Marrakesh was founded near the beginning of Almoravid rule, by the first Almoravid dynasty ruler, Youssef Ben Tachfine, around 1062–70. It must at first have taken the form of a camp and market with a ksour, or fortified town, gradually developing round it. The first seven-kilometre circuit of walls was raised in 1126–27, replacing an earlier stockade of thorn bushes. These, many times rebuilt, are essentially the city’s present walls – made of tabia, the red mud of the plains, mixed and strengthened with lime.

The golden age

Of the rest of the Almoravids’ building works, hardly a trace remains. The dynasty that replaced them – the Almohads – sacked the city for three days after taking possession of it in 1147, but they kept it as their empire’s capital.

With the 1184 accession to the throne of the third Almohad sultan, Yacoub el Mansour, the city entered its greatest period. Kissarias were constructed for the sale and storage of Italian and Oriental cloth, a new kasbah was begun, and a succession of poets and scholars arrived at the court. Mansour’s reign also saw the construction of the great Koutoubia Mosque and minaret.

By the 1220s, the empire was beginning to fragment amid a series of factional civil wars, and Marrakesh fell into the familiar pattern of pillage, ruination and rebuilding. In 1269, it lost its status as capital when the Fez-based Merenids took power, though in 1374–86 it did form the basis of a breakaway state under the Merenid pretender Abderrahman Ibn Taflusin.

Taking Marrakesh, then devastated by famine, in 1521, the Saadians provided a last burst of imperial splendour. Their dynasty’s greatest figure, Ahmed el Mansour, having invaded Mali and seized control of the most lucrative caravan routes in Africa, had the El Badi Palace – Marrakesh’s largest and greatest building project – constructed from the proceeds of this new wealth, and the dynasty also of course bequeathed to Marrakesh their wonderful mausoleum, the Saadian Tombs.

Modern times

Under the Alaouites Marrakesh lost its status as capital to Meknes, but remained an important imperial city, and the need to maintain a southern base against the tribes ensured the regular presence of its sultans. But from the seventeenth to the nineteenth century, it shrank back from its medieval walls and lost much of its former trade.

During the last decades prior to the Protectorate, the city’s fortunes revived somewhat as it enjoyed a return to favour with the Shereefian court. Moulay Hassan (1873–94) and Moulay Abd el Aziz (1894–1908) both ran their governments from here in a bizarre closing epoch of the old ways, accompanied by a final bout of frantic palace building. On the arrival of the French, Marrakesh gave rise to a short-lived pretender, the religious leader El Hiba, and for most of the colonial period it was run as a virtual fiefdom of its pasha, T’hami el Glaoui – the most powerful, autocratic and extraordinary character of his age.

Since independence, the city has undergone considerable change, with rural emigration from the Atlas and beyond, new methods of cultivation on the Haouz plain and the development of a sizeable tourist industry. After Casablanca, it’s Morocco’s second largest city, with slightly over a million inhabitants, and its population continues to rise. It has a thriving industrial area and is the most important market and administrative centre of southern Morocco.

The Medina has the main concentration of small, budget hotels, especially in the area around the Jemaa el Fna. It is also where you’ll find most of Marrakesh’s riads, usually hidden away deep in its backstreets. Guéliz, whose hotels tend to be concentrated in the mid range, is handier for transport, especially for the train station. Hotels in Hivernage and Semlalia are upmarket, in modern buildings with swimming pools, but they’re pretty soulless. Advance bookings are a wise idea, especially for the more popular places in the Medina. The busiest times are the Easter and Christmas/New Year holiday periods, when virtually every decent place can be full to capacity.

Guéliz has most of the city’s French-style cafés, bistros and restaurants, and most of the bars. In the Medina, there are the Jemaa el Fna food stalls, many inexpensive café-restaurants, and a number of upmarket palace-restaurants.

The dish for which Marrakesh is known throughout Morocco is tanjia, or jugged meat, usually beef but sometimes lamb. Strictly speaking, the tanjia is the jug itself, and the traditional way to make a tanjia is to go the butcher with your jug (or use one of the butcher’s), buy the meat and spices to put in it, and then take it to a hammam and have it cooked slowly in the embers of the bathhouse furnace. When the urn emerges from the embers a few hours later, the meat is tender and ready to eat. Most reasonably upmarket Marrakesh restaurants offer tanjia, as do cheaper tanjia diners such as the tanjia stalls opposite the olive souk (see map), where it is best ordered in advance.

Entertainment and nightlife in the Medina revolve around Jemaa el Fna. For a drink in the Medina, choices are limited; apart from the Tazi, you can get a beer – or more likely a cocktail – in the Café Arabe, Kosybar or Le Tanjia, all of which double as upmarket bars. In the Ville Nouvelle, there’s more variety; some of the bars are rather male, but women should be all right in the Chesterfield and also in the bars of hotels such as the Akabar and Ibis, as well as the Comptoir Darna, which is an upmarket bar as well as a restaurant. Nightclubs can be fun, though some at the top end of the market are a bit snooty, and may frown, for example, on jeans or trainers; most play a mix of Western and Arabic music, but it’s the latter that really fills the dancefloor. None of them really gets going until around midnight (in fact, some don’t open until then), and they usually stay open until 3 or 4am.

The two-week Festival National des Arts Populaires held in June or July each year, is the country’s biggest and best folklore and music festival, with musicians and dancers coming in from across Morocco and beyond, spanning the range of Moroccan music. Shows start around 9pm and are preceded by a fantasia at Bab Jedid, with Berber horsemen at full gallop firing guns into the air. Marrakesh also has an annual Marathon , run on the third or fourth Sunday in January, and the Marrakesh Film Festival in November or early December, in which the featured movies are shown at cinemas across town and on large screens in the El Badi Palace and the Jemaa el Fna. The Marrakech Biennale is a visual arts festival held in even- numbered years in late April or early May, with events held at locations around town, and in March every year, TEDx Marrakech is a series of TED-style talks delivered at the Es Saadi hotel in Hivernage.

For gay men, a certain amount of cruising goes on in the crowds of the Jemaa el Fna in the evening, and there’s a gay presence at the Diamant Noir nightclub behind Hôtel Marrakesh (look for the sign on Av Mohammed V). The gay male tourist scene in Marrakesh is growing, and a number of riads are run by gay couples, but there is no easily perceptible lesbian scene in Marrakesh as yet. Travelmarrakech has a small section on gay-friendly places.

There are a massive number of shops in Marrakesh selling all kinds of crafts, but nothing you won’t get cheaper elsewhere. Marrakesh’s attraction is that you don’t have to go elsewhere to get it, and if you’re flying home out of Marrakesh, then buying your souvenirs here means you won’t have to lug them round the country with you.

Place de la Kissaria, an open space surrounded by important public buildings, sits at the northern end of the souks area. Its north side is dominated by the Ben Youssef Mosque, successor to an original put up by the city’s Almoravid founders. The mosque was completely rebuilt under the Almohads, and several times since, so that the building you see today dates largely from the nineteenth century.

The Almoravid koubba

The Almoravid koubba (Koubba Ba’adiyn) is just a small, two-storey kiosk, but as the only Almoravid building to survive intact in Morocco (excepting possibly a minaret in Tit near El Jadida), its style is at the root of all Moroccan architecture. Its motifs – such as pine cones, palms and acanthus leaves – appear again in later buildings such as the nearby Ben Youssef Medersa. The windows on each of the different sides became the classic shapes of Almohad and Merenid design – as did the merlons, the complex “ribs” on the outside of the dome, and the square and star-shaped octagon on the inside, which is itself repeated at each of its corners. It was probably just a small ablutions annexe to the Ben Youssef Mosque, but its architecture gives us our only clue as to what that mosque might originally have looked like.

Excavated only in 1952, the koubba had previously been covered over amid the many rebuildings of the Ben Youssef Mosque. It is well below today’s ground level, and you have to go down two flights of stairs to get to the level it was built at, now uncovered once again thanks to excavations. Once down there, you can also look around the attendant facilities, including a large water cistern, and remains of latrines and fountains for performing ablutions, much like those you will still find adjacent to many Moroccan mosques.

Ben Youssef Medersa

The Ben Youssef Medersa was a koranic school attached to the Ben Youssef Mosque, where students learned the Koran by rote, and is the most beautifully decorated building in Marrakesh, with lashings of classic Moroccan decor – zellij tiling, stucco plasterwork, carved cedarwood – all worked to the very highest standards.

Like most of its counterparts up in Fez, the Ben Youssef was a Merenid foundation, established by the “Black Sultan” Abou el Hassan (1331–49), but rebuilt in the 1560s, under the Saadians. As with the slightly later Saadian Tombs, no surface is left undecorated, and the overall quality of its craftsmanship, whether in carved wood, stuccowork or zellij tilework, is startling.

The central courtyard, its carved cedarwood lintels weathered almost flat on the most exposed side, is unusually large. Along two sides run wide, sturdy, columned arcades, which were probably used to supplement the space for teaching in the neighbouring mosque. Above them are some of the windows of the dormitory quarters, which are reached by stairs from the entry vestibule, and from which you can get an interesting perspective – and attempt to fathom how over eight hundred students were once housed in the building. One room is furnished as it would have been when in use.

At its far end, the court opens onto a prayer hall, where the decoration, mellowed on the outside with the city’s familiar pink tone, is at its best preserved and most elaborate, with a predominance of pine cone and palm motifs.

The main route between the Ben Youssef Medersa and the city gate of Bab Debbagh is marked at its halfway point by Place el Moukef, more an intersection than a square, where four routes meet. Eastward, Rue Souk des Fassis, the road to the Ben Youssef Medersa, is lined by fondouks, while in the opposite direction, Rue du Bab Debbagh passes through the rather smelly tanneries area on its way to Bab Debbagh. Northward, Rue Bab el Khemis leads to another city gate, Bab el Khemis, while Rue Essebtiyne, leading south, forks after 200m. Bearing right here (if coming from Place el Moukef), you come to Place Ben Salah, where the Zaouia of Sidi Ben Salah, with its very fine and prominent minaret, was commissioned by a fourteenth-century Merenid sultan.

One of the most characteristic types of building in the Medina is the fondouk or caravanserai. Originally inns used by visiting merchants when they were in Marrakesh to trade in its souks, fondouks have a courtyard in the middle surrounded by what were originally stables, while the upper level contained rooms for the merchants. Some date back to Saadian times (1520–1669), and some still have fine original woodcarving or stuccowork.

Today, Marrakesh’s fondouks are in varying states of repair; some have become private residences, others commercial premises. Some have been converted to house tourist souvenir shops and welcome visitors, but even in others, the doors to the courtyards are often left open, and no one seems to mind if you wander in to have a look.

Interesting fondouks include: a group on Rue Dar el Bacha by the junction with Rue Mouassine, several of which welcome visitors; a couple just south of the junction on Rue Mouassine itself; a row on the south side of Rue Bab Debbagh, behind the Ben Youssef Medersa; a whole series along Rue Amesfah, north of the Ben Youssef Mosque; and one directly opposite the Chrob ou Chouf fountain. Terrasse le Medersa restaurant is on the terrace of a fondouk.

T’hami el Glaoui, Pasha of Marrakesh during the French Protectorate, was the last great southern tribal leader, a shrewd supporter of colonial rule (see The Glaoui) and personal friend of Winston Churchill. Cruel and magnificent in equal measure, he was a spectacular party-giver in an age where rivals were not lacking. At the extraordinary difas or banquets held at the Dar el Glaoui for his Western friends, “nothing”, as Gavin Maxwell wrote, “was impossible.” Hashish and opium were freely available, and “to his guests T’hami gave whatever they wanted, whether it might be a diamond ring, a present of money in gold, or a Berber girl or boy from the High Atlas”.

As a despot, and agent of colonial rule, he was so hated that, on his death in 1956, a mob looted the palace, destroying its fittings and the cars in its garages, and lynching any of his henchmen that they found. However, passions have burnt out over the years, and the family has been rehabilitated. One of T’hami’s sons, Glaoui Abdelssadak, rose to high rank in the Moroccan civil service and became vice president of Gulf Oil.

There’s nowhere in Morocco like the Jemaa el Fna – no place that so effortlessly involves you and keeps you coming back for more. By day, most of the square is just a big open space, in which a handful of snake charmers bewitch their cobras with flutes, medicine men (especially in the northeast of the square) display cures and nostrums, and tooth-pullers, wielding fearsome pliers, offer to pluck the pain from out of the heads of toothache sufferers, trays of extracted molars attesting to their skill. It isn’t until late afternoon that the square really gets going. At dusk, as in France and Spain, people come out for an early evening promenade (especially in Rue Bab Agnaou), and the square gradually fills until it becomes a whole carnival of storytellers, acrobats, musicians and entertainers. Come on down and you’ll soon be immersed in the ritual: wandering round, squatting amid the circles of onlookers, giving a dirham or two as your contribution. If you want a respite, you can move over to the rooftop terraces, such as the Café du Grand Balcon, for a vista over the square, its storytellers and musicians, and the crowds who come to see them.

As a foreigner in the Jemaa, you can feel something of an interloper. Most of the crowd are Moroccan of course (few foreigners, for example, will understand the storytellers’ tales), but tourists also make a major contribution to both the atmosphere and the cash flow. Sometimes a storyteller or musician may pick on you to take part or contribute generously to the end-of-show collection and, entering into the spectacle, it’s best to go denuded of the usual tourist trappings such as watches, money-belts or too much money; pickpockets and scam artists operate (giving a “present” and then demanding payment for it is an old scam to beware of, asking tourists to change counterfeit euro coins is a more recent one). The crowds around performers are sometimes used as an opportunity to grope female foreigners, and by male Moroccans and gay male tourists for cruising.

Sideshow attractions include games of hoop-the-bottle, fortune-tellers sitting under umbrellas with packs of fortune-telling cards at the ready and women with piping bags full of henna paste, ready to paint hands, feet or arms with “tattoos” that will last up to three months, though beware of synthetic “black henna”, which contains a toxic chemical; only red henna is natural (the Henna Café guarantees to use only natural henna).

For refreshment, stalls offer orange and grapefruit juice (but have it squeezed in front of you if you don’t want it adulterated with water and sugar, or even squash), while neighbouring handcarts are piled high with dates, dried figs, almonds and walnuts, especially delicious in winter when they are freshly picked in the surrounding countryside. As dusk falls, the square becomes a huge open-air dining area, packed with stalls lit by gas lanterns, and the air is filled with wonderful smells and plumes of cooking smoke spiralling up into the night.

The souks north of the Jemaa el Fna seem vast the first time you venture in, and almost impossible to navigate, but in fact the area that they cover is pretty compact. A long, covered street, Rue Souk Smarine, runs for half their length and then splits into two lanes – Souk el Attarin and Souk el Kebir. Off these are virtually all the individual souks: alleys and small squares devoted to specific crafts, where you can often watch part of the production process.

If you are staying for some days, you’ll probably return often to the souks – and this is a good way of taking them in, singling out a couple of specific crafts or products to see, rather than being swamped by the whole. To get to grips with the general layout, you might find it useful to walk round the whole area once with a guide, but it’s certainly not essential: with a reasonable map, you can quite easily navigate the souks on your own, and besides, getting a little bit lost is all part of the fun.

The most interesting times to visit are in the early morning (6.30–8am) and late afternoon, at around 4 to 5pm, when some of the souks auction off goods to local traders. Later in the evening, most of the stalls are closed, but you can wander unharassed to take a look at the elaborate decoration of their doorways and arches; those stalls that stay open, until 7 or 8pm, are often more amenable to bargaining at the end of the day.

The easiest approach to the main souks from the Jemaa el Fna is opposite Rue des Banques (see map), where a lane to the left of the Terrasses de l’Alhambra restaurant leads to Souk Ableuh, dominated by stalls selling olives. Continue through here and you will come out opposite the archway that marks the beginning of Rue Souk Smarine.

The development of the Jemaa el Fna

Nobody is entirely sure when or how the Jemaa el Fna came into being – nor even what its name means. The usual translation is “assembly of the dead”, a suitably epic title that may refer to the public display here of the heads of rebels and criminals (the Jemaa was a place of execution until well into the nineteenth century). The name might alternatively mean “the mosque of nothing” (Jemaa means both “mosque” and “assembly” – interchangeable terms in Islamic society), recalling an abandoned Saadian plan to build a new grand mosque on this site.

Either way, as an open area between the original kasbah and the souks, the square has probably played its present role since the city’s earliest days. It has often been the focal point for rioting and the authorities have plotted before now to close it down and move its activities outside the city walls. This happened briefly after independence in 1956, when the government built a corn market on part of the square and tried to turn the rest into a car park, but the plan lasted barely a year. Tourism was falling off and it was clearly an unpopular move. As novelist Paul Bowles observed, without the Jemaa, Marrakesh would be just another Moroccan city.

Jemaa el Fna food stalls

Even if you don’t eat at them, at some stage you should at least wander down the makeshift lane of food stalls on the Jemaa el Fna, which look great in the evening, lit by lanterns. As well as couscous and pastilla, there are spicy merguez sausages, harira soup, salads, fried fish, or, for the more adventurous, stewed snails (over towards the eastern side of the square), and sheep’s heads complete with eyes. To partake, just take a seat on one of the benches, ask the price of a plate of food and order all you like. It’s probably worth avoiding places that try to hustle you, and it’s always wise to check the price of a dish before you order, or you’re likely to be overcharged. Stalls patronized by Moroccans are invariably better than those whose only customers are tourists. If you want a soft drink or mineral water with your meal, the stallholders will send a boy to get it for you. On the southern edge of the food stalls, a row of vendors sell a hot, spicy galangal drink (khoudenjal), said to be an aphrodisiac, and usually taken with a portion of nutty cake. Orange and grapefruit juice stalls line both sides of the food stall area at all hours of the day, but check the price first, and insist on having the juice pressed in front of you – if they pull out a bottle of ready-pressed juice, it’ll most likely be watered down, and quite possibly mixed with squash.

The area south of Jemaa el Fna is quite different from that to the north of it, generally more open and home to Dar el Makhzen (the royal palace), the kasbah (old inner citadel), and the Mellah (former Jewish quarter). The two obvious focal sights, not to be missed, are the Saadian Tombs, preserved in the shadow of the Kasbah Mosque, and El Badi, the ruined palace of Ahmed el Mansour. Also worth seeing are the Bahia Palace and the nearby Dar Si Said and Tiskiwin museums.

The Bahia Palace

The Bahia Palace was originally built in 1866–7 for Si Moussa, a former slave who had risen to become Moulay Hassan’s chamberlain, and then grand vizier. His son, Bou Ahmed, who himself held the post of chamberlain under Moulay Hassan, became kingmaker in 1894 when Hassan died while returning home from a harka (tax-collecting expedition). Ahmed concealed news of the sultan’s death until he was able to declare Hassan’s fourteen-year-old son Moulay Abd el Aziz sultan in his place, with himself as grand vizier and regent (see The last sultans). He thus gained virtually complete control over the state, which he exercised until his death in 1900. He began enlarging the Bahia (meaning “brilliance”) in the same year as his coup, adding a mosque, a hammam and even a vegetable garden. When he died, his servants ransacked the palace, but it was restored and, during the Protectorate, housed the French Resident General.

The small riad

Visitors enter the palace from the west, through an arcaded courtyard which leads to a small riad (enclosed garden), part of Bou Ahmed’s extension. The riad is decorated with beautiful carved stucco and cedarwood, and salons lead off it on three sides. The eastern salon leads through to the council room, and thence through a vestibule – where it’s worth pausing to look up at the lovely painted ceiling – to the great courtyard of Si Moussa’s original palace. The rooms surrounding the courtyard are also all worth checking out for their painted wooden ceilings.

The large riad

South of the great courtyard is the large riad, the heart of Si Moussa’s palace, fragrant with fruit trees and melodious with birdsong, approaching the very ideal of beauty in Arabic domestic architecture. To its east and west are halls decorated with fine zellij fireplaces and painted wooden ceilings. From here, you leave the palace via the private apartment built in 1898 for Ahmed’s wife, Lalla Zinab, where again you should look up to check out the painted ceiling, carved stucco, and stained-glass windows.

Buried in history

There was probably a burial ground behind the royal palace before the Saadian period, but the earliest tomb here dates from 1557, and the main structures were built under Sultan Ahmed el Mansour, around the same time as the Ben Youssef Medersa and the El Badi Palace. A few prominent Marrakshis continued to be buried in the mausoleums after Saadian times: the last, in 1792, was the “mad sultan”, Moulay Yazid, whose 22-month reign was one of the most violent and sadistic in the nation’s history. Named as the successor to Sidi Mohammed, Moulay Yazid threw himself into a series of revolts against his father, waged an inconclusive war with Spain, and brutally suppressed a Marrakesh-based rebellion in support of his brother. A massacre followed his capture of the city, though he had little time to celebrate his victory – a bullet in the head during a rebel counterattack killed him soon after.

The tombs escaped plundering by the rapacious Alaouite sultan Moulay Ismail, probably because he feared bad luck if he desecrated them. Instead, he blocked all access bar an obscure entrance from the Kasbah Mosque. The tombs lay half-ruined and half-forgotten until they were rediscovered by a French aerial survey in 1917, and a passageway was built to give access to them.

El Badi Palace

Though substantially in ruins, and reduced throughout to its red pisé walls, enough remains of El Badi to suggest that its name – “The Incomparable” – was not entirely immodest. The palace was originally commissioned by the Saadian sultan Ahmed el Mansour shortly after his accession in 1578. The money for it came from the enormous ransom paid by the Portuguese after the Battle of the Three Kings. It took his seventeenth-century successor Moulay Ismail over ten years of systematic work to strip the palace of everything valuable, and there’s still a lingering sense of luxury and grandeur. What you see today is essentially the ceremonial part of the palace complex, planned on a grand scale for the reception of ambassadors, and not meant for everyday living.

The scale of the palace, with its sunken gardens and vast, ninety-metre-long pool, is certainly unrivalled, and the odd traces of zellij and plaster still left evoke a decor that was probably as rich as that of the Saadian Tombs. The most enduring account of the palace concerns its state opening, a fabulous occasion attended by ambassadors from several European powers and by all the sheikhs and caids of the kingdom. Surveying the effect, Ahmed turned to his court jester for an opinion on the new palace. “Sidi,” the man replied, “this will make a magnificent ruin”.

The central court

The palace’s entrance was originally in the southeast corner of the complex, but today you enter from the north, through the Green Pavilion, emerging into a vast central court, over 130m long and nearly as wide. In its northeast corner, you can climb up to get an overview from the ramparts, and a closer view of the storks that nest atop them.

Within the central court are four sunken gardens, two on the northern side and two on the southern side. Pools separate the two gardens on each side, and there are four smaller pools in the four corners of the court, which is constructed on a substructure of vaults in order to allow the circulation of water through the pools and gardens. When the pools are filled – as during the June folklore festival that takes place here – they are an incredibly majestic sight.

Summer pavilions

On each side of the courtyard were summer pavilions. Of the Crystal Pavilion, to the east, only the foundations survive. On the opposite side, a monumental hall that was used by the sultan on occasions of state was known as the Koubba el Hamsiniya (The Fifty Pavilion), after its size in cubits.

Stables and dungeons

South of the courtyard, accessed just to the right of the building housing the minbar, are ruins of the palace stables, and beyond them, leading towards the intriguing walls of the present royal palace, a series of dungeons, used into the last century as a state prison.

The Koutoubia Minbar

The original minbar (pulpit) from the Koutoubia Mosque is housed in a pavilion in the southwest corner of the main courtyard, and can be seen for an additional fee. It may not sound like much, but this minbar was in its day one of the most celebrated works of art in the Muslim world. Commissioned from the Andalusian capital Cordoba in 1137 by the last Almoravid sultan, Ali Ben Youssef, it took eight years to complete, and was covered with the most exquisite inlay work, of which, sadly, only patches remain. When the Almohads took power, they installed the minbar in their newly built Koutoubia Mosque, where it remained until it was removed for restoration in 1962, and eventually brought here. Unfortunately, members of the public are not usually allowed to walk all the way round it to inspect the surviving inlay work, but the gardien may relent if you show a particular interest. Photography is not usually allowed.

The absence of architectural features on the Jemaa el Fna serves to emphasize the drama of the nearby Koutoubia Minaret. Nearly 70m high and visible for miles on a clear morning, this is the oldest of the three great Almohad towers (the others are the Hassan Tower in Rabat and the Giralda in Seville) and the most complete. Its pleasing proportions – a 1:5 ratio of width to height – established the classic Moroccan design.

Completed under Sultan Yacoub el Mansour (1184–99), work on the minaret probably began shortly after the Almohad conquest of the city, around 1150. It displays many of the features that were to become widespread in Moroccan architecture – the wide band of ceramic inlay near the top, the pyramid-shaped, castellated merlons (battlements) rising above it, the use of darj w ktaf (“cheek and shoulder”) and other motifs – and it also established the alternation of patterning on different faces. Here, the top floor is similar on each of the sides but the lower two are almost eccentric in their variety. The semicircle of small lobed arches on the middle niche of the southeast face was to become the dominant decorative feature of Almohad gates. The three great copper balls at the top are the subject of numerous legends, mostly of supernatural interventions to keep away thieves. They are thought to have originally been made of gold, the gift of the wife of Yacoub el Mansour, presented as penance for breaking her fast for three hours during Ramadan.

Close to the arches, the stones of the main body of the tower become slightly smaller, which seems odd today, but not originally, when the whole minaret was covered with plaster and painted, like that of the Kasbah Mosque. There was talk about restoring this on the Koutoubia back in 2000, but the authorities settled for a straight clean-up – to stunning effect, especially when it’s floodlit at night. At the same time, archeologists excavated the original mosque, which predates the tower, confirming that it had had to be rebuilt to correct its alignment with Mecca.

Marrakesh’s Ville Nouvelle radiates out from Guéliz, its commercial centre. Though it’s hardly chock-a-block with attractions, it does have one must-see: the Majorelle Garden. South of Guéliz, the Hivernage district, built as a garden suburb, is where most of the city’s newer tourist hotels are located. Further afield, on the northeastern edge of town, is Marrakesh’s palmery.

The heart of modern Marrakesh, Guéliz has a certain buzz that the sleepy old Medina rather lacks. Its main thoroughfare, Avenue Mohammed V, runs all the way down to the Koutoubia, and it’s on and around this boulevard that you’ll find the city’s main concentration of upmarket shops, restaurants and smart pavement cafés. Its junctions form the Ville Nouvelle’s main centres of activity: Place de la Liberté, with its modern fountain; Place 16 Novembre, by the main post office; and Place Abdelmoumen Ben Ali, epicentre of Marrakesh’s modern shopping zone. Looking back along Avenue Mohammed V from Guéliz to the Medina, on a clear day at least, you should see the Koutoubia rising in the distance, with the Atlas mountains behind.

The Majorelle Garden

The Majorelle Garden, or Jardin Bou Saf, is a meticulously planned twelve-acre botanical garden, created in the 1920s and 1930s by French painter Jacques Majorelle (1886–1962), and subsequently owned by fashion designer Yves Saint Laurent. When Yves Saint Laurent died in 2008, his ashes were scattered in the garden, which contains a memorial to him, while the street the entrance is in was renamed after him.

The feeling of tranquillity in the garden is enhanced by verdant groves of bamboo, dwarf palm and agave, the cactus garden and lily-covered pools. The Art Deco pavilion at the heart of the garden is painted in a striking cobalt blue – the colour of French workmen’s overalls, so Majorelle claimed, though it seems to have improved in the Moroccan light. This brilliantly offsets both the plants – multicoloured bougainvillea, rows of bright orange nasturtiums and pink geraniums – and also the strong colours of the pergolas and concrete paths – pinks, lemon yellows and apple greens. The enduring sound is the chatter of the common bulbuls, flitting among the leaves of the date palms, and the pools also attract other bird residents such as turtle doves and house buntings. The garden became better known abroad when it was featured by Yves Saint Laurent in a brilliant reproduction at London’s 1997 Chelsea Flower Show. Pierre Bergé and Madison Cox’s Majorelle, A Moroccan Oasis is a superbly photographed coffee table book on the garden, sometimes available at Librairie d’Art.

When leaving the garden, ignore the taxi drivers waiting outside, who run a cartel and will not take you unless you pay well over the odds. The answer is simply to walk down to the main road and hail a cab there.

Berber Museum

In Majorelle’s former studio, housed within the pavilion, the Berber Museum kicks off with an exhibition about Morocco’s Berbers, their culture and languages, and where in the country they live, before launching (in the next room) into a display of traditional Berber crafts, including textiles and carpet-making, and showing the tools used in making them, as well as the finished articles. There’s even a beautiful but slightly rickety wooden minbar (mosque pulpit) from the Middle Atlas, decorated with Berber designs. The next room is dedicated to jewellery, all of it silver, as gold is considered unlucky in Berber tradition. The last room contains a display of Berber costumes from different regions of the country.

Top image: Taditional moroccan cafe in Marrakesh © Shutterstock

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The best places to stay in Marrakech 2024: From riads to royal palaces

Marrakech, or ‘the red city’ as it is known, is defined by its earth-tone clay exteriors.

A short 3.5-hour plane ride from London, the jewel in Morocco’s crown is an enticing destination for sun-deprived travellers seeking a vitamin D fix without straying too far from home.

A weekend jaunt offers an intoxicating glimpse into all the energetic city has to offer, from the world-famous Jardin Majorelle (once owned by Yves Saint Laurent) to the bustling souks. Marrakech may be edging the Sahara, but it is in no way a sparse desert landscape.

Founded in 1070, the city is a hive of creativity. Stroll through the ancient medina, taking in the architectural richness and scents of street food, spices and fragrances as you go. You’ll spot snake charmers, the 12th-century Koutoubia mosque as the tallest building in town and the juxtaposition of old meets new. Don’t forget to book a rejuvenating head-to-toe scrub in a hammam.

Given the frenetic chaos of the city, a calming retreat in which to escape is vital. Marrakech is home to some of the finest hotels and most spectacular riads with lush gardens, cinematic views of the snow-tipped Atlas mountains and ornate zellige mosaics providing a wealth of interior inspiration. But which to choose?

Browse through our selection of the best sanctuaries for the ultimate Moroccan experience.

La Mamounia

The palatial La Mamounia is one of those jaw-dropping hotels you think can't be real — until you get there.

The forged metal doorway opens to a mosaiced paradise, decorating the Andalusian architecture with enamelled tiles in geometric patterns. Marrakech may be famed for its earth tones, but La Mamounia is an expanse of colour, from the rich red tones of the lobby to the horticulture. The 20-acre gardens are punctuated by bright Bougainvillea, orange trees and cacti, giving the nearby Jardin Majorelle a run for its money.

Its location is a huge draw. If you can pull yourself away, it's a mere 10-minute walk to the Koutoubia Mosque. A short distance but the serenity of the space feels worlds away.

There are four restaurants, aptly named for the cuisine that they serve. Le Morroccain is illuminated by lanterns and candles, giving a soft, warm glow to the proceedings. The three-course menu of signature local dishes and herbs from the hotel’s gardens is enjoyed in cosy private booths. L’Asiatique and L’Italien draw in crowds, while breakfast is dished out buffet-style or a la carte at Le Pavillon de La Piscine. Here you’ll find some of the best pastries outside of France enjoyed against the backdrop of the Murano glass outdoor pool.

Inside the spa, you'll find another aesthetically pleasing pool, its painted wood ceiling only rivalled by the lattice and tilework below. If you have time — and you should make time — the Hamman ritual is transformational. It may not be the most relaxing treatment, but the ancient practice leaves you restored from head to toe.

La Mamounia brings in serious star power. The hotel has welcomed Bill Clinton, Kate Winslet, Tom Cruise, Priyanka Chopra, Gwyneth Paltrow, Robert Pattinson and Jennifer Aniston, so you’ll be in good company. It has also seen a surge in popularity since Netflix's Inventing Anna . Yes, this is the very same hotel where notorious con artist Anna Delvey racked up quite the bill in the viral TV series. Signed pictures of the A-list clientele (including Julia Garner who played Delvey) are dotted around the lobby, each praising the establishment for its impeccable service and intricate decor. You will even spot King Charles (then Prince) and Nelson Mandela in the mix.

Winston Churchill, however, is the hotel’s most prized guest, with a petite but opulent bar dedicated to the legendary former PM who spent his last days painting in the garden. After a long weekend at La Mamounia, we can’t say we blame him.

Designed by the Aman group’s beloved architect Ed Tuttle, Amanjena is a Moorish pink palace. With marble columns, countless smooth reflection pools and washed clay walls, the scent of orange blossom and jasmine fills the air. Perched serenely just outside of the dusty chaos of Marrakech, the hotel is an orange blossom-scented mirage. You could hear a pin drop at the main pool which is at the centre of the ‘action’, sandwiched serenely between the spa, gym and the Japanese restaurant (also the scene of breakfast, which is excellent).

Rooms? Pah! Aman calls them Pavilions and once you’ve stayed at an Aman you’re pretty much ruined for life. Book a Pavilions Piscine for an extra-large terrace, majestic gazebo, sun loungers (with handy sun hats) and a private pool. The spa is small but perfectly formed with expert therapists and a hamman. The more active could make use of the resort’s free bikes, play golf at the neighbouring 27-hole or take on a game of clay court tennis. The resort also has a range of activities to book, from dining excursions to the Afagay desert to hot air balloon rides — always a magical experience.

It’s hard to not fall in love with El Fenn. It’s charming in every sense. Awash with Moroccan tiles, tadelakt walls and vibrant upholstery, even the corridors will have you cooing. The palatial rooms are individually designed and colour-themed, so expect a brave wash of all-pink, soft peach or dark navy.

The design is bold and daring but in the most enticing way possible. Behind the curated 28 rooms is Vanessa Branson (sister of Richard Branson) and Howell James, who began restoration back in 2002. The roof terrace is the place to be to watch the sun disappear as you gaze out at the Koutoubia Mosque and is worth a visit whether you choose to stay here or not. It is perhaps one of the best views in the city to enjoy with a cocktail in hand and one of the few places that has a party spirit. Don’t sleep on the food that puts a modern twist on local dishes. Sure you’ll find tagine but the chefs get creative using locally-sourced fruits and vegetables with each dish more colourful than the last.

La Sultana Marrakech

La Sultana is situated just a ten-minute walk to the main square, Jemaa El Fna, which you have to visit at least once. It really is a site and an experience to behold. Note: you can expect to see both snakes and monkeys (chained), plus a plethora of instruments all passionately being played come dusk. From the sprawling rooftop at La Sultana you can enjoy panoramic views of the city, where, despite the bustle below, you'll hear no more than the call to prayer.

The hotel consists of five riads in total; all unique in design, making for quite the place to explore. Decadent and ostentatious in parts, this is a feast for the eyes. Indoor garden courtyards, a swimming pool and a spa will all keep you well occupied. Rooms are large but I’d recommend requesting one on a top floor for optimum privacy and maximum daylight. Cookery classes are also a must here.

Royal Mansour Marrakech

Commissioned by King Mohammed VI as a showpiece of Moroccan craftsmanship, the Royal Mansour is magnificent. Super discreet, staff are rarely seen and instead, move about the four hectares via 1 kilometre worth of secret tunnels. Guests stay in three-floor riads rather than rooms and all come with rooftop terraces and private pools (some just plunge).

Acclaimed chef Hélène Darroze (she has six Michelin stars, making her one of the most decorated chefs in the world) has taken the helm of the hotel's four restaurants and the Royal Mansour is a place for fine dining and, we'd argue that La Grande Table is the top table in all of Marrakech. Le Jardin is a poolside area with a bar, Asian-inspired restaurant and chic private cabanas. Day passes are available for non-guests. Special mention should go to the spa. Featuring 13 treatment rooms (with three private spa suites), two hammams, a watsu pool, sauna, gym and hair salon, the spa is one of the best hotels we've ever been to.

Riad L'Hôtel Marrakech

A design project from Jasper Conran means you can expect an on-point yet understated design with flashes of colour. With only six suites, this place fills up quickly. The 19th-century riad is hidden within a maze of pink-wash pathways in the heart of the ‘red city’s’ Medina. Our Google Maps failed us and we had to be escorted by one of the charming staff. Each suite is luxuriously large, with a draped four-poster bed, and brings together both modern design and traditional Moroccan antiques. The restaurant and food offering (which is open for non-guests to book, too) is an experience worth treating yourself to. Both our vegetarian and fish tagines were among the favourites we tried. If the weather fails you, and you're not able to sit on the relaxed roof terrace, book the spot by the fireplace.

Dar Zitouna – Private villa

For those with a family, or friends, wanting a more private and peaceful time, then one of the serviced villas on the private eight-villa estate of Bab Adrar ticks the box. Remotely situated a thirty-minute drive from the country’s capital. With all vistas directed towards the horizon of the Atlas mountains, this luxury villa has five double bedrooms, several terraces all laced with olive trees and an enormous spread of grounds that play host to your private pool and numerous outdoor seating and dining spots. Luxuriously decorated, with tasteful nods to both Morrocan and French design, with interesting pieces of art and photography. Staff are on hand to cook, clean and assist with any requests.

It took more than 200 local craftsmen over 10 years to construct some of the intricate detailing carved into the walls and ceilings of The Oberoi’s magnificent main building which was constructed on the site of a former 11-hectare farm and designed to look like an ancient Moroccan palace. The owners hired the same designer as Marrakech’s famous Yves Saint Laurent or Majorelle garden for parts of the landscaping, and the craftsmanship shows. The courtyard of the main building is a replica of Morocco’s iconic 14th-century monument, the Medersa Ben Youssef, and the whole hotel is centred around a 787-foot-long grand canal, which runs through the grounds and offers an opulent and satisfyingly symmetrical backdrop to any stay, whether it’s dining on the terrace at Tamint at sunset or taking a  golf  buggy back to your room after a day in the desert. With fine dining, an award-winning spa and more than 80 private villas dotted charmingly around the landscaped grounds, it’s no wonder the hotel was ranked the number one resort in North Africa and the Middle East in 2022’s Travel + Leisure World’s Best awards.

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