Morocco had long been on our list of destinations to visit. We’re not even quite sure how we didn’t make it there whilst living in the UK for 18 months. It seemed to be the destination that all of our friends kept talking about. Morocco, and indeed Marrakech, is a destination which evokes many images in your mind with the meagre mention of its name. And with some of the best things to do in Marrakech being beyond memorable, the images in your mind will soon be accompanied by unforgettable North African sounds and indelible scents.
Of all the places on our bucket list in Morocco, Marrakech was our number one destination. The striking nature of Marrakech hits you the second you hit the medina. The medina is the hive of activity, and as we entered it sounds of drums, flutes and hand clackers struck out across the air. Performers filled the Jemma-El-Fna square. A rush of eager faces accosting you from all directions. Colourful spices adorn the souks, stacked neatly in spectacular pyramids.
We spent a week in Marrakech and every day was spent exploring this intriguing city and its surrounds. Make no mistake, Marrakech isn’t for everyone. We met people on our visit who couldn’t wait to get out. That wasn’t our experience, but we do feel it’s a city worth preparing for. That helps you manage the ‘in your face’ nature of it. A willingness to embrace its frenetic culture helps you best enjoy this amazing city.
Marrakech is essentially split into two parts. The medina of Marrakech is the historical and cultural hub. This is where you’ll find the souks and the ancient sites. Hundreds of small riads (Moroccan boutique hotels) are littered throughout the medina.
Outside of the medina you have the new town. This is where you’ll find the more modern museums, large shopping malls and the majority of homes. You’ll also find the large international hotel chains here.
We loved our time in Marrakech. We love experiencing cultures different to our own, and Marrakech definitely fits that bill. There are also so many museums, riads and other historical sites to visit. Read on for our list of 17 of the best things to do whilst you are in Marrakech.
#1 Majorelle Garden
The stunning Le Jardin Majorelle is number one on our list of things to do in Marrakech. Built in the 1920s by Louis Majorelle, French designer Yves Saint Laurent bought the gardens in the 1980s. He and his partner restored the gardens and buildings which had fallen into disrepair. And restore they did. From a run down garden, they turned this into a vibrant masterpiece of carefully designed architecture, plant life and quiet spaces to contemplate.
We loved the beauty of the colours and contrasts of the gardens and buildings. The vivid blue featured on the main building – Majorelle Blue – is even patented. It’s a magical place to wander through. You can see why the property served as creative inspiration for Yves Saint Laurent.
It’s one of the most popular places to visit in Marrakech (and definitely not a secret). It can get extremely busy, so either visit in the early morning or at midday (when day trippers are usually out having lunch).
The gardens are in the new town, but just a moderate flat walk or short taxi ride from the medina.
Tickets at entry: Marjorelle Garden || 1-2 hours || 70 Dhs (gardens only)
#2 Musee Yves Saint Laurent
Situated right next to the Marjorelle Gardens, the Musee Yves Saint Laurent only opened in late 2017. It houses an impressive collection of clothing, jewellery and drawings from Yves Saint Laurent. Even if you aren’t into fashion, the intricate details on the clothes and the storytelling behind their creation are interesting.
The museum often has special exhibits, which are included in the ticket price. Whilst we were there, a photographic exhibition of Leila Alaoui’s work had just opened. We learnt that Leila was an amazing photographer who was tragically killed in a terrorist attack in 2016. Leila’s portraits of locals within the Marrakech medina were beautiful and haunting. It would be worth investigating what special exhibit is on display during your stay.
If you plan on visiting both the YSL Museum and the Marjorelle Gardens, you can buy a combination ticket. We found the lines to be much shorter at the YSL Museum, and if you buy there you can then skip the queue at the gardens.
Tickets at entry: Musee Yves Saint Laurent || 1 hour || 100 Dhs (museum only)
#3 La Bahia Palace
The La Bahia Palace was built at the end of the 19th century by two grand viziers, Si Moussa and his son Ba Ahmed. Being built as a place for royalty, the key drawcard here is the architecture. We lost count at how many rooms we encountered with the most intricate tilework and woodcarvings. Walking through the palace, there are so many spots you’ll find with beautiful new details to admire.
The La Bahia Palace is located in the Jewish Quarter of the medina. Afterwards you can wander through the souks in this area.
Tickets at entry: La Bahia Palace || 1 hour || €7
#4 Le Jardin Secret
Le Jardin Secret is a little sanctuary set right within the busy medina. Recently restored, it claims it is “one of the largest and most ancient riads of the medina of Marrakech.”
Within Le Jardin Secret, there are two gardens: the Exotic Garden and the larger Islamic Garden. We found the water and fountains to be the most impressive part of the garden. The water flows all the way from the Atlas Mountains. The gardens use a traditional hydraulic system of underground channels. These date back over a thousand years.
There is a café overlooking the gardens and a shop on site.
Tickets at entry: Le Jardin Secret || 1 hour || 50 Dhs (tower extra 30 Dhs)
#5 Jemaa-El-Fna Square
The Jemaa-El-Fna Square is the main square in Marrakech. To be honest, I had a love/hate relationship with it. By day the square is full of street performers, snake charmers, and fortune tellers. It’s an exotic place. However, the sight of monkeys with chains around their necks and the aggressiveness of the store holders was off-putting. So as a tourist in this part of Marrakech, it can be a little challenging. Unfortunately, this is also likely to be your first impression of this city too, as it’s quite often the drop off point for visitors.
That being said, it’s still the pulsing heart of the medina. When we travel, we always try to keep an open mind. We understand that when you’re in other countries, they will of course do things differently to you at home. Don’t leave Marrakech without experiencing the Jemaa-El-Fna Square for yourself. We’d highly recommend exploring this square in the evening too. It becomes overtaken by food markets and orange juice stalls. Stallholders will try and coax you in offering up everything from tagine to some boiled goat’s head.
If it gets too much for you, head on up to one of the cafes or restaurants surrounding the square. They offer a great view from above and you’ll be in a much more relaxed environment.
#6 Maison de la Photographie
Our visit to the photography museum was one of the unexpected delights of our trip to Marrakech. Housed within a beautiful open air building, the museum is full of stunning photography of old Morocco. On display are photos from the first generation of photographers from mainland Europe. They visited Tangiers from around 1870 – 1912. I can only imagine the complete awe the photographers must have felt arriving in such an exotic and unknown land all those years ago.
To top off the amazing exhibits, the museum also has one of our favourite rooftop cafes. They offer up a simple, yet delicious lunch of tagines. You can also keep your museum ticket and re-enter any time during your stay to visit the café and rooftop again.
Tickets at entry: Maison de la Photographie || 1 hour || 50 Dhs
#7 Heritage Museum
The Heritage Museum is a perfect pitstop as you’re meandering through the medina. Right in the heart of the souks, the museum is housed in a 17th century riad. There’s a collection of old Moroccan artefacts on display, including coins and clothes. Head upstairs to the terrace for a mint tea, included in your entry price.
Tickets at entry: Heritage Museum || 20-30 minutes || Price 30 Dhs
#8 El Badi Palace
Dating back to the 16th century, it was the palace for the Saadian royalty. Remaining today are sandstone ruins and reflecting pools. It’s a great place to wander around to get a sense how the old elite lived. It is a perfect companion to a visit to the La Bahia Palace which is nearby.
Tickets at entry: El Badi Palace || 1 hour || 70 Dhs
#9 Saadian Tombs
This site showcases more than 160 decorated tombs from the old Saadian dynsasty. Unfortunately, we didn’t get to visit here. We planned to visit on our last day and then found out it was closed. This is a good reminder to always check the opening and closing times and days of the week. At the time of writing this post, their website suggests the tombs are open everyday. However, I suggest double checking on arrival as you plan your itinerary.
The Saadian Tombs are located just outside the medina walls near the Jewish Quarter. It would be best to tie in this visit with the El Badi Palace and La Bahia Palace.
Tickets at entry: Saadian Tombs || 1 hour || 70 Dhs
#10 Koutoubia Mosque
The imposing minaret you’ll be able to see from so many parts of the medina belongs to the Koutoubia Mosque. This mosque dates back to the 12th century, and is a beautiful piece of architecture. Mosques are extremely important in Moroccan culture. Hanging around the medina will ensure you see many local men on their way to a mosque during the Call to Prayer.
This mosque is only open to Muslims. If that isn’t you, you can always admire the architecture from afar.
#11 Get lost wandering the souks
Wandering around the souks was one of our favourite things to do in Marrakech. It’s crazy busy and filled with the most amazing stores, from spices, to lamps and clothes.
Merchants in Morocco are always super creative with their displays. From colourful, intricately stacked olives to lamps that form a perfectly framed entrance into the store. It’s truly a photographer’s paradise.
Wandering through the Medina can be a confusing experience until you get your bearings. A lot of the shops look the same, the buildings are similarly coloured and people are everywhere going about their business. It’s easy to get lost in the maze of dead ends, making it the perfect place to explore. Take a breath, know which direction you’re walking in and don’t get overwhelmed!
Given we’ve been travelling full time, we weren’t able to make any purchases (no space in our bags!). However, if you’re looking to make a purchase- bargain, bargain, bargain! Prices will generally start at least double what you should pay. Relax and enjoy the experience. As fun as navigating the souks can be, it pays to be prepared when it comes to knowing what to pay.
#12 Visit Anima
If gardens are your thing, then definitely check out Anima. Located about 30 minutes outside of Marrakech, these botanical gardens are quite unique. As you make your way through the winding paths of the 2 hectare property, you’ll come across mosaic statues, mirrored installations and colourful ornaments. This is all set amongst pristine gardens, with towering palm trees, small shrubs and blossoming plants.
We stopped here after a day trip out to the Ourika Valley. The gardens were a nice relief from the relenting heat. However, the entry fee at the gate was a little pricey (120dh each). Therefore, I would only recommend this if you’re really into gardens. Alternatively, consider booking ahead via Get your Guide with a transfer from Marrakech. You may even be able to get 40% off your booking!
BOOK NOW: Anima || 3 hours || From €13 with transfer from Marrakech
#13 Stay in a riad
If you’ve seen photos online of a small courtyard with a garden, surrounded by a building with intricate tiles, this is likely to be a riad. We’d highly recommend a stay in one of these for your trip to Marrakech!
A riad is a traditional house protected by windowless walls on the outside, with a garden in the centre. Staying in a riad for part, if not all, of your journey is a wonderful way to experience Marrakech.
You’ll be right in the middle of the hustle and bustle of the medina, yet once you step inside the riad’s walls you’re in your own little paradise. Most riads will have a rooftop where you can eat breakfast or use as a retreat during the day too.
We chose to stay at Riad Assakina and couldn’t have been happier with our choice. Located in the Jewish Quarter, it’s a one minute walk to the La Bahia Palace. The real winner here though is the friendliness and helpfulness of the owner, Michelle and all the staff. They helped us plan our days, and would book in all restaurants for us. After a 6 day stay they felt like family and we were really sad to leave!
BOOK NOW: Riad Assakina || Rooms from €105
#14 Eat on a rooftop
Rooftop dining is an essential experience in Marrakech. As I’ve mentioned earlier, it removes you from the hustle and bustle of the medina, whilst also giving you a unique vantage point to view life down below.
Our favourite spots for rooftop dining included Café des Espices and Kosybar.
#15 Take a day trip or two out of Marrakech
You can spend a week in Marrakech and not run out of things to do. However, taking a break from the frenetic pace of the city and heading out for trip is a great way to spend the day.
Essaouria is a port city on the Atlantic coast and a fantastic contrast to Marrakech. Wandering around the harbour and fish markets felt like we were going back in time. There were fisherman bringing in their catches from rickety old boats.
The city was inhabited by the Portuguese in the 17th century, so the architecture has a Portugese flair. On a day trip, you’ll be able to explore the best of the city – the harbour, fish markets and ramparts with their 17th century cannons. For Game of Thrones fans, the ramparts will be familiar as the backdrop for Astapor, home of the Unsullied.
One thing we didn’t expect to see in Essaouria was amazing street art. We enjoyed walking through the streets of the medina, keeping our eye out to spot some new mural. Coming from Marrakech, we found Essaouria to be so much more chilled out. This no doubt comes from its seaside location.
We also took a day trip out to the Ourika Valley in the Atlas Mountains. We stopped at a Berber souk, which is only open on Mondays and Thursdays. The drive is picturesque as you continue along the river up to the foothills of the Atlas Mountains. Along the way, we stopped in to see a traditional Berber home.
BOOK NOW: Day trip to Essaouira || 11 hours || From €25
#16 Visit Paradis du Saffron
Take a visit to this property and learn why a Swiss woman grows the most expensive spice in the world, Saffron, in Morocco.
If you’ve only got a few hours to spare, yet want to escape the city for a while, take a taxi out to this location. Paradis du Saffron is a little retreat at the foothills of the Atlas Mountains. The property has a herb garden which you can admire, and touch and feel some herbs on display. There is a barefoot trail for wellness. You take off your shoes and walk through a range of different natural texture. Then finish with a refreshing feet dip!
A visit here is best experienced with lunch, a tasty 3 course feast of Moroccan local dishes. Given you’re on a herb farm, you’ll have the freshest flavours. You can be assured that saffron will be featured in at least one of the courses.
We visited here as part of the our day trip to the Atlas Mountains, but you could investigate grabbing a taxi ride from the medina of Marrakech.
#17 Ben Youssef Madrasa
The Ben Youssef Madrasa is probably the most beautiful building in all of Marrakech. We say that from all the pictures we’ve seen online and stories from locals we encountered. Unfortunately, we weren’t able to experience this site as it was closed for renovations (for about 2 years!). It’s expected to open back to the public in 2020. If you’re visiting whilst it is open, make sure you add this to your list of things to do in Marrakech.
So that completes our list of the top things to do in Marrakech. With so much to do, the next question is inevitably, how long should you spend in Marrakech? If you like to take things slow and want to use the city as a base for some of the day trips, consider spending a week in town. However, you could also easily cover all the main sites in Marrakech with 3 full, albeit busy days.
Have you been to Marrakech? Do you think we missed anything off the list?
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Well you certainly covered a lot on your visit and did a comprehensive wonderful post of all the places to go to and things to see. On our first time to Marrakech years back, I must say we were both entranced and intrigued. On a more recent trip just a few years ago, we were less enthralled. The amount of visitors/tourists was over the top for us and the aggressiveness as you mention in your post, had increased accordingly as well. And also, the monkeys on chains and the downtrodden beaten donkeys.
But nonetheless it is a compelling and interesting place. However, we both way prefer Essaouria as it is just so much more chill with a more relaxed vibe.
Love all your photographs and you really have done a great job of highlighting the delights and sights of Marrakech.
Peta