Marrakech is a city that well sums up all the exotic charm of Morocco. Its pulsating centre is chaotic and you will be greeted by the typical hustle and bustle, that generated by the old and the new colliding and mixing, creating an almost dizzying atmosphere. For those who simply want to immerse themselves in the local culture, the Medina of Marrakech offers a glimpse of Moroccan life in all its frenetic glory.
If this is your first time, for a first approach we recommend a guided tour with a local guide, to familiarise yourself with the city, identify landmarks and get valuable tips from your guide, useful for the continuation of your holiday.
Let's discover together what to see in Marrakech: the best attractions and things to do!
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1 - Souk of the Medina
The Medina is the Old City of Marrakech, the part most popular with tourists as it is the most authentic. Here you can stroll through the souks, a labyrinth of narrow streets full of stalls, the ideal place for shopping!
If this is your first time in Marrakech, it might be a good idea to take a guided tour of the souks in the Medina.
Here you will find everything from the famous spices to handicrafts, from typical products to clothing and souvenirs. In fact, there is a souk for everything: Souk Attarine for spices, Souk Kchacha for dried fruits, Souk Haddadine with handmade lamps and metal objects, Souk Siyyaghin with gold and silver, even Souk Kimakhin with stringed instruments! And also the leather(El-Btna), carpet(Zrabi) and others. The rule is only one: always haggle! Prices are never displayed and don't be shy, usually the starting price is always too high. As they say in Morocco, a third of the initial price is already a steal!
The souk starts at Jamaa el Fna square and branches off into the northern part of the square. You can only get around on foot.
Beware of getting lost and pickpockets: getting lost in the souks is very easy, the alleys are all the same and the market is very large. Orient yourself by using the main monuments as references (mosques and minarets) or use the gps on your phone. If you have to ask someone for directions, favour women or families, as kids and locals might ask you for a tip to get you out of the souk. Finally, watch out for pickpockets, the place is crowded and therefore a breeding ground for petty thieves.
2 - Madrasa of Ben Youssef
Another building you absolutely must visit is the Madrasa of Ben Youssef. A Madrasa is a Muslim school where religious disciplines are studied and the one in Marrakech is the largest in the whole of Morocco! It was built to house the students of the nearby mosque and construction was completed in 1565. At one time it accommodated up to 900 boys!
Themost fascinating part of the Madrasa is its inner garden, decorated with lots of moasics, around which the entire labyrinth of rooms is laid out and which leads to the prayer hall. To be visited in strict silence, out of respect for the important place, this is certainly one of the most visited and appreciated attractions in Marrakech!
Watch out for clothing: as this is a school, it is important to wear appropriate clothing, which is in any case required at all attractions. It is therefore important not to have your shoulders and legs covered, but there is no problem with head and hair.
Practical info: directions, times and prices
How to get there: on Rue Assouel. Easily accessible on foot from Jamaa el Fna Square (800 m, 10 min) or the nearby Marrakech Museum (50 m, 1 min) - Get directions
Hours: daily 9am-6.30pm
Ticket price: MAD 70.00 (€6.40)
3 - Jamaa el Fna Square
Jamaa el Fna is the beating heart of Marrakech. A short walk from the Medina, it has been declared a UNESCO World Heritage Site. The name literally means'assembly of the dead', as public executions have taken place here since 1050. You will find yourself passing through this square several times and every hour of the day you will find movement!
The square, although it appears messy, actually has a clear division into zones: that of the dried fruit and plant vendors, that of the snail vendors and that of the hotels and cafés with terraces.
By day you will find snake charmers, acrobats and street vendors, traders and much more! But the real magic happens at sunset, when the square becomes an open-air restaurant: numerous small bars, cooks with large barbecues, food of all kinds! The cleanliness certainly leaves something to be desired, but you can taste all the traditional dishes of Moroccan cuisine: if you like meat, try the typical mutton and offal kebabs(qotbane), but if you want to be daring, go to stand 53, the most famous in the square, and taste the mutton head! In general, only accept sealed water, do not take drinks containing ice and make sure the food is well cooked!
Watch out forscams: the square is a real case, so watch out for pickpockets. There are also many scammers who will approach you to convince you in purchases or games of chance, stay away from them. To eat, choose stalls frequented by locals and kiosks with prices displayed, and always haggle and clarify the price before ordering.
4 - El Bahia Palace
The palace is one of the most important and beautiful pieces of architecture in the whole city, truly unmissable! Built in the 19th century to be the residence of Grand Vizier Bou Ahmed, who served Sultan Moulay al-Hassan I, the work took about 10 years.
The entire palace consists of no less than 150 rooms and numerous gardens and inner courtyards, all uniquely beautiful and all different from each other. One of the most beautiful parts is certainly the Courtyard of Honour, colourful, rich in mosaics and surrounded by columns! On sunny days, the colours shine like never before!
Practical info: directions, opening hours and prices
How to get there: on Avenue Imam El Ghazali. Easily accessible on foot from Jamaa el Fna Square (1.5 km, 18 min) or the nearby El Badi Palace (1 km, 12 min) - Get directions
Hours: daily 9am-4.30pm
Ticket price: MAD 70.00 (€6.40)
5 - El Badi Palace
Photo by David Stanley. About one km away from the El Bahia Palace is the El Badi Palace, a large architectural complex built in the late 16th century to celebrate the victory over the Portuguese at the Battle of Alcazarquivir, also known as the Battle of the Three Kings.
Today, unfortunately, the palace is completely in ruins. It was once a truly unique palace, El Badi in fact means'the incomparable'! It consisted of over 300 rooms, all richly decorated with gold, turquoise and crystals. Its decline began in the 17th century and unfortunately little remains today. We recommend a visit to the underground dungeons, the terrace from which you can enjoy a magnificent panoramic view, and the large outdoor garden. In June, a popular festival takes place here with music and artists from all over Morocco.
Practical info: directions, times and prices
How to get there: in Ksibat Nhass. Easily accessible on foot from Jamaa el Fna Square (1.1 km, 14 min), the nearby El Bahia Palace (1 km, 12 min) or the Saadian Tombs (500 m, 6 min) - Get directions
Hours: daily 9:00 a.m. - 4:45 p.m.
Ticket price: MAD 70.00 (€6.40)
6 - Saadian Tombs
The Saadian Tombs, also known as the Tombs of the Saadis, are one of the most visited sites in all of Marrakech, open to the public since 1917! It is a tomb complex in which as many as 66 members of the Saadian dynasty, which reigned between 1524 and 1668, rest.
They are located within a garden that can only be accessed via a narrow corridor and the various rooms are decorated with wonderful mosaics. The most important building is the central mausoleum, consisting of three different rooms and a mihrab, a niche for prayers. Sultan Ahmad al-Mansur and members of his family are buried here.
Practical info: directions, opening hours and prices
How to get there: on Rue de La Kasbah. Easily accessible on foot from Jamaa el Fna Square (1.2 km, 15 min) or the nearby El Badi Palace (500 m, 6 min) - Get directions
Hours: daily 9am-5pm
Ticket price: MAD 70.00 (€6.40)
Watch out for queues: this is one of the most visited attractions and, as it is not very large inside, you will find yourself queuing several times even inside the site. We therefore advise you to arrive at opening time to visit at your leisure
7 - Koutoubia Mosque
This is one of the symbols of Marrakech, as well as its most important religious building. We are talking about the Koutoubia Mosque, 10 minutes from Jamaa el Fna square. Since it is a mosque, it cannot be visited inside: in fact, entry is reserved only for the faithful. But its beauty is unquestionable, so it is worth passing by outside to admire its architecture and decorations.
Its history is also very important: in 1158, when construction was completed, it was one of the most important mosques in the Islamic world. The structure was built using pinkish-coloured sandstone, a colour that distinguishes most of the buildings in the city. Its minaret is an impressive 69 metres high and it is from here that the muezzin calls the faithful to prayer every day.
8 - Marrakech Museum
Photo by jon collier. To delve deeper into the city's history, we absolutely recommend a visit to the Marrakech Museum. Housed inside the marvellous Dar M' Nebhi Palace, which was once the residence of Mehdi Mnebhi, Sultan Moulay Abdelaziz's minister of defence, it is also worth a visit for the palace itself, the focal point of which is the large central garden, at the centre of which is an immense chandelier.
The central garden and the rooms surrounding it display all the museum's collections, which include weapons, carpets, ceramics, Koranic inscriptions and other traditional Moroccan objects. A visit to the traditionalHammam, which currently houses temporary collections, is also recommended.
Practical info: directions, opening hours and prices
How to get there: in Place Ben Youssef. Easily accessible on foot from Jamaa el Fna Square (800 m, 10 min) or the nearby Ben Youssef Madrasa (50 m, 1 min) - Get directions
Hours: daily 9am-6.30pm
Ticket price: MAD 70.00 (€6.40)
9 - Jardin Majorelle
One of the most beautiful gardens in Marrakech is definitely the Jardin Majorelle. It is located just outside the city centre and can be reached easily by taxi. Remember to haggle before you get in and, starting from Jamaa el Fna, don't spend more than MAD 25.00 (€2.30) for this stratta.
These beautiful gardens were created in 1924 by Jacques Majorelle, after whom they are named. This French painter arrived in Marrakech in 1919. You will find many different plants and the predominant colour is blue. Since 1980 it has belonged to Yves Saint Laurent.
It also houses the Berber Museum, a small museum of Islamic art housed in Jacques Majorelle's former painting workshop. Absolutely recommended visit to deepen your knowledge of this people!
Practical info: directions, opening hours and prices
How to get there: Rue Yves St Laurent. 2.7 km from Jamaa el Fna square (35 min on foot). Taxi recommended (price to be negotiated, no more than MAD 25.00/€2.30), alternatively bus L12 or L15 (Ben Tbib stop, 20 min, MAD 4.00/€0.40) - Get directions
Hours: gardens daily, October to April 8am-5.30pm, May to September 8am-6pm, during Ramadam 9am-4.30pm / Berber Museum Thu-Mar 8am-6pm, during Ramadam 9am-4.30pm
Ticket price: gardens MAD 70.00 (€6.40) / Berber Museum MAD 30.00 (€2.70)
Visitthe gardens in the morning: one of the most visited attractions in Marrakech, they are literally stormed by tourists also because they are a very Instagrammable place. We therefore recommend visiting them in the morning when they open, there will be fewer people and you will enjoy the wonderful light reflecting off the walls and passing through the tall palm trees.
10 - Menara Gardens
The Menara Gardens are the most famous and popular green area in all of Marrakech! They are also located far from the city centre, near the airport, and a taxi ride to here costs no more than MAD 50.00 (€4.60).
These are one of the oldest gardens in the Muslim West and develop around a large pond and are surrounded by olive trees. Here, locals spend a few relaxing hours strolling the streets; there is also a children's area. Also recommended is a visit to the Pavillon de la Ménara, the pavilion above the pond that creates beautiful reflections on the water.
Practical info: directions, times and prices
How to get there: Les Jardin De La Marrakesh. 5 km from Jamaa el Fna square (1 h on foot). Taxi recommended (price to be negotiated, no more than MAD 50.00/€4.60), alternatively bus L11 or L12 (Jardin Menara stop, 10 min, MAD 4.00/€0.40) - Get directions
Hours: daily 8:30am-00:00pm
Ticket price: free gardens / Pavilion 70.00 MAD (€6.40)
Visit the gardens at sunset: it is the most romantic time, when the colours of the sky reflect off the pond creating wonderful plays of light.
Other attractions to visit
All the attractions just mentioned are a must see in Marrakech and fit nicely into a 3-day trip. If you stay longer or have certain interests, there are many other places worth a visit!
Marrakech is the city of a thousand gardens and there are so many of them scattered throughout the city! In addition to those already mentioned, the Jardin Secret (MAD 60.00/€5.50), in the heart of the souk, the Agdal Gardens (free), in the south of the city, and the Jardin Des Arts (free), not far from the Koutoubia mosque, are beautiful.
Themuseums are also numerous and you can decide to visit them or not depending on your interests. Definitely worth mentioning are the Museum of Photography (MAD 50.00/€4.60), the Dar Bellarj Museum (free) with the aim of preserving Moroccan culture and the Dar Si Sad Museum (MAD 20.00/€1.80), focusing on local history. Among the historical monuments, the Mausoleum of Al-Mutamid Ibn Abbad (MAD 70,00/€6,40), the Qoubba of the Almoravids (MAD 70,00/€6,40) and the historical palace Dar Moulay Ali (MAD 40,00/€3,70) are worth a visit.
5 things to do in Marrakech
Camel ride and traditional tea
Excursion to the Ouzoud waterfalls
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Quad bikeamong the palm groves: just outside Marrakech there is a wonderful palm grove where many activities are organised for those who have little time and cannot spend a night in the desert. We really recommend thequad bike experience, with transport from/to the hotel included
Camel ride and traditional tea: Another experience in the desert is a camel ride with a tea break in a typical house. You will be welcomed by the family who will offer you traditional Moroccan mint tea and some traditional sweets. Transport to/from your hotel included
Hot-air balloon flight: the hot-air balloon flight is a romantic and unforgettable experience, allowing you to admire Marrakech from above at sunrise. Departure at 6 a.m., time varies according to season, transport from/to hotel included
Excursion to the Ouzoud Waterfalls: in the High Atlas Mountains, about 3 hours from Marrakech, these spectacular waterfalls are the most popular excursion! Surrounded by nature, you can swim, take a boat tour, discover typical Berber villages and look for the monkeys that live free here! More info here
Relaxation experience: Marrakech is also famous for its spas, such as Les Bains de Marrakech, one of the best known. We therefore recommend treating yourself to a luxurious spa and hammam treatment.
Plan your stay in Marrakech: flights and hotels
Getting to Marrakech from Italy is very easy, thanks to direct flights, also low-cost, from Italy(compare flights). The city is served by Marrakech-Menara Airport, 9 km from the centre. We recommend booking a private transfer to reach your hotel or riad.
As far as accommodation is concerned, if you want an authentic experience, choose a riad in the Medina, the typical lodgings that are developed around a central garden, usually with a swimming pool, with a characteristic oriental charm(look for the best solutions on Booking.com).
The best time to visit this destination is in autumn and spring, the intermediate seasons, with pleasant temperatures and sunny days. Summer is not recommended because of the really torrid temperatures, which would not allow you to get around on foot, the best way to visit Marrakech! In fact, the Medina should only be visited on foot, also because the traffic is closed to cars.
If you are travelling with children, there are not many activities for them and it could become a very demanding trip, also because you have to move around a lot on foot and in the central hours it could get really hot. In this case, we advise you to choose a riad with an indoor swimming pool to give them some leisure time.
Finally, if you are travelling low-cost, this is a perfect destination, as the cost of living is very low, you can eat excellent traditional dishes while spending very little and the cost of attractions is also very low.
Ramadan: being an Islamic country, during Ramadan many places may be closed and some attractions keep reduced hours. Find out in advance when this period, which corresponds to the ninth month of the Islamic lunar calendar, falls and plan your trip accordingly.