Marrakech Guide
23 Best Things to Do in Marrakech: A Local's Guide
The best things to do in Marrakech include exploring Jemaa el-Fnaa and the souks, visiting the Bahia Palace, Ben Youssef Madrasa and Majorelle Garden, relaxing in a hammam, and eating at the evening food stalls. Beyond the medina, try a sunrise hot air balloon flight, a cooking class, a camel ride in the Palmeraie or a desert trip.
- Medina: UNESCO World Heritage Site since 1985
- Ideal stay: 3–4 days for the city, plus extra days for the Atlas or Sahara
- Getting around: the medina is best on foot; petit taxis for longer hops
- Best months: March to May and October to November for comfortable sightseeing
- Sahara from Marrakech: 3-day tours to Merzouga from MAD 1,200 per person
We were born and live in Marrakech, and the city still surprises us. Behind the noise of the souks you find silent courtyards, tiled palaces and rooftop terraces with views of the Atlas Mountains. Here is our local list of the best things to do in Marrakech, from the famous sights to experiences most visitors miss, with tips on timing and how to avoid the crowds. Many travellers also use the city as a base for the Sahara: our 3-day Marrakech to Merzouga desert tour leaves from your riad door.
Top things to do in Marrakech's medina
The old walled city, the Medina of Marrakesh, holds most of the historic sights. They are all within walking distance of each other, although the lanes can be confusing at first.
1. Experience Jemaa el-Fnaa from afternoon to night
The great square at the heart of the medina changes character through the day: orange-juice sellers in the morning, storytellers, musicians and henna artists in the afternoon, and dozens of smoking food stalls after dark. Its living traditions have been recognised by UNESCO as intangible cultural heritage. Watch from a terrace café at sunset, then walk down among the stalls.
2. Get lost in the souks
North of the square, a maze of covered markets is organised by craft: leather, lanterns, spices, carpets, slippers and metalwork. Bargaining is expected. Agree a price before you start, stay friendly, and remember that walking away is part of the game.
3. Admire the Koutoubia Mosque
The 12th-century minaret, around 77 m tall, is the city's landmark and a model for later Almohad towers. Non-Muslims cannot enter the mosque, but the gardens around it are lovely in the early evening.
4. Visit the Bahia Palace
Built in the late 19th century for a grand vizier, the Bahia is a sequence of courtyards, painted cedar ceilings and zellige tilework. Arrive at opening time to enjoy it before the tour groups.
5. Discover the Saadian Tombs
These 16th-century royal tombs were sealed off for centuries and only rediscovered in the early 20th century. The Chamber of the Twelve Columns is a small masterpiece of carved stucco and marble.
6. Explore the ruins of El Badi Palace
Once one of the most lavish palaces in the Islamic world, El Badi was stripped in the 17th century. Today its vast courtyard, sunken gardens and storks nesting on the walls make it one of the most atmospheric sites in the city. Climb the terrace for views over the medina.
7. Step inside Ben Youssef Madrasa
This former Koranic school, largely rebuilt in the 16th century, is famous for its central courtyard of carved cedar, stucco and tiles. Nearby, the Marrakech Museum and the small Almoravid Koubba are worth combining in the same visit.
8. Find calm at Le Jardin Secret
Hidden in the busy Mouassine district, this restored riad garden is a peaceful break between souk walks, with an Islamic garden and an exotic garden side by side.
9. Walk through the Mellah
The historic Jewish quarter near the Bahia Palace has a distinctive architecture of balconied houses, a spice market and the Lazama Synagogue. A local guide brings its history to life.
10. Visit the Maison de la Photographie
A beautifully restored house with a collection of historic photographs of Morocco, plus one of the best rooftop cafés in the medina.
11. Try a traditional hammam
A steam bath followed by a black-soap scrub is a Moroccan ritual. Choose a simple local hammam for authenticity, or a spa hammam in a riad for comfort.
12. Watch the sunset from a rooftop with mint tea
Marrakech is best seen from above. Rooftop terraces around the square and in the souks offer views of the Koutoubia and, on clear days, the snowy High Atlas.
Things to do in Marrakech outside the medina
13. Visit the Majorelle Garden and YSL Museum
Created by the painter Jacques Majorelle and later restored by Yves Saint Laurent and Pierre Bergé, the Jardin Majorelle is famous for its electric-blue villa and cactus collection. The Yves Saint Laurent Museum is next door. Book tickets online and go early.
14. Stroll the Menara Gardens
Olive groves surround a large reflecting pool and pavilion, with the Atlas as a backdrop on clear days. It is a favourite with local families at weekends.
15. Explore Gueliz and the modern city
The new town, laid out in the colonial era, has galleries, concept stores, cafés and restaurants. It is a good contrast to the medina and an easy place to try contemporary Moroccan cuisine.
Unique experiences and activities in Marrakech
Some of the most memorable things to do in Marrakech happen just outside the city. These are the activities we organise ourselves; prices change with the season, so ask us on WhatsApp for today's price.
16. Fly over the countryside in a hot air balloon
Watch the sun rise over the Atlas Mountains from the sky, followed by a Berber breakfast. Our hot air balloon flight in Marrakech starts with a hotel pick-up before dawn. Read our hot air balloon guide for what to expect.
17. Learn to cook a tagine
Shop for spices, learn the secrets of preserved lemons and cook a full Moroccan meal with a local cook on our Moroccan cooking class in Marrakech. Do not leave without tasting tanjia, the slow-cooked meat dish that is a Marrakech speciality.
18. Ride a camel in the Palmeraie
The palm grove on the northern edge of the city is the easiest place to try a camel ride, ideal for families or anyone not heading to the Sahara. Book a camel ride in the Marrakech palm grove, ideally at sunset.
19. Go horse riding
Riders of all levels can explore the countryside and palm groves on a guided horse riding excursion in Marrakech, a calm alternative to the busy city.
20. Learn the art of the Berber rug
Discover how rugs are spun, dyed and woven, and what the symbols mean, on our Berber rug workshop. It is the best way to understand what you are buying before you visit the carpet souk.
21. Watch the sunset in the Agafay desert
About an hour from the city, the stony Agafay desert offers wide views, camel rides and dinner under the stars. It is a lovely half-day escape, but remember it has no sand dunes like the Sahara.
22. Take a day trip to the Atlas or the coast
The Ourika Valley and the Berber villages of the High Atlas are about an hour away, while the relaxed coastal town of Essaouira is around three hours by road. Both make easy day trips from Marrakech.
23. Head to the Sahara
If you have three days, the journey over the Atlas to the dunes of Erg Chebbi is the highlight of many trips to Morocco. Our Marrakech to Merzouga guide explains the route and timings.
Tips for visiting Marrakech
| Topic | Our advice |
|---|---|
| Timing | Visit palaces at opening time; save Jemaa el-Fnaa for late afternoon and evening |
| Fake guides | Politely ignore people who say a street is closed or offer to show you the tanneries |
| Dress | Light clothes covering shoulders and knees are comfortable and respectful |
| Fridays | Some shops close around midday prayers; sights generally stay open |
| Summer | Temperatures can pass 40°C; plan indoor visits for the afternoon |
| Navigation | Download an offline map; the medina's lanes are poorly signposted |
For more ideas across the country, the official Visit Morocco website is a useful resource.
Make the most of Marrakech and beyond
Combine the best things to do in Marrakech with a night in the Sahara on our 3-Day Marrakech to Merzouga Desert Tour, or message Walid on WhatsApp at +212 611-965381 to book any of our Marrakech activities.
Frequently asked questions
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Founder of Pure Morocco Experience, born and based in Morocco. Walid and his team of drivers and guides run desert tours from Marrakech every week. More about us.
