Best Things to See and Do in Marrakech: From Bustling Souks to Ornate Palaces

Marrakech is a city that overwhelms the senses in the best possible way: spice stalls and copper lanterns, the call to prayer echoing across rooftops, quiet gardens hidden behind high walls. Here's how to make the most of it.

In the medina

1. Jemaa el-Fnaa

The great square at the heart of the medina is the place to start. By day it's full of juice sellers and storytellers; at dusk, food stalls set up and the square fills with smoke, music and crowds. Watch it all from a rooftop café as the sun goes down.

By day the square is snake charmers, henna artists and orange-juice stalls; at dusk, smoke rises from dozens of food stalls, drums and pipes play in circles of onlookers and the whole square seems to breathe. Watch from a rooftop café at sunset, then dive in – and expect to pay if you photograph performers or their animals.

2. The souks

North of the square, the souks are divided roughly by trade: leather, spices, carpets, lanterns, metalwork. Bargaining is expected – start well below the asking price, stay friendly and be prepared to walk away.

Lanes shaded by reed roofs lead deeper and deeper into the maze: piles of babouches in every colour, lanterns throwing star patterns on the walls, the tap of metalworkers' hammers and the smell of leather and cedar wood. Mopeds squeeze past with a beep. Getting lost is part of it – and you'll hear "this way is closed" from someone hoping to guide you; politely ignore it.

3. Ben Youssef Madrasa

This former Islamic school has one of the most beautiful courtyards in Morocco, decorated with carved cedar, stucco and zellige tilework.

Step into the courtyard and the noise of the medina vanishes. A long pool reflects walls covered from floor to ceiling in carved cedar, stucco lace and zellige tiles, and the small students' rooms upstairs show how simply they once lived.

4. Le Jardin Secret

A restored riad garden in the middle of the medina – a peaceful escape from the noise outside.

Behind a plain door off a busy street, water runs through channels between orange trees and palms, birds sing and the city's noise fades. Climb the tower for a view over the rooftops to the Atlas.

5. Koutoubia Mosque

The 12th-century minaret of the Koutoubia is Marrakech's most famous landmark. The mosque is closed to non-Muslims, but its gardens are pleasant for an evening walk.

The great minaret dominates the skyline, glowing pink-gold at sunset, and the call to prayer from here rolls over the whole old city. Only Muslims may enter, but the gardens around it are lovely in the evening.

Palaces and tombs

6. Bahia Palace

A 19th-century palace with painted ceilings, tiled courtyards and gardens of orange trees. Go early to avoid tour groups.

Room after room opens onto courtyards of marble and tiles, with painted cedar ceilings so intricate they make you stop and stare. It gets crowded with groups by late morning – come at opening time.

7. El Badi Palace

Once one of the most lavish palaces in the world, now atmospheric ruins with sunken gardens and storks nesting on the walls.

Today it's a vast ruin of ochre walls, sunken orange groves and nesting storks – climb onto the ramparts and imagine the gold and marble that once covered everything.

8. Saadian Tombs

The richly decorated burial place of the Saadian dynasty, hidden for centuries and rediscovered in the early 20th century.

You queue for a glimpse into the Chamber of the Twelve Columns, where marble tombs lie beneath a dome of carved stucco – small, dazzling and beautiful. Go early to avoid the line.

Gardens

9. Jardin Majorelle and the YSL Museum

The cobalt-blue villa and cactus gardens created by the painter Jacques Majorelle and later owned by Yves Saint Laurent are the most famous garden in Morocco. The Yves Saint Laurent Museum is next door. Book tickets online.

Electric-blue walls, yellow pots, giant cacti and bamboo rustling in the breeze – it's like walking into a painting. It's also one of the busiest sights in the city: book a timed ticket and go first thing.

10. Menara Gardens

Olive groves around a large pool with a pavilion and the Atlas Mountains behind – best at sunset on a clear day.

An old olive grove surrounds a large pool with a pavilion, and on clear days the snowy Atlas rises behind it – a simple, peaceful place for a late-afternoon walk with locals.

Experiences

11. Take a hammam

Choose between a simple local hammam and a luxurious spa version. Either way, expect steam and a thorough black-soap scrub.

In the warm, steamy room, you're covered in black olive soap and scrubbed hard with a kessa glove until your skin tingles, then rinsed with buckets of warm water. You'll leave feeling lighter and incredibly clean.

12. Stay in a riad

Traditional houses built around an inner courtyard, riads are peaceful, beautiful and often have rooftop terraces. They're the best way to experience the medina.

Behind a plain door in a narrow alley, a hidden courtyard opens up with a fountain, orange trees and the scent of mint tea. Breakfast on the roof terrace, with the call to prayer echoing across the medina, is a highlight of any visit.

13. Take a cooking class

Shop for ingredients in the souk, then learn to make tagine, salads and bread.

You shop in the market with a cook, choosing spices, vegetables and herbs, then sit cross-legged over a tagine as it simmers, filling the kitchen with the scent of cumin, ginger and preserved lemon.

Day trips

14. The Atlas Mountains

The Ourika Valley and the village of Imlil are about an hour or two from the city – perfect for a walk, lunch with a view and a glimpse of Berber village life.

Just an hour from the city, the air turns fresh and cool, Berber villages cling to red hillsides and streams run beneath walnut trees. Lunch is often a tagine on a terrace with mountain views.

15. Agafay desert

Closer than the Sahara, the stony Agafay desert offers camel rides, quad biking and dinner under the stars. For the real dunes, read about the Sahara in our guide to 10 experiences in Morocco you shouldn't miss.

Not sand dunes but a rocky, golden desert of hills with the Atlas on the horizon. At sunset, the camp's lanterns glow, the silence is deep and the stars come out in their thousands.

When to go

Spring and autumn are the most comfortable seasons. Summer is very hot, and winter evenings can be surprisingly cold.

Looking for another sunny city break with a very different feel? See our 4-day Dubai guide.