Marrakech Guide
A non-exhaustive list of the best things to do in Marrakech. Get around with our guide to the best things to do in Marrakech, including the best museums, hammam’s, palaces and souks… We can also help to book your activities!
Sunset on the iconic Jemaa el Fna square
MEDERSA BEN YOUSSEF
What? The Medersa was for more than four centuries a home for students in search of knowledge in various sciences, including theology. It had 132 rooms for non-Marrakesh students and could accommodate up to 900 students.
Why Go? Right in the center of the Medina in one of the oldest districts of Marrakech, the Medersa Ben Youssef is an ancient Koranic school which presents marvelous decorations inspired by Moroccan art. This traditional art which brings together the zellige with colored patterns, painted doors, and carefully carved wood.
Where? Kaat Benahid, Medina | When? 9am-7pm (6pm winter) |Price 20dh
JARDIN MAJORELLE
What? Created by the French painter Jacques Majorelle, this botanical garden is home to more types of cactus 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 is pure Instagram gold. Though you will see some cringe photoshoots going on, it’s impossible to take a bad picture here. Arrive early to avoid unwanted photo-bombers.
Where? Rue Yves St Laurent | When? 8am-5:30pm | Price 80dh
MUSEE YVES SAINT LAURENT
What? The French designer loved spending time in Marrakech so much he actually bought Jardin Majorelle in 1980. Opened next door to the gardens in 2017, the Musée Yves Saint Laurent 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 buildings, alongside a beautiful garden café, bookshop, temporary exhibition hall and auditorium.
Where? Rue Yves St Laurent | When? 8am-6pm (closed on Wednesday)| Price 120dh
MAISON DE LA PHOTOGRAPHIE
What? 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 a visual history of Morocco. The rooftop café is also one of the highest in the medina and is a great spot for a drink.
Where? 46 Rue Souk Ahal Fassi, Medina | When? 10am-6pm (everyday) | Price 50 dh (free for under 12s)
SOUK SEMMARINE
What? Marrakech is famous for its souks (markets) and Souk Semmarine is the biggest of them all. Rugs, leather goods, silverware and crockery of all shapes and sizes are on offer in this labyrinth – just try not to get lost.
Why go? If you’re looking for a true Marrakchi experience, get stuck in and do some haggling with one of the local traders. Knock them down from their opening price and come away with a one-of-a-kind memento.
PLACE DES EPICES / SPICE SQUARE
What? Moroccan cuisine is famous for its rich, aromatic flavors. Place des Épices is the traditional spice souk where you’ll find merchants selling everything from allspice to ras al hanout (a mix of more than a dozen spices).
Why go? This open-air souk is truly atmospheric. As well as bags of spices, you can pick up
EL BADI PALACE
What? The epic ruins of Sultan Ahmed el-Mansour’s once-magnificent palace, set within sunken gardens and surrounded by epic ramparts whose decrepit towers boast panoramic views over the medina.
Why go? El Badi may be a ruin, but it offers 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.
Where? 900m from Koutoubia Mosque When? | 9 a.m. – 5 p.m. | Price 70dh
GUELIZ
What? A short journey to the west of the medina, you’ll find the neighbourhood of Gueliz, the so-called 1930s ‘New Town’. There are European-style shopping malls and small homeware boutiques aplenty, plus an excellent array of bars and restaurants for a post-retail therapy pit stop.
Why go? Gueliz is the modern face of Marrakech and it’s here you’ll find the city’s best restaurants. Its laid-back vibe makes for a refreshing change from the intensity of the medina.
THE MELLAH
What? The Jewish quarter of Marrakech, which has undergone an extensive renovation programme. Make sure to visit the Al Azama synagogue and the extraordinary Miara cemetery.
Why go? Tours give an insight into a fascinating part of Marrakech’s (and Morocco’s) history. This area of the city is rarely explored by tourists other than Jewish heritage groups – get down before everyone else cottons on.