Marrakech is a city that rewards curiosity. Behind its rose-colored walls you will find a thousand-year-old medina, royal palaces, hidden gardens and one of the most famous public squares on Earth. Step outside the city and the Agafay Desert, the High Atlas and the Atlantic coast are all within a few hours.
We are a local team based in Marrakech, and this list of things to do in Marrakech is the one we give our own friends when they visit. It mixes the headline attractions with quieter experiences, and it is organized so you can plan by theme, time and budget.
The best things to do in Marrakech are exploring Jemaa el-Fna square at dusk, getting lost in the souks, visiting Bahia Palace and Jardin Majorelle, eating at the night food stalls, relaxing in a hammam and watching the sunset in the Agafay Desert. With more time, take a day trip to the Atlas Mountains, Ouzoud Waterfalls or Essaouira.
Key takeaways
- Plan at least 3 full days to cover the main Marrakech attractions without rushing.
- Visit palaces and gardens early in the morning (around 8 to 10 am) to avoid crowds and heat.
- Jemaa el-Fna is best from late afternoon into the evening, when the food stalls open.
- The Agafay Desert is only about 40 km (45 minutes) from the city, ideal for a sunset trip.
- Book Jardin Majorelle tickets online in advance; time slots often sell out.
- A guided medina walk on day one makes the rest of your trip far easier to navigate.
Iconic Marrakech Attractions in the Medina
The walled medina is a UNESCO World Heritage Site and the heart of any visit. Most of the essential places to visit in Marrakech are within a 20-minute walk of each other.
1. Jemaa el-Fna square
The great square is the city's living stage: orange juice sellers by day, storytellers, musicians and smoking grills by night. Arrive around 5 pm, find a rooftop café for sunset, then dive in. Our full Jemaa el-Fna guide covers history, food and how to avoid common hassles.
2. Koutoubia Mosque
The 12th-century minaret, about 77 meters tall, is the city's landmark and a handy navigation point. Non-Muslims cannot enter the prayer hall, but the gardens around it are lovely in the early evening.
3. Bahia Palace
A 19th-century palace of carved cedar ceilings, zellige tiles and courtyards planted with orange trees. Go at opening time for the best photos. See our Bahia Palace guide for tickets and tips.
4. Ben Youssef Madrasa
Once one of the largest Quranic schools in North Africa, its central courtyard is a masterpiece of stucco, cedar and marble. It sits in the northern medina, near the leather and spice souks.
5. Saadian Tombs
Rediscovered in 1917, these 16th-century royal tombs feature the ornate Chamber of the Twelve Columns. The site is small, so expect a short line at peak times.
6. El Badi Palace
The atmospheric ruins of a once-lavish 16th-century palace. Climb the ramparts for wide views of the medina and the storks nesting on the walls.
Gardens and Museums Worth Your Time
When the medina feels intense, the city's gardens offer shade and calm.
7. Jardin Majorelle
Cobalt-blue buildings, cacti and bamboo groves created by painter Jacques Majorelle and later restored by Yves Saint Laurent and Pierre Bergé. Read our Majorelle Garden and YSL Museum guide before you book.
8. Yves Saint Laurent Museum
Next door to the garden, this museum showcases the designer's work and his lifelong connection to Marrakech. Combine both in one morning.
9. Le Jardin Secret
A restored riad garden in the medina with Islamic and exotic sections and a tower you can climb for rooftop views.
10. Menara Gardens
A large olive grove around a 19th-century pavilion and reflecting pool, with the Atlas Mountains as a backdrop on clear days. It is free to walk the grounds.
11. Dar El Bacha (Museum of Confluences)
A beautifully restored pasha's residence with rotating exhibitions and a well-known coffee house inside.
Food Experiences in Marrakech
Eating well is one of the top reasons to visit, and food is where many travelers form their best memories.
12. Eat at the night food stalls
Each evening the square fills with numbered stalls serving grilled meats, snails, harira soup and fried fish. Go hungry and look for stalls busy with locals.
13. Take a street food tour
Our night street food tour (from €39) takes you to tangia, msemen, sfenj and other dishes you might never find alone.
14. Join a cooking class
Shop for spices and vegetables in the market, then cook your own tagine. Our cooking class with market visit is from €45. For a full list of dishes, see what to eat in Marrakech.
15. Mint tea on a rooftop
Sip sweet mint tea above the medina at sunset while the call to prayer echoes across the rooftops.
Shopping and Culture
16. Explore the souks
The souks north of Jemaa el-Fna are a maze of lanes grouped by craft: leather, lanterns, carpets, spices and metalwork. Our souks shopping guide explains how to bargain fairly.
17. Visit the tanneries
The leather tanneries near Bab Debbagh show a process largely unchanged for centuries. The smell is strong; a sprig of mint helps.
18. Enjoy a traditional hammam
A steam bath and black-soap scrub is a Moroccan ritual. Choose between a simple local hammam and a luxury spa. Details are in our hammam guide.
19. Take a guided medina walk
A local guide unlocks hidden fondouks, neighborhood bakeries and stories you would walk straight past. Our medina walking tour runs about 3 hours, from €25.
Adventures Just Outside the City
Some of the most memorable things to do in Marrakech happen beyond the walls.
20. Sunset camel ride in the Agafay Desert
The rocky Agafay Desert lies about 40 km from the city. Our Agafay sunset camel ride and dinner (5 hours, from €55) includes a camel ride, dinner under the stars and hotel pickup.
21. Hot air balloon at sunrise
Float over the plains and Berber villages as the sun rises over the Atlas. Our hot air balloon with Berber breakfast is from €165.
22. Quad biking and camels in the Palmeraie
The palm grove on the northern edge of town is perfect for a half-day of quad biking. The Palmeraie quad and camel combo is from €45.
Best Day Trips from Marrakech
If you have four or more days, add at least one day trip. Browse all options in our day trips category or read the best day trips from Marrakech.
23. Ourika Valley and the Atlas Mountains
Riverside villages, small waterfalls and Berber hospitality about 1 hour from the city. Our Ourika Valley day trip is from €28.
24. Ouzoud Waterfalls
Morocco's highest falls, roughly 110 meters, about 2.5 to 3 hours away, with Barbary macaques in the olive trees.
25. Essaouira or Ait Benhaddou
Choose the breezy Atlantic port of Essaouira (about 3 hours) or the famous ksar of Ait Benhaddou over the Tizi n'Tichka pass (about 4 hours).
Marrakech Attractions at a Glance
| Attraction | Time needed | Best time to go | Approx. cost |
|---|---|---|---|
| Jemaa el-Fna | 2-3 h | 5 pm onward | Free |
| Bahia Palace | 1-1.5 h | Opening time | Small entry fee |
| Jardin Majorelle + YSL Museum | 2-3 h | First slot of the day | Book online |
| Ben Youssef Madrasa | 45-60 min | Morning | Small entry fee |
| Agafay Desert sunset | 5 h | Late afternoon | From €55 (tour) |
| Ourika Valley | 8 h | Full day | From €28 (tour) |
| Hot air balloon | 4 h | Sunrise | From €165 (tour) |
Entry fees for monuments change from time to time, so check current prices before you go.
How to Plan Your Days
A practical rhythm for what to do in Marrakech: sightsee in the morning, rest at your riad during the hottest hours, and head out again from late afternoon. For a ready-made plan, see our 3-day Marrakech itinerary.
Weather matters too. Spring (March to May) and autumn (September to November) are the most comfortable seasons. Read our guide to the best time to visit Marrakech for month-by-month temperatures.
First-timers should also skim our Marrakech travel tips, which cover dress, tipping, taxis and dealing with persistent touts.
Conclusion
From the smoke and song of Jemaa el-Fna to the silence of the desert at dusk, Marrakech packs an extraordinary range of experiences into a small area. Mix the classic attractions with at least one trip outside the city and you will see the many sides of this place.
Ready to plan? Message our Marrakech team on WhatsApp to book any of our tours. Hotel pickup is included, you pay on the day and cancellation is free.
