20 Best Things to Do in Marrakech, from Palaces to Rooftop Sunsets

Marrakech packs a lot into a small space: a 1,000-year-old medina full of palaces, souks and hidden gardens, a square that changes completely after dark, and a modern city of galleries and cafés just outside the walls. The Atlas Mountains and the rocky Agafay Desert are close enough for a day trip, while the Sahara’s dunes need a longer journey. We’re a Marrakech-based tour operator, so for each of the 20 things below you’ll find what it costs, how long you need, when to go and a local tip.

The short answer: on a first visit, don’t miss Jemaa el-Fna at sunset, a walk through the souks, the Bahia Palace, the Ben Youssef Madrasa and the Jardin Majorelle. Add a hammam, a cooking class or a night street food tour, and if you have time, a day trip to the Atlas Mountains or Essaouira.

About the prices: entry fees are listed in Moroccan dirham (MAD), with an approximate conversion. As a rough guide, 10 MAD is about $1, €0.90 or £0.80. Fees change from time to time, so treat them as 2026 guide prices.

How to group the sights: the medina’s main sights cluster in two areas, which makes planning much easier. In the south, the Bahia Palace, El Badi Palace, the Saadian Tombs and the Mellah are all within a few minutes’ walk of each other, so they fit into one morning. In the north, the souks, Le Jardin Secret, the Ben Youssef Madrasa, the Maison de la Photographie and Dar El Bacha make a natural half-day loop. The Jardin Majorelle, the Menara Gardens and Gueliz are outside the medina, so pair them with a short taxi ride.

The medina's classic sights

1. Jemaa el-Fna, by day and by night

Jemaa el-Fna is the heart of the medina and one of the best places to begin exploring. By day, it’s orange juice stalls, henna artists and snake charmers. Around sunset, it transforms: food stalls fill the square with smoke and noise, musicians and storytellers gather crowds, and the whole place hums until late. It’s at its liveliest after dark, but worth seeing in the morning too, when it feels much calmer and you can actually take it in.

Cost: free
Time needed: an hour or two, at least once in the evening
Tip: if you photograph performers or snake charmers, they’ll expect a small tip, so agree on it first or keep your camera down. Watch your belongings in the evening crowds.

2. The souks, with someone who knows the way

North of Jemaa el-Fna, the souks spread into a maze of covered alleys, each area once dedicated to a single craft: leather, metalwork, spices, carpets, lamps. It’s one of the most fascinating parts of the medina and also the easiest place to get lost (which is half the fun). Look out for the artisans still working in tiny workshops, and the spice and herb stalls around Rahba Kedima square.

Cost: free to wander
Time needed: half a day
Tip: haggling is part of shopping here, especially for carpets, lamps and leather. Take your time, keep it friendly and don’t feel pressured to buy anything.

Visiting Marrakech for the first time? A private guided city tour combines the souks with the main palaces and the madrasa, with a licensed local guide who helps you make sense of the medina. We can add one to any trip.

3. Ben Youssef Madrasa

This 16th-century Quranic school is one of the most beautiful buildings in Morocco: a courtyard of carved cedar, stucco and zellige tilework around a central pool, with the students’ tiny rooms on the floors above. It reopened after a careful restoration a few years ago and is a highlight for anyone who loves architecture or photography.

Cost: about 50 MAD (about $5 / €4.50 / £4)
Time needed: 45 minutes
Tip: go at opening time or late afternoon, when the courtyard is quietest and the light is softer.

4. Bahia Palace

Built in the 19th century for a grand vizier, the Bahia Palace is a series of courtyards, gardens and painted rooms with some of the finest ceilings and tilework in the city. It’s not a single grand building but a rambling palace, which makes it lovely to wander.

Cost: about 100 MAD (about $10 / €9 / £8)
Time needed: 1 hour
Tip: it gets busy with tour groups from mid-morning, so go early.

5. El Badi Palace

Once one of the most lavish palaces in the Islamic world, El Badi is now a vast, atmospheric ruin of sunken gardens and high walls, with storks nesting on top. Climb up to the terrace for one of the best views over the medina’s rooftops.

Cost: about 100 MAD (about $10 / €9 / £8)
Time needed: 1 hour
Tip: there’s little shade, so avoid the middle of the day in the warmer months.

6. The Saadian Tombs

Hidden behind the Kasbah Mosque and only rediscovered in 1917, the Saadian Tombs are a small but beautiful complex of 16th-century mausoleums. The Hall of the Twelve Columns, with its carved cedar and marble, is the one everyone queues for.

Cost: about 100 MAD (about $10 / €9 / £8)
Time needed: 30 to 45 minutes
Tip: the queue for the main hall moves slowly at peak times, so arrive at opening.

7. The Koutoubia Mosque

The 12th-century minaret of the Koutoubia is Marrakech’s most famous landmark, visible from almost everywhere in the medina. Like most mosques in Morocco, it’s closed to non-Muslims, but you can admire it from the surrounding gardens, which are especially beautiful at sunset.

Cost: free (from outside)
Time needed: 20 to 30 minutes
Tip: it’s a few minutes’ walk from Jemaa el-Fna, so pair the two.

8. Le Jardin Secret

Tucked behind a plain door in the middle of the medina, this restored 19th-century riad garden is a calm, green escape from the busy streets around it. It has an Islamic garden, an exotic garden and a tower with views over the rooftops.

Cost: about 100 MAD for the garden, plus a small extra for the tower (about $10 / €9 / £8)
Time needed: 45 minutes
Tip: come here when the souks start to feel overwhelming. It sits between the souks and the Ben Youssef Madrasa, so it’s an easy reset halfway through the northern loop.

9. The Mellah, the old Jewish quarter

The Mellah, next to the Bahia and El Badi palaces, was home to Marrakech’s Jewish community for centuries. Walk its streets to see the Lazama Synagogue, the old Jewish cemetery and the spice market at its edge. It’s quieter and more local than the souks, and gives you a different side of the medina’s history.

Cost: free to wander, small fees for the synagogue and cemetery
Time needed: 1 hour
Tip: it’s easiest to visit with a guide, who can explain the history and find the hidden corners.

Gardens and museums beyond the souks

10. Jardin Majorelle and the YSL Museum

Created by the painter Jacques Majorelle and later restored by Yves Saint Laurent and Pierre Bergé, the Jardin Majorelle is a garden of cacti, palms and bamboo around a villa painted in a vivid cobalt blue. Next door, the Yves Saint Laurent Museum tells the story of the designer’s love affair with Marrakech.

Cost: 170 MAD for the garden (about $17 / €15.50 / £13.50), with separate or combined tickets for the YSL Museum and the Berber Museum
Time needed: 1 to 2 hours
Tip: it’s the busiest site in Marrakech. Book timed tickets online in advance and go at opening. The garden sits on the edge of Gueliz, so stay for lunch and a wander around the modern city afterwards.

11. Maison de la Photographie

A small, beautifully restored townhouse in the medina, filled with vintage photographs of Morocco from the late 19th century to the mid-20th century: Amazigh (Berber) villages, caravans and the Marrakech of a century ago. The rooftop café has lovely views.

Cost: about 50 MAD (about $5 / €4.50 / £4)
Time needed: 45 minutes to 1 hour
Tip: a great stop for anyone curious about how Morocco looked before modern tourism.

12. Dar El Bacha and Bacha Coffee

Dar El Bacha is an early 20th-century palace with stunning courtyards and carved ceilings, now home to the Musée des Confluences. Inside is Bacha Coffee, an elegant café that’s become one of the most photographed spots in the city.

Cost: about 60 MAD for the palace (about $6 / €5.50 / £5), with the café paid separately
Time needed: 1 to 1.5 hours
Tip: there’s often a queue for the café, so arrive early or be prepared to wait.

13. Menara Gardens

The Menara Gardens, just outside the medina, are a huge olive grove around a large pool and a 19th-century pavilion. On clear winter days, the snowy Atlas Mountains appear behind the pavilion, making it a classic photo spot. It’s where Marrakech families come for a walk and a picnic.

Cost: free to enter the gardens
Time needed: 1 hour
Tip: go in the late afternoon for the best light.

Experiences worth adding to your trip

14. A traditional hammam

A hammam, the Moroccan steam bath, is an experience worth trying while you’re here. You relax in the steam, then get a vigorous scrub with black soap and a kessa glove that leaves your skin softer than ever. Local public hammams are cheap and authentic, with separate sections or hours for men and women, while spa hammams in riads and hotels offer a more relaxed, private version.

Cost: entry to a local public hammam is cheap, but the scrub and supplies (black soap, kessa glove) are often paid separately, so budget around 50 to 100 MAD in total (about $5 to $10 / €4.50 to €9 / £4 to £8). Spa hammams start at around 300 MAD (about $30 / €27 / £24)
Time needed: 1 to 2 hours
Tip: perfect after a long day of walking, or on a cool winter evening.

15. A Moroccan cooking class

Learning to cook a tagine means you can recreate a little of Morocco at home. Many classes start with a trip to the market to buy spices and vegetables, then you cook a full meal and eat what you’ve made.

Cost: varies by class
Time needed: half a day
Tip: tell the class about any dietary needs when you book. Vegetarian menus are easy to arrange.

16. A street food tour at night

We did a street food tour after dark, and it was one of the coolest things we did in Marrakech. A local guide leads you through the medina’s lanes to small stalls and family-run spots you’d be unlikely to find on your own, and explains what you’re eating along the way. It’s a great way to discover Moroccan street food and learn what you’re eating.

Cost: varies by tour
Time needed: about 3 hours, in the evening
Tip: come hungry and skip dinner. If you want to know what to try, this guide to what to eat in Morocco covers the classics.

17. Sunset from a rooftop above Jemaa el-Fna

One of the simplest pleasures in Marrakech: find a rooftop café or restaurant overlooking Jemaa el-Fna, order a mint tea and watch the square fill up as the sun sets behind the Koutoubia. As the light fades, the call to prayer rises from the mosques across the medina.

Cost: the price of a drink
Time needed: an hour around sunset
Tip: get there 30 to 45 minutes before sunset to find a good seat.

18. A night in a riad

Staying in a riad, a traditional house built around an inner courtyard, is part of the Marrakech experience. From the outside, you see only a plain wall and a door; inside, there’s a courtyard garden or pool, tiled fountains and a roof terrace. Many are small, family-run guesthouses with breakfast on the roof.

Cost: from budget to luxury
Tip: many riads are tucked down pedestrian-only lanes, so check how far you’ll walk with your luggage from the nearest drop-off point (porters with carts usually help for a small tip). In winter, ask whether the rooms are heated.

19. A hot-air balloon ride at sunrise

For a completely different perspective, take a sunrise hot-air balloon flight over the countryside outside Marrakech, drifting above Amazigh villages and fields with the Atlas Mountains on the horizon. Balloons don’t take off from the city itself, so most flights include a hotel pick-up before dawn and breakfast after landing.

Time needed: a morning, starting very early
Tip: flights depend on the weather and can be moved or canceled at short notice, so book it early in your stay to leave room for a second try.

20. Sunset and dinner in the Agafay Desert

About 45 minutes from Marrakech, the stony Agafay Desert offers a desert-like landscape without a long drive. Ride a camel or quad bike at sunset, then have dinner under the stars at a desert camp with views of the Atlas Mountains. It’s not the Sahara and there are no sand dunes, but it’s a beautiful evening out.

Time needed: an afternoon and evening
Tip: for the real Sahara dunes, you’ll need at least three days. Our guide on how far the Sahara is from Marrakech explains the options.

Free things to do in Marrakech

Some of the best experiences in Marrakech don’t need a ticket. You can wander the souks, watch Jemaa el-Fna come alive at sunset, admire the Koutoubia from its gardens, explore the Mellah and walk around the Menara Gardens without paying a dirham. Add a stroll along the medina walls and through Gueliz, and you have a full day for the price of a mint tea.

Things to do in Marrakech at night

Marrakech comes alive after sunset. Some of the best evening plans are already on this list: Jemaa el-Fna once the food stalls open, a rooftop at sunset, a street food tour or dinner under the stars in Agafay. Add to that:

Dinner in a palace or riad restaurant, many with live music.
An evening hammam, the perfect way to end a long day.
An evening in Gueliz, the modern part of the city built during the French protectorate, with wide avenues, art galleries, concept stores, and many of the city’s best restaurants, bars and cafés. It’s a completely different side of Marrakech from the medina.

Things to do in Marrakech with kids

Marrakech is a fun city for children, as long as you plan for the crowds and the heat. Kids usually love:

Jemaa el-Fna in the early evening, with its musicians, acrobats and orange juice stalls.
A camel ride in the Palmeraie or in Agafay.
The Jardin Majorelle and the Menara Gardens, for space to breathe outside the medina.
A cooking class, which many children enjoy as much as adults.
Oasiria, a water park on the edge of the city, open in the warmer months.

For more ideas, see our guide to the best places to visit in Morocco with family.

Day trips from Marrakech

Marrakech is the perfect base for day trips to very different landscapes. Some are easy half-day outings, others mean a long day on the road, so check the driving times:

Day trip	Drive each way	What to expect
The Ourika Valley and the Atlas Mountains	1 to 1.5 hours	Easy day: Amazigh villages, waterfalls and mountain views
Essaouira	about 3 hours	Full day: a relaxed, whitewashed port town on the Atlantic coast
Ouzoud Waterfalls	2.5 to 3 hours	Full day: Morocco’s highest waterfalls, olive groves and Barbary macaques
Aït Ben Haddou	3 to 4 hours	Long day: the famous fortified village, over the winding Tizi n’Tichka pass

If you have three days or more, the Sahara is within reach. See our tours from Marrakech for desert trips, or let us build a private itinerary that combines Marrakech with the Atlas Mountains, the Sahara and anywhere else you want to go.

Tips for visiting Marrakech

Start early. Most sights are quieter and cooler first thing in the morning, and the afternoon is a good time for a riad pool, a hammam or a long lunch.
Ignore “the square is closed” and similar lines. Friendly strangers offering directions often expect payment or lead you to a shop. A polite “no, thank you” and a confident walk work fine.
Agree on taxi fares first. Petit taxis should use the meter, but if they don’t, agree on the price before you get in.
Dress comfortably and respectfully. Covering shoulders and knees is a good idea in the medina. Our guide on what to wear in Morocco has more detail.
Carry some cash. Many small shops, stalls and taxis only take dirham.

How long to spend in Marrakech

Most first-time visitors spend two to four days in Marrakech, enough for the main sights, a couple of experiences and a day trip. With only one day, start at the Bahia Palace, walk north through the souks to the Ben Youssef Madrasa, then finish with sunset over Jemaa el-Fna. Our guide on how many days in Marrakech includes a day-by-day itinerary.

Plan your time in Marrakech with us

We're based in Marrakech, and we organize private tours built around what you want to do. We can arrange your airport transfer, a guided city tour of the medina, day trips and any of the activities in this guide, from a cooking class to a balloon ride or a night in the desert. Your driver, guide and itinerary are private, so we build the trip around exactly what you want to do.

FAQ

Is $20 a lot in Morocco?

It goes a long way in Marrakech. $20 (about 200 MAD) can cover a couple of street food meals, a mint tea on a rooftop and a taxi ride, or the entry fees for two or three of the main sights. A sit-down dinner in a nice restaurant or a spa hammam will cost more. For a fuller picture of costs, see is Morocco expensive?

Can you walk everywhere in Marrakech?

Inside the medina, yes, and walking is the only way to explore the narrow lanes. The main sights are within 15 to 30 minutes’ walk of each other. For the Jardin Majorelle, the Menara Gardens and Gueliz, a short taxi ride is easier.

Do I need a guide in Marrakech?

You don’t need one, but many visitors book one for their first half day. Official guides in Marrakech are licensed, and a typical guided city tour covers the main palaces, the madrasa and the souks in about three to four hours, at your pace. After that, most people feel confident exploring on their own. We can arrange a private guided city tour as part of your trip.