Marrakesh is an incredible city to visit. Perched just shy of the iconic Atlas Mountains in Morocco, it’s steeped in history dating back almost a thousand years. This means there are heaps of the best things to do in Marrakesh dotted all across its historic centre.
Now, one thing I would say is that Marrakesh can seem to be a little overwhelming at times. Even if you’ve been to other beautiful places in Morocco, the souks can feel chaotic, and I’ll almost guarantee you’ll get lost too many times to count.
However, don’t let that put you off—Marrakesh is well worth visiting, and exploring the souks and the city centre is all part of the fun.
So, to help you navigate the bustling city streets, I wanted to share some of the best things to do in Marrakesh when you visit. Oh, and don’t forget to read our guide on how long to stay in Marrakech. Planning the number of days you’ll need in the city is always worth planning before you book your flight and accommodation.
1.) Ben Youssef Madrasa
First up has to be Ben Youssef Madrasa. It’s incredible – look at it!
The historic Islamic college has existed for centuries, and a Madrasa (college) has been on the site for much longer.
Reopened to visitors, after extensive restoration works, visiting is one of the best things to do in Marrakesh if you love northern African architecture.
It’s just stunning. Inside, you’ll wander around the iconic courtyard, see the beautiful Zellij mosaics and spot the Saadian-era carved marble panels.
You don’t need to book tickets in advance; you can buy them at the door. If you want to avoid most other visitors, arrive earlier in the morning or just before closing.
Always make sure to take cash with you. They don’t accept cards at the door, and you don’t want to start looking for an ATM once you arrive.
Oh, and don’t forget to visit Ben Youssef Madrasa while exploring the Souks. It’s right in the heart of Marrakesh and so easy to include in your day’s plans.
Also, to help you get there, this is the Google Maps point for Ben Youssef Madrasa. Just follow the route, but be aware that it will sometimes take you down unfamiliar and smaller alleyways.
Read more: Beautiful places in Morocco
2.) El Badi Palace
El Badi Palace is another of the best things to do in Marrakesh, right in the heart of the historic centre.
Built in the 1500s, El Badi Palace is a relatively large complex of ruined halls, open-air pavilions, and residential quarters that you can’t miss.
The grounds are enormous and worth spending 90 minutes strolling through the complex. Oh, and if you’re visiting in Summer, take some water with you—there are many open areas with little shade.
Again, just like Ben Youssef Madrasa, you don’t need to buy a ticket in advance, and you can pay with cash when you arrive at the palace itself. Moreover, in so many ways, cash is king for smaller cafes, restaurants, and attractions in Marrakesh.
Visits to El Badi Palace will take around 90 minutes, which is easy to include on a day visiting Marrakesh. Remember, there is little to no shade within El Badi Palace itself. If you’re staying in the height of summer, take plenty of SPF and a hat. The sun glare can be unbearable.
Oh, and this is the Google Maps point for finding El Badi Palace.
Getting peckish? Remember to book this yummy Marrakesh food tour with a guide. You’ll meander through the souks, learn how méchoui makers prepare their dishes, and eat until you are stuffed. You’ll love it.
3.) Stay in a Riad
Now, the best way to describe a Riad is to think of it as a small, typically family-run lodging. Usually consisting of a few rooms, they can be a little oasis in the city and well worth booking one for your visit.
We stayed at the Tarabel and loved it. It has three courtyards (one with a pool), and a spa and serves a delicious tagline, too.
We stayed for a few nights and loved how charming, friendly and gorgeous the rooms were. Plus, it’s next to the Dar El Bacha Musée Des Confluences – making it a good spot to wander historic Marrakesh and stop off for their famous coffee House.
Another Riad we love is El Fenn, owned by Richard Branson’s sister. It has an artsy and creative vibe and four intimate pools, including a rooftop pool that feels like an oasis in Marrakesh.
Like most riads, the rooms are naturally darker. This is intentional, and you will notice it in many historic buildings in Marrakesh. It helps keep the glaring heat from the room on the hottest of days. We loved it.
Also, even if you’re not staying at El Fenn, you can book a table for dinner at their rooftop restaurant and/or cocktails. Just remember to book this as soon as possible, as reservations for food can fill up weeks in advance. Oh, and stop by for cocktails at sunset. You’ll have views over the Mosque area of Marrakesh, which feels so special.
If you fancy a more prominent hotel outside the city’s hustle and bustle, book into the Oberoi (which we loved). We stayed here for the latter part of our trip to the town, and it was a welcome respite from the busy city streets.
Finally, book a stay at La Mamounia, an iconic hotel in Marrakesh. We spent a few days here, and it’s such an oasis in the city itself.
It has a different vibe compared to a stay within a Riad and has four restaurants (we loved the Moroccan restaurant), huge gardens, and an iconic spa.
Read more: Best things to do in Morocco
4.) Bahia Palace
Bahia Palace is probably the most visited palace in Marrakesh and not too far from El Badi Palace. Built in the 1800s, it is one of the best things to do in Marrakesh if you want to take in the city’s ornate buildings.
Like most palaces in the city, you don’t need to book your tickets in advance; you can quickly obtain them once you arrive at the Bahia Palace. Oh, and this is the Google Maps link to find the Bahia Palace easily.
One thing to remember (which you might experience) is to be cautious about any unsolicited advice that friendly locals give you on the street about closing times, wrong directions, etc. Often, it’s a relatively unharmful ploy to get you into a shop, market or tannery, but it can be annoying if you’re short on time and want to cram everything. Don’t take it to heart; just be nice and friendly and kindly refuse.
I would say that no one was impolite or unfriendly, but always take unsolicited information with caution when navigating the streets of Marrakesh. After all, you don’t want to waste time in the city.
Read more: How long to stay in Marrakech
5.) Marakesh Souks
Probably one of the city’s most iconic parts, the souks of Marrakesh have to be explored. Filled with miles of tiny alleys, streets and market squares, you’ll find vendors selling everything from gems, herbs, carpets, and much more.
Here’s some advice: download an offline map to help you navigate the small streets. We downloaded offline Google Maps of the historic centre, and it worked. Though I’m almost guaranteeing you’ll still get lost.
Anyway, getting lost aside, look around the souks and remember to haggle.
Typically, visitors’ prices will be heavily inflated, so start low, around 50% of their asking price, and find a number that you feel comfortable with. It’s a skill that has to be learned. However, if you’re unsure, walk away and go back later.
The same goes for taxis. Taxi drivers hate putting on their meters for visitors. Agree on a price before entering the taxi, and haggle down. Also, there is an app called InDrive, where you can bid for a price you’re willing to pay for a taxi. This can be helpful, but be aware that the taxi drivers will still try to charge you much more.
Typically, we took around 60-70% off their original price, which is still significantly more than if they had put their meters on. This is still heavily inflated, but you must be prepared for that as a visitor to Marrakch.
Read more: How long to stay in Marrakech
6.) Jardin Majorelle and Yves Saint Laurent Museum
This iconic botanical garden is probably one of Marrakesh’s most famous parks. Envisioned and created by Jacques Majorelle, it’s one of the best things to do in Marrakesh and is so colourful.
Not only that, you can also head to the nearby Yves Saint Laurent Museum, which is mere minutes up the road. If you love YSL or are interested in the history of its fashion, then take a look inside. If not, stick to the gardens.
There’s typically a queue to enter Jardin Majorelle. Still, you can skip this if you buy this combination ticket (online or at the YSL Museum) for the museum and the garden together.
We bought this at the Yves Saint Laurent Museum and could head straight into the gardens afterwards. However, I still wish we’d bought this ticket before; it would have meant much less waiting around, which is honestly such a relief on a hot Moroccan day.
Read more: Beautiful places in Morocco
7.) The Atlas Mountains
Taking a day trip to the Atlas Mountains is something that we found so special. It’s easily one of the best things to do in Marrakesh if you fancy a break from walking the city centre.
The easiest way to explore the Atlas Mountains is by tour. We went on this epic private tour and loved it. That being said, if you want to keep costs down, you can join a shared tour that’ll take you to this beautiful area of Morocco.
As you meander the mountain roads, you’ll see the vistas across the High Atlas Mountains and stop off at local villages like Imlil. Some tours even include a stop at Tamatert and seeing some local markets (Asni).
Whatever the case, book this Atlas Mountains guided tour before arriving in Marrakesh.
Read more: How long to stay in Marrakech
8.) Dar El Bacha Museum
This was right next to Tarabel Riad (where we stayed) and well worth popping in to see the gorgeous palace hidden from the streets outside.
Wander around Thami El Glaoui’s historic residence and see the rooms where Winston Churchill and Charlie Chaplin visited. The Carved stuccos are ornate and well worth seeing.
Oh, and don’t forget to pop into the El Bacha Coffee House within the palace. It’s gorgeous, and the pastries and coffee are some of the best in Marrakesh. Now, you sometimes need to wait around 60-120 minutes for a table, so be sure to pop straight into the Dar El Bacha as soon as you enter the museum.
Grab your ticket for the museum, walk straight to El Bacha Coffee House and grab a buzzer from the host at the door. Then, it’s the waiting game. After collecting the buzzer, you can then use this time to explore the rest of the Dar El Bacha Museum. It’ll take you around 60 minutes to wander around the palace, and within no time at all, your buzzer will go off to get your table at
Once inside, you’ll get to try some of the world’s best coffee, and they have some of the tastiest pastries and desserts, which are perfect around lunchtime. Though, like I said, you will have to be patient with the queue.
Read more: How long to stay in Marrakech
9.) Jemaa el-Fnaa
You’ll either love or hate Jemaa el-Fnaa when visiting Marrakesh. It’s a bustling market square filled with hundreds of vendors and enough people to fill a stadium, which can be a lot on a hot day!
Thankfully, even though it all seems overwhelming, Jemaa el-Fnaa is pretty easy to wander around (all without getting lost). Even in the early evening, it’s a great spot to visit, with loads of foodie vendors dotted across the square.
Also, don’t forget those haggling techniques I mentioned earlier. They will come in useful here.
Finally, if you’re getting peckish or fancy a drink, stop off at Nomad, they have a lovely rooftop restaurant, but it is jam-packed with visitors to Marrakech. Again, reserve your table as soon as you can.
If it’s just drinks you’re after, you’ll find a heap of small rooftop cafes serving sweet mint tea that is such a treat at sunset.
Read more: Beautiful places in Morocco
10.) Le Jardin Secret
One of the best things to do in Marrakesh is to visit Le Jardin Secret, which is mere minutes from Dar El Bacha Museum and harks back to the Saadian Dynasty.
As you stroll around the intimate garden, you’ll learn more about its craftsmanship and the ornate details that make Le Jardin Secret so unique.
It’ll take you around 30 minutes to explore, and it’s easy to visit if you’ve got spare time in Marrakesh.
Getting peckish? For a tasty bite to eat, stroll over to Nomad (where you’ll need to book a table in advance). Head to their rooftop for a yummy sunset dinner.
Read more: Beautiful places in Morocco
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