Marrakech was my first trip to Morocco, and to North Africa. It’s a mesmerizing city, absolutely chaotic most of the time but with so much to explore. The food is amazing, and the history and culture is fascinating. I spent about one week in Marrakech, and saw loads of the city over that time! Here’s my Marrakech guide, so you can plan your next trip.

What to Do in Marrakech

I had four days of sightseeing in Marrakech, mixed with two daytrips and one day of remote work. These are my top picks for what to see in the city!

Marrakech Medina

This is a UNESCO World Heritage Site, and the number one place you have to visit in Marrakech. It’s the old city here, with narrow, winding streets and alleyways that you follow through a confusing maze. You can buy seemingly anything here: carpets, lamps, shoes, souvenirs, food, and more. Be prepared for sellers in the souks to shout out at you – it may feel disconcerting at first, but they just want you to notice them and buy something. Get ready to haggle!

Koutoubia Mosque

This is one of the main mosques in Marrakech, originally completed in 1158. You can spot it from all over the city! Note that only worshippers can go inside.

Djema el-Fna

This is the main square and marketplace in Marrakech, an overwhelming blend of sights, sounds, and smells. There are lots of cafes and restaurants overlooking the square, before the square merges into the souks. There are quite a number of snake charmers or monkey performers here – this made me very uncomfortable. Please don’t pay for photos with chained wild animals.

Jardin Majorelle (YSL Gardens)

This is possibly the most famous attraction in Marrakech, with the crowds to match. I enjoyed wandering around here early in the morning, before the hordes descended. The gardens and bright blue buildings are great for an Instagrammable photoshoot! The garden was owned by fashion designers Yves Saint Laurent and Pierre Bergé; the Yves Saint Laurent Museum is located within the gardens. Buying tickets online in advance is the only way to visit – which I’d recommend anyway, as the queues were insane when I went. Book an early timeslot in the morning for a better experience. If you’re after a guided tour that includes the YSL Gardens, check out the options below!

Jardin Secret (Secret Garden)

This garden is located in the heart of the medina – the peaceful oasis is juxtaposed with the bustling souks right outside the walls. Although its history dates back to the 16th century, the complex was rebuilt in the mid-19th century. You can pay extra for a tour of the tower, but you can enjoy the view from the terrace for free.

Dar El Bacha Museum

This is a magnificent residence-turned-museum, showcasing a classic example of a riad. The tilework and mosaics are absolutely stunning here – you’ll pass through several different types of rooms, as well as the beautiful central courtyard, as you explore. You’ll also find a café at the back of the riad.

Ben Youssef Madrasa

Can you imagine going to school here?! This was one of the most important Islamic schools/colleges in Morocco. There are over 130 rooms here, and it used to house about 900 students. It’s a far cry from my high school in Minneapolis that didn’t have windows, lol. It was completed in the mid-1500s and is an absolutely spectacular display of Arabic and Moroccan architecture.

Bahia Palace

This beautiful palace, dating back to the 19th century, boasts 160 rooms over 8000 square meters, and impressive architecture and decoration throughout. The large main courtyard is a stunner, and there are several different courtyards and gardens to wander through as well. I’d recommend visiting this palace in the morning, right when they open, to try to avoid the crowds.

Badi Palace

In contrast to the Bahia Palace, the Badi Palace is in ruins now. It was originally built in 1578 and now is a huge open space, with lots of different areas to explore. There are some exhibits in the remaining rooms, but the openness really gives you a feel for just how vast this space is.

Saadien’s Tombs

This is a royal set of tombs in Marrakech, in the Kasbah area of the city. They hold the remains of the Saadien family, who founded Marrakech – other royals were buried after the first historic burials in the late 16th century. The tombs themselves are magnificent, but there’s not all that much else in the site once you’ve seen them. The other architecture is beautiful, though.

Atlas Mountains Daytrip

One of the best parts of my Marrakech trip was my daytrip to the Atlas Mountains! We had a full day out of the city – we drove to Imlil, at the foot of the mountains, and hiked to see a small waterfall before hiking around the valley to other Berber villages. I learned so much about Berber culture, and our guide Rachid was great – we even stopped for mint tea at his house! Lunch was at Riad Atlas 4 Seasons, which had an absolutely stunning view over the area. It was a fantastic day! You can book the same tour I did through Get Your Guide.

Where to Eat in Marrakech

Moroccan food is excellent, and I loved eating all the tagine, couscous, and hummus during my trip! And of course, you can’t visit Morocco without drinking a few (hundred) cups of mint tea. There are so many options for food in Marrakech you’ll be spoiled for choice, but here’s a few of the places I liked best.

Kabana

This rooftop isn’t cheap – and beware the prices for alcohol – but the food was excellent and the vibes were great. This was where I ate for Christmas Eve! I loved my falafel, although they had quite a few pasta dishes on offer, too.

Le Jardin

This restaurant is tucked away, hidden deep in the city’s souks. While it’s a bit of a maze to find it, the huge courtyard is beautiful, with lots of trees and plants living up to its garden name.

Henna Art Café

Tasty Moroccan food with a side of henna? You can make it happen here, where they have henna artists in one section of the café. The food is high-quality and affordable – I had possibly the best kefta tagine of my trip here.

Fine Mama

This is another great place to eat in Marrakech, which won’t break the bank. The food is delicious – if you’re in the mood to share (or if you’re just really hungry), try the massive sharing platter (mezze oriental falafel). Try to get a seat inside or upstairs, otherwise you’ll have people coming up trying to sell you stuff for the duration of your meal.

Zeitoun

This café overlooks Djema el-Fna, with an amazing view from the terrace. I only had drinks (non-alcoholic) here, so I can’t speak for the food. But there’s a great atmosphere, and it’s nice to be close to the hustle and bustle, but still removed from it. You definitely need to have a drink somewhere around Djema el-Fna!

Travel Tips for Marrakech

Marrakech is one of the most popular cities to visit in Morocco. The official language is Arabic, although most people also speak French. The currency is Moroccan dirham, and you’ll want to get cash out for smaller businesses (market stalls and taxis, in particular). If you’re staying in the medina, it’s worth arranging an airport transfer on arrival in advance – the souks can be particularly overwhelming, especially if you’re carrying luggage. Download Google Maps offline, as there are no street signs in the medina, and navigation can be tricky. As with any trip, be aware of your surroundings, and keep a hand on your belongings (particularly your phone) in the chaotic souks. Try not to get run over by scooters or bikes!

Planning Your Trip to Marrakech

Marrakech has its own airport, with plenty of budget airline flights from Europe. I use Skyscanner to book my flights. Considering travel insurance for your trip? World Nomads offers coverage for more than 150 adventure activities as well as emergency medical, lost luggage, trip cancellation and more.

I stayed in a private room at Riad Jennah Rouge hostel for my trip to Marrakech. I really liked this hostel – the private room was affordable, the breakfast each morning was insane and so filling, and there was an awesome rooftop terrace, perfect for hanging out and meeting people. There was also a very cute hostel cat here! You can book through Hostelworld or Booking.com. Otherwise, check out other options in Marrakech by searching below!

Booking.com

Marrakech was a fantastic getaway – particularly as I was traveling over Christmas, and I wanted to be somewhere new and different. The architecture here is beautiful, the food is tasty, and I snapped about a hundred pictures of the beautiful tiles and mosaics. I hope this guide helps in planning your trip to Marrakech!

Have you been to Marrakech before? What were your favorite places?

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