The 21 best things to do in Marrakech right now

An architectural jewel and Marrakech’s most important monument, Madersa Ben Youssef is a 14th-century religious school that's recently undergone a painstaking five-year renovation, during which the rich zellij tiling, ancient cedarwood ceilings and vine-covered stuccowork have been brought back to stunning life. Up in the dormitories of Medersa Ben Youssef you’ll find absorbing videos about the restoration.  

Why go? To get an appreciation of the extraordinary technical skill and imaginative power of Morocco’s master craftsmen, who still ply their trade in the city’s souks. 

🤫 Insider tip: Visit in the final hour of the day for ambient lighting and fewer tour groups. An advanced online ticketing option is coming soon.

Address: Rue Assouel, 40000, Marrakech 

Opening hours: Open daily, from 9am-7pm. Ramadan hours are from 9am-4.30pm.

Expect to pay: 50 DH general admission for tourists, and 40 DH for locals 

Souk Semmarine is the Bond Street of Marrakech’s central souks, lined with carpets, cut brass lanterns, leatherwork and babouche. Dive in and get lost in the tangle of alleys which lead off into Rahba Kedima (the spice market) and souk Haddadine (blacksmiths alley).

Why go? Did you even go to Morocco if you didn’t come back with something to remember it by? Haggle with the traders for that beautiful rug you spotted – you won’t regret it. 

🤫 Insider tip: Overwhelmed by souk bartering? Explore with a local guide for a half-day, or visit the Artisanal Craft Complex for fixed-price shopping.

Address: Souk Semmarine, 40000, Marrakesh 

Opening hours: Open daily, from 9am-9pm

The French designer loved spending time in Marrakech so much he bought the famous Jardin Majorelle in 1980 and made it home. Now, the Musée Yves Saint Laurent, located next door, 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 contemporary buildings, and includes a beautiful café, bookshop, archive library and auditorium.

🤫 Insider tip: Book a combined ticket in advance, including access to the Jardins Majorelle and Berber Museum, both next door. Allow enough time to visit the YSL in-house bookshop and café. 

Address: Rue Yves St Laurent, 40000, Marrakech 

Opening hours: Thursday to Tuesday, from 10am-6pm; closed Wednesdays (last entry at 5.30pm)

Expect to pay: 140 DH for general admission (for museum only)

Sahbi Sahbi is an atmospheric modern Moroccan restaurant in the New Town, Gueliz, designed by renown architectural practice Studio KO. Presided over by an all-female team known as dadas - a name for women who were home caretakers and cooks, and who guarded and passed down local recipes, Sahbi Sahbi serves up some of the best traditional Moroccan dishes in a stylish interior with an open, central kitchen where you can see the magic happen. 

Why go? To sample traditional Moroccan cooking at its finest, including unctuous beef tangia with white beans and cinnamon-dusted pigeon pastilla. Reserve a seat at the counter to see the chefs in action. 

Address: 37 Boulevard Mansour Eddahbi, 40000, Marrakech

Opening hours: Tuesday to Sunday, from 6.30pm-1am 

Expect to pay: 115-205 DH for starters, 180-80 DH for mains, and 80-90 DH for desserts 

📍 Discover more of the best restaurants in Marrakech

Created by the French painter, Jacques Majorelle, this botanical garden is home to more types of cacti 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 with its sculptural cacti and indigo blue villa is pure Instagram gold. Majorelle’s studio also houses the Berber Museum, showcasing a rich collection of traditional Moroccan jewellery and fashion. 

Address: Rue Yves St Laurent, 40000, Marrakech 

Opening hours: Open daily, from 8am-5pm (last entry at 5pm)

Expect to pay: 170 DH for general admission (for garden only)

Bahia Palace (which roughly translates to ‘beautiful palace’) was built in the late 19th century, and now forms the epicentre of the city’s culture. You won’t believe the decor until you see it. There's high, gilded ceilings, rooms filled with paintings, mosaics and stuccos, and a huge, open garden to wander.

Why go? To find a spot in the shade and sit for hours to take it all in. 

Address: Rue Riad Zitoun el Jdid, 40000, Marrakech

Opening hours: Open daily, from 9am-5pm 

Expect to pay: 100 DH for general admission 

Souk Cuisine puts on cookery classes with a twist. Starting with a tour of the souks, you shop for ingredients before heading to a riad where you’re taught how to cook by a group of local women.

Why go? Food is a huge part of Moroccan culture, and the course is a fab way to learn more about the country and its traditions. You’ll also make some of the tastiest tagines in town.

This necropolis was built in the 16th century, long forgotten, only to be rediscovered in 1917. The main attraction is the Chamber of 12 Pillars, an enchanting mausoleum where Sultan Al Mansur and his family are buried alongside others.

Why go? For a glimpse into some of Morocco’s finest preserved marble columns and tombs, intricate zellige artwork in a walled garden at the heart of the historic Kasbah district.

🤫 Insider tip: If you’re visiting without a guide, read up on the history of the Saadian Tombs in advance to understand their legacy, there’s little info at the site. To fully appreciate the tranquility of the gardens and mausoleum chambers go early, like 9am, when they open.

Address: 400 Rue de La Kasbah, Marrakesh, 40000

Opening hours: Open daily, from 9am-5pm

Expect to pay: 100 DH for general admission 

Wander through the epic ruins of Sultan Ahmed al-Mansour's once-magnificent palace, which are set sunken gardens of orange trees surrounded by epic ramparts whose decrepit towers offer panoramic views over the medina.

Why go? El Badi may be a ruin, but it offers a 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. 

Address: Ksibat Nhass, 40000, Marrakech

Opening hours: Open daily, from 9am-5pm 

Expect to pay: 100 DH for general admission 

Café Clock is a hybrid restaurant-café-cultural centre where you can consider the merits of date milkshakes and camel burgers and sign up for storytelling workshops, calligraphy classes, oud lessons and Gnaoua jam sessions.

Why go? To dive deep into Moroccan culture and give some things a go yourself. Also, 10 dirhams from every camel burger Café Clock sells goes to charity.

Address: 224 Derb Chtouka, Kasbah, Marrakech

Opening hours: Open daily, from 9am-11pm 

Expect to pay: 15-110 DH for food and drinks. Check the official website for classes/workshops offered.  

Marrakech is renowned for its dry, sunny climate, with temperatures ranging from 30 °C to 40 °C from May to October. What to do with these long sunny days? Head poolside! Many of the city's luxury hotels and country retreats now offer pool passes, allowing day visitors to experience their pools, dining facilities, and spa services.

Why go? Take a break from the Medina and retreat to one of the city’s leafy suburbs. Les Deux Tours offers ‘A Day at the Palmeraie’ experience, including pool use, sun lounger, towel, and an à la carte two-course lunch.

🤫 Insider tip: Prices vary; check individual hotel websites for more details on their Pool Day Passes, and book a few days in advance to confirm your spot.  

Address: Douard Abiad, Circuit Palmeraie BP 153, 40000, Marrakech

Opening hours: Pool hours at Les Deux Tours are from 10.30am to 8pm.

High up on the ‘Best Things to Do’ list for any kids (and adults) who love waterparks. Oasiria spans 10 hectares of gardens, providing ample shade for lounging and dining. Choose from eight swimming pools, 17 waterslides for all ages and adrenaline levels, a lazy river, a climbing wall, the largest wave pool in Africa, and several restaurants/ snack bars.    

Why go? Fun for all ages, and one of the best ways to keep cool on a Summer’s day! Great opportunity to play alongside Moroccan families. Lifeguards are there to ensure peace of mind. 

🤫 Insider tip: The park is open from the end of March to November. A free shuttle runs from the city centre from 9:30 a.m. to 6:30 p.m, departing every 45 minutes. Pick-up in front of the Koutoubia Mosque, and McDonald's in Guéliz. Take sun cream and a towel. 

Address: Km 4, Route d'Amizmiz, 40000, Marrakech

Opening hours: Open daily, from 10am-6pm 

Expect to pay: 300 DH for adults, and 200 DH per child 

What is it? 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 the visual history of Morocco. Maison de la Photographie’s rooftop café is also one of the highest in the medina and is a great spot for lunch.

Address: Rue Ahl Fes, 46 Rue Bin Lafnadek, 40030, Marrakech 

Opening hours: Open daily, from 9.30am-7pm 

Expect to pay: 80 DH for general admission 

The hammam – or public bathhouse – is a Moroccan institution and you’ll find one in every neighbourhood in Marrakech, as well as in hotels like La Mamounia, Riad Tarabel and Es Saadi. It’s where Moroccans go for their weekly, relaxing gommage (scrub), but also to reconnect with themselves and with friends and family.

Why go? Because it’s an authentic Moroccan experience and is incredibly restorative. Alongside a full body scrub, most hammams offer masques and massages as well. 

The vast open square at the heart of the medina is one of Marrakech’s biggest attractions and a UNESCO world heritage site. Expect snake charmers, street entertainers and over-enthusiastic henna artists at every turn. Locals and tourists descend on the Jemaa every night, drawn by the ceaseless hoopla and halqa (street theatre). 

Why go? Grab some food from one of the barbecue stalls, listen to some music, head up to a rooftop bar and marvel at the sunset.

Address: J2G6+99, Marrakesh

Opening hours: Open 24 hours, daily 

Ten minutes west of the walled medina, you’ll find the neighbourhood of Gueliz, the so-called 1930s ‘New Town’. Alongside its cafes and shopping malls, it harbours some exciting modern and contemporary art galleries like Galerie Siniya 28 and Comptoir des Mines. 

Why go? Gueliz is the modern face of Marrakech and these galleries offer an insight into the vibrant, multidisciplinary art scene that Morocco fosters. 

Address: Galerie Siniya 28 is located at 28 Rue Tarik Ibn Ziad, 1er étage, Apt 4, Gueliz, Marrakech

Opening hours: Monday to Saturday, from 9.30am-1pm and 2.30pm-7pm; closed Sundays 

Immerse yourself in the innovative design energy of Marrakech. This out-of-town industrial district is home to interior designer showrooms, vintage shops and quirky cafés. Several globally-recognised brands and artists, including Chabi Chic and Hassan Jajjaj, are setting up shop there.

Why go? For creative inspiration and shopping opps for ceramics, fashion, soft furnishings, fragrance and art in vast loft spaces and beautifully curated showrooms. Feel the buzz and refuel in bright and inspiring cafés, such as Jajjah and Marrakech Fine Food.

🤫 Insider tip: Take a taxi or ask your accommodation to book you a driver. It’s 5km from the Medina and spread out over a sizeable area, easier to explore with a car.

Address: Chabi Chic is located at 435 Quartier Industriel, Zi Sidi Ghanem, Marrakech 

Opening hours: Monday to Saturday, from 9.30am-6.30pm

The former governor’s palace and home to the notorious Thami El Glaoui, Lord of the Atlas. Now the Musée des Confluences, it houses the archaeological collection of American Patty Birch and puts on shows exploring the intersection of eastern and western cultures.

Why go? This is one of the most beautiful palaces in the medina, vast in ambition and covered in intricate detail: coffered cedar ceilings, geometric tiling, stucco worked into elaborate floral motifs. Don’t miss Marrakech’s best cafe, Bacha Coffee House, which serves more than 40 brews in a jewel-like space.

Address: Rue Fatima Zahra, 40000, Marrakech 

Opening hours: Tuesday to Sunday, from 9.30am-6pm; closed Mondays 

Expect to pay: 60 DH for general admission 

Hop aboard a vintage sidecar motorbike for Marrakech Insiders' tailormade tour of the Red City. The essential tour nips down alleys and through grand royal gates to give you a behind-the-scenes peak of local neighbourhoods, while other tours take you out to Art Deco Gueliz and beyond to the Palmeraie and desert. 

Why go? Because it’s fun and revealing and will give you a fabulous insight into Marrakech that will be hard to access on your own. It’s also a tremendously adventurous way for families to tour the city. 

Address: Av. Moulay El Hassan, 40000, Marrakech 

Opening hours: Open daily, from 9am-7pm 

Expect to pay: Experiences from 2,641 DH per person 

A jewel of 16th-century Saadian architecture, this douiria (guest apartment) was built by a chorfa (noble) family and retains all its exquisite original decoration that acts as a backdrop to thoughtful exhibitions and musical events.

Why go? Every Monday and Friday, from October to May, Musée de Mouassine hosts concerts of classical Moroccan music. Set in such beautiful surroundings, the events are super-atmospheric and accompanied by tea and pastries.

Address: 4, 5 Derb El Hammam, 40000, Marrakesh 

Opening hours:  Open daily, 10am-6pm 

Expect to pay: 80 DH for general admission 

The Mellah is the ancient Jewish quarter of Marrakech, which has undergone an extensive renovation programme reinstating Jewish street names and repairing unique architectural. Make sure to visit the Al Azama synagogue, founded in the 16th-century, and the extraordinary Miaara cemetery, the largest Jewish cemetery in Morocco.

Why go? Tours give an insight into a fascinating part of Marrakech’s (and Morocco’s) history. The Mellah is also an area of the city is less well explored by tourists and still has a very authentic neighbourhood atmosphere.

Address: Place des Ferblantiers, 40000, Marrakech

RECOMMENDED:
🥘 The best restaurants in Marrakech
🏨 The best hotels in Morocco
🇲🇦 The best cities in Morocco (that aren’t Marrakech)

--