10 Best things to do in Marrakech
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This guide is filled with the some of the top things to do in Marrakech Morocco and will help you travel Marrakech stress-free!
Marrakech is simultaneously a vibrant, intense, exotic, colourful, and chaotic city.
The city is a feast for the senses, filled with culture, souks, delicious food, and beautiful architecture.
The famous Djemaa el-Fna square is chaotic and vibrant, as everyone says. At night, hundreds of people eat, shop, watch acrobats and listen to bands; during the day, they watch monkeys, along with snake charmers. It’s one of the most fascinating places to people-watch while sitting on a terrace sipping mint tea.
You will never forget your extraordinary experience of Djemaa el-Fna square. In this travel guide, I have highlighted what to do in Marrakech in 3 days. This was how many days I spent in the city.
Things to do in Marrakech Morocco
Places to visit in Marrakech
1. Royal Palace
We walked past the Royal Palace of Marrakech, a location on the outskirts of southern Medina whose history dates back to the 12th century.
The royal palace is privately owned and does not open to the public. We could only admire the palm trees, high walls, and guarded gates.
2. Bahia Palace
We arrived at the Bahia Palace, which was built in two stages by two different men. Construction started in the 1860s by Vizier Si Moussa and was completed in 1900 by Abu ‘Bou’ Ahmed.
This historic palace has mosaic floor-to-ceiling decorations and shiny marble finishes with arching courtyards dotted throughout.
The palace has 150 rooms, with only a few open to the public. It is also surrounded by an eight-hectare garden where visitors can wander through the beauty of nature.
3. Ben Youssef Madrasa
We then visited Ben Youssef Madrasa, an Islamic college founded in the 14th century and once the biggest in North Africa.
The Madrasa contains 132 rooms altogether on the ground floor and upstairs. Today, the student dorms are decorated using beautiful geometric and floral patterns, woodwork, and ornate tiling.
4. The Souks of Marrakech
The souks are not one but a cluster of markets that stretch out along the Medina’s winding alleyways.
They are traditional markets of central Marrakech where everything from shoes to spices is sold. You can find the best souks through an arch north of Djemaa el-Fna; they are a must-visit for every tourist.
The souks are mysterious, chaotic, and confusing, unleashing a ferocious attack on the senses. They shouldn’t be missed by a first-time visitor to Marrakech. Get lost wandering to Souk at your own leisure.
5. See Djemaa el-Fna
Djemaa el-Fna, is where the action happens. Walking across Central Square and the marketplace, you can feel the energy of Marrakech. A thousand different things are happening all at once in Djemaa el-Fna, and everything has a rhythm and fluidity to it.
From men shouting for your attention from their orange juice stalls, to monkeys on chains, to women urging you to get henna tattoos. And, of course, the pungent smell of various blends of spices laid out on the floor, flooding your nostrils.
All of these are going on while you’re under the hot sun, dancing to the rhythm of the snake charmer’s flute.
This was Djemaa el-Fna by day!!
Around the outskirts of the square, you’ll find many shops, cafes, and entrances to the souks. The square constantly changes from sunrise to sunset. I definitely recommend you walk through the square at different times of the day.
At sunset, the square comes alive, filled with musicians and Chleu (dancing boys), storytellers, healers, peddlers, and magicians. The food stalls are also transformed during the evening, with an endless array of food servings. A feast for your eyes and belly.
We had the softest tajines that melted in your mouth, khubz (bread), fragrance couscous, and some fresh mint tea.
Food is inexpensive in Marrakech, and it is easy to find local dishes. Remember that you’ll have to pay if a performer tries to drape a snake around your neck or puts a monkey on you.
My friend was pulled into a game while we were watching performers, and she had to pay him before he would let her walk away.
I found the best way to enjoy Djemaa el-Fna was to arrive before sunset and get a seat on a rooftop terrace with some mint tea to watch the spectacle from above. For more tips on staying safe in Morocco, check out this guide of things to know for Morocco.
6. Jardin Majorelle
The Jardin Majorelle in Marrakech is one of Morocco’s most visited tourist sites, the product of over forty years of dedication by the French painter Jacques Majorelle. Wandering through the garden feels like walking in the middle of the rain forest.
You can stroll along the garden path shaded by palm trees while listening to the soothing sound of flowing water and singing birds, away from the noise and bustle of the souks and the Medina.
You’ll be enticed by the exotic plants, azure blue mosaic and bright yellow tiles. The garden was a gift to the city by Yves Saint Laurent. With this travel guide to Marrakech, including the best things to do in Marrakech, you should be able to experience the diverse beauty that the city has to offer.
If you want to know how to stay safe while visiting Marrakech, check out My Travel Fix’s top tips on being safe while exploring the vibrant city of Marrakech.