Marrakesh is a city that effortlessly combines the ancient and the new. The city's name provided the root for the name of the country itself, spelling out this town's importance through the ages.
Within the high red walls of the medina, just soaking up the atmosphere is the main tourist attraction with snake charmers and smooth shop touts both competing for your attention amid a noisy, colorful bustle that encapsulates Morocco's vibrant soul.
For shoppers, Marrakesh's souqs are the best place to visit in Morocco, offering the full scope of the country's artisan work, while the medina's scatter of richly decorated heritage buildings are some of the country's most famous monuments.
Marrakesh is also the gateway into the High Atlas region, Morocco's major activity area, with hiking, mountain biking, climbing, and many other active things to do. Even on a short visit, you can experience a taste of Morocco's mountain life on one of the many Marrakesh day trips offered from the city.
Discover what the city has to offer with our list of the top attractions and things to do in Marrakesh.
.jpg "The Bahia Palace is a mid to late 19th-century palace in Marrakesh, Morocco The palace was first begun by Si Musa, grand vizier of Alaouite sultan Muhammad ibn Abd al-Rahman, in 1859 and then continued and expanded by his son Si Ba Ahmed ibn Musa, grand vizier of Sultan Moulay Abdelaziz between 1894 and 1900. Today it is a well-known historic monument and tourist attraction in the Marrakech city. The palace is most famous for its decoration. Its walls feature stucco carved with Arabic inscriptions, geometric patterns, arabesques, and muqarnas. Its floors are paved with marble and zellij tiles. Among its most famous elements are the cedar-wood ceilings painted with colourful floral patterns, along with the carved and painted wooden canopies of major doorways. The materials for this decoration were imported by Ba Ahmed from all over Morocco, including marble from Meknes , cedar wood from the Middle Atlas, and tiles from Tetouan. Artisans from all across the country were also employed for the job.")
The Bahia Palace is a mid to late 19th-century palace in Marrakesh, Morocco
The palace was first begun by Si Musa, grand vizier of Alaouite sultan Muhammad ibn Abd al-Rahman, in 1859 and then continued and expanded by his son Si Ba Ahmed ibn Musa, grand vizier of Sultan Moulay Abdelaziz between 1894 and 1900.
Today it is a well-known historic monument and tourist attraction in the Marrakech city.
The palace is most famous for its decoration.
Its walls feature stucco carved with Arabic inscriptions, geometric patterns, arabesques, and muqarnas.
Its floors are paved with marble and zellij tiles. Among its most famous elements are the cedar-wood ceilings painted with colourful floral patterns, along with the carved and painted wooden canopies of major doorways.
The materials for this decoration were imported by Ba Ahmed from all over Morocco, including marble from Meknes , cedar wood from the Middle Atlas, and tiles from Tetouan.
Artisans from all across the country were also employed for the job.
Jemaa el-Fna, located in Marrakesh's medina quarter (old city), is a vibrant square and bustling marketplace that holds significant importance for both locals and tourists.
During the daytime, Jemaa el-Fna is a lively hub filled with various attractions. It is adorned with orange juice stalls, where visitors can quench their thirst, and water sellers who carry traditional leather water-bags and brass cups. Alongside them, you'll find young individuals with Barbary apes on chains, as well as captivating snake charmers.
As the day progresses, the ambiance of the square undergoes a transformation. The snake charmers bid farewell, making way for a different form of entertainment. The square becomes more animated as Amazigh singing-boys, skilled story-tellers recounting tales in Berber or Arabic to captivated local audiences, talented magicians, and sellers of traditional medicines take center stage. As dusk settles, the square comes alive with numerous food stalls, attracting a multitude of people and creating a bustling atmosphere.
Jemaa el-Fna is bordered on one side by the Marrakesh souk, a traditional North African market catering to the everyday needs of locals and tourists alike. On other sides, you'll discover hotels, gardens, café terraces, and narrow streets that lead to the maze-like alleys of the medina quarter.
Beyond its commercial significance, the square plays a crucial role in preserving Amazigh culture and storytelling traditions. It has garnered international attention due to the rich cultural expressions that thrive within its confines. Jemaa el-Fna stands as the beating heart of Marrakesh, a vibrant testament to the city's captivating heritage.
3- Visit The Ben Youssef Madrasa
The Ben Youssef Madrasa is an Islamic madrasa (college) in Marrakesh, Morocco
Functioning today as a historical site, the Ben Youssef Madrasa was the largest Islamic college in the Maghreb at its height.
The madrasa is named after the adjacent Ben Youssef Mosque built by the Almoravid Sultan Ali ibn Yusuf in the early 12th century.
The madrasa building which stands today was commissioned by the Sa'di sultan Abdallah al-Ghalib in the 16th century, following a style established during the earlier Marinid period.
The medersa was for four centuries a home for students in various sciences, including theology. It had 132 rooms intended for students not originally from Marrakech.
Its proportions and rich decoration make it a particularly harmonious monument.
4-Hot-Air Balloon Ride Over the Marrakesh Countryside
Several companies run sunrise hot-air balloon ride tours in Marrakesh, which provide panoramic views across the city, the palm groves, and surrounding arid plateau and the spine of the Atlas Mountains in the distance beyond.
For photographers, the dramatic vistas are definitely worth the early-morning start.
Flights generally take off just after sunrise and usually include an hour of flight time with a picnic breakfast of traditional Berber dishes offered after the flight, and return transfers to the city center.
Higher priced tours often include a camel ride or quad bike tour after the hot-air balloon ride or offer private baskets rather than sharing the balloon basket with other passengers.
5- Cycle or Horse Ride in the Palmeraie
Marrakesh's Palmeraie (palm groves) area is just to the northwest of the city.
Containing around 50,000 date palm trees, the palmeraie is an alternative to staying in central Marrakesh, with plenty of villa-style luxury boutique hotels.
If you are not staying in the palmeraie, though, you can still enjoy a time-out from the city in this tranquil, shady haven as it's a popular destination for cycling, horse riding, and quad-bike tours, as well as camel rides.
Palmeraie half-day cycle tours are offered by a couple of local companies and thoroughly cover the area, while Palmeraie-based stables offers horse rides that explore both the palmeraie and some of the surrounding countryside.
