Marrakech Travel Guide 2026: Medina, Palaces, Majorelle and Prices

The main square of the medina, in use since the city was founded. During the day there are orange juice stalls, henna artists and snake charmers; at sunset, dozens of food stalls set up, and storytellers, Gnawa musicians and acrobats gather in circles. UNESCO recognised it in 2001 as a masterpiece of the oral heritage of humanity, an idea that helped create the intangible heritage list.

Price: free · Tip: if you take a photo of performers or animals, they will ask for money; agree first or don't take it. Watch the sunset from a rooftop café around the square.

North of the square starts a maze of covered markets organised by trade: leather, metal lanterns, spices, carpets, slippers (babouches), wood and dyes. Bargaining is expected; start at about a third of the first price and stay friendly.

Price: free to walk · Time needed: half a day · Tip: if you're not buying, don't start bargaining.

The largest mosque in Marrakech, from the 12th century, with a 77 m minaret that is the city's landmark, visible from almost everywhere. Non-Muslims can't enter, but the gardens around it are lovely at sunset.

Price: free (outside and gardens).

Built in the late 19th century by the grand vizier Si Moussa and his son Ba Ahmed, who wanted the most beautiful palace of its time. It has 8 hectares of courtyards, painted cedar ceilings, zellige tiles and gardens of orange trees. "Bahia" means brilliance.

Price: about MAD 70–100 · Hours: daily 9:00–17:00 · Time needed: 1 hour · Tip: go at opening time; by 11:00 tour groups fill it.

The largest Quranic school in Morocco, rebuilt in the 1560s by the Saadians, where up to 900 students lived in 130 small rooms around the courtyard. Restored and reopened in 2022, it is one of the most beautiful buildings in the country.

Price: about MAD 50 · Time needed: 45 minutes.

The tombs of the Saadian sultans and their families, from the 16th century, were walled up by the next dynasty and only rediscovered in 1917. The Hall of Twelve Columns, with Carrara marble, is the highlight. Nearby, the El Badi Palace, built from 1578 by Sultan Ahmad al-Mansur with gold and marble, was stripped by Moulay Ismail; today you walk around its huge ruined courtyard, with storks nesting on the walls.

Price: about MAD 100 each · Tip: the tombs have a short queue to see the main room; go early.

The garden created by French painter Jacques Majorelle from 1923, with cacti, bamboo and his famous intense blue villa. Yves Saint Laurent and Pierre Bergé bought it in 1980 and saved it; YSL's ashes were scattered here. Next door, the Musée Yves Saint Laurent opened in 2017.

Price: garden about MAD 165; combined tickets with the YSL museum and the Berber museum cost more · Tip: tickets are sold online with a time slot and sell out; book a few days ahead.

A restored riad garden from the 16th and 19th centuries in the middle of the medina, with an Islamic garden, an exotic garden and a tower with views.

Price: about MAD 100 · Time needed: 45 minutes.

A traditional steam bath and scrub with black soap is a must. Local public hammams cost very little (bring your own things), and spa hammams in riads offer the full experience.

Price: public hammam about MAD 20–50 plus the scrub; spa hammam from about MAD 300–600.

The Ourika Valley and Imlil (base for Mount Toubkal, the highest peak in North Africa at 4,167 m) are about 1.5 hours away; many villages there were affected by the 2023 earthquake and tourism helps them recover. The Agafay "desert", a rocky desert 45 minutes away, offers camel rides, quad bikes and dinner under the stars.

Price: shared day tours from about MAD 250–400 · Tip: for the real Sahara dunes (Merzouga), you need a 3-day tour.