Marrakech Bucket List
Marrakech embodies stunning chaos in a structured form. It is an old city full of winding lanes that open into picturesque courtyards with copper-smiths working manually, and the smell of cedar and spice in the nostrils. Hidden beyond ordinary thresholds are gorgeous, detailed, fairytale-like riads with pools and gardens.
Why Marrakech belongs on your bucket list
Marrakech must be visited in person to fully appreciate its beauty. The city is like a labyrinth with ancient souks and bustling with local artisans practicing age-old crafts. It is a magical scene watching the tanners work with leather in the ancient stone vats, listening to the metalworkers hammer intricate designs on the lanterns, and watching the weavers craft beautiful Berber rugs on ancient wooden looms. The food of Marrakech is truly exceptional. Tagines are cooked slowly over charcoal, freshly baked bread is cooked in the large wooden oven of the local bakery, and the pastilla is a pigeon pie with a layer of sugar that must be tasted to be believed. The best way to experience Marrakech is to stay in a riad, a traditional Moroccan courtyard house. Sleep in a room that is a masterpiece of Moroccan art with its carvings on the ceiling and wake up to the sound of the songbird in the beautiful garden.
When to go
Ideal timing for a visit to Marrakech is during the spring (March to May) and fall (September to November) when it is warm, but not too hot. Summers (June to August) get extremely hot with temperatures above 40 degrees Celsius. It would be uncomfortable to walk around the city after 10 a.m. when it's that hot. Winters (December to February) are quite pleasant during the day, but it can get cold at night, especially in riads without heating. The Marrakech Film Festival (November) and the Gnaoua World Music Festival (June) in Essaouira are popular events to keep in mind.
Must-visit places in Marrakech
Jemaa el-Fnaa
The main square is the center of the universe in Marrakesh, by day a chaos of orange juice sellers, snake charmers, and henna ladies, by night a huge open-air food market with the smoke from dozens of grills filling the air. Simply grab a seat at any of the food stalls, point to what you fancy eating, and tuck in using your fingers. The cafe terraces of the cafes above, such as the Cafe de France or Le Grand Balcon, give you the view of a bird of the scene below. Aim to arrive before dusk for the greatest dramatic effect.
Majorelle Garden
A beautiful garden created by French painter Jacques Majorelle and later saved from development by Yves Saint Laurent, this idyllic spot is a splash of cobalt blue and tropical green in the heart of the city. Cacti, bougainvillea, and bamboo forests cluster around the reflecting pools in a scene that feels like a living painting. The Berber Museum here is also excellent but small, so arrive at the 8 a.m. opening time to ensure entry.
Bahia Palace
Constructed in the 19th century, this palace was ordered by a grand vizier for his four wives and 24 concubines (yes, you read that correctly). The zellige tilework, the carved cedar ceilings, and the painted stucco are on an almost unimaginable scale, while local craftsmen were even more astonished to see the vizier had imported a team from Fez – Morocco's decorative architecture is the best. The palace gardens are also quite delightful, but don't worry about the crowds, since entry is very cheap and the palace itself rarely fills up, even when the medina outside is chock-a-block.
Medersa Ben Youssef
An Islamic college dating from the 14th century, this was once the largest theological school in North Africa. The courtyard is one of Morocco’s most stunning, a cool rectangle of marble covered with rain-catching slopes and surrounded by stucco archways, stables, and zellige tiles in hues of gold, green, and blue. Student cells lie cramped and basic behind horseshoe arches in the courtyard; there is no heating, no light, and no plumbing. The building has been beautifully restored, and the effect is mesmerizing. The best photos are taken from the roof in the morning.
The Souks
The markets of Marrakech are incredible in the way that only North Africa can do – crowded, colorful, and utterly enthralling. Divided by profession as they were in the Middle Ages, there is a souk for the dyers and the leather workers, the carpet souk is a gallery of Berber textiles, while the spice souk is a heaving, colorful sea of turmeric, saffron, and ras el hanout. You will get lost, but that's the idea – and half the fun. Use the Koutoubia minaret as your guide (you can see it from the rooftops). Most "lost" tourists are merely feet away from a main street. The salesmen can be intimidating but remember, they are also having fun. Don't take them too seriously and remember “la shukran” (no thank you).
Le Jardin Secret
This gorgeous palace garden is hidden behind a nondescript door in the northern medina. Lovingly restored in the 16th century, it’s a tranquil sanctuary from the Marrakech mayhem. There are two gardens – the Islamic garden and the exotic garden – both enclose a classic riad with a tower that offers excellent views over the medina from the roof and a delightful cafe serving mint tea. It's a perfect place to escape for a cooling respite in the middle of the day.
Koutoubia Mosque
Koutoubia's minaret dominates Marrakech's skies – a 77-meter beacon that can be seen from virtually every roof in the medina. Non-Muslims are not allowed inside, but there's plenty to the magnificent minaret to admire, especially as the white tower is floodlit at night, and the gardens that surround it are a popular open spot for Marrakshi families like themselves, and hemadge hotel guests, kits a licensed hotel escape the busy life of the Medina. Tradition has it the minaret was used as a model for the Giralda in Seville mans the Hassan Tower in Rabat. Best of all, if you're lost, no orientating pinch-yourself-on routes and you're catching sight of the Kotoubiya, you've failed and found your bearings again!
Nomad Restaurant
Nomad offers a wonderful selection of salads, pastillas, grilled sandwiches, and vegetarian choices. The special salad of the day might be the star of your meal. The food, ambiance, and service at Nomad is hard to beat. Enjoy a nice hearty meal with a relaxed setting while overlooking the colorful, bustling souks.
El Fenn Rooftop
The rooftop bar at this boutique hotel is one of Marrakech's best secrets – thankfully, you can access it even if you're not a guest at this chic stay. With 360-degree vistas taking in the snow-capped Atlas Mountains, Koutoubia's iconic minaret, and medina rooftops, it's perfect for sundowners (candlelit at night and prime for stargazing) – sipping cocktails and sharing plates of tapas while the orange-pink sky frames the call to prayer and all the city's muezzins vie for your ear. The hotel itself is every inch the design lover's dream.
Saadian Tombs
Buried and closed up for ages until brought to light in 1917, these 16th-century royal tombs are among Morocco's most accomplished works of Islamic funerary architecture. The Hall of Twelve Columns in particular is breathtaking, with its fine Carrara marble, deep plaster carvings and cedar muqarnas (honeycomb) ceiling. The small garden planted with roses, cypresses, hibiscus and orange trees adds to the sense of beauty and tranquillity. As the tombs are tiny, it's best to visit in the morning before the inevitable tour-group queues form. A visit here and to the nearby Bahia Palace makes for a very doable half day.
Marrakech insider tips
- Haggling: In the souks, the first offer is always higher than the vendor will eventually sell for, so start at 30-40% of the final price and haggle upwards from there. It's expected, enjoyable, and part of the local culture. Be willing to walk away if you don't like the price, as this will often prompt a counteroffer.
- Riads: Consider staying in a riad, which is a traditional house around a central courtyard, instead of a hotel. Some of them are architectural treasures, have plunge pools, and even offer roof terraces. They range from budget to luxury but offer an experience that hotels simply cannot match, even at the budget end.
- Guides: The medina is very confusing, so a guide for your first day can be very helpful in getting your bearings and avoiding the touts who will try to accompany you around the souks. After that, however, getting lost is all part of the adventure, and Google Maps is unexpectedly reliable in the main streets of the medina.
- Cash: Most shops and restaurants in the medina are cash-only, but ATMs are easily found around Jemaa el-Fnaa and in the Gueliz district of the new town.
- Mint tea: It's a cultural requirement to drink the mint tea offered in shops, riads, and sometimes from passers-by, but be aware that the amount of sugar in this tea is extreme, though the offer itself is genuine, unlike in the souks where tea is also offered but also used as a pressure tactic to make sales.
Save your Marrakech bucket list
Did you discover these locations in a Reel? Triply will identify each destination, and even map them out for you.
Get on the App Store